Hello, Sunshine!

We all lead busy lives.  Chances are you can’t remember the last time you slept for eight hours straight.  If that isn’t bad enough, the tell-tale signs are quick to show up on your face.  While you may not know when you’ll actually catch up on your zzzz’s, rest assured you can look well-rested in the interim.  For a few simple tips, read on my sleepy compadres.

Take three.  A lack of sleep can lead to dull, sallow skin.  To help your skin restore its healthy glow from the inside out, follow these three steps.  First, start your morning with a tall glass of water and repeat several times throughout the day.  Then scrub your skin to remove dead skin cells, stimulate circulation and visually revive tired skin.  Follow up with a rich hydrating moisturizer to plump up fine lines and sooth dehydrated skin.  For an extra boost of brightness, add a drop of illuminating lotion to your regular moisturizer.  One to try is NARS Skin Illuminator in Copacabana).

Keep cool.  Tired, puffy eyes beg for a little TLC to shrink the capillaries and reduce inflammation.  While placing a used tea bag on the eyes will tame the puff, putting something cold on the eyes is just as effective (and probably less messy).  Cool cucumber slices, a bag of frozen veggies or a cooling eye gel pad (available at any beauty store) will all do the trick.  The five minutes of sitting still and relaxing probably won’t hurt either.

Conceal to reveal.  Show off a well-rested you.  An under eye concealer can be your BFF.  Make sure the texture is light and creamy.  (Anything thick or dry can bring attention to tired eyes.)  Opt for one that’s yellow-based and slightly lighter than your skin tone.  Use a concealer brush to help you reach the inner corners, where shadows create the darkest areas.  One to try is YSL Touche Eclat.

Open wide.  Use an eyelash curler to visually open up tired eyes.  Simple yet effective, makeup artists believe this one small step can have the biggest impact on a tired face.  Finish with a coat or two of mascara and you’re good to go.

Get the red out.  Bloodshot eyes are easily treated with drops like Visine that contain special ingredients to shrink blood vessels.  In tandem, line the inner rims of your lower lash line with a pale neutral or light blue eyeliner.  Both will brighten the eye area and deemphasize glossy and bloodshot eyes.

While these are great tips, let’s not forget…a little caffeine and a catnap can go a long way (smile).