30 Tips To Help You Look A Bit More Put-Together (With No Real Effort Required)

Set alarms to make sure you’re sticking to a schedule! This is especially great at forcing you to sign on *and* off at the proper times whilst working from home — it can be easy to chip in longer hours when you’re not commuting (“I’m going to get a head start,” I’ve often said at 7 a.m.), but setting a strict schedule will help you set boundaries and get more done.

AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed

And in the same vein, turn off Slack and email notifications when your hours are done. It becomes too tempting to just “answer one more email,” which makes separation between work and leisure time extra impossible.

Plus, this hack is applicable for any task — whether it’s for allotting screen time or reminding yourself that the laundry needs to be folded.

Here’s a foolproof mathematical equation: tank or tee + wide-leg trouser = a chic everyday uniform. These are available in a slew of neutral colors (think: black, white, navy, dark green). And not only do these look chic, but they’re a far cry in comfort from the stiff denim you’re typically reaching for.

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Promising review: “These have been my go-to pants since I received them! They look quite chic and tasteful. Love.” —Vignesh n.

Get them from Amazon for $33.99 (available in sizes XS–XXL, in long and short lengths, and in 31 colors).

Vacuum up grease because tbqh, it’s been 84 years since your last proper shampoo, I Dew Care dry shampoo. An effective trio of biotin, black ginseng, and root-boosting powder comes in genius packaging — a small container with an attached puff for application that’s as easy as dab, dab, dab.

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Pro tip: Apply just a bit of product, brush it out, and repeat. Putting too much product at once may lead to a sheen of white residue.

Promising review: “I was looking for a dry shampoo that would be easy to use on the go for a trip I was taking. I had no issues taking this through TSA, and it was so easy to use on the go. You literally just pat the poof on your scalp and then rub the powder in. I do have black hair, so dry shampoo is usually very visible in my hair, but I didn’t have any harder time than usual rubbing this powder in. It did a really good job of soaking up all the oil and giving my hair volume. I’m not a fan of the price for the amount that you get, but it is lasting longer than I thought it would. I would definitely recommend and will purchase again.” —Teresa

Get it from Amazon for $18.

Upgrade your WFH wardrobe with an elevated cropped tank, one that has been blessed by a stylish fairy godmother. Why? This takes your basic cami and goes *poof.*

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Promising review: “Don’t hesitate, just buy it. I bought it in one color and as soon as I tried it on I purchased three more. The material is like butter. It doesn’t have a built-in bra, but it’s lined. You could put on a bra with this if you’d like but there’s no need. It’s cropped but still long enough that it doesn’t roll up weirdly at the bottom. Can dress this up or down! I’ll probably end up buying every color by the end of the year, it’s just that incredible.” —Danijtate

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in sizes S–XXL and 27 colors).

5. Rely on this gel lint roller so that you don’t show up to that business meeting with a black blazer covered in pet fur. Bonus points: this one is portable so you can carry it in your purse.

Promising review: “I travel frequently for work and keep this in my suitcase. Works great, I no longer carry a lint roller.” —Liza Przekop

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in four colors).

Sleep with this curling rod headband and wake up to flawless beach waves — no hot tools or arm strength required. Simply wrap damp locks around the roller, fasten with the provided clip, and snooze the night away.

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Promising review: “This product is so amazing I bought one for all the people in my family! You clip the soft roll onto the top of your head and then continue to wrap strands of damp wet hair in a spiral formation, wrapping away from your face. Secure the bottoms with soft scrunchies and you’ll have gorgeous curls for days, LITERALLY. Takes a whopping five minutes if you have thick hair like me. Sleep with it overnight (not uncomfortable at all) and your curls will actually last for days. So simple, so awesome, so much time saved. Can’t recommend enough!” —Kaitlin

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in eight colors).

Running late? This versatile maxi button-up is great for beachside traipsing but still looks polished for dinner with your favorite wedges. Just throw on your favorite accessories and a wedge.

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Promising review: “I love this dress! This dress is so easy to throw on and go. It’s been a summer of extreme heat in Texas and the material of this dress makes it bearable. So simple to throw on to run to the store or any errands. Much more comfortable than shorts. Plus you’ll look more put together.” —ME

Get it from Amazon for $37.79+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and in 28 colors).

