Looking refreshed even when you’re tired

Looking refreshed even when you’re tired

Didn’t get in bed on time last night?

Chances are, you know that you should get at least eight hours of sleep every night, but how much rest do you actually get? When you’re in school, you pull off all-nighters all the time.  You go out, you work, you study. You don’t get enough sleep. When you get out of school and get that “big girl”/”big boy” job, maybe you move in with your partner, maybe you start a family- you might often find yourself feeling stressed or busy- both of which can affect your sleep patterns. Sometimes, there might even be days when you’re too tired to fall asleep- sounds strange, but trust me, I’ve been there.

So… what do you do when lack of sleep causes you to feel stressed and tired all the time? You come up with a plan- staying organized can do wonders. Unplugging from social media (and putting your phone down altogether), turning off your TV and picking up a book before going to sleep are just a few things that can not only help you sleep better, but fall asleep faster.

There are days though when you can only sneak in a few hours of sleep. I don’t about you guys, but lack of sleep always shows up on my face and I have a few trusted tips that never fail to make me look and feel refreshed.

GETTING A QUICK START

I have trouble getting enough sleep especially when traveling. One of the first things I do in the morning on those days, is take a quick shower- a cool shower always helps me feel refreshed and energized. I also always make sure to have a good, hearty and healthy breakfast and a cup of good coffee or tea. Keep the breakfast light, as eating something heavy first thing in the morning can leave you feeling sluggish throughout the day- this and not enough sleep is not a good combo.

START WITH YOUR SKIN

If you don’t have enough time for a shower, give your face a little ice water bath (I talked about in this post) it’s a quick pick-me-up for your skin that will leave it looking fresh and revived. Eyes looking puffy? Try using chilled tea bags as an eye mask- just brew them in hot water then place them in a freezer for a few minutes to cool them down. Apply on your eyes and keep them on for about 5 minutes- this will help bring the puffiness down. I also like using these Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Masks from Shiseido– they help to make the skin under my eyes feel plump and hydrated in an instant. If dark circles are an issue, I love using a brightening cream like this one from Origins that brightens and illuminates the area under my eyes. Prepping your skin for makeup is where you need to pay extra attention- tired skin has a tendency to feel dry, so a good moisturizer is key. I love the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for a few reasons- it’s very nourishing, brings instant relief for my skin when it feels dry, it doesn’t irritate it and works great under makeup. I have tried many, many high-end moisturizers and creams, and none have worked as well as this one- it does wonders for my skin whenever it feels dehydrated.

NOW, LET’S MAKEUP

It’s no secret that concealer is my best friend- especially on those days when I look tired. I always stick to lightweight formulas like the Naked Concealer from Urban Decay– it feels incredibly light but does a good job at covering and brightening. I find that anything that is thick or creamy doesn’t work too well with my skin when it’s tired and/or dry. Set your concealer with a little powder to prevent it from creasing.

Right before going in with my foundation, I like using either MAC’s Strobe Cream or Pixi’s Glowtion. Both brighten and slightly illuminate skin and when I’m tired, I’ll take all the help I can get. Similarly to my choice of concealer, I stick to lightweight foundation formulas like L’Oreal’s True Match or Guerlain’s Baby Glow. I love both of these because there’re both trusted products and both look really natural while still providing a nice coverage.

For the eyes, I like using a matte beige eyeshadow like MAC’s like Blanc Type all over my lid and define my crease with a darker shade like MAC’s Omega. A cream-colored liner on my water line, curled lashes to lift my eyes and a few good coats of my favorite mascara and my eye makeup is done. Sometimes I also like smudging a brown liner on my upper lash line for a little more definition. I definitely avoid heavy eye makeup when I’m tired, but also want my eye to have some definition.

Slightly warm up your face using a bronzer- like Benefit’s Hoola– so that your face doesn’t look too “flat” add a little blush and a highlighter. I think that highlighter is one of those products that I usually reach for the most when I feel that my skin is looking a little dull. Mary-Lou Manizer from The Balm is beautiful- I love using in my inner eye corner, too.

My choice of lip color really depends on my mood- I think that anything from nudes, pinks to bright berries and reds works well. Bright colors can really help in making you look and feel refreshed, but nudes paired with a good lip liner work just as well.

With the help of good skincare and a little makeup, looking refreshed, even when you’re tired, is definitely possible. Truth is, nothing can replace sleep, but it’s good to have a few trusted products and tricks up your sleeve for those days, when getting enough sleep isn’t an option.