Photo: Jonathan Skow

On a typical morning, I slap on moisturizer, a little blush, one coat of mascara, and lip gloss, and I'm out the door. It takes about five minutes; I wish it took two. Do you have a shortcut for getting ready?

Skip the Shower
"I get out of bed, wash my face while the bathtub is running and use dry shampoo (Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser is fantastic). Then, I put on mascara while taking my five-minute soak, hop out, put on moisturizer and mineral makeup—it's fast and looks great—and grab clothes. I only iron what shows so I can (yippee!) get out the door."
— Claudia Stearns, Arlington Heights, Illinois

School Days Made Easy
"As a teacher who's getting older, my greatest find is to use cleansing towelettes on my face instead of a washcloth. It's getting harder and harder to get out the door by 6:30 in the morning, and that saves at least five minutes! I also have my outfit ready for the next day so I don't stall at my closet trying to figure out what to wear, and I make my lunch and snacks before bed. An extra tip: I keep my medications out of the bottle on my hand towel so I don't have to rumble through the medicine cabinet. And I'm as excited for the first day of school as I was 29 years ago!"
— Kay Slack-Beard, Richmond, Texas

Who Needs Shortcuts?
"We live in a world of such instant gratification; is five minutes really a long time?! My suggestion is to get up earlier in the morning. Allow yourself a little more time to get ready. Enjoy the process, revel in taking care of yourself, and you might even get to take a moment to breathe before rushing out the door."
— Jeanne Gerber, St. Petersburg, Florida