Quickly touch up your brows with a Schick dermaplaning razor, a tool sent from heaven for people who are done with the pains of plucking and the expense of waxing. This quickly rids stray brow hairs and unwanted peach fuzz (while ridding your complexion of dead skin to reveal a smoother and brighter complexion), that way you know you’re beginning the day with perfectly-groomed facial caterpillars that only took three seconds to tame.

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And don’t panic! This tool is super gentle, so you don’t have to worry about accidental nicks and scrapes.

Promising review: “This is a 100% painless and incredibly easy alternative to waxing or plucking. A few quick swipes gets rid of peach fuzz and I never have to worry about breaking out because of it. Also, it doesn’t make hair grow back coarser or darker.” —Ellen R.

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $5.99.

Rifling through an already overstuffed tote and *then* being hit with a tangled charging chord reached a level of frustration I can’t really describe. Invest in these cable ties and avoid that problem altogether.

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These cable ties are also great for when you’re NOT traveling! See below.

Promising review: “This is a must for business travelers. I travel a great deal so not only do I have to carry so many electronics and associated accessories, but I need them to be as compact as possible.” —JTN

Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $6.99.

10.

Tackle one dreadful organization task a week and check the interwebz for any shortcuts. Personal example: My bookshelf has been a disaster since 2003. Organizing by color (or taking the minimalist approach) is shockingly easy and takes *checks watch* no more than 15 minutes.

11.

Obtain the ballerina bun of your dreams by way of these Goody spin hair pins — just one pin can do the work of up to *20* hair pins. How does it work, you ask? Just secure your hair into a ponytail, pull it into a super tight bun, spin the pins into place, and BAM! You’ve got yourself the perfect updo.

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Promising review: “I’m a nursing student and have to wear my hair in a bun every day. I’ve tried all the bun makers, watched YouTube videos, and spend way too much time on getting my hair into a bun. I was able to make a pretty bun that was secure in under 30 seconds. I thought it was a fluke so I did it again, and then again. I just ordered two more packs because I know if I lose one of these, I’d have to tear the house down looking for it. I have hair to my mid back, and three of these worked perfectly for me. If I can get my hair in bun in under 30 seconds, trust me…anyone can.” —Tina

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $8.95.

12.

So the eyes aren’t the window to the soul, it’s actually your brows. This cruelty-free Elizabeth Mott brow gel has a pomade formula to keep your brows in place while subtly filling them in, immediately giving your ensemble an air of ~I am put together, can’t you see my brows look good~. The best part? It’s so easy. No expert drawing skills required (unlike your regular brow pencil).

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Promising review: “So incredibly happy with this. It’s incredibly easy to apply (I have to really wipe my wand first, though, or else it’s too thick) and the color blends in SO well with my natural color. It gives my eyebrows JUST the right amount of attention; not too much, not too little. Just killer, natural, beautiful brows!” —Monique French

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in six shades).

13.

Make “cleaning” as easy as one, two, spritz with a no-scrub Wet & Forget cleaner. This no-rinse product should be used weekly to keep your shower free of mildew, which basically means it will take all of two seconds to feel like you’ve deep-cleaned the place in which you bathe.

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Promising review: “This stuff is excellent. It performs as promised, it has a very nice scent, no fumes, and leaves shower clean with no scrubbing actually necessary. It is very easy to apply and rinse off. It is designed very well, with squirting spout separate from the large container and attached by a longish tube, so you don’t have to hold the heavy container while applying the product. I’ve been using it for quite a while now, and I love it. I highly recommend it.” —Stephanie Martin

Get it from Amazon for $20.98.

14.

Add Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF40 to your morning routine for an immediately brightened complexion. It contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and niacinamide for a sheen of glow and light coverage. Lit-from-within radiance *and* sun protection in one swipe? Perfection.

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Promising review: “I love this stuff! It was recommended to me in a Facebook group when I asked for a one-and-done face cream for someone who doesn’t really wear makeup. I wanted dewy, I wanted some light refraction, I wanted sun protection, and I didn’t want heavy color. This is all those things. It works really well in the Florida sun. I’m covered in freckles and it doesn’t dull or smudge them, it just brightens everything. I don’t wear face makeup, other than the occasional swipe of bronzer, and this works great with that. Love it love it love it.” —KristenB

Get it from Amazon for $18+ (available in three sizes/quantities).

