What do you swear by when you are looking shattered and the face staring back from the mirror doesn't look like you!!!!

[alwaysrunninginheels]

OMG- have spent the last near 24 hours mopping up after sick child........awake most of the night..........dropped the other children at school looking dreadful- seriously knackered looking, pale and puffy!!! Seems at my age, 38, i can no longer get away with no sleep. Alas rain ruled out sunglasses so what do you stylish S&B ladies use when you have mornings like this to help you look radiant?????

Cold tea bags/cucumber on eyes for a few mins.
Fab lipstick to draw the emphasis away from bags!

Cream blusher makes a world of difference. But I think you're allowed to have a day off from being radiant when you've got a sick child : )

Beauty flash balm, touché éclat, brownish black mascara (black too harsh if you are tired), ditto cream blusher (Bobbi brown pot rouge good) and yes, a good lipstick.

blusher

I look like death warmed up without it these days

Blusher and lipstick at the ready for the school run!

Yes to blusher. BFB can also help. What is a 'good' lipstick please? I need one because all of mine are 'bad' instead and I hate them. Oh and wear either a fab scarf, or shoes or coat - because then people might notice them instead of your tired face!

Gin if you're not driving, a hat pulled down \ scarf pulled up if you are.

That roll on under eye gel stuff (sorry can't recall the name!) It does help plus ditto the other suggestions. Def blusher as pale is not a good look. I always wear something colourful if knackered, even if it's just a scarf or something. Wearing black, grey or brown makes me look worse I find.

Touche Eclat
Blusher and lipstick (Chanel are very good)

Clinique almost lipstick my current choice. Tis vair good.

Thanks - have got the Black Honey one but no longer like it as it's too dark for me now. Must investigate other colours. It seems so expensive though - so cheap recs good too!

Blusher - am currently liking Benetint which gives a v sweet 'China doll' effect, especially for the pale and interesting amongst us.

Bronzer and lipgloss

I have perfected my routine to get rid of dark circles and brighten up my pasty face, it is as follows...

Benefit erase paste under the eyes first of all
Foundation or tinted moisturiser (I like Nars foundation or Clinique Moisture Surge tinted)
Laura Mercier secret concealer under the eyes

Blusher and nice lipgloss also a must for me (I am not a big lipstick person). A good blush definitely makes me look healthier and more awake.

So a double hit of concealer. That sounds like the kind of thing I need. What's the texture of erase paste?

I use some garner bb cream with some cream blusher and navy mascara which seems to make the whites of my eyes whiter.

Bobbi Brown apricot blusher. Desert Island product.

Bright patterned scarf near my face.

remus have been persuaded to try bright lippy after having colours done. Has been life changing after 15 years of wearing Bobbi Brown muted lippy. Am kicking myself

A very expensive foundation, some black mascara (NO EYELINER!) and a pinky coloured blusher.

Really Gilly? what are your new favourites? I have silly thin lips and a tiny mouth, so I don't want to draw too much attention to it but I do want to wear something.

remus
Clinique Dubonnet (coraly red, not scary red at all)
Max Factor Pink Brandy (pinky coral)
Bobbi Brown Carnation (orangey nude)

I wonder if something warm and bright might actually make lips seem fuller, as dark shades often have the opposite effect?

Interesting r.e navy mascara- I have greenish eyes would this look ok?
Bright lipstick I'm still frightened!

Thanks - will have a look. It would be lovely to think that this is going to be the year I finally make friends with lipstick.

OP, Erase Paste is quite thick and creamy, you just need to dot a tiny bit under each end of your eye and blend it with your finger. It's a salmon pinkish colour so it's supposed to be a "corrector" rather than concealer and is designed to cancel out the darkness. This then gives a better, much more normal coloured base for foundation and then I put a little bit of the Laura Mercier concealer (which is a lighter consistency) over the foundation just to make sure everything is covered.

If you want to try the Erase Paste, get a diet coke can with the codes for money off Benefit, I think you get a fiver voucher.

Three pronged attack on tired face...

Eyes - full coverage concealer and flesh coloured colour used on the water line of the eye - benefit eye bright is the one I use but there are loads on the market - also great colour for inner corner of the eye (pale slightly pearly pink). Then eyeliner on upper inner rim and mascara top and bottom (no sign of tired eye anymore).

Cheeks - blusher is necessary every day of the week but more so when you are tired.

Lips - full plum lips look youthful and dray attention...just use whatever you normally would...benetint, posietint, lipgloss, lipstick, cherry lip balm (m and s do a great cherry lip balm with shea...it is yummy!).

plump

Casamama...Navy definately make eyes appear whiter...though I use navy eyeliner as any kind of blue mascara reminds me of my mother (who has terrible make up and is stuck in the 80's).