The trick to going swiftly from day to night makeup is preparation. You should have all of your necessities ready to go, so when your day is done, you can create your look whether you’re sitting in your car or using the office restroom. Find out what you need for both day and night, and how to get ready in just a few simple steps.

The office makeup: Your morning regimen

If you know you’ll be in a rush to create your evening appearance later in the day, start the morning with a lighter look. As we all know, that third coat of mascara just doesn’t look as fresh as your morning efforts. Here are a few quick tips to start out your day.

• Skincare: Make sure to thoroughly wash your face in the morning, and use a toner or scrub to get it squeaky clean. Then, use a good moisturizer to ensure your skin stays hydrated when you do your makeup a second time later in the day. And don’t forget the sunscreen!

• Foundation: You’ll want to keep it light today. Instead of a heavy, matte foundation, go for a sheer, tinted moisturizer. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare All In One Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 Medium is a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, which makes it easier to apply a second layer of foundation. If you tend to get shiny by midday, follow the moisturizer with some powder or mineral makeup, such as Jane Iredale PureMatte Finish Powder.

• Blush: Avoid long-lasting blush, as you’ll want to apply a fresh coat later on. Forgo the cheek stains and opt for a mineral formula like Colorescience Retractable Blusher Brush - Just Barely, which comes with a handy built-in applicator brush.

• Mascara: The key is to find a mascara that comes off easily, as you won’t want to be scrubbing off black streaks in the office bathroom. Waterproof mascaras are too difficult to remove, so use just a single coat of a glossy mascara and save the dramatic lashes for the evening. Blinc Kiss Me Mascara Medium Brown can be removed with just plain water, or you can add another coat over the top.

If possible, create a blank slate

Have 10 extra minutes? If you can, remove your daytime makeup before starting on your nighttime look. Since you’re only removing makeup, not deep cleansing, you’ll only need three products:

• Cleansing wipes. These are your staple in quick makeup removal, as they don’t require water – which is perfect if you’re doing your makeup in the car. Korres Pomegranate Cleansing and DeMake Up Wipes are rich in antioxidants and moisturize skin while cleansing.

• Makeup remover. Most likely, cleansing wipes will be sufficient, but if your eye makeup is being stubborn then have some eye makeup remover handy. You can find pre-soaked pads, like Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover Wipes with Cornflower Extract, which are much more travel-friendly.

• Lotion. To keep skin feeling hydrated after you’ve used a cleansing wipe, use just a dab of a lightweight lotion as your final step.

Evening makeup made simple

Now it’s time for the fun part. Your evening makeup should be more dramatic than daytime makeup, but you won’t have time for the smudging and contouring that you might normally do. Here’s how to keep it simple, yet sophisticated.

• Face. Now that you’re working with clean skin, your foundation should go on smoothly and evenly. Try a dewy, lightweight foundation like Illuminare Fantastic Finish Foundation Florentine Fair, and dust your face with translucent powder if your skin has gotten shiny over the course of the day.

• Eyes. Add drama to your look with a thin line of dark eyeliner. Black is the most dramatic, but you can also use a smoky grey, deep purple or dark navy. Follow with a lighter shade on your upper eyelid, and finish with a coat of black mascara – a staple for any look. Makeup artist Lala Flores tells Cosmopolitan that if you’re really in a hurry, you can skip eye shadow and use two or three coats of volumizing mascara instead.

• Cheeks and lips. Finally, add a touch of blush; for a portable cheek color that won’t spill in your bag, try a crème blush like Stila Convertible Color - Lillium. Lips should be a neutral shade to complement your darker nighttime eye makeup. Try Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF 15 to nourish your pucker while adding a hint of color. “Swirl on a neutral rose-colored blush on cheeks and a nude pink gloss. Night lighting is so tricky,” Flores suggests.

The shortcut

Let’s face it – sometimes, you just don’t have time to remove your makeup and start from scratch, no matter how equipped you are. If you’re going to keep your makeup from the morning, here’s how to touch up:

• Face. StyleList suggests starting with a sponge dipped in foundation to touch up spots where your foundation has worn thin, followed by powder to fix shiny patches.

• Eyes. Instead of redoing your eye liner and mascara from earlier, sweep a neutral shade of eye shadow across both lids and under the lower lashes. Use liquid eye liner to trace over your old liner – this should glide over your lids easily and really make your eyes stand out. If you want to make your eyes pop even more, Green Health Research suggests using a darker version of your daytime eye color – a dark purple if you’re wearing lavender shadow, or a deep, smoky grey if you’re wearing a lighter shade like silver-grey.

• Lips. Select a lip color that’s two shades darker than the color you’re already wearing. StyleList suggests using a lip brush for a more precise application.

Multi-purpose makeup

Some items that you can keep in your makeup bag serve multiple purposes. Here are a few:

• Foundation. In addition to the obvious, you can use foundation to smooth out creases on the eyelids and brighten the area under the eyes. Dip a sponge in foundation and use to touch up the morning’s foundation or conceal blemishes.

• Moisturizer. Use small dots of moisturizer to hydrate dry spots and smooth roughness before adding foundation. You can also use moisturizer to remove eye liner. It’s an easy item to keep at work, and a good way to remove makeup without dehydrating the skin around your eyes. Just avoid medicated lotions, such as those with salicylic acid or glycolic acid.

• Loose powder. If you have oily-prone skin, loose powder is a great way to ensure a shine-free night. You can also use it as a finishing powder, sweeping it over eye makeup, face makeup or even lipstick. Try an illuminating powder like Philosophy The Supernatural Moonlight to highlight your complexion and add shimmer to your eye makeup.

If you’re prepared, your transition from day to night should be simple. The basic idea is to use makeup that can be removed easily in the morning, then remove all traces of your old makeup at the end of the day. Finally, with just a few staple items – foundation, blush, eye shadow, mascara and lipstick – you can easily create a stunning evening look in a hurry.

Learn everything you need to know about workplace beauty and skincare for a professional lifestyle in our Office Beauty Handbook.