15.

Running errands? Or I guess, well, actually running? May we present the tennis dress, a put-together upgrade to the leggings you usually wear. This was described by one reviewer as being “perfect for a hot day” which is music to the ears of anyone who is perpetually sweaty.

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Promising review: “It’s been feeling like 100-degrees this summer and when I have to run errands I don’t want to be dripping sweat in a bra, shirt, AND shorts. I love this because everything is built in, the bra, shorts, and the dress are so cute! Keeps me cool and I feel confident in it! Perfect for a hot day.” —Jess

Get it from Amazon for $33.99 (available in sizes XS–XXL and in seven colors).

16.

Cackle in the face of coffee rings by way of a reversible waterproof desk mat — because if you don’t have a space large enough to accommodate a fancy WFH set-up? Well, same. But slapping this bebe on your living room coffee table at least gives the *feeling* of typing away at a genuine office desk.

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Promising review: “I’m an art teacher, and working from home during the coronavirus outbreak was going to put a lot of strain on my wood desk (which I keep mostly for show but now am forced to use for work). I ordered this desk pad because mint green is my favorite color, and I wanted something to protect my desk from paint and other art supplies. It arrived today, and it was so cute! It’s exactly what I wanted. It’s thin enough not to add too much bulk to the desk, the color is so fun, and it wipes off easily. I love that it’s reversible, too, so I’ll probably use one side for making tutorial videos for my classes and the other for when I’m painting. I was worried that it wouldn’t lie flat because it came rolled up, but it lay flat immediately. And it came with a cute little belt in case I need to roll it back up again and store it!” —Jill S

Get it from Amazon for $9.80+ (available in three sizes and eight colors).

17.

Bliss = being able to remove the plastered pet fur on your black leggings within seconds. Pick up every speck of gunk that’s attached itself to your clothing via this lint remover, a beast at making plain black tees look crisp and straight out of the dryer.

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Promising review: “Where has this been all my crazy cat-loving life? Sticky rollers work fine for clothes but this is the only product that has ever COMPLETELY removed all the cat hair from my bed. I have a long-haired 20-lb tabby and if you run your hands up his back a few times and fling the hair everywhere, it looks like it’s snowing – he never stops shedding no matter what I do. After using this, I can put on a black dress and roll around on my bed and not get a single hair on me. It’s absolutely amazing. Everyone is getting one for Christmas, even if they don’t have a pet. I don’t care, it’s THAT good.” —Stephanie

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two colors).

18.

Another way to ensure a quick breakfast (unlike those irksome TV characters who have a bite of toast and say “gotta run” to the parent who has just prepared a gourmet meal)? Prepping frozen fruit every Sunday — just measure ingredients, pop ’em in a reusable Stasher bag, and store in your freezer! These smoothie recipes are delicious, simple, and will take no more than a few minutes to prepare.

BuzzFeed, amazon.com

Promising review: “I’ve been needing a container to hold my prepped smoothies in the freezer and this is the perfect solution. I avoid plastic, so this is a great substitution. My fruit doesn’t stick to the sides of the pouch and it can hold the perfect amount of fruit for one large smoothie. Happy with this purchase.” —Anna Young

Get the Stasher bags from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in multiple colors and sizes).

To learn more, check out “12 Ways To Make Healthy Smoothies.”

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And if “food prep” is simply not in your vocab, the Dash portable blender is great for on-the-go. Dump in your favorite ingredients, press the blend button while walking to your car, and you’ve got yourself a delicious breakfast. Plus, the compact design means no precious kitchen storage will be harmed.

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Promising review: “I am slowly buying all the DASH products. They are the perfect size for a single person in a small apartment. They are good looking and do the job perfectly.” —SeattleReign

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two colors).

20.

Sitting for 8+ hours a day does not do the body good. Carve out a chunk of me time and dedicate it to exercise — this 20-minute workout is fast, easy to follow, and doesn’t require any equipment.

Photos by Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed / Design by Chris Ritter for BuzzFeed

21.

I think I speak for all of us when I say blessed be the TikTok. Try out these simple hacks to instantly upgrade your ‘fit. Example one: Tuck an oversized sweatshirt into a sports bra for a chic cropped silhouette.

