Time and consistency are key factors to seeing noticeable results when treating beauty-related concerns. It may take a couple of weeks to see improvement with a scalp treatment and months for a vitamin C lotion to show brighter skin, for instance. But we don’t blame you for wanting faster results (we’re only human after all!).
Since no one really has the time to wait for de-puffing tired under-eyes, calming redness or styling hair, TODAY contributor and Senior Editor-at-Large at NewBeauty, Sarah Eggenberger, stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to give us the scoop on the best makeup, skin care and hair care that can help you achieve your beauty goals in an instant. And we mean fast: Think ‘flash’ eye gel patches for brightening under the eyes, a ‘no-tugging’ mascara remover, among many other “instant” beauty solutions.
“Sometimes you don’t need a whole new beauty routine, you just need the right quick fix,” Eggenberger says. “These are simple solutions that refresh your look in minutes.”
No patience? No problem. Check out our favorite fast-acting beauty products below.
Five-minute beauty solutions seen on TODAYInstant fix: Dull skin
Transforms skin in just two minutes with the power of AHAs, BHAs and enzymes.
Size: 1.7 oz | Key ingredients: Glycolic and lactic acids and Vitamin C
According to the brand, this exfoliating mask transforms skin in just two minutes, thanks to its powerful blend of AHAs, BHAs and enzymes. Over time, users can expect improvement in dullness, dark spots, redness and pore size with consistent use. Eggenberger says you can use it on rough areas, such as the nose or chin, for a more targeted approach, too.
Get the guy in your life in on eye patches with this set from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s brand.
Count: 6 pairs | Key Ingredients: Niacinimide, peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, caffiene | Features: Unscented, paraben-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free, vegan
Papatui, a men’s skin care line created by actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, designed the under-eye patches above with men’s skin in mind. Hydrating and firming, the brand says these eye patches will help de-puff and brighten for a more awake appearance, no matter the skin type.
Bye bye tired under eyes!
Comes with: 5 pairs | Key ingredients: Caffeine and hydrolyzed collagen
Eggenberger calls these under-eye patches “an espresso shot for your under-eyes,” since they contain caffeine and hydrolyzed collagen to instantly de-puff and brighten in just a few minutes. “They deliver refreshed, wide-awake eyes faster than your morning latte,” she adds.
The brand says this formula contains capsules that will “adapt to your skin tone, going from green to beige in seconds for instantly more even skin tone.”
Size: 0.5 oz | Active ingredients: Apricot encapsulated pigments, beta blucan + oligopeptides, panthenol | Formulation: Balm | Best for: Acne-prone skin
Those looking to calm post-breakout skin and camouflage redness, Eggenberger suggests using a color-correcting green tint (best for fair to medium skin tones), just like this option from Hero Cosmetics.
“Tap a little over a blemish even after foundation,” she recommends. “It cancels redness without adding more concealer…[and] If you ever feel like you’re layering more and more makeup, this actually helps you use less.”
Instant fix: Makeup settling into lines
A makeup-boosting primer that helps blur the appearance of common aging concerns.
Size: 1.13 oz | Key ingredients: Vitamin C and niacinamide
“This velvety targeted primer instantly ‘fills’ in to soften the look of superficial fine lines, large pores, and uneven texture anywhere on the face,” Eggenberger explains. “It helps makeup sit better throughout the day.” Since the primer is more of a “targeted fix solution,” you won’t need to rely on layering multiple products to help your makeup last longer.
Instant fix: Removing stubborn eye makeup
This mascara remover turns “any mascara into a tubing mascara for easy removal,” per the brand.
Notable ingredients: Jojoba oil, squalane
Rubbing and tugging at your lashes to remove stubborn mascara can result in breakage and fallout over time. As a gentle solution, Lancôme recently launched the Mascara Melter to ‘melt away’ all types of mascaras with every coat — even waterproof and tubing formulas.
