When you have a night out planned, you may have already scheduled a set amount of time for you to shower and get ready. However, there might be occasions where you are left with little if any, time to prepare. If a friend has invited you for a spontaneous dinner, your workmates want to grab a few drinks after your shift finishes, or you have just remembered an engagement last-minute, you may want to be able to look your best and still remain punctual. To do so, there are a few little tricks you could opt to put into place.

Having some go-to jewellery could help you to feel more put together, especially if you aren’t able to change your outfit. These items could differ from those that you wear to work, or for casual outings. As an example, you could check out these pearl earrings to see how they could match some of your common outfits, and add a bit of sparkle to your style. The use of simple accessories such as earrings can make you feel like you look great, which can allow you to unwind that bit more.

Washing your face can also be a good idea. While it may be tempting to leave your face alone, especially if you don’t have any makeup to hand, you may actually look better by removing it. When you have been at work all day, there is a chance that your makeup may have smudged, or no longer look as pristine as it did when you first applied it. Washing your face with lukewarm water could help to keep it clear, and even reduce the likelihood of spots forming. Some people find that, over the course of the day, their skin becomes quite oily, which can affect how it looks and feels. A quick facial wash could allow you to feel more refreshed, and less self-conscious about your lack of preparation time.

If you have little time to prepare, you may also be concerned about the cleanliness of your mouth, or the way your breath smells. It may be unlikely that, if at work or already out, you have a toothbrush on your person. However, you could opt to keep some sugar-free chewing gum in your bag or desk. While this may not be as good as properly brushing and flossing your teeth, chewing gum may be able to help you rid your teeth of some of that surface debris, and leave your breath smelling deliciously minty.

Looking good can often be about the things you wear, the makeup and accessories you opt for, and maintaining good hygiene. However, there may not always be the opportunity for you to follow your normal routine for getting ready. In these instances, you may want to think about the ways that you can look and feel good even when working with a shorter amount of preparation time. This means that you may not need to turn down unexpected plans, and can have more of a fulfilling social life.