Top High-Maintenance Treatments for a Streamlined Daily Routine
At first glance, it might seem high-maintenance to have four appointments a month booked to maintain your appearance, but in fact, these treatments can help your daily routine be much more low-maintenance.
Mascara is one of the most game-changing yet annoying parts of a makeup routine, especially for those with light, thin, straight or short lashes. A lash lift or lash extensions allows you to wake up bright-eyed and take a break from mascara. “I have moms, CEOs and newscasters all tell me they feel red-carpet ready before coffee because their lashes are already done,” says celebrity eyelash expert Dionne Phillips.
A lash lift is a semipermanent curl and lift that “sets the lashes upward, creating the look of a wide, bright eye without extensions or daily curling,” says brow and lash expert Kristie Streicher, noting that it’s a favorite treatment among her celebrity clients for an instantly refreshed look and zero upkeep.
Lash extensions are a great option for anyone looking to add density and length, says lash artist Jen Nguyen, noting that they require a fill about every four weeks to maintain their fluffy, defined look. This treatment involves “adding individual synthetic or natural fibers to each lash to give the appearance of fuller, longer lashes.”
Brows frame the face, and without a balanced pair, people tend to feel naked, especially those with blonde or sparse hair. Filling in your brows at home can be time-consuming, but certain brow treatments can have you looking put-together in seconds with minimal effort, or none at all. “When your brows are thoughtfully shaped and naturally defined, your whole face feels more balanced, more awake, more you,” says brow expert Delphine Breyne.
One option is eyebrow tinting, which involves the professional application of semipermanent color on your brow hairs to provide a fuller, bolder look. With proper care, the tint lasts three to four weeks, says Deidra Green, vice president of field performance for European Wax Center. “A brow tint is great for enhancing natural color, filling in sparse areas and creating soft definition,” adds Streicher. “It’s one of the most impactful ways to achieve low-maintenance brows that still look groomed and dimensional.” Breyne especially recommends tinting for anyone with brows that are blonde, faded or starting to turn white.
If you have a good amount of brow hair but want that brushed-up, slick look that’s popular, try lamination. A chemical solution is applied to the brows to break down the hair bonds, allowing the hairs to be groomed into a new position. Breyne says lamination can also give the appearance of fuller brows by temporarily filling in patchy areas, and results last about six weeks.
Lastly, microblading is a brow tattoo of sorts that deposits pigment via a needle-tipped tool (topical numbing cream is applied first), creating hair-like strokes. “When done well, it only penetrates the first layer of the skin, allowing the pigment to fade gently over time,” says Breyne. Results can last one to two years or longer.
Shaving every day or even every week can get old quickly. Waxing is a solid alternative, but it can cause ingrown hairs and awkward in-between phases. For an easier, more permanent option (albeit more costly), consider laser hair removal, which New York dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, MD says can reduce hair by up to 70 to 90 percent.
“Laser hair removal is a light-based treatment that permanently reduces unwanted hair by damaging hair follicles at the root,” explains New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD. “It’s a smart, long-term solution for those who want to simplify their daily grooming without compromising on how their skin looks and feels.” It’s particularly helpful for anyone who gets red or irritated when shaving or waxing, adds Dr. Waldorf.
“Laser hair removal is a high-maintenance treatment upfront, as multiple sessions are needed, but once the protocol is complete, you avoid the irritation that often comes with other hair removal methods,” says Dr. Russak. It also streamlines your shower time. “Skipping the step of removing unwanted hair can easily reduce your daily routine by 15 minutes,” adds Green, noting that European Wax Center now offers laser hair removal treatments at select New York locations.
Although sun exposure isn’t good for our skin, a bronzed complexion can be a real confidence booster. Of course there are dozens of good self-tanners these days, but a spray tan can offer a more even, longer-lasting glow. “At its core, this sunless tanning method uses a fine mist containing dihydroxyacetone [DHA]—a colorless, sugar-derived compound,” explains celebrity tan artist Isabel Alysa. “When DHA meets the amino acids on the skin’s surface, it triggers the Maillard reaction [browning effect] and gradually develops into a beautiful tan over several hours. It doesn’t stain or dye the skin; it actually interacts with the skin’s chemistry to give that natural-looking color.” The result is the sun-kissed glow you seek without any UV damage.
