How To Look Less Tired

how to look less tired

Dull-looking skin, puffy eyes, even dehydrated lips, a lack of sleep really can take its toll on your complexion. If you’ve been enjoying all the fruits of the festive season but want your skin to look radiant then find out how to look less tired here. We’ve got all the skin tricks from de-puffing tired eyes to brightening sallow complexions. Short of handing you a duvet day, nothing will help you look fresh and ready for the day faster . . .

How To Look Less Tired Without Makeup

When you’re tired, run-down and stressed out, your skin is a big giveaway, looking dull, puffy, dehydrated and exhausted. We recommend tackling the underlying cause first and trying to get a few good early nights alongside your 5 a day and some gentle exercise. Also, try to reduce tension by having a massage or relaxing with a boxset.

how to look less tired

When it comes to your skin, it’s a great idea to boost your circulation by trying facial massage; apply a facial oil such as Votary Neroli and Myrrh, then working with firm, circular, upwards movements massage deeply into skin to help improve circulation and drain away toxins.

how to look less tired

Boost Hydration

Very fine, crepe-y lines on your skin often appear when our skin is tired, lacking in nutrients and dehydrated. The first step to getting rid of them is to drink more water, but we also recommend applying a serum rich in hyaluronic acid; this unique ingredient can hold 100x its weight in water and helps to plump up skin by pulling in moisture. We like Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Hydration Booster which includes nourishing evening primrose oil and coconut fruit juice alongside hyaluronic acid.

Bring Back Glow

If your skin has an ashy, grey tone, appears sallow, or uneven when you’re tired, then trust us, you’re not alone. Skin brightness and clarity disappear when we’re exhausted, but there’s one fantastic ingredient for combating this – vitamin C, which works to improve skin brightness, fade sun spots and as it is also a powerful antioxidant, protects skin from environmental aggressors and pollution too.

If you want quick results then try a treatment mask such as Rodial Vit C Energising Sheet Mask which infuses skin with brightening vitamin C, soothing green tea and moisturising hyaluronic acid. A daily vitamin C serum will help to bring back skin’s glow, even if you’re not getting your 8 hours, so we recommend applying Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum after cleansing each morning for long-term results.

how to look less tired

Eyes Wide Open

Eyes are often the first area to reveal how tired you are – fatigue affects the level of inflammation in our bodies and because the eye area is so delicate, puffiness really shows. After a hard night we suggest holding ice cubes under the eyes to take away puffiness, then follow with a nourishing eye cream to tackle fine lines and help fight dark circles. Omorovicza Reviving Eye Cream contains vitamin K – a remarkable ingredient that works to improve circulation and fight dark circles caused by broken capillaries.

How To Look Less Tired With Makeup

To help you avoid the ‘ooh you look tired’ comments after a broken night’s sleep, start your makeup routine with a glowy primer to bring back that inner radiance – we like Becca Backlight Priming Filter which blurs imperfections while brightening skin with crushed pearl extract and holds foundation in place, so you don’t look grey and dull come 3pm.

As for foundation, a stick formula like Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick makes application so simple (handy when you’re tired), just swipe across forehead, cheekbones and chin before blending with fingertips.

Making Eyes

Disguising tired eyes will make it look like you’ve had a restorative eight hours (just add espresso). First up, swipe By Terry Touche Veloutée over any dark circles – the light reflecting formula will hide any discolouration instantly. Next wash a pale eyeshadow such as Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Matte in Lion over the area to hide any redness and create a contrast with your lashes.

White eyeliner might seem counterintuitive, but it works to open up eyes – try Nars Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Santa Monica Blvd along your waterline. Bring back your eyes’ natural sparkle by dabbing a tiny dot of shimmering highlighter like RMS Beauty Living Luminizer into the inner corners. Finish with a coat of black mascara – try Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara and focus on the outer lashes to pull eyes wide open.

Wake Up Make Up

Colour is your secret weapon in the war against a tired complexion. A vibrant blusher instantly brings that healthy glow back to your skin – so for an instant wake-up call blend the suit-everyone Nars Orgasm into the apples of your cheeks with a fluffy brush like Kevyn Aucoin The Blush Brush. For a subtler glow Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush blends luminous pressed powder with colour for a lighter touch that helps to illuminate skin too.

Avoid darker-hued lipsticks as these could highlight dark circles and dull, dehydrated skin, instead choose a colour just a few shades brighter than your natural lip colour, choose a moisturising formula to prevent flakes and patchiness – we recommend the vitamin E enriched Lipstick Queen Nothing But The Nudes Lipstick.