13 ways to fake a good night's sleep

How amazing is it to get a good night’s sleep? You wake up with a clearer mind,  glowier skin and shinier hair. Unfortunately, between working long hours, socialising and catching up on the latest episode of the Kardashians, a decent sleep can be hard to come by. That’s just life. So, here are 13 ways to look like you’re well-rested (thank you very much).
 

#1 Beautify your sleep

If you know you’re going to get less sleep than you should, apply an energising night mask before you hit the hay. The following morning, your skin will look radiant and revived.  We recommended Estee Lauder Nutritious Night Vita-Mineral Intense Nourishing Crème/Mask as it contains a heap of vitamins and minerals to rebalance skin and enhance its ability to detoxify. Yeah, it’s basically sleep in a tub.
 

#2 Head to the fridge

And not just for breakfast! Keep a cucumber in the fridge for those mornings when you wake up with puffy, tired eyes. Slice it up and place over your eyelids to shrink capillaries and stimulate lymphatic drainage. Alternatively, an eye roller – like First Aid Beauty Detox Eye Roller – contains ingredients like caffeine to reduce pesky under-eye bags.
 

#3 Scrub away

During the night, dead skin cells are replaced with fresh ones. If you’ve had a late night, a good exfoliator can do much the same. It’ll whisk away built-up skin cells and leave you with a complexion that looks anything but dull. As soon as you wake up, wash your face with ModelCo Exfoliating Cream Facial Scrub. As an added bonus, the formula contains vitamin E to nourish and sweet almond oil to relieve irritation.
 

#4 Give your skin an energy boost

In the form of a serum, that is. After applying moisturiser, pat Ella Bache Hydra Booster over your skin. The serum has a two-phase action that combines water and energy – two things you definitely need to get tip-top skin and fake a good night’s rest.
 

#5 Shine bright like a diamond

The brighter your skin, the more ‘awake’ you’ll look. Fake it ‘til you make it, we say. Before you start applying make-up, smooth a little Models Prefer Liquid Brightening Primer over your face. The formula evens out skin tone and enhances luminosity – take that, Monday morning meeting!
 

#6 Scale back the foundation

Do you tend to reach for a high coverage foundation after a late night? Next time, try using one with a lightweight texture. You’ll look more radiant if your actual skin is still visible. L’Oreal Paris Nude Magique Eau de Teint is ideal, as it covers imperfections and won’t make you feel like you’re wearing make-up (because you’re not).
 

#7 Add a flush of colour

Instantly enhance tired, dull skin with a bit of blush across the apples of your cheeks. Revlon PhotoReady Créme Blush contains photochromatic pigments that reflect light, giving cheeks a healthy glow. Our advice? Apply it slightly higher than usual – this trick will make you look more awake.
 

#8 Illuminate, illuminate, illuminate

Illuminators were made for late nights and early mornings, I’m sure of it. Whether you apply it to your cheek and brow bones or mix it with your foundation (or both!), an illuminator will leave your skin shiny, bright and – you guessed it – oh-so-luminous. Our pick is Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Illuminator – it comes in four shades to suit every complexion.
 

#9 Cover dark circles

Dark circles are a telltale sign you haven’t gotten your recommended eight hours of sleep. Thankfully, the beauty gods gave us concealer to deal with such dilemmas. Natio Pure Mineral Concealer has light-reflecting minerals to soften and conceal problem areas. Dark circles, be gone!

#10 Go nude

Swap your standard black eyeliner for a nude one. If your eyes are red and bloodshot, lining the inside rim of your lid with nude liner will neutralise the colour and work to brighten your face. Benefit Eye Bright Pencil comes in a light nude-pink shade that’s perfect for this.

#11 Curl those lashes

The easiest way to open up your eyes is to curl your lashes. Wide eyes give the illusion that you’re awake, even when you’re barely hanging on. The Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler is a front-runner in our Best in Beauty Awards, so you know it’s good.
 

#12 Stay peachy keen

Popping on a peach eyeshadow is a great way to fake a natural glow. Lightly smooth Jane Iredale PurePressed Eyeshadow in Peach Sherbert over the lids of your eyes. It can be used wet for an intense finish, or dry for a softer look. The peach shade will cover any redness, and counteract dark spots around your eyes.

#13 Dry shampoo

Dry shampoo is a tired gal’s best friend. You can skip washing your hair and sleep in that little bit longer, and nobody will know. Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo’s light floral fragrance smells delish, and will put an extra pep in your step.
 

What other tips do you have to fake a good night’s sleep?

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