Tricky. There’s a general sense that you want to go home and do a Bridget Jones style overhaul but time is of the essence. If you’re stuck at work and have seven minutes before you absolutely-need-to-hop-in-a-cab for fear of being The Girl Who Stood Him Up, then you’re in the right place. Here’s what to do to your face . . .

Grab a face wipe; we’re going to start again. You don’t need to with Revlon PhotoReady Makeup ($36.95), it’s good enough to stay on all day, but this will just make you feel fresher. Now, you needn’t worry about looking cakey, this foundation features photochromatic pigments and a light diffusing formula which to you and me means ace, yet invisible coverage. He’ll be none the wiser.

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Before she stepped out for the Vanity Fair Oscars Afterparty, Nexxus Creative Director, Kevin Mancuso, gave Nat this pretty up 'do with face-framing curl.

While Natalie's hair was wet, Mancuso worked a volumising spray gel from roots to ends. He then blew her hair dry with a paddle brush, lifting at the roots. While her hair was still warm, he transferred one-inch sections onto Velcro rollers. He let the rollers cool completely, then took them out and tousled her hair with a bit of smoothing lotion.

Next, Mancuso took out a one-inch front section of hair, pulled the rest back into a ponytail, and used bobby pins to create a soft chignon. To polish the look, he used a flat iron to smooth the front curl and help position hair around Natalie's face. Finally, he set the style with a light misting of hairspray.

Celebrity hairstylist Oribe is known for coiffing the tresses of stars like Jennifer Lopez, Cindy Crawford, and Beverly Johnson. At the Oscars, he created a simply chic updo for another A-list star: Penelope Cruz. Of her asymmetric Donna Karan gown, Oribe said, "The dress was a lot of dress, so therefore we just went with not doing too much hair."

STEP 1: First, blow-dry your hair. "For this particular type of style, you don't have to worry about getting your hair perfectly straight," Oribe says. "Just get it dry."

STEP 2: Use a large barrel curling iron to curl hair, then brush it well.

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Considering her string of style successes, it's no surprise that Diane Kruger was pure elegance on the Oscars red carpet. For her hairstyle, Pantene celebrity stylist Danilo created a contemporary chignon with a twist. The textured updo complemented the actress's Chanel gown, and it's easier to do than you might think. All you need is a little bit of braiding skill and you're halfway there.

STEP 1: Spray a root-lifting spray gel onto damp hair and blow-dry the hair upside down to help create volume and a base.

STEP 2: Section hair into a side part and divide into three sections (one on each side and one in the back). Tightly braid each side section upward and away from the face.

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Stylist Robert Vetica wanted Jennifer's look for the Oscars to be "very modern and sophisticated," so he gave her this tousled up 'do. To create the look, he began by applying Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream on Jennifer's wet hair, then blew it straight. Once it was completely dry, Vetica sectioned her hair into two ponytails, one on top of the other, to create volume below the crown of the head. Next, Vetica used a curling iron on each ponytail and brushed them both out to create volume. He pinned her hair up into a bun, and then strategically pulled out strands to create a textured effect. To frame her face, he pulled out flyaways around her forehead and finished with high-hold hairspray. Glamorous!

When a stylist knows his client, the results fit her personality to a T. Such was the case with the man who created Kristen Stewart's look, Frederic Fekkai's Renato Campora. He says he wanted to create a "modern, edgy look with a young vibe." To create the style, Campora applied Fekkai Full Volume Mousse to Kristen's wet hair, combing the product through from root to tip. He then dried her hair straight using a large-barrelled round brush. Then, he used a one-inch barrel curling iron to create waves and texture. To give her more volume and movement, he worked dry shampoo into her hair as well. Keep reading . . .

We all do it. Promise that we’re going to have a “quiet night,” only to promptly change our minds as soon as the clock strikes 5.01pm/the hot guy calls. If this scenario sounds familiar, you need a plan lady. Go from desk-bound to dinner-ready in five minutes flat.

Good foundation will take the hard work out of everything else. ‘Tis the most simple mantra to live by. Revlon PhotoReady Makeup ($36.95) has been generating all kinds of buzz OS thanks to its ability to turn gnarly skin into a poreless, flawless face that will even look good under hideous bathroom lighting. Uh huh. It’s that good.

Dinner is a simple one. Bold lips are too much hassle—reapplying and lipstick-on-teeth lark—so keep the rest of your makeup palette simple. A dusting of Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder ($65) on the areas that the sun catches, including your décolletage, plenty of mascara and a nice line of shimmering shadow should see you right for the whole night.

Stay tuned for our desk to date night and desk to dance floor tips.

So there's a man called Barney Martin who you may or may not have had the pleasure of meeting/hearing about. He has a little hair salon tucked away in Surry Hills and is Pantene's Expert Stylist because he's rather handy with a hairdryer (and all the other tools that mega famous hairstylists use). He's back in his homeland at the mo, creating hairstyles with Sam McKnight and the like (a bit of rhyming never goes amiss on a Thursday afternoon) for LFW.

On Tuesday, he worked with international stylist Malcolm Edwards to create the jaw-dropping Issa style that used more product that he had ever seen. Translation: product volumes that are beyond the realms of our imagination. Try it. Z'here . . .

STEP 1: Blow-dry hair upside down using lots of mousse to push the roots up. (Try Pantene Sheer Volume Body Builder Mousse, $6.99 or Frédéric Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse, $46.)

STEP 2: Next, section from the recession of the hairline (about eye level) to the crown; then take this triangle of hair and pin it out of the way.

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Harry Josh created these whimsical buns for BCBG's Fall 2010 show. They were inspired by "the models themselves, who would come into casting and quickly pull their hair back into a bun. I really wanted to create a look that a woman wearing BCBG would sport herself."

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Keep reading for the how-to. . .