How-to: fake a good night's sleep

It can be hard to get the recommended eight hours of beauty sleep we need each night, but just because you left that deadline to the last minute or stayed up a little past your bedtime doesn’t mean you have to show it. Here are a few simple steps to leave you looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed so that your friends, family and colleagues are none the wiser.
1) If you can handle it – start with a cold shower (or luke-warm at least). Not only will it make you feel more awake, it also stimulates blood circulation through the body. If you’re stuck for time, be sure to still splash your face with cold water and use a mild brightening exfoliating scrub to help reduce dullness and puffiness
Product pick: Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Scrub
2) Your eyes are a tell-tale sign of a serious lack of sleep. Applying a cooling eye cream each morning can reduce puffiness and dark circles. Alternatively, a quick fix to mask dark circles is to use a concealer slightly lighter than your skin tone. Tip: ensure it’s a creamy, light-reflective formula for that extra brightening boost.
Product pick: Nivea Visage Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow Eye Cream
3) To avoid the appearance of dull skin, mix some illuminating cream into a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturiser to add a bit of a glow to your complexion. A heavy formula will accentuate fine lines and flaws and can leave you looking washed out.
Product pick: Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator
4) Use an eyelash curler to open up your eyes, try to avoid a thick, volumising mascara and opt for a curling, lengthening one instead. Applying eye shadow can draw unwanted attention to your tired eyes – instead, apply a hint of shimmer cream in the hollow of the inner corners of your eyes for a revived and refreshed look.
Product pick: Lancome Definicils Lengthening Mascara
5) Finish your look by faking a natural flush by sweeping a cream blush on to the highest point of the apples of your cheeks and blending. Adding a hint of colour to your cheeks will prevent you from looking drained and also deflect any hints of darkness and puffiness.
Product pick: Bloom Cream Blush Duo
Does your skin suffer when you don't get enough sleep? What are your top tips for hiding tiredness?
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99 Member Comments
Recently I started to have a problem with bags under my eyes. I was positive it is an age factor (60th birthday approaching fast), stress for sure (as well) because last few weeks are pretty hard but besides make up it didn't cross my mind to use anything else. Good advice about Vitamin K and cold compresses maybe would help as well. Thank you for the advice...Wandus
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I agree with the Johnson's Brightening scrub, it's beautifully zingy & wakes me up!
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really? is that good?
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Mine really suffers! The dark circles are hideous
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i love cold showers in the morning! deffo wakes you up
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This ideas sound great - I am just wondering why I don't also get enough sleep - that is what I really need to investigate
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my skin does suffer! it looks so much more dull, and sometimes my eyelids puff up :(
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i usually get 8-9 hours sleep but that never feels enough.... i always look tired. just found out i have an iron deficiency so maybe thats why
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i always need help here
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my skin looks terrible when i don't get enough sleep, these are great tips for those nights i didn't get enough zzz...
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Skilful makeup application can hide a multitude of sins!
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i think i need that brightening scrub pronto!
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Great article.
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Oh yeah, I am one of the lucky ones that suffers from dark circles and droopy eye lids, I love the sound of the Nivea Visage Aqua anti shadow product.
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Great advice thanks!
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Great tips, I am going to try adding some illuminating cream to my foundation to add some glow to my complexion.
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I have to use concealer under my eyes everyday because of dark circles. I get about 9 hrs sleep so it's definitely genetics. Damn family!
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I am on the lookout for a new eye cream so I might give this one a go :)
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Totally obsessed with using my MAC MSF to highlight the inner corners of my eyes, cheekbones and upper lip for an instant glow!
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I use Concealer and I also use the Garnier roll on it been working overtime these last couple of weeks.
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i like the Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Scrub
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Great tips as always bh! I usually splash my face with cold water after cleansing in the morning. Helps wake me up and gives my skin a little boost. Apparently helps with your pores too..
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My dark circles are definitely worse when I am tired.
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