Insomniacs Guide to Looking Well Rested

Calling all insomniacs, students, new parents, night shift workers, frequent flyers; this one is for you. Sleep deprivation is a funny thing; it can make you look puffy and drawn at the same time, flushed but dull. You can feel fine and think you look fresh but there’s still something in your eyes that gives you away.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you fake feeling fresh faced:

1. Night-time skincare routine

This one is for those of you who haven’t been to bed at all. Whether you’re pulling an all-nighter to work or whether you’ve been out all night, your skin will thank you if you follow your skincare routine as normal. Ever accidentally (or purposefully) slept in your makeup? You wake up and your skin looks dry and your eyes are a little heavy, doing whatever you can to prevent this early on can will help save you in the morning. If you’re staying up all night rather than staying out all night, try to do your routine as normal then carry on. If you’re out all night, at least remove your makeup before attempting to get some shut-eye.

 

2. Caffeine is your friend

Now before you reach for the coffee cup in the morning, I’m talking about caffeine on your body not in it. Using an eye cream rollerball with caffeine in it can seriously save those tired puffy eyes on a morning. As they’re small and compact, I also recommend carrying this around during the day. Most of them aren’t too wet in texture so they won’t disrupt your makeup but they will give you an instant refresh.

3. Cool is key

So earlier on we were talking about being drawn and puffy at the same time, a cool hydrating gel can help fix this. The coolness will help decrease the puffy swelling around the eyes and help quench the thirst of dehydrated skin, making it appear more fresh and plump again, balancing your face in the process.

For days when your face really needs a boost, green tea ice cubes can be your ultimate saviour. Infused with caffeine and ice cold means your eyes get the ultimate awakening. Wrap them in a wash cloth or muslin to avoid freezer burn and hold or pat them around your eyes for a couple of minutes. You can even do it while making your morning coffee so you don’t need to get out of bed any earlier.

4. Facial massage

Now okay, I know this sounds a little daft and if you’re not getting much sleep you won’t feel like getting out of bed any earlier to do this – but it does help.  It doesn’t have to be long, or like a full on facial. However a cool cream on your finger tips and a gentle tap around the orbital bone can make the world of difference. If you have time to do your full face, do it. If not, a minute around the eyes can help wake you up, drain the puffiness and feel soothing at the same time.

5. Extra reinforcements

These tips are all well and good to give you an extra boost on a morning but it’s worth having something extra up your sleeve when it’s just not enough. This is where the masks come in.

Now I’m not suggesting you start every morning with a sheet mask, but having some cooling or hydrating masks and eye gels hidden away in a drawer of your vanity can always come in handy when you need a pick me up. Not only will they cool and refresh your skin but whose day isn’t better when they start it feeling a little bit pampered? And if time is an issue, no worries, it may be slightly inconvenient but you can always put the mask on when you’re doing your eye makeup and take it off when you’re ready to do your face.

Alternatively you could attempt to eat your breakfast wearing a sheet mask. If you try this please let me know how that goes.

 

 

 

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