How do I look less knackered?

[Eastwickwitch]

I've got a lot going on & I'm not sleeping well.
I can cope with it all (nothing serious) but when I look in the mirror I look so haggard.
Black circles, red piggy eyes, dry skin. Not a radiant Christmas party face!
I've used an intensive moisturising mask (did nothing), a fancy eye cream & 3 gallons of concealer. I just look over made up & still tired.
Any tips?

I feel for you OP, I'm the same. Nothing helpful to add but will watching with interest in the hope someone else can suggest a miracle cure something useful!!

friendly, yes a miracle cure is needed. Fingers crossed all the experts will come up with some magic.

I'm a sufferer of dark circles and have yet to find an over the counter miracle cure! However I do find that a weekly beauty maintenance session in the bathroom restores a little radiance and even better, it's all home - made. I make a face scrub/mask with sea salt and olive oil, also use it on my hands and feet. Putting cucumber slices on puffy eyes is also beneficial.

I permanently look like that, due to rubbish health.

These work for me...

Snail gel from holland & barrarat is a great skin peel & completion brightener, gets rid of the flaky skin & reveals the new skin underneath

I using coconut oil as a moisturing mask, even a bit as a daily mosuriser helps calm skin down in general. Dead Sea mineral cream firm H&B is also great, I use them both.

Cucumber slices left as a mask for a few minutes on tired eyes really do help with puffiness & bags.

Olays CC cream is a wonderful for everyday use as a foundation & more

& for party/special occasion - use a light reflecting serum as a base too along with a good concealer for eye bags I'm loving the maybeline sponge top one at the moment. If its bad I find Benefits yellow cream that looks like an eyeshadow - think its called mellow, but not sure and too idled to go fine my makeup bag and look is fantastic for all around the eyes to even out skin tone & mask dark circles

Also use a highlighter such as Benifits moonshine to highlight the edge if you lips, cheekbones, forehead etc - this again sculpts your face & draws attention away from any imperfections

HTH

Sorry, think the benefit dark circle corrector is called "Mellow Yellow" is a little black container that looks like eye shadow

I would use a hot cloth cleanser (Eve Lom type, lots of good, much cheaper alternatives) and up your water intake. Then a serum like Olay regenerist 3 point super serum before moisturiser. Tinted moisturiser with a bit of very light bronzing powder over the top. Eyeliner. If you're tired, more make-up doesn't really help. I don't know how much money you're able to spend, but I tried these and they really brightened up my eyes - not a long term effect but very nice if you're going out.
I would also use glycolic pads, like these although I'm pretty sure you can buy the solution much more cheaply - there have been threads on here.

I always use a Le crayon khol in white by Lancôme to cover redness under eyes, it isn't a cream so doesn't go into any lines. Dot on and smooth in. And I paint on mascara on lower lashes with eye make up brush to get it right to the roots in an attempt to cover as much of red lower lid as poss.

And use bravura dermaflannel to give me a healthy glow but if used too harshly is like a brillo pad so beware.

This stuff is amazing for perking skin up. Also loads of Trilogy rosehip oil (I use it as my moisturiser). Do you wear primer under your foundation? I find that helps too if it's an illuminating one.

Obviously lots of sleep (if you can) and drinking enough water are a given.

I'm pretty amazed at what Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse has done for my skin. A few drops mixed with usual night cream and all of a sudden I look a little bit radiant again after years of stress and lack of sleep.

If you buy Red magazine from sainsburys this month there is a free Elemis beauty flash balm. I really like it gives a bit of a boost to tired looking skin.

I was given a free sample of Espa Skin Radiance moisturiser and was surprised by the healthy glow it gave me. I've bought the full size one and still love the result... I'm always tired and don't have a lot of time to take care of my skin but this seems to really help. It's not that cheap and it smells a bit odd (!) but it seems to work wonders.

Skin Radiance

Superdrug's own brand radiance range, I think it's called Naturally Radiant? Comes in pale green packaging. Anyway they do their own version of a beauty flash balm and it's very good. Also Vichy's new Idealise serum, in a pink bottle.

cheap moisturiser, and i have tried loads for my dry dull aging skin

Nivea and it really works

Sorry you're feeling bad! When I feel grotty the following usually helps a bit. Early nights ( no later than 10 if you can) Nytol from Boots for a few nights. No alcohol and no caffeine after 5pm. Lots of water and at least 30mins in the fresh air every day. Also love Clarins Blue Orchid oil at night.

Sorry, the Vichy serum is Called Idealia Life (still in a pink bottle).

Botox?

Thanks so much all of you. I'm working my way googling all the recommended products which I'll order tomorrow & report back.

I can't read pp's for some reason. But I really recommend the boots own cucumber range eye gel. It instantly reduces puffiness and dark circles and I think it's only £1.50

Bravura London's 15% Glycolic Night Treatment cream is the only thing that works for me - it makes my skin much brighter and has the added benefit of keeping it very clear. DH always notices (and compliments) when I have been using it, so it's the one product that has my full confidence. Don't put it too close to your eyes though, if you buy it - it's quite potent stuff!

Sorry to hear you're not sleeping. Insomnia is hell. Been through it a few time. For you!

Home made aspirin face mask. Take 6 aspirins and pour some water (very little a few drops) on and let them sort of dissolve. Apply to face (avoid eyes) and leave for a few mins. Wipe off and rinse well.

It's amazing. Takes flakes off and blackheads. And gives you a smooth glow.

Eye drops. Helps the gritty feeling.

Yes to cucumber slices over eyes. Again helps gritty feelings and redness. Extra effective if followed by eye drops.

Keep eye make up light. Too much will draw attention to tired eyes. Use lighter eye shadow than normal. Avoid too much glitter.

Light reflecting under eye concealer.
Or Bobbi Brown does one for dark circles which is amazing. I found it better than light reflecting ones when DS was up 10 times a night every night for 18 months solid.

Bit of bronzer. Will warm you up and give healthy glow.

As for getting sleep. Doxylamine which is a 1st generation antihistamine (drowsy one) works magic. The FDA have done trials which prove it works better for getting people to sleep and helping them stay asleep than benzodiazepam and zopiclone. It helped me break the cycle. Buy online (amazon).

Or good old fashioned phenergan. Available at Boots. Not as effective and may not help you stay asleep.

Hope you get some kip

You lot are brill!
I decided on a Bobbi Brown concealer because I have the foundation. I wasn't sure which colour for my skin tone so did the online chat with BB online. They recommended Peach. It's on its way.
Tonight is exfoliation night followed by oil treatment.
Drinking masses of water and only 1 glass of wine
Trying to avoid any sleeping aid because I dread feeling hungover at work.

Thanks again.

This is a bit random, but I have been listening to a weight loss track while I fall asleep. It knocks me out like a light. There is a free version, and I downloaded it through the App store, but I think they do it for Mp3, Android etc. Whether you need to lose weight or not, it should help with the insomnia.

www.easyloss.co.uk/easyloss-weightloss/

I see I'm a bit late with this concealer tip, but Bobbi Brown also do a colour corrector (NOT concealer), which I find more effective on my huge dark eye bags.

primal thanks, I don't have problems getting to sleep, but keep waking up really early. I don't feel too bad but just look really grim!

headless the peach has been ordered. On the online chat I described the bruise coloured shadows on either side of my eyes & that is what she advised. Maybe it was colour corrector? I hope so for £22. If it's no good I'll try again.

Thank you

Have just checked my order & it is Corrector. Phew.