Instant fix: Frizz and flyaways
A wet-to-dry blow dryer and straightener.
Colors: 3 | Attachments: 3
Cut your styling time in half with Shark’s new SilkiPro styling tool. Combining the benefits of a straightener and a blow dryer in one, this device is a one-stop shop for sleek results without damage, according to the brand.
More instant beauty favorites to shop
Address brittleness, growth and dryness in one.
Size: 0.5 fl oz | Key ingredients: Rice bran oil, vitamin A, aloe vera, shea butter
From softening dry cuticles to strengthening brittle nails, you get an all-in-one treatment for restoring nail health in this daily nail repair treatment.
Easy, mess-free styling and smoothing stick for sleek styles and tame flyaways.
Scent: Unscented | Size: 2.7 Fluid Ounces | Hair type: All hair types
Flyaways are no match for Samnyte’s mess-free styling stick, according to associate editor Shannon Garlin. “It was love at first use for this product,” she wrote in her review. “It’s so easy to apply and doesn’t create a mess. It reminds me of a deodorant stick or a push-pop popsicle for hair. You just gently push the bottom to raise the wax, then gently smooth out flyways and strays.”
Applying the Samnyte Hair Wax Stick.Courtesy Shannon Garlin
A daily moisturizer that offers the look of a sunless tan and natural looking glow.
Size: 7.5 fl oz | Key ingredients: Collagen, coconut oil, elastin
No rinsing required. This daily body moisturizer delivers a sunless, odor-free tan that gradually enhances your natural skin tone, per the brand.
An ‘instant’ redness serum that treats and corrects.
Size: 1.7 oz | Key ingredients: Hexapeptide-9, biomimetic peptides, 5% azelaic acid, annonasense and more
Two formulas, one bottle… too many benefits to count! Eggenberger says you can expect instant gratification with this high-performance serum, which is specifically designed to turn your redness levels all the way down.
Side one contains the repair barrier treatment that targets the root causes of all that blotchiness (including sensitivity, histamine, and cortisol response, per the brand). Side two is a green color corrector that works to instantly calm and balance the skin, and give the complexion a red-free, filter-like finish.
Producer Jillian Gonzalez trying the InnBeauty Project Calm The Red Down Dual-Chamber Serum.Courtesy of Jillian Gonzales
This quick-fix eye treatment provides instant results with long-term anti-aging benefits, according to the brand.
Size: 1 oz | Key Ingredients: Skin-tightening silicates, seaweed extract, peptides, alfalfa extract and more
The instant disappearance of crow’s feet — sounds like a magic trick. Well, I guess you can call this eye treatment magic in a tube, because its formula has the power to temporarily minimize wrinkles and tighten puffy under eyes. Application is simple — just add a tiny amount of product below the eyes, between the brows, and near the brow bone to see an almost instant firming effect.
One contributing writer tried the cream and said she saw an immediate difference in her number eleven lines. “A subtle tightening kicked in within seconds, and these fine lines were pulled taut,” she said. “I could also see a nice firming of the entire area between my cheekbones and lower forehead.”
Janet Gonzales showing her results after using the Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Eye Tightener.Courtesy of Janet Gonzales
These tanning drops can help you achieve your desired glow, no matter what shade.
Award: Best bronzing drops | Overall score: 5/5 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, coconut water, apple fruit extract, passion fruit oil, pomegranate extract | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Drops Guide: 4-5 drops = light tan, 5-6 drops = medium tan, 6+ drops = dark tan
For many, the last thing you want is to show up to your long-awaited spring vacation with pale winter skin. Eggenberger says the quickest way to achieve a natural-looking, summer glow — without the harmful UVA rays — is by using these award-winning bronzing face drops.
It’s as easy as adding a few drops into your lotion and applying it to your face. This process also makes it completely customizable, since you control how many drops are added to your routine.
While it plumps the lips, this tinted lip plumper is designed to provide long-lasting coverage and moisture.
