Blogstar entry: how to fake a good nights sleep

07 Nov 2011 05:00 AM | Posted by bh'sOlivia

(A guide to looking fabulous, no matter how little hours you hit the pillow)

 

Is there really any way to look bright eyed and bushy tailed after a lack of sleep?

 

I’m sure we’ve all been in this boat at some point –dragging a very sorry self into work, messy hair, blotchy skin.. and the worst… big puffy red eyes…

 

At which point, your co-workers have had such choice expressions as ‘whoa! What just came in??’ and ‘ah ha ha, what were YOU doing last night??’

 

Alas, you think at this point you will never ever contemplate staying up 5hrs past bed time for the Mad Men marathon (we all know we adore watching Joan Holloway strut her stuff in her gorgeous ‘50s makeup!) and resolve to have at least eight hours sleep a night before work.

 

Whilst this would be a super great idea, there are times when we just don’t get the kip that we needed.  But this doesn’t mean our appearance has to suffer!

Rather, here are some excellent tried and tested tips I have used (successfully) over the years to keep my face looking fresh and well rested!

 

  1. 1. Navy liquid liner.  I have a wicked addicted to liquid eyeliner (such a classic, clean look) but I hazard a guess that about 99% of liquid liners in use around the world are black, noir, super black, very black indeed.  Whilst I do love a good black liner (particularly for a night time look) I have to mention that it can make the whites of your eyes look…well, less white and more on the yellow tinged side…

Navy liner on the other hand contrasts well against the whites of your eyes, making them look superbright and shiny –fantastic!  Remember the last time you saw someone wear an outfit of navy and white –didn’t the white look beautifully crisp and clean? Same thing for your eyes, hurrah!

Of course a navy liner is reasonable hard to find, but I have used a beauty from Face of Australia, that will set you back on $8 or so!

 

  1. 2. Vanilla eye pencil.  We have all by now heard about the trick with a white pencil –lining the inner rims of the eyes with white pencil will make the eyes look more fresh and alive.  However I find the extreme white shade actually contrasts against the white of your eyes, making them look dull in comparison.  Much better to use with this trick is a vanilla coloured pencil (a fleshy, light cream colour).  This will contrast against the whites of your eye, but it will make them look the whiter of the two –fantastic!  A version of this shade for the more paler of us could be a fleshy pink, and Benefit do a great pencil called “Eye Bright” which is fleshy pink coloured and will set you back about $37.00

 

  1. 3. Depuff, stat! For some of us, the biggest give away is the big puffy bags under our eyes, mischievously  building their way up overnight until you have two big marshmallows residing under your eyeballs!  Here is where you get to experiment with the kitchen ingredients, one or most of which I’m sure could be at hand in your kitchen cupboard right now: Peppermint tea bags and Chamomile tea bags.  After they have been used (i.e. soaked in water) pop them in the fridge for 10 mins or until they are lovely and chilled.  Pop them on the affected area and watch the puffiness deflate! So easy and so quick! 

 

  1. 4. Beauty Balm. In between an illuminator and a primer, this lil beauty is a magic balm that makes all your facial worries run away in terror! Under your foundation, gently rub some beauty balm over your skin in a downwards motion –I emphasise gently, if you rub this into the skin too much it disappears, which is not the aim here.  Beauty Balm has light reflecting and smoothing properties that even out skin tone and give a gorgeous well rested glow to your gorgeous complexion! I was sold on this from the day I first had it in my hot little hands!  Beauty Balm is from Clarins, and will set you back about $67.00 (a worthwhile investment I think).

 

 

Of course, nothing will compare to a lovely dose of good quality REM cycles, but I hope that you can take these suggestions and apply to your days of fatigue.

If anything, they can stop the silly comments about your late night partying ways (or incessant TV watching periods) as you will look like you jumped out of bed refreshed and ready for an awesome day! 

 

 

 

Please note: There has been no editing to this blog entry as it is part of beautyheaven's BlogStar competition 2011. Subject, tone, grammar and style should all come into play when you are casting your vote.

 

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