How to look awake when you’ve had no sleep
Do the holidays have you seeing less and less of the back of your eyelids? You’re not alone.
When the party season strikes, it can be deadly, and sleep deprivation can affect us mentally and physically. So if your schedule’s got you feeling like a hot mess (and looking like one, too!) but there’s still plenty of partying to go, you need to take action. STAT.
RELATED: 10 beauty tricks to disguise a hangover
RELATED: Makeup tips for when you don’t feel like makeupping
In the spirit of powering through (at least on the outside), these are the essentials you’ll need. From dealing with bloodshot eyes to concealing blotchy skin, here’s how to look awake and fresh when you’ve had no sleep. ‘Tis the season, after all…
THE ISSUE: PUFFY EYES
THE SOLUTION: COOL IT
They say your eyes are the window to your soul, so if that’s really true, they’re also a dead giveaway that you’re struggling with life. Puffy eyes are usually the result of fluid accumulation, which is why crying or drinking (or both) tend to leave you looking swollen. Puffed-up peepers looove cooling remedies that help tighten the skin around the eyes, which constricts blood vessels and reduces inflammation. So you’ve got a few options: Pop two spoons in the fridge for 10 minutes and then apply them to the puffy area, slice up a cucumber and rest the slices over your eye area (it’s cliched, but works!) or use a product with anti-inflammatory ingredients that’ll soothe and rejuvenate the skin.
bh loves: Clinique All About Eyes Rich™, Avon Anew Vitale Eye Gel Cream, Molton Brown Anti-Fatigue Bai Ji Eye Gel, Arbonne Calm Soothing Eye Gel, Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under Eye Patch, Ella Bache Fruit d'Eclat Roll-On Eye Contour Serum
THE ISSUE: BLOTCHY SKIN
THE SOLUTION: CONCEAL WHERE NECESSARY
Those three (or was it four?) glasses of Champagne you had last night might have been a good idea at the time, but now your skin is looking dull, dehydrated and far from fabulous. But as far as tending to aggravated post-party skin goes, the trick is to conceal the inflammation, while also letting it breathe. Apply a dewy, hydrating foundation as needed. Concentrate on the centre of the face where you’ll typically find the most discolouration.
bh loves: Rimmel London #instaflawless, Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream, Estée Lauder DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Sheer Tint Release Moisturiser SPF 15, Models Prefer DD Fresh Face Daily Detox
THE ISSUE: BLOODSHOT EYES
THE SOLUTION: WHITEN AND BRIGHTEN
Puffiness isn’t the only thing our poor eyes are subjected to after a little holiday debauchery, but it is something we can fix in a sinch. First, use eye drops. This antihistamine will alleviate any irritation and add moisture to your ducts to keep them refreshed. Next, line your waterline with a flesh-toned eyeliner, followed by three dots of liquid highlighter – on the tear duct, browbone and centre of your lids – for a dewy finish that will divert dark shadows and instantly make your eyes appear more awake.
bh loves: Clear Eyes, Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Precision Eye Liner, INIKA Organic Certified Organic Light Reflect Cream
THE ISSUE: BODY ODOUR
THE SOLUTION: FRESHEN UP
The stale stench of last night’s antics will still be hovering the next morning, so jump in the shower to instantly wake yourself up and wash away your sins. A scented body wash will kickstart the revival process and remove any telltale signs of the night before (what entry stamp?). Post-rinse, spritz a fresh and fruity perfume to give you back a li’l energy and ensure that fresh feeling goes the distance. Lastly, anyone who’s been out having a good time will be sporting evidence in the form of bad B.O. Since excess alcohol makes us sweat more than usual, it pays to be diligent in the deodorant department.
bh loves: Molton Brown Eucalyptus Body Wash, DKNY Be Delicious, Dove Clinical Protection Anti-Perspirant Deodorant
What tips and tricks do you have for looking awake throughout the party season?