Size: 0.44 oz | Shades: 4 | Key ingredients: Aloe vera, shea butter and vitamin E
Part of the petite pout club? Nothing wrong with that! Just like there’s nothing wrong with getting a little beauty boost with a lip plumper. This one from L.A. Girl is designed to instantly boost circulation in the area, creating a fuller and more voluptuous finish. Plus, it leaves a stunning glossy look behind.
Production associate Audrey Ekman admits to having tried dozens of lip plumpers but says this $5 formula is one of the most effective. “I like to apply two coats onto bare lips, and it really helps with filling in lines in my lips and moisturizing them,” she says. She also adds that the color payoff is impressive, but warns that you should prepare for a spicy tingling.
Production associate Audrey Ekman after applying the L.A. Girl Tinted Hydrating Lip Plumper.Courtesy of Audrey Ekman
Transform dry, damaged hair in just eight seconds with this ‘instant’ treatment.
Size: 6.8 oz | Use: 2-3 times a week
If you love the effortless shine your hair has post salon trip, Eggenberger says this treatment can help you quickly achieve the same look at home! And we don’t use the word “quickly” lightly: the brand promises the formula gives silkier, shinier and healthier hair in just eight seconds.
Contributing writer Katie Jackson says her hair felt smoother and more alive-looking after a single application. “In terms of texture, it looked like I’d gotten a Brazilian blowout,” she added. “More importantly, it felt like I’d gotten a Brazilian blowout.”
Editorial director Adrianna Brach’s hair before and after using L’Oréal Paris’ Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water.Courtesy Adrianna Brach
A buildable volume spray that adds visible fullness and holds style.
Size: 4 oz | Hair texture: Straight, wavy, curly, coily | Hair type: Fine, medium | Key ingredients: Seaweed, arginine
Eggenberger says volumizing trends are in right now. It’s not that hard to believe — who doesn’t love instantly lifted hair? But for the “instant” effect, you’ll want to grab K18’s brand-new reparative volume spray.
According to the brand, the formula can “increase hair-fiber diameter with one use” but won’t ever weigh hair down. In addition to volumizing benefits, it can also protect strands against humidity and help reverse damage found in fine and fragile hair.
Fill in grown out color, unwanted grays and more with this root touch-up.
Size: 0.13 oz | Shades: 5
When your packed schedule can’t fit in salon appointments, this compact can offer a quick solution. Fill in sparse brows and cover up grays in seconds with Madison Reed’s concealing powder. The long-lasting formula is designed to stay until your next shampoo or wash and offers a natural look as well as the tools for a precise application.
This roll-on serum works to restore the skin’s moisture barrier, shown to reduce puffines.
Size: 40 mL | Key ingredients: Arnica, centella asiatica, niacinamide
Whether you got zero sleep or have naturally baggy under eyes, this roll-on serum is said to reduce puffiness and swelling. Use it in the morning to achieve an immediate sculpted look as well as to flush out redness.
A powerful makeup primer that simultaneously neutralizes redness.
Size: 0.84 oz | Key ingredients: Azelaic acid, centella asiatica and bakuchiol
This Shop TODAY editor-loved brand calls their primer treatment “a secret weapon” for tackling redness and signs of aging. The formula is green-toned to cancel out discoloration and the priming part works to blur large pores and fine lines. It’s also packed with skin-loving ingredients like azelaic acid, centella asiatica and bakuchiol.
Get rid of frizz and flyaways with this slick stick.
Ingredients: Petrolatum, Coos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil and Hydrogenated Castor Oil | Features: Has a 72 hour humidity shield
We love a chic, slick-back look, but what we don’t love are frizz and flyaways. Use this stick to put the ultimate hold on your style, all while shielding strands from daily aggressors and providing weightless protection that won’t leave product buildup behind (per the brand).
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. These items were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Sarah Eggenberger.
Sarah Eggenberger is a TODAY contributor and the Senior Editor-at-Large at NewBeauty Magazine.How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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