Skincare

FAKING IT

HOW TO LOOK LIKE YOU SLEPT LIKE A BABY WHEN, IN FACT, YOU WERE UP MOST OF THE NIGHT

WORDS TANIA GOMEZ

How did you sleep last night? No doubt your answer is staring at you in the mirror right now. In a perfect world, we would all get our optimum eight hours and wake up looking refreshed, all glowing skin and clear eyes. But real life can often get in the way, which means we’re often left to deal with the less than ideal aftermath in the morning.

Whether you have had a stressful week, have been up until the wee hours with a child or simply had an unexpectedly long Netflix binge, waking up from an abysmal night’s sleep requires calling on serious reinforcements. And yes, we’re talking about employing a little help of the make-up and skin wizardry kind.

We’ve tapped into the expertise of those in the know to uncover the tricks that will have you looking like you had a great night’s sleep.

STEP 1 Hydrate your skin

Lack of sleep can result in dry skin, so hydration is key. Along with drinking plenty of water, dermatologist Shyamalar Gunatheesan suggests using a vitamin B3 and vitamin C serum, allowing ample time for it to absorb into the skin. “(Then) put a hydrating moisturiser on top because you want to trap all that serum in and give your skin that luminosity,” Dr Gunatheesan says.

WE LIKE Olay Luminous Vitamin C Super Serum 30ml, $35.99

STEP 2 Conceal away

For tired eyes, celebrity makeup artist Michael Brown says use eye drops to clear redness and then use two shades of concealer to cover dark undereye circles. “Use a peachy/yellow (orange for extreme dark circles) on the actual dark circle area fi rst, and dab to blend. Then use a concealer that is more of your skin tone shade (or you could go even slightly lighter) over the top to brighten the area,” Michael says.

WE LIKE Maybelline Cover Stick Corrector Concealer, $8.49

STEP 3 Use eye make-up sparingly

Michael says to go for a more pared back approach with eye make-up, as heaviness around the eyes can make you look more tired. Use neutral tones across the socket bone, with a slick of mascara, and skip the eyeliner. “Think fresh and light, while steering clear of pinky/reddish shades, as these can make the eyes look more tired,” he advises.

WE LIKE Revlon Colorstay Looks Book Eye Shadow Palette — Original, $16.49

STEP 4 Highlight key areas

To help further combat dull, tired skin you can use a creamy/liquid, non-metallic highlighter under or over foundation to highlight key points on the face, such as the cheekbones, Michael says. “(This) helps to capture and refl ect light, and will help give the illusion of fresh, glowy skin.”

WE LIKE Nude by Nature Touch of Glow Highlighter Stick in Champagne, $20.99

STEP 5 Brighten up lips and cheeks

Embrace brightness on the lips and cheeks, which will help add colour and vibrancy to your look. Michael recommends using a peach, dusty rose or a brick-based pink/red. “Choosing certain hues can really awaken the skin, giving colour and freshness back to a tired complexion,” he says.

WE LIKE L’Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick 103 Blush in a Rush, $18.49

Try this Try thisBefore putting on make-up or skincare, Dr Gunatheesan suggests massaging facial acupressure points using a rolling motion for 30-60 seconds. This helps with lymphatic drainage. Massage between eyebrows, above the upper cheekbone, a finger space below pupils, a finger space just outside your nostrils and on the angle of your jaw.