Do You Look Overtired?

Mothers of small children are some of the least-rested groups of people around. If you don't have time to sleep you probably don't have time to run to the spa and get a professional facial or wrap, and don't even think about a massage. Instead, let's look into some easy remedies for that telltale exhausted look. You can do these at home, so even if you don't feel that great, you can still look your best.

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Tired Eyes

The first thing that people notice when they encounter a sleep-deprived person is their puffy, red, tired eyes. You can downplay this with a few easy techniques.

Although it seems counterintuitive, the more bloated or puffy you feel, the more water you need to drink. The more water you drink, the better. This is because your body's organs need water to perform a myriad of daily tasks and if you don't provide them with a constant supply then it will retain any water currently within it.

Your first line of defense in combating puffy eyes is to be sure you drink your 8-10 glasses of water daily. If you know you won't get much sleep before you lay down for bed, try to down a glass or two prior to getting your shuteye.

Just like how athletes use cold compresses on their inflamed muscles, you should use them on your inflamed eye area. Cucumbers are the go-to item, both for their convenience and their cost-effectiveness.


You could also try using some chamomile tea bags that have been steeped and then cooled. These are also inexpensive and chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties which can help your inflamed skin.

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Dark Circles

Generally, a yellow-based concealer is used to counteract the bluish-purple under-eye circles that come from lack of sleep. Before you apply the concealer, first apply your regular foundation to the inner and under eye area. Dab it on with a small brush and then use your ring finger to tap it in.

Using the ring finger is important because it is your weakest finger and you don't want to pull on the sensitive skin in this area. The added benefit of using your finger (rather than a sponge) is body heat. The heat generated will help the product melt into your skin.

After your foundation has set then you can apply the yellow-based concealer on top using the same technique. Finally, use a translucent powder to set the two creams.

A lot of people neglect this step but it is really important in order to achieve an all-day long-lasting application. Make sure the powder is either translucent or invisible so that it doesn't negate the color-corrected creams you just applied.


Red Eyes

Another side effect of lack of sleep is red eyes. Basically, the only thing that will fix this is an eye dropper from the drugstore filled with saline solution.

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Dull Skin

Besides your eyes, your skin is another major tattletale when it comes to revealing your sleep habits. Healthy, happy skin has a nice glow to it but tired skin can look dull and dry. To treat the dullness, keep up on your exfoliation regimen, whether it's monthly, a couple times a week, or daily. The right amount of exfoliation for you depends on your skin type.

If your skin is oily, you need to remove the dead skin cells so that your pores will not clog. However, you cannot over-exfoliate because this may irritate your pores and cause them to manufacture more oil.

Dry skinned people can exfoliate more often and combination skin should stick to the suggested twice a week. A quick conference with a dermatologist will let you know what type of regimen is best for you. But if you've had a hard few nights and want a fix for an event, then go ahead and exfoliate and moisturize well to achieve a dewy complexion.


Final Touches

When applying makeup to a tired face, less is better. Do not make your eyes look smaller by applying dark eyeliner or shadows. Instead, you want to make your eyes look wide awake. This can be achieved by dabbing a bit of white eye shadow on the inner corners of your eyes. The shadow will reflect the light out and make them appear larger.

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To brighten the area directly around your eye, use a white eyeliner pencil to draw thinly around the water line. More white color near your corneas will make them appear whiter as well. Curl your eyelashes so that they radiate out and put a coat or two of lengthening mascara on them.

To finish the eyes off, use some iridescent eye shadow to reflect the light. Try a light color, staying within the white and beige color families.

You have already washed, exfoliated and moisturized your skin. Next, you'll want to apply a cream-based foundation with just a pop of blush on your cheeks to give you that vital, healthy look.


Another good idea for drawing attention away from your eyes is to focus all the color on your mouth. If you followed the makeup tips above then your eyes should be only lightly made-up. You can balance the subdued eyes with a dramatic mouth.

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Try a red or plum shade. Line the lips, fill them in, blot, and apply your lipstick. Dust a bit of powder across the lips like you did to the under-eye area to help hold the color in place. Like Gwyneth Paltrow says, "Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick."