Despite having enjoyed a break from work over the festive period, you’re noticing eye bags, sallow skin, and a slightly droopy jawline staring back at you in the mirror. But is there a way to look less tired — immediately, if possible?
Vogue Arabia, March 2022. Photo: Greg Adamaski
Ah, the perils of being tired. The start of the year is frequently accompanied by fatigue and a general feeling of mental malaise – and it often manifests on our faces. So, whether you’re raising young children, working long hours or just completely knackered, it pays to have some tricks up your sleeve to rectify the aftermath of sleepless nights and fake it until you make it. Here are five ways to look less tired.
Ice plunge
Reinvigorate your skin (and soul) by harnessing the wonders of ice. One of Kate Moss’s favorite tricks to look less tired is to fill a sink with cold water, add ice, then proceed to dunk the face in – or, simply splash the skin if that feels more bearable. Not only will this (free) technique reduce inflammation and bring life-giving blood to the skin’s surface, it also helps to ease stress and anxiety and will leave you focused and ready to take on the day.
Start with skincare to look less tired
Rehydrate and plump with the right skincare formulas. Start with a gentle exfoliant, like Fresh’s new AHA Gentle Resurfacing Serum to eradicate dulling dead skin cells, then infuse the skin with hydration, utilizing soothing formulas. Our current favorite is Jones Road’s new Multi-Vitamin Serum. Don’t forget the eyes, either: Votary’s Super Bright Eye Gel and SkinCeuticals’ A.G.E. Eye Complex will bring the delicate eye area back to life instantly.
Concentrate on creating a dewy base
Tired skin tends to look lacklustre and a bit dull and lifeless, so concentrate on adding luminosity and glow. “It’s always a good idea to start with a lovely, dewy complexion,” says makeup artist Nikki Wolff, whose clients include Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Simone Ashley. “I always add a little facial oil – like Noble Panacea’s The Absolute Nourishing Lift Oil, which contains encapsulated hyaluronic acid – into the skincare line-up to moisturize and add glow.”
To look less tired, opt for lightweight and radiance-enhancing formulas, like U Beauty’s Super Tinted Hydrator, or apply concealer to the areas of the face that need it – anywhere with redness, around the nose, under the eyes and on the chin. Avoid overloading the skin in favor of a veil of light camouflage, which will do the skin more favors than a heavy mask of foundation.
Blush and bronzer go a long way
“A bit of bronzer or blusher can completely transform the skin, even in the winter months,” says Wolff. “I love liquid and cream products: one of my favorites is Clinique’s Sun-Kissed Face Gelee which you can apply after – or mix into – foundation, to give a really natural, healthy-looking glow.” After that, press some cream blush high on the apples of the cheeks – we love Makeup by Mario’s Soft Pop Cream Blush for the excellent shade range and skin-like finish.
Brighten your eyes and immediately look less tired
Our eyes are another key area that betray us when we’re feeling depleted. Whether it’s fine lines, dark circles or redness, the key is to focus on brightening the area. “I love to apply cream eyeliner into the waterline – it helps neutralize redness and generally makes us look less tired,” says Wolff, who loves Chantecaille’s Eye Brightening Kajal. Another of her top tips is to curl eyelashes to make them “look more awake”.
Longer term, there are some great eye treatments that can help lift the area more long term. Facialist Debbie Thomas’s Bio Revitalising Nano Mesotherapy treatment involves tiny bubbles of revitalizing solution (think hyaluronic acid, vitamins and amino acids), being micro-injected into the skin to trigger regeneration. Meanwhile, the Bright Eyes treatment at Ouronyx combines polynucleotides and nitrogen plasma technology, to boost collagen and elastin and improve skin quality and texture in the area. If your under eyes regularly give you grief, consider booking in for a consultation.
Originally published in Vogue.co.uk
