It’s a sad fact of university life that 9AM lectures exist. You’ve just started the new academic year, your student loan has come through, you’re getting into the swing of Fresher’s Week; things are looking pretty peachy. And then BOOM; your smug timetable hits you with a 9AM lecture on a Thursday morning.
Unless you’re enviably lucky, you’ll probably be cursed with this academic abomination at some time or other, and seeing as I’m not one for skipping lectures, I’ve complied a whistle-stop list of the bare necessities to get you through the worst hour of the day.
- Shower and deodorant – this is the only non-negotiable step. If you’re going to make the effort to get up for a 9AM anyway, you might as well make it a win for personal hygiene too!
- Dry shampoo – an absolute godsend for early starts. Spray a little onto your roots, massage into your scalp, brush through and voilà; you can postpone washing your hair until a more sensible time of day arrives. My product of choice is the Tresemmé Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo, £4.99, available at Boots and most supermarkets.
- Concealer – a good concealer will be your new best friend when you need to hide all traces of a late night and/or early morning. Pick one with high coverage to erase dark under-eye circles, spots and awkwardly obvious love bites. Try the Revlon PhotoReady Concealer, £6.99 if you like crayon-style concealer, or the Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer, £5.99, if you prefer a creamier consistency.
- Makeup – if you’re the makeup wearing type, a quick application of some key products can help you feel fresher. My favourite mascara at the moment is the Rimmel Wonder’full Mascara with Argan Oil, £7.99. It has a massive brush so it’s super easy to apply, and the argan oil stops it from drying out and clumping on your lashes. You can also save time by using a combination product that works as both a blusher and a lip colour. The Bourjois Aqua Laque Liquid Lipstick, £8.99 comes in a great range of colours and looks really pretty swiped across your cheeks and lips for a little added pop of colour.
If you’ve got your wits about you, these steps should take about 15 minutes. When a 9AM looms, my best advice is to simply get up, get dressed, grab a Greggs, and get ready for the longest hour of your life. Put a little bit of grooming beforehand and I promise it won’t seem so bad!
