Whether you’ve been partying until dawn, up half the night with the kids, or just struggling to drop off at night, a lack of sleep can really take its toll. Most of us feel rattier when we’re tired, and frequent ‘gosh, you look exhausted’ comments really don’t help.
While nothing beats a good night’s sleep, if that’s just not possible and you need to cheat your way to a fresher face, these tricks can really help…
It’s all in the preparation
If you know you’re not going to get enough sleep, there are a few steps you can take before bed to help the next morning:
1: Cut out caffeine in the evening
2: Keep your phone and tablet out of the bedroom
3: Use an overnight face mask, such as Pacifica Wake Up Beautiful Super Hydration Sleepover Mask, which helps to rehydrate and revive your skin.
Have a mini-massage
First thing in the morning, give yourself a quick face massage to boost your circulation and help to de-puff your skin. If time is an issue, do it in the shower. Use a good exfoliator to get rid of dry skin cells and brighten your skin tone. Avalon Organics Brilliant Balance Enzyme Scrub is really popular with our customers. It’s free of micro-beads and uses fruit enzymes and finely ground walnut shell to gently polish your skin and give you your glow back. As one reviewer said, it leaves skin ‘smooth and fresh looking’.
Choose the right fuel
We know you know this, but it bears repeating – drink plenty of water. If you’re dehydrated your skin will suffer. Try to avoid sugary drinks, alcohol and too much caffeine. They might give you a quick fix, but they can also lead to red, puffy eyes, flushed skin and congested pores. And, while it’s tempting to keep dipping into the biscuit tin, the inevitable sugar crash will just make you feel worse. So aim for foods that release their energy slowly, such as fruit and vegetables.
Puff be gone
If you’re feeling tired, eyes are a real tattle-tale. Try placing slices of cucumber over your eyes for a few minutes, to soothe that sore, gritty feeling and de-puff bags. If you don’t have any cucumber to hand, cold tea bags can also do the trick, although they don’t feel quite as pleasant! An even better option is Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel, which contains cucumber extract, along with other soothing ingredients, including aloe vera, chamomile, Dead Sea minerals and spirulina. The skin around your eyes is really delicate, so pat the gel on gently using your ring finger, as it’s your weakest.
Fake it
A fake tan can help you to appear healthier and brighter, but only if it looks natural. We offer a wide range of natural self-tans, including sprays, lotions and oils. Just choose the one that’s best for you. They all use innovative ingredients, such as sugar-derived dihydroxyacetone, along with skin-loving moisturisers such as rosehip oil, to give you a healthy, even, natural-looking tan.
Add some colour
Don’t fancy a fake tan? Skin can look pale and almost grey when you haven’t had enough sleep. It’s tempting to slap on the foundation, but too much make-up can actually make you look worse – clogging up your pores and highlighting any areas of puffiness or wrinkles. Try a lighter BB or CC cream instead, as they can also help to boost hydration while covering imperfections and giving you a more dewy, youthful glow. Korres Wild Rose CC Cream is a great choice. It brightens skin, smooths fine lines and evens out skin tone. As an added bonus, it has an SPF of 30, and contains healing Vitamin A, so will help to protect your skin from further damage. If you want a bit more coverage, try Green People Age Defy+ Tinted DD Moisturiser SPF 15. It’s super-hydrating and can really help to reduce redness and make your skin look fresher.
Bring back the light
Strategically placed highlighter can make your whole face look brighter and fresher. It can help to hide
dark circles and other flaws, without drawing attention to fine lines or puffiness. Choose a highlighter that’s one shade lighter than your natural skin colour, and has a slight pearlised sheen to it. (We like Lavera Soft Glowing Highlighter.) Dot the highlighter across your forehead, under your eyes and in the creases of your nose and chin. A dab of highlighter in the inner corner of your eyes can also help you to look more awake. Blend it with a makeup sponge or your finger. Be careful not to use too much, or you could end up looking too pale or shiny.
Enjoy some fresh air
As the saying goes, fresh air can really blow the cobwebs away. Ideally, head to a green space for a brisk walk, but if you don’t have the time, try to at least get off your bus a couple of stops early in the morning, work near an open window, and eat your lunch outside.
Do you often struggle to get enough sleep? Check out our guide to natural sleep remedies. From aromatherapy oils to night time teas, it has lots of tips to help you get some shut eye.