Having a sleepless night is a real nightmare for your face. Often it happens the night before a big meeting or anything important that you specifically went to bed earlier for. Unfortunately, REM cycles (rapid eye movement sleep cycles) have zero concept of when we need them the most. Running on little to no sleep is most obvious in the form of a tired face. A dull, sallow complexion matched with reddened eyes is a dead giveaway that our pillow time wasn’t productive the night before.
Thankfully, you can mask the signs of sleep deprivation by making a few tweaks to your beauty routine. Bright skin, clear eyes and a healthy glow are still attainable after a long night of no zzzs. We’ve rounded up the most effective fast beauty fixes, so you can fake those eight hours of shut-eye like a pro!
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Cheat your way to a well-rested complexion
The first step to getting your face to reflect an appropriate sleep cycle is to stimulate the skin using a treatment that combats puffiness and dehydration. Vanessa Megan Cryo Facelift Ice Cube Treatment is a genius repairing serum that incorporates cryotherapy to plump, brighten and lift. It reduces redness and can also be applied under the eyes to target bags and crow’s feet. If you’re concerned about this being time consuming, it takes as long as an ice cube would take to melt in your hand, literally.
No surprises here, but moisturising is non negotiable… and you really need to bring out the big guns. Look for a product that’s rich in antioxidants and vitamins to help reverse skin damage, hydrate and repair the skin. We recommend Sixth Sense Skincare Divine Serum ($45, sixthsenseskincare.com.au), which contains a blend of pomegranate, chia and evening primrose oil to deeply moisturise and nourish your skin.
If you don’t already keep eye drops in your beauty cabinet you must immediately purchase some. Eye drops designed to alleviate red eyes are a godsend after a late night. In the wise words of Drake, “Get your Visine on.”
How to apply makeup for a fresh face
Your skin is on struggle street, and putting too much makeup on a dehydrated complexion can exacerbate the symptoms. Wearing the right foundation will even out your complexion and give you your glow back. Benefit Cosmetics Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup promises the natural coverage you want with a luminous finish.
Speaking of luminous, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat applied under the eyes can brush away signs of fatigue in an instant. Although the product is not a concealer, it hides dark circles better than most and can be used as a highlighter to add light to the top of cheekbones.
This is the oldest trick in the book: apply white eyeliner in your lower inner rim of the eye and in the inner corners of your eyes. This will instantly make you look bright eyed and bushy tailed. We love Eye of Horus Goddess Pencil in Selenite White. Match this with a thickening, black mascara like Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara and totally transform tired eyes.
A bright lip, teamed with your new glowing complexion, draws attention away from dark circles and dehydration. People will also be too busy focusing on your bold lip colour to notice how exhausted you are. A long-lasting matte lipstick like L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Addiction in Haute Rouge or Klara Cosmetics Kiss Proof Lips in Madgenta or Flaming Red ($29, klaracosmetics.com) is perfect for livening up your look. Add a touch of bronzer like Clinique True Bronze Pressed Powder Bronzer and your appearance will go from unrested to slightly sun-kissed.
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The finishing touches for fatigue
If you’ve been tossing and turning throughout the night, it’s safe to say that your hair will be less than polished in the morning. The quickest way to tackle limp, lacklustre hair is by spraying muk Head muk Dry Shampoo to your scalp to soap up excess oil, then pull your hair into a low bun and call it a day.
A lack of sleep increases the size of your pores and for oily skin types, this means the shine factor will be strong. Avoid applying unnecessary powder which can slip and slide around your face. Instead, soak up excess oil with blotting tissues like Swisspers Blot-Off Oil Tissues.
How do you look more awake when you’re running low on sleep? What are your best makeup tips for a tired face?
My face gets really puffy when I don’t get enough sleep