SUGARED + BRONZED founder Courtney Claghorn says her clients report feeling instantly more naturally beautiful with a spray tan. “It’s like a quick confidence boost. Clients find they can skip steps like bronzer or foundation, making it a great hack for saving time in the morning.” Alysa agrees. “A spray tan gives you confidence—that real kind that starts inside. When you feel good in your skin, it changes how you move through your day. It’s not just about what you see in the mirror; it’s how you feel showing up in the world.”
Hair enhancers, like keratin and glossing treatments, not only enhance the appearance of the hair, but also its manageability and overall health. “This allows people to spend less time styling their hair,” says hair-care expert Josh Rosebrook. For example, “professional keratin treatments can dramatically reduce frizz, making hair more manageable. With more smoothness, clients find that they can wash and go, drying their hair naturally without hot tools.”
Glossing treatments have become increasingly trendy and work to increase smoothness and shine for a “glass hair” effect. “They instantly make hair look healthier and styled, so clients can omit the daily use of shine serums and other products,” says Rosebrook. “Deep conditioners are very effective, too. Healthier hair just behaves better and is less prone to tangling and breakage.”
Celebrity colorist Chad Kenyon jokes with clients that “low maintenance does not mean no maintenance.” Between color appointments, he recommends using bond repair and hydrating treatments to keep hair healthy and manageable, whether it’s at home or the salon.
“Unlike traditional fillers, which volumize or contour, skin boosters work on a cellular level to improve skin quality by enhancing hydration, elasticity and barrier integrity,” says Dr. Russak, noting that these treatments have been popular in Europe for years, but recently came to the U.S. “Over time, this translates to skin that is naturally plumper, smoother and more light-reflective, even before serums or makeup.”
Dr. Russak explains that skin boosters can be tailored to each individual based on their underlying needs. “SKINVIVE by Juvéderm and RHA Redensity are great for providing hydration and glow, and more bioactive options like Restylane or topical polynucleotide-based boosters are best when regenerative signaling is important,” she says. “Ultimately, skin boosters allow the skin to do more on its own by internal optimization rather than external dependency.”
Thanks to this hydration boost from within, New York plastic surgeon Andrew Peredo, MD says that most patients will likely need less daily moisturizer and highlighter.
“Hydrafacial treatments provide a monthly reset for your skin health with an advanced, personalized approach—that lays the foundation for healthy, radiant skin,” explains Beverly Hills, CA dermatologist Tess Mauricio, MD. “With consistent, monthly treatments, skin stays balanced, hydrated and resilient, reducing the need for excess steps or products. You’ll notice smoother texture, clearer pores and better makeup application, making your get-ready routine quicker and more effective.” West Palm Beach, FL dermatologist Kenneth Beer, MD adds that Hydrafacial also stimulates blood flow, cleans out pores without excessive pressure and helps other products applied afterward to penetrate deeper.
“For patients with early signs of aging or those not ready for lasers, microneedling with exosomes is an excellent regenerative treatment that enhances skin clarity and collagen production with minimal downtime,” says Southlake, TX dermatologist Janine Hopkins, MD. New York dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD recommends radio-frequency microneedling, like Secret RF or Morpheus8. “They tighten skin and improve texture, minimizing reliance on firming serums and pore-minimizing primers.”
A variety of different injectables can help make your daily routine easier. “Neurotoxins help prevent expression lines, ensuring makeup doesn’t crease, while dermal fillers can restore volume and balance features, so you can probably scale back your makeup use,” says Dr. Marina Peredo. “Biostimulators like Sculptra and Radiesse are great for long-term tightening and collagen building, so you have less need for firming creams.” Dr. Hopkins adds that Sculptra is a “natural-appearing yet significant way to restore balance and youthfulness without daily contouring.”
No matter your skin concern, there’s probably a laser to address it. “Resurfacing lasers, like Fraxel, CO2 and AVAVA, work to refine skin texture, shrink pores and fade discoloration for a smoother canvas and less need for foundation and ‘glow’ products,” says Dr. Marina Peredo. “Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and BroadBand Light (BBL) can target redness, broken vessels and pigment for a more even skin tone, so you can skip using concealer and color correctors.”
Dr. Hopkins is also a fan of fractional laser resurfacing with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or exosomes to improve skin tone, texture and elasticity. Lasers for acne-prone skin can help minimize breakouts and fade scarring, which can scale back a daily acne routine.
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