Love looking glam, but lacking time? Try streamlining your routine by taking inspiration from the experts, who make a living by applying beautiful makeup as quickly and as cleanly as possibly.

While each makeup professional has their favourite makeup, brushes, tools, and storage systems, most artists follow these 5 time-saving tricks:

SORT
Working makeup artists may own hundreds of products, but they have their go-to makeup and tools that are clearly labeled, clean and ready-to-go in their kit. So, if you have a large makeup collection, it’s important to set every day items apart from the once-in-awhile pieces, then designate an easily accessible area for those beloved products.

LAYOUT
Whether you’re pulling makeup from a drawer, cabinet or tabletop, you need to see the items; they should be in one place. Sort makeup in the order of your application process, line them up from left to right (or right to left): skin, foundation, eyes, cheeks, etc. As your hands learn the placement, you will become faster with little or no time spent looking for something.

LOCATION
Toss debris in the trash, put lids back on ASAP, and move makeup back to its designated spot. As you repeat the process, it becomes second nature and you’ll save time during application and clean up.

BRUSHES
Clean brushes work more efficiently, which is why pros wash or sanitise brushes after every use. Designating one brush holder for clean brushes and one for “in use” is an easy way to keep track of which brushes need to be washed. Then, at the end of the week, clean those brushes with your deep gel cleanser and brush cleansing palette.

RESET
If you watch a makeup artist working, you’ll notice that their hands are always moving, even between faces. No matter how organised and clean your workspace is to begin with, there is always a need to reset for the next person: wipe down containers, wash brushes, restock q-tips, sponges and tissue. Take time to reset your makeup at night, every few days or once a week, depending on your needs.

It may take a few minutes a week to keep your makeup organised and your brushes clean, but the reward (time saved and makeup on point) is definitely worth it.