13 Beauty Editor approved office beauty essentials

Beauty Editors have a unique work schedule. Some days we're chained to our desks pumping out content, while others are spent juggling meetings and midday PR events. But regardless of the contents of our calendar, at the end of the day, we're just like everyone else.

We're constantly trying to find enough time to make that evening Pilates class, cook dinner, and spend time with the people we love the most. And, most importantly, we're stashing mood-enhancing makeup and our all time favourite fragrances at our desk for last minute touch ups prior to a big meeting or after work drinks, just like you. 

Looking for a desk-side dry shampoo, a keyboard-friendly hand cream, or even a refreshing face mist to beat the 3pm slump, keep reading, ahead you'll discover 13 office beauty essentials selected by BEAUTYcrew's editorial team. 

Delaney Loane, BEAUTYcrew’s Editor

A meeting-friendly shade of lipstick

"I’ll hardly score originality points for this one (and quite frankly, I didn’t think the colour suited me until I used it as a last resort one day and reassessed), but the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick ($54 from Charlotte Tilbury) has officially become my ideal desk side lippy. A little less pink than I wear outside the office, it’s a classic and polished rosy nude without being too much for a meeting. It lasts for an impressive amount of time, however, I do personally enjoy my version of a mini meditation, AKA taking my eyes off the screen for a minute to reapply in my desk mirror and reaffirm my appreciation for the cult-status colour."

A refreshing face mist to beat the 3pm slump

"I’ve had the same bottle of Jurlique’s Lavender Hydrating Mist ($58 from Jurlique) at my desk for a few years now (sorry to the expiration date, but it still feels fine to me). I don’t reach for it as regularly as I should, but when I read about yet another celebrity beauty line I generally need a little something to calm down. The bottle originates from a lovely launch lunch (and has my name written on it, albeit spelled incorrectly), so I always have an internal chuckle when I see it thanks to office nicknames that stemmed from the mistake. The mist inside is refreshing, lightweight and gently veils skin in a cloud of calming moisture, with no chunky water droplets left behind. Great for that 3pm slump when you’re not a coffee drinker, take it from me."

A dedicated office fragrance

"Having been a beauty editor for a decade, my desk fragrance collection is as extensive as it is varied. But only select standouts make it out of the drawer and onto my desktop for consistent use. I’m a big fan of having specific scents designated for office days (it helps with work-life balance, I swear), and my current favourite is an old classic: the Miss Dior Eau De Parfum ($133 from MYER). A few different Miss Dior bottles have made their way through my workspace, but the OG velvety floral version (with its mix of honeyed and peppery notes atop a flowery base) can always be relied upon to set you up for whatever’s on the schedule."

Briar Clark, BEAUTYcrew’s Beauty Editor

A desk side dry shampoo for fixing flat hair

"My hair can look a little flat after a long day in the office, so I always keep a can of O&M Dry Queen Dry Shampoo ($42.95 from Oz Hair & Beauty) on my desk for touch ups after lunch. I spritz the stuff into my roots and work the product in with my fingers to create the texture and body I need, where I need it. However, I stand by the belief that not all dry shampoos are created equal — how many affordable options are infused with native Australian plant extract, lilly pilly, to add natural-looking texture and body to hair?"

A mini setting spray for midday makeup touch ups

"I really hate having to carry around a full makeup bag in my handbag, it’s just one extra thing to carry. But I also don’t like leaving good quality makeup in my desk drawers, because most of it expires before I actually get to use it. Instead I carry a mini bottle of Huda Beauty Easy Bake Setting Spray ($30 from Sephora) in the George, Gina & Lucy bowling bag I take to work everyday to refresh my makeup if I need to. It contains a rice starch and hyaluronic acid complex that simultaneously sets and hydrates the skin, which is a necessity if you have perpetually dry skin like me. Setting powder just isn’t going to cut it, sorry."

A subtle scent for layering later in the day

"Most of the perfumes I wear have great staying power, so if I’m spritzing anything over the top during the day it needs to layer nicely with what I’m already wearing. It’s for this very reason that I carry a 10ml vial of Who Is Elijah’s Chemical Addiction ($55 from Sephora) in my handbag at all times. Whether I’m trying to pep myself up with a spritz of perfume before a meeting, or preparing myself for a work event or dinner in the evening, this scent’s clean florals — but soft, subtle and smooth pink musks and blonde woods — are the perfect mood-elevating accessory. Plus, it’s inoffensive enough that I won’t irritate any of my desk neighbours if I happen to get a little trigger happy with the atomiser."

Kiera Sylvester, BEAUTYcrew’s Social Editor

A hydrating lip tint that survives coffee breaks

"Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm ($42 from MECCA) is hydrating, glossy, and subtly tinted, it keeps my lips soft through every coffee break and catch-up meeting."

A keyboard-friendly hand cream

"For hands, I swear by the Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm ($45 from MYER). The scent is grounding (hello, rosemary and mandarin rind), and the texture is luxe without feeling greasy perfect for reapplying after typing all morning."

A mood-shifting scent for deadline days

"I’m a firm believer in scent as a mood shifter, so I always keep a Glossier You solid perfume on hand ($46 from MECCA). It’s discreet, pocket-sized, and gives that clean-skin-but-better vibe that instantly makes me feel put together, even on deadline days."

Emma Allcock, BEAUTYcrew’s Content Producer

A desk-sized signature scent

"If you know how much I love my signature scent it’ll come as absolutely no surprise to find I keep a mini of the bottle on my desk. My favourite Maison Margiela Sailing Day (from $58 at MECCA) comes in a 10ml or 30ml bottle that not only perfectly decorates my desk, but I can also use it to top up my scent during days in the office. However, the smaller fragrance size does tend to sell out quite quickly at MECCA, so I recommend adding it to cart quickly if you're lucky enough to discover it is in stock."

A hydrating lip mask (or two)

"I carry not one, not two, but honestly a whole mini bag of lip products with me just about everywhere I go. But my office must-have is a lip mask, to combat the ultra-drying AC. My faves (to name a few) are the Byoma Liptide Lip Mask ($20 from Sephora) and the Laneige Bouncy & Firm Lip Treatment ($39 from Sephora), the lip-plumping hydration is seriously unbeatable."

Maddy Wilson, BEAUTYcrew’s Shopping Content Producer

An evening fragrance for after work events

"As someone in the beauty industry, I do have the occasional after-work event, so I always ensure to have a fragrance handy that I can spritz before heading out for the evening. Lately, I’ve had Aerre After Hours ($45 from Aerre) on my desk — it’s inspired by YSL Black Opium, and I get just as many compliments as if I was wearing the original fragrance. It’s a fantastic evening fragrance as it has long-lasting base notes like patchouli and vanilla, but it also possesses a citrus-leaning freshness from top and middle notes of mandarin and orange blossom. It’s become a staple for me whenever I’m going from desk to dinner or drinks."

Main image credit: @haileybieber

Looking for more beauty advice from the people who know best? These are the beauty tips beauty editors swear by.