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74 Member Comments
Ahh yes the spoon in the fridge trick!
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Sleeping on your back reduces eye puffiness and prevents wrinkles from forming.
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I always carry in my bag: antiperspirant and eyedrops.
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I've had bloodshot eye's once before so I know the feeling is definitely not a good thing for your eye's tiredness & using an eye cream that gave me a stinging sensation was the cause of that thankfully no longer use it as my eye's are very important to me, I can see & want to keep it that way. As for tiredness on it's own & bloodshot eye's I've never had this :)
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It's not always the Party Season that may cause you a lack of sleep. Some of us have lack of sleep due to work. Take a Night Shift Nurse for example. Working 10 hours then getting home say 7-8am. The next day, although it's called 'a day off', wasn't meant for sleeping, or so I used to think :) I had a nice long shower, thoroughly cleansed my face and washed my hair and then had a healthy breakfast, got some fresh air by going for a walk and then, believe it or not, I survived the day, even if it meant a bit of house cleaning or clothes washing / ironing, first. That was all to it.....and no, I didn't necessarily sleep better or longer that night but it got me through the day without 'wasting' my day off, sleeping.
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This seems to happen to me a lot lately. I have found that a hot shower seems to wake me up . I just can't move those dark rings under my eyes though.
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I don't feel awake or alive any day until I've showered, applied serum, eye cream and moisturiser and downed a strong coffee.
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Hydration in more ways than one. Get in the shower, drink a heap of water and moisturise your face. Nobody likes looking at a dehydrated face/body!
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When I am over tired my actual eyeballs go really red, as if I've been crying. It is past hell from any amount of eye drops haha
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2 words: sheet masks. They do wonders.
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I clicked on this article because I need as much advise as possible on how to look sane after no sleep hahaha BUT its not from partying its form having twins!
Babies are ALWAYS one to deprive you of sleep (you feel me Mama's).
Thanks for all these tips! I'm really looking forward to the new Stress Positive Eye Lift from Dermalogica -please write something on this for us tired Mums?
Sammy x
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These tips are great and I seem to experience this regularly and as a result my skin always looks the pits. My advice is definitely HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!!! Even thought I've got oily skin, my face always feels so dry and dehydrated when I'm tired so I like using cooling hydrating spritzes over my makeup during the day and to apply a good lightweight moisturiser at the start of the day. Also be sure to drink as much water as you can and keep the fluids up constantly.
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Colour correcting dark under-eyes can also reduce the amount of concealer you need to use.
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When I wake up with puffy eyelids and dark circle under the eye, my quick fix remedy is getting my frozen gel eye mask pack from the freezer door, wrap it in thin cloth or paper towel and place the mask on covering both eyes as I lie down and relax a few minutes (5 minutes is enough) before I get up and take a shower. Another quicker fix is splashing on ice cold water on my face as my final face rinse. It not only firms and brightens up my eyes, but my whole face looks fresh, well toned and wide awake!
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Concealer, a fresh juice and moisturise!!!!
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A shower first thing, a good macchiato for the caffeine and moisturise!
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I take a shower to try and freshen myself up. It works a treat. I also slather on under eye cream that helps with puffiness and bags.
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heaps of water, apply concealer under the eyes and try and get sleep!
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I take a cool shower and pop on some illuminating tinted moisturiser to fake it :)
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These GIF's have made my day 100% better! Thanks for the advice
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Good tips, making sure I get at least some rest every night, drinking lots of water.
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If I do not have time to sleep my 8-9 hours, and have only 3-4 hours to rest, I would do short yoga nidra ("sleeping awake") for 15ish minutes or so, it feels like night sleep and reenergises the whole body/brain....plus I look fresh too. So no need for makeup to hide stuff. Oh yes, I am always filled with fruit, so no lack of hydration there. I even carry fruit in my handbag (no space for makeup there lol) if going somewhere for a long time
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