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Or! Try this simple method for effortlessly cropping the oversized promotional tops and random graphic tees you bought at PacSun 10 years ago but have yet to part with. All you’ll need is a rubber band and a dream.

23.

You’re not ready to retire the suede sandals you purchased seven years ago? Fair enough. Use this four-sided cleaning brush to remove the scuff marks and stains that have invaded your suede shoes for an instantly more polished look.

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This brush has a welt surface, nylon bristles, an arched half circle brush, and a protruding brush that lets you clean different kinds of suede with no harsh rubbing or scrubbing required.

Promising review: “I was amazed. After spending about five minutes cleaning suede boots with fairly significant smudges, they came out almost completely clean and are looking really good.” —Beth Perkins

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

24.

Prevent clutter in your living space (and stop telling yourself you’ll “do it later”) by following the one-minute rule. Basically, this motto means tackling mundane tasks that take 60 seconds or less — whether that’s making your bed or putting that coffee mug in the dishwasher.

Zoë Burnett / BuzzFeed, Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed

25.

Nip brassiness in the bud with a cult-favorite Fanola purple shampoo. The violet pigment in this formula works to wash away unwanted yellow in your ‘do, meaning you can extend the time between salon visits — and the benefits of that are two-fold. You’ll save a ton of money on appointments, plus won’t have to subject your hair to additional bleaches and dye that will (I’m sorry to tell you this) cause additional damage.

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Use this only once a week (for about three minutes at a time) to prevent your hair from turning a slightly lavender shade.

Promising review: “Finally! A purple shampoo that actually does something to my brassy hair! I have silver-white hair that is exceptionally hard to maintain due to how easily my hair gains brassy tones and how stubborn they are to remove. I’ve tried a ton of other brands, and none of their toning shampoos will do a damn thing to my hair even if I leave them on for an hour. I normally have to dilute violet direct dyes to make a dent in my brass. It’s nice to not have to schedule a chunk of time to mix a batch of custom toner, painstakingly apply it, and then sit around for an hour while it does its stuff. This shampoo actually works really well and can cut a lot of time out of my bi-weekly color maintenance.” —Audrey

Get it from Amazon for $16.98.

26.

Replace leggings with linen pants, a happy medium for looking like you tried without compromising comfort. (Side note: If you’re traveling this summer, these are perfect “touring around a new city” pant.)

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Promising review: “I bought these for a summer trip to Europe and want to wear them every single day. They’re very lightweight, comfortable and were great for travel days on trains.” —Alyssa

Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in sizes S–XL and in 13 colors).

27.

Doing the dishes is the bane of your existence! I get it! I’m right there with you! But household chores become much less daunting when you have a designated time for ’em. Instead, come up with a weekly cleaning routine to cut back on work day distractions.

Alice Mongkongllite / BuzzFeed

28.

Turn any bra into a no-show racerback with the help of these handy dandy adjustable clip holders. Long gone will be the days of —> put on shirt —> bra shows —> take off shirt to change bra —> put shirt back on again. Not to be dramatic, but these clips will change your life when you’re in a rush (which is always), not to mention these will make any ensemble will look 10x more crisp without colorful straps peeking through.

Amazon

Promising review: “My bra straps spend more time off my shoulders than on — but NOT ANYMORE. I was hoping something like this existed and when I found it, I was so happy. They’re as glorious as I expected them to be. These are life-changing.” —Amanda

Get a set of three from Amazon for $6.97 (available in six colors).

29.

Tame baby hairs in a jiffy with this plant-based gel cream, which ought to help those pesky flyaways that no amount of brushing can get rid of. The best part? This formula is non-greasy, completely transparent, the mascara wand makes it super easy to apply, and will make your ‘do look more polished with basically no effort required.

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Promising review: “I have super fine hair with lots of breakage and no matter how I put my hair up, I have bad fly aways. This stuff is great! So easy and it stays better and looks smoother than stiff hair spray.” —Jill Stilfield

Get it from Amazon for $5.59.

30.

Or! Try an An edge control gel to help lay your edges and slick back baby hairs with just a few flicks of product. Major bonus points: It won’t flake or leave behind any residue, which is *heart eyes* the definition of perfection in our book.

The reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.