At Work Essentials

Most of us are back at work after a long weekend (how very, very sad), and as generally seems to be the case, I barely made a dent in my ‘to-do’ list. I love lists and I usually find I follow them like gospel… except on holidays. But more about that on another day. One of the neglected items on my ‘to-do’ list was “reinstate rigorous beauty regime”.

As I’m sure I’ve whinged about before, it has been an incredibly hectic few weeks, and while I still maintain by daily beauty rituals, some of the more irregular ceremonies, like applying face masks and getting full body waxes (yes, ouch!) have been far and few between. It is hard to find time in the day to do everything, and it’s particularly difficult to find time to do these “me” things.

From my time working in the beauty industry, I was able to glean a few tips that I continue to do on a very regular basis, to keep the “canvas” (that’s you – and in my case, me!) in the best possible condition. I’ll be honest. This list is extensive. But for the sake of brevity, I will cover just some that fall into a particularly useful category.

As a time-saver, I have compiled a list of preening rituals and beauty maintenance that I perform at more unconventional times. When I’m on-the-go. Namely, in the office.

Beauty rituals in the office? Yes, I’m aware of how bizarre and unprofessional that may sound, but let me assure you – once you’ve tried it (and got away with it), you’ll never go back.

Firstly, I cannot stress enough how important it is to look your best at work. It is very easy to fall into a ‘work rut’ and believe me – I’ve been there. But putting a few extra minutes into your morning ritual to look a bit more special for work translates into so much more. You look in control, organised and ooze self respect – all vital character traits in the quest for success in the work place.

I have interviewed some glamorous and highly successful women in the workplace, like fashion designers, television presenters and entrepreneurs. All of them look impeccably polished and I do not believe this was just for our interview. Even when I’ve bumped into these inspiring women in the street during a lunch break or at the grocery store after work, they look flawless and professional.

For many career women, the office becomes something of a second home. It makes sense to me then, to keep some “essentials” in your desk draw.

Let me be clear: in no way am I suggesting you slack off at work to perform your beauty regime; or adapt a ridiculous ‘nothing matters more than looking beautiful’ attitude. Intelligence and integrity are the touch-stones of professional success. I believe in maintaining an excellent work ethic and working hard to get ahead – but there are a few moments everyday – when you are waiting for your emails to load, or when you’re downloading a file, or when you’re having your lunch break – when you can put that time to good use and achieve certain things.

Desperately trying not to sound like a self-involved vain bimbo (though I assume I’m failing miserably), the staples I keep in my desk drawer are:

- Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth wash and dental floss. Oral hygiene is of the utmost of importance – particularly in the workplace. Studies have shown that people with beautiful smiles and teeth are more likely to be successful. And it's common courtesy to have clean teeth and fresh breath when speaking to others, especially in a professional capacity. 

- A light body moisturiser. I currently have Nivea’s Light Touch in my desk because it is lightly fragranced and quickly absorbent. You want something quick and easy – no muss, no fuss. Air-conditioning and heating can wreck havoc on the skin. Good moisturisation, I believe, is the most crucial beauty element. Moisturised skin not only feels nice to touch, but it glows with good health. Also on this point, I keep my bottle of water constantly full – it’s important to be hydrated inside and out. Obviously. A naturopath once told me that you should sip water rather than gulp it. If you gulp it, it just goes straight through your system and will have you running to the bathroom. Sipping however gives the body time to absorb it. Don’t know if I believe this, but I like the theory behind it.

- Nail polish remover and nail polish. Simply put, chipped nail polish is tacky and foul. I hate it. But I know how hard it is to keep your polish perfect - if you do anything with your hands, like washing the dishes, or even vigorous typing (like I am now), its inevitable that you will get a chip, or two, or three. There’s nothing more embarrassing than going into an important meeting and having disgusting chipped nails. If you’re anything like me, and express yourself with your hands when you’re speaking (which I’ve been told is very effective in face-to-face meetings but rather pointless in phone conversations), then your nails become a focal point. Keep the nail polish remover and nail polish (OPI are the best) in your drawer for emergency fix ups… or if that’s impossible, stick to neutral colours or go completely au natural. 

- Dry Shampoo. In my opinion, one of the beauty industry’s greatest inventions is dry shampoo for reasons twofold: it gives your hair volume, lift and bounce; and, most importantly, the impression of cleanliness. It instantly absorbs oil, adds body and lightly fragrances the hair. Never underestimate the importance of good hair for without it, you can never look truly polished. Oily, greasy hair makes you look disorganised, tired and unkempt. Dry shampoo eliminates this problem with a few quick spritzes. This is one product however that I suggest you administer in the work bathrooms so as not to disturb other colleagues with the smell (albeit a delightful one!). I also keep a small, purse-sized can of hairspray, hair elastics, bobby pins and a hairbrush next to the dry shampoo in my desk drawer as well. 

- Perfume – I am the perfume Queen and cannot sing its praises enough. Everywhere I go, I have a bottle of perfume with me, and the office is certainly no exception. I think the way you smell is the most powerful way you can present yourself to others. I always link memories with smells. I love the notion of a signature scent, but find it very difficult to remain faithful to just one fragrance, particularly in social settings and on the weekends. Despite this issue with fidelity on the weekends, I do generally have a monogamous ‘professional’ fragrance. Something that makes me smell amazing, but still feel powerful and in control. This used to be Chanel No 5, but now I opt for Dior’s J’Adore or Tom Ford White Patchouli. A spritz of this fragrance during the day peps me up at work, keeps me fresh, and reminds others of just how perfect I am (and smell). 

- Emergency Make Up Kit. Most women I know (myself included) keep a little makeup bag of exceptional and cherished makeup products in their handbags for the purpose of touch ups. But, if for some reason you are taking an unusually small handbag to work and find yourself sans makeup, it is always handy to have a backup plan. That is, a selection of essentials kept at work for touch ups. I keep this kit small and to the point. Open my desk’s first drawer, unzip my pink Oroton makeup bag and you will find: Facial cleansing wipes (to easily clean off old makeup if required), Clinique dramatically different moisturiser, MAC concealer, Invisible Zinc tinted moisturier, a coral coloured shimmery Dior lipstick for both lips and cheeks (dab some on the apples of your cheek and blend in place of blush), and The Make Up Shop mascara. Very simply but gives a polished look when required. A hand-mirror is also required.

I like to believe that the above list is not as ridiculous as it may first have sounded – nor is it a frivolous list, nor a self-absorbed list. Rather, it is a list of basic grooming and maintenance ideas that will keep you looking professional, polished and perfect.