How to not look tired?

[Wenchelda]

Not sure if this is really a s&b question or more of a health one .....I'm 34, with a 3yr old and a 1yr old. They both still wake at some point most nights so i rarely (if ever) get more than 4hrs unbroken sleep at a time. So I know I look tired... I AM tired! But having people tell me how tired I look is not what I want to hear. So apart from a miracle to get my kids sleeping 12hrs straight, what can I do to make myself look fresher/more awake? I've tried various different under eye creams / serums / concealers but clearly they are not working as well as I thought! I should probably drink more water - don't know if that would help? I've recently started taking a daily multivitamin but am yet to notice any difference.

I'm also watching with interest

Botanics BB cream and Benefit concealer (Boing ).

I have the same thing. Same age dc's only I'm several years older. My problem is the rim of my eyes and whites of my eyes look red. So concealer won't cut it anyway I do think a really good facial massage with a facial oil or hot cloth cleanser of a morning does something. Maybe also brisk walks and stuff. Product wise eyelash curlers and good mascara opens up the eyes. Also a nice peachy pink blusher can help give a healthy well rested look.

Apart from that i dont know, I'm watching with interest!

Clinque CC cream, bobbi brown concealer, use blusher, curl eyelashes and use mascara. Wear colours that suit you - avoid black even if it suits you as IMO if you have dark circles it makes them look worse no matter how much you try to cover them up. I also think sparkly earrings help.

Products wise I use Estee Lauder Advanced Night repair at night with Clinque turnaround cream on top and I think it's making a difference

White dot in corner of eyes

I second Benefit Boi-ing - it looks very natural when applied properly, but gives excellent, long-lasting coverage.

I'd try mixing a little blob of Olay Daily Radiance moisturiser (the shimmery one) with a good foundation (I like Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation), and applying lightly with a brush (Real Techniques Expert Face brush is great). Use a subtle blush, like No7 Soft Damson or Candy Pink.

Aside from that, the main difference you can make is to your eyes. Rest them as often as possible by closing them - it helps with the dryness that sleepless nights cause. Also - curling the lashes and then putting on mascara will make them look more open and awake, and a touch of shimmery, pale lilac shadow will minimise the bloodshot look of tired eyeballs. Avoid putting powder under your eyes as well (or too much concealer) - make-up settling in the creases will make you look even more worn out than you feel!

Oh, and you may want to consider trying Bravura London's 15% Glycolic Acid Night Treatment Cream - it comes in 50ml jars for about £13 and has made a huge difference to how bright and awake my skin looks. You can order it from their website.

Besides that, all I can suggest to actually treat the problem is cutting down caffeine and sugar, increasing your water intake and eating as well as you can (especially oily fish, if you can take it).

Thanks all - lots of suggestions for me to try I do need to cut down on caffeine and sugar but they are both my weakness!

A really good cleanse morning and night (someone said hot cloth cleansing - yes, yes, yes!) This gives you face a light exfoliation every day and really helps brighten your appearance. Superdrug do great cheap cleansers - Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser or Naturally Radiant hot cloth cleanser. Apply to dry face, massage in and then wash off using a face flannel soaked in hand hot water.

BB cream (I love the Botanics one too), touch of mascara, bit of a bright blusher and lippie in a similar tone to the blusher (e.g pink with pink, coral with coral).

Lots of water - at least 2 litres a day.

As much sleep as you can get with two little ones - maybe try to get to bed even 30 mins earlier? And cut back on screen time immediately before bed.

And yes, cut back caffeine and sugar (I really struggle with this one!)

tons of water, as everton says, and a good clean diet (lots of different coloured fruit and veg, not much carb). I got married when DS2 was only 15 weeks old (and he fed hourly from birth to six months), and being obsessively healthy about what I put into my body made more difference that anything I have ever put on the outside. I actually looked better then than I do now on a crap diet and plenty of sleep!

I have had this problem for years - I have horrible tear troughs which make it even worse. I did notice however that this summer they seemed to disappear. I've gained about a stone and i'm wondering if it's to do with - eating what I like and putting on a bit of weight (rather than the constant diet I'm usually on) or the sunshine?

I have to say I've tried all the above - eating lots of fruit and veg, drinking plenty of water, concealers galore! tea bags / cucumber on the eyes, plenty of sleep, eyelash curlers, white eyeshadow the list is endless!

Seems like getting fat and sitting in the sun worked for me but I'm not sure that's a good long term solution!

Use highlighter on cheek bones and use a light shimmery eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eyes.
Curl your lashes - it opens you eyes up. It really makes a massive difference.
If you have red waterlines, you can get skin coloured eye pencils. Mac has one.

Use blusher.
And a good tinted moisturiser/foundation.
Concealer if you need to (and make sure it's applied well as you can look even more tired and older if applied badly).

You can also find videos on youtube about brightening makeup, as well as guides on how to apply different products such as concealer in the best way.

Personally, I find that I look more awake if I use a bright lipstick (such as Mac Relentlessly Red), a blusher that matches the colour and just curled eyelashes with mascara. Foundation and highlighter as well.

Rimmel does a flesh coloured eye pencil too. The dot of white on the tear duct really works. Navy mascara also makes your eyes look brighter.

where the F can you buy a decent navy mascara which isn't £££ now? Laura Mercier used to do a nice one

I don't know if it's any good, but Superdrug has this mascara at £1.99: www.2true.com/eyes/instant-colour-mascara/
You can't see the colours properly on the Superdrug website though.

Looks like Collection 2000 also has blue mascaras starting at the same price as the one above. Superdrug sells them.

MUA has some blue ones at £1, also from Superdrug.

L'Oreal has one called something with Flutter at £11 or so.

Maybelline also has some at £6.

I got a maybelline one from a poundshop. I've had a quick look at ebay and there's a few Avon and No.7 ones for sale including the newest Avon one with the weird wand.

The MUA and Collection ones are cobalt blue.

Incidentally if you have green or hazel eyes, purple is a great mascara colour - really makes the green pop.

I love Lush feeling younger - put a dab under your eyes before makeup, and you can mix it with foundation
It's not so much glitter/shimmer as just glowy

I suffered the same for years! Use to hate it when people said "oh are you ok you look dreadful"! I have upped my excerise & also try and have a veg juice most days. Bought the Jason vale book for recipes. Love the spinach, avocado,& pineapple one. Helps me get my fruit & veg in and brightens my skin.

Am I the only person whose eyelashes don't look better curled? they look smaller if you see what I mean?

My eyelashes are not long anyway so I just whack mascara on and flick up. my eyes are almond shaped, not small but not big either. I tend to use navy eyeliner if I can be bothered as that makes blue eyes look less tired. plum and purple helps too but really depends what colours you get - Grape by Clinique eyeliner works on me but not too much of a purple or maroon shade if you get what I mean.

Blusher!!

Navy blue eyeliner tight lining (YouTube has tutorials) and eye drops (God send for poor, tired eyes).

Make sure you are wearing flattering colours near your face eg not black. The right shade of pale pink can be so flattering (wore a pale pink scarf a LOT post DTs).

Marking place, I could be the OP! Same ages and everything. Found some pics of me from 8 years ago, I look about 15 years younger though!

PS - if anyone wants a recommendation for a decent and not too dear navy blue eyeliner The Body Shop do a great one.

my go to.