How To: Make Your Face Look Like You've Had An Amazing Night Sleep

My tips to help you look like you've had a fabulous nights sleep when your face is saying otherwise !

Dark circles and Puffy eyes - anyone want those?  Lack of sleep is is a killer when it comes to keeping your skin in optimal glowing condition.  If you’re showing signs of a one too many late nights, don't worry - I'm here to help. In a perfect world you need an uninterrupted 8hr sleep  - but that isn't always so easy to achieve - but these tips will have you looking bright and bushy-tailed in next-to-no time.

If you haven't had enough sleep it often shows up as eye-bags.  But with a little help, this can be quickly fixed. According to Michael Roizen, MD, chair of the Wellness Institute, this is just temporary puffiness that, had you gotten proper rest, would have been distributed around the body. Without sleep, however, this excess fluid gathers under our eyes instead.

To get things moving again, you’ll need to give your body’s lymphatic drainage system a helping hand in the form of a do-it-yourself facial massage.   There are various techniques that can help to de-puff, the simplest is to use your ring fingers and, starting at the inner corners, slowly sweep your fingers along the skin towards your temples—manually helping to disperse the fluid.  The lymphatic system requires very gentle pressure, and the skin here is very delicate.  I would recommend a de-puffing eye serum like The Ordinary Caffeine Solution to help your fingers glide over the skin. 

One of my favourite makeup artists, Lisa Eldridge (check out her Youtube channel - its fab) suggests freezing green tea in an ice cube tray, then using the cubes to press along the under-eye. You’ll help to cool, soothe and de-puff in one go, the green tea is loaded with antioxidants and plenty of tannins, which will shrink swelling and reduce the fluids around the eyes.

I'm lucky that I don't really suffer with puffy eyes, however my number one giveaway to a lack of sleep is huge dark circles under my eyes.  As with puffiness, the dark circles are also caused by a buildup of fluid.   You need to reach for a good eye cream.  Ensure that the ingredients include caffeine which will help boost your circulation and constrict blood vessels in the area, retinoic acid that’ll temporarily thicken skin to disguise discolouration, or arnica (used to treat bruising in herbal medicine), which will help to reduce the swelling and inflammation.

You may notice that your lines are more prominent when you’re tired?  Or that your skin’s isn't as plump?  This is due to the fact that your body hasn’t had the chance to properly replenish its collagen reserves overnight (a lot happens during those eight hours of beauty sleep).  To resolve this you need to plump your skin with seriously  hydrating skincare.  Use creams and/or serums that contain hyaluronic acid, or face oils which are rich in vitamins A, C and E.

Are you lacking in radiance and looking a little dull? According to Amit Sood, MD, Mayo Clinic, both a lack of sleep and chronic stress can trigger a drop in the body’s melanin production, meaning your skin can appear dull or washed out. While proper rest is, of course, the best fix, a dab of radiance-boosting primer is a great temporary fix to give the illusion that you have been adequately rested.    My cheat here is to combine Arbonne Makeup Primer (best primer ever) - £32 with Charlotte Tilbury's Light Wonder Foundation Tinted Moisturiser - £33

A pop of colour brings a tired face back to life.  I recommend choosing a blusher with a luminous finish so that you cheeks will take on a youthful rosy glow.   Blend it across the apples of your cheeks and up towards the cheekbones to help give your face a little definition.  Generally I prefer shadow blush, but cream formulas are great for giving skin a dewy glow.  My 2 favourites here would either be Charlotte Tilbury's Beach Stick in Las Salinas or RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek cream colour in Demure.  Then finish your look with a slick of mascara and some under-eye concealer (possibly not in that order) and you’re good to go!

If you are struggling to get through the day, coffee isn’t going to have the effect you’re hoping for - it is just a temporary solution. Would you believe that if you drink too much caffeine, it actually becomes a sedative.  Initially it will give you a boost, but then too much will have the reverse effect.  Instead keep yourself hydrated with lots of water (which will help to plump your skin too) and look to energising herbal teas instead, such as a mint, ginseng and liquorice blends.

​Hope this has helped.  What are you cheats when you haven't had a perfect night sleep ?

​Emma x