Regardless of how hard we may try to get the best possible beauty sleep every night, sometimes we simply can't get the rest that we need. There's no denying that a busy weekend partying or dealing with the family can show up on your face in the form of eye bags and dark lines first thing on a Monday morning. Nobody wants to have to sluggishly walk back to work looking as though they've crawled out from a cave, so how can you use your makeup skills to banish the look of exhaustion and ensure that you look perfect – even if you don't feel it? These tricks will help you look alert and well-rested for the ideal start to any day.
1.) Start Using A Concealer
It doesn't matter what kind of skin tone you might have, if you're suffering with dark circles, use a gentle concealer that has a yellow base to fight back against dark circles. Dab the product gently beneath your eyes and over any areas that might look red or puffy, such as the corners of the mouth and nose. To blend your concealer, roll the tip of your finger carefully over your skin, and apply foundation over the top if you wear it.
2.) Brighten Up Your Eyelids
If you're suffering from the veiny or red-eyed look, try applying an eye shadow that's one shade lighter than your natural skin tone across your entire lid, right up to the brow bones. You can use a concealer, but shadow base typically lasts longer. Then, pick a neutral color, such as a soft champagne hue for fair to olive skin, or golden tint for darker tones. Sparkle can help to open up your eyelids, and if you use your pinky finger to dab some in the inner corners of your eyes, they'll look wider.
3.) Apply Mascara Properly
One of the best ways to improve your wide-eyed look and reduce the chances of your eyelids looking heavy and exhausted is to apply mascara to both your upper eyelashes and your lower lids. This will help to make your eyes look better, and it can reduce the appearance of puffiness beneath your eyes as well. If you struggle with your lower lashes, try holding the mascara wand vertically and carefully brushing each lash.
4.) Use A Blusher
A gentle color of blush, such as soft pink or peach, can add a great deal of radiance to just about any skin tone. It's just as important to stay away from powders that might be too shimmery, as sparkling cheeks don't tend to look natural. Use a brush to swirl the color onto the apples of your cheeks, before sweeping across your cheekbones.
5.) Add A Touch of Lip gloss
Finally, once the rest of your look is complete and you're looking bright-eyed and rosy, add a shade of gloss to your lips that is similar to their natural color to ensure they look healthy, glistening and plump. This will help you to avoid the drained, white-lipped look that lack of sleep can sometimes provide.