Whether it’s broken air conditioning, a newborn baby, noisy neighbours, or stress of any kind, the reasons for sleep deprivation are endless. The methods for reversing the obvious signs of fatigue, however? Limited, but not entirely nonexistent. Working alongside practices that will tackle your insomnia, like undergoing a sleep cleanse or enlisting the help of a supplement, we’ve gathered the hacks that will help you fake it till you make it.
So while we’re just short of offering you the chance to go back in time and get those solid eight hours of shut-eye, here are a few quick and easy hacks to hide the evidence in the meantime.
1. De-puff your eyes
Unless you’ve been crying or are experiencing an allergic reaction, puffy eyes are generally an indication of a sleepless night.
On particularly puffy mornings, we recommend keeping a couple of spoons or a jade roller like the Revlon Cooling Facial Roller ($16.99, Chemist Warehouse) in the freezer and holding them to your under-eyes for a few minutes. This will cause the blood vessels to constrict, reduce inflammation and basically make you look more like a human and less like a zombie.
2. Nix dark circles
Is there a greater tell-tale sign of a late night than two whopping dark circles under your eyes? Don’t stress, we’ve got two equally as effective tips for fading those blue and purple hues. The first? Heal. By using a vitamin c-rich eye cream like the Bondi Sands Eye Spy ($14.99, Chemist Warehouse), the darker pigment under the eye will begin to brighten.
And for a more immediate response? We turn from healing to concealing. Brighten your dark circles by applying an illuminating concealer like the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye ($40, Adore Beauty). Even if you don’t feel awake, at least your face will be telling a different story.
Want to take it one step further? Distract from your eyes entirely by wearing a bold lipstick.
3. Exfoliate
When you slough off the dead skin cells that have built up overnight, your skin will appear radiant and luminous. Better yet, find an exfoliator with caffeine in it like the Frank Body Original Face Scrub ($21.95, MECCA) to boost circulation and reduce puffiness.
4. Drink water
Let’s face it, water can fix just about everything. By consuming your allocated 3 litres a day, you’ll avoid crepey lines and reduce the severity of fatigue in your face.
5. Tan your face
Nothing breathes life into a tired complexion quite like a golden glow. If you’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed, treat yourself to a wash of tanning water like the SugarBaby OUT-GLOWING ($26, Myer) to simultaneously hydrate and illuminate.
6. Coat your lashes in a volume-boosting mascara
Don’t underestimate the power of a wispy lash. Invest in a mascara with volume-enhancing and curling properties to open up your eyes and conceal any signs of fatigue.
We love the Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Mascara ($19.49, Chemist Warehouse) and Lancôme Virtuose Curling Mascara ($29.99, Chemist Warehouse).
7. Sweat it out
Have you ever noticed the glowing flush on your face after you’ve completed a vigorous cardio workout? While it’s a great solution for breathing life into a tired face, when you’re running low on sleep, intense exercise is one of the last things you have the energy for. This is where infrared saunas come in.
In addition to boosting collagen and increasing circulation, an infrared sauna session will also improve your quality of sleep and illuminate the skin as you sweat out toxins and detoxify your body.
Main image credit: @chey_maya
Do you have any tricks to looking less tired? If so, what are they?
Not sure I would be able to get through 3 litres of water a day.
Not a fan of the tan (#5), but the rest is good advice.