Beauty to go

Going out straight from work requires a certain amount of forward planning, but with the right kit and a little help from those in the know, you can perfect the transformation from desk to dance floor in less than twenty minutes.

Refresh and intensify
Cramped lavatories, limited mirror space and bad lighting often make applying make-up after work tricky. To avoid mishaps and save time it's best not to remove any make-up you're already wearing. 'First refresh your skin using a hydrating mist such as Mac Fix +, and reapply concealer. Then, you can just intensify the make-up you're already wearing by using the same products to add more contrast and definition.' Says Pablo Rodriguez, Senior Make-up Artist at MAC.

Quicky concealing
We can all look a bit tired and droopy-eyed after a hard day's work. Thank goodness for concealer! Rachel Wood, make-up artist at Benefit recommends dabbing a tiny amount of Benefit Erase Paste under the eyes to brighten and camouflage, followed by a touch of Ooh La Lift - a firming balm containing light reflecting pigments and cooling botanicals.

Lush lips without delay
For dramatic 40s-style lips Rodriguez suggests using a bright colour like MAC's Viva Glam I - 'a great matte brick red that suits all skin tones.' Forget lip liner. Simply prime the lips with a plumping gel and follow with a slick of lippy. Blot with a tissue and reapply.

Split-second smoky eyes
Smoky eyes are easy to achieve under pressure, since the look doesn't demand too much precision. Use a good quality eye shadow brush to blend a dark graphite or grey cream eye shadow just above and below the eye socket for sultry-eyed style.

Time-saving big hair
Celebrity stylist and Herbal Essences expert Ben Cooke advocates using the hand dryer in the powder room to give your hair a boost of extra volume. 'Flip your head upside down and blast with warm air. Stay upside down while hair cools to let it set and then flip head back, Use a flexible hold hairspray to help set your look.'