I don't know about you, but it seems like almost all of my friends are constantly starting a sentence with the words "I'm so worn out..." And I will be honest, they have every right to be. Many of my friends are working full time, going back to school, chairing community projects, have a new baby (or two!) