How to look good in a hurry.

While, of course, MR PORTER advocates a smart morning grooming routine, the inevitable messiness of the modern man’s agenda can present some challenges. A long-haul flight, say. Or the sixth meeting in a busy day.

Simply put, there will be moments when you’re not feeling as sharp as you ought to. However, those moments can be countered by some nifty grooming shortcuts.

Artistic barber and men’s grooming expert Mr Carmelo Guastella knows more about how to make men look their best than most. He was entrusted to work full-time on Mr Robert Downey Jr’s beard and hair for Avengers: Age Of Ultron. So, in search of insider tips, we asked him for some suggestions for those of us who are less superhero, more super busy.

Even the most robust hair products can lose their brilliance after a long day (or flight). If your locks tend to err on the greasy side, Mr Guastella suggests reaching for man’s most underrated friend: dry shampoo.

“Say you’ve just come off a flight and have no time to freshen up,” he says. “If your hair sometimes feels greasy, make sure you have a dry shampoo spray with you. It will quickly absorb the oils in your hair.”

A quick spray and gentle adjustment of your hair in the gents will keep you polished for hours.

If, after an intercontinental commute, your hair is less than sleek, there’s a simple, timeless remedy to try: a little water and a comb. Run a tiny amount of water through your hair, and watch your product activate all over again. Comb into place, and you’re set.

This hack is only suitable if you’ve got time on your side.“You definitely don’t want to enter a meeting with wet hair,” says Mr Guastella. “If your hair is out of place and you’re rushing to a meeting, use a matt paste to set your hair in place. A little texture and shape will keep you presentable.”

Just as a crinkled and creased shirt can give a messy first impression, lacklustre skin can leave a client believing you’re either overwhelmed by work or just hungover.

“A face scrub will revitalise your face by removing your dead skin cells,” says Mr Guastella. “It all adds up to a fresher appearance.”

There’s no need to lug around a toiletries bag everywhere you go. A smarter strategy is to keep a small tube in your office drawer, ready to go for days when client meetings transition to client dinners.

Ideally, we should all aim to catch a few hours’ worth of sun each week. But whether it’s the fault of our diaries, or our geography, it’s not always possible to maintain a sunny glow. Mr Guastella’s suggestion? Work it into your daily moisturiser.

“The easiest way to counter pale, dull skin is with a self-tan face moisturiser,” he says.

This shortcut requires a little more forethought. The best products build up your colour gradually, so you don’t look like you’ve paid a visit to a tanning salon (or Miami) overnight.

Whether you’ve been burning the midnight oil at the office, or taking a well-deserved evening to celebrate, there comes a moment when you need a helping hand.

“Let’s say you had a heavy night,” says Mr Guastella. “Your skin feels irritated and red and you’ve got blemishes or under-eye circles. Use a concealer that matches your skin colour. It will hide your imperfections.”

Think of it less as make-up, and more as a practical extra grooming step. The key is to select a shade of product that complements your complexion, and, as Mr Guastalla urges, “Make sure you blend it well.”

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