5 years special financing2
If you wake up looking more like a character from "The Walking Dead" than "Sleeping Beauty," that doesn't mean you have to present yourself to the world that way.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "Sleep gives your body time to refresh and renew itself." And sleep is a must for rebuilding tissues and cells—including the skin—writes sleep expert James Maas in his book Sleep for Success!
If you're among the one-third of Americans that the Centers for Disease Control reports is not getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night, you can fake a less-than-stellar night once in a while with some helpful beauty hacks.
“Makeup is a great distraction," says Lancôme makeup artist Sandy Linter, co-author of The Makeup Wakeup. But Linter cautions that there's a fine line between looking fresh and looking too overdone. Layering on too much makeup will not help you look more awake, but instead, simply more made up, she says.
Although you may not have time for a total makeup job, "the main thing you need to do is repair the tired morning look," says celebrity makeup artist Laura Geller.
Here are some easy ways to perk up when you're pooped.
Hydration—from the inside and the outside—can perk up your skin.
Water helps rid your body of toxins and impurities, and plump up your tired skin cells, according to a 2011 review of studies published in Oxford University Press Nutrition Reviews. Drink a big glass of water, then splash your face with some cold water. Or use a skin tonic, which Linter says can also help give your skin a refreshing glow.
Dry skin can also result from sleeping in a room with low humidity, taking long hot showers or baths, or hormone imbalances. This can lead to a dry, tight, and dull complexion.
Moisturizer helps by trapping water in our skin and making it appear more youthful, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Their advice: Use a lightweight moisturizer for oily skin; a medium-weight lotion for combination skin; or a heavier cream, which is more suitable for those with dry skin.
Geller says this "is a must that can wipe away and erase hours of lost sleep evident in the dark circles under your eyes."
Since tired skin is usually dry skin, she suggests using a cream, rather than a powder, and warns against using foundation for this purpose—it's too dry and can accentuate, rather than camouflage, wrinkles. If the tired circles below your eyes are especially dark, a concealer with a yellow undertone can help neutralize them. Linter suggests using a small concealer brush, so the cream doesn't get caught behind your nails.
For an outdoor glow, Linter prefers a BB cream. BB stands for "beauty balm."
"It doesn't streak and contains a bit of color that makes you look more awake," Linter says.
These creams hydrate and even out skin tones, and usually contain things like antioxidants or anti-aging ingredients, plus a broad-spectrum SPF to protect you from the sun.
"Pink blush, applied on the highest point of the apple of your cheeks, then blended outward, is a cure-all for every skin tone," says Geller. She adds that since cream dissolves more into your skin—especially when you're tired—you should use a powder, instead. For an extra wide-awake glow, she suggests a light dusting of powdered bronzer over it.
Eyeliner: "You want a very defined line, not a smoky, smudgy eye," Geller says. Use a pencil in a dark color like green, navy, brown, charcoal,or black, and drag it along the base of your upper lashes, which "frames the eye and brings it forward."
Eyelashes: Mascara "is the eye-opener that can make your eye look finished," notes Geller. There are many mascaras that can curl your lashes, but you can also opt to use an eyelash curler prior to applying it, which, squeezed once at your lash-line, will help make your eyes look more open. A creamy black color works for most people, she says.
Eyebrows: Well-shaped brows draw attention away from crow's feet, dark circles and under-eye bags, advises Linter. Correct and stretch the overall shape, fill in the sparse areas and control the coarse, wiry hairs, she says. "Almost everyone can use a blonde or taupe brow pencil," she says.
Lastly, the lips
If you need to even out the shape of your lip, Linter suggests using a natural-toned pencil that matches your lip color. She suggests steering clear of dark blue reds and burgundies. Opt for a soft and natural pink or coral, she says.
Like diet and exercise, quality sleep has a profound impact on our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. Because no two people sleep the same, Sleep Number 360® smart beds, with SleepIQ® technology, sense your movements and automatically adjust firmness, comfort and support to keep you both sleeping comfortably and provide proven quality sleep. Find your Sleep Number® setting for your best possible night's sleep, and if you own a Sleep Number bed, log in to your InnerCircle℠ Rewards account to see your exclusive offers, refer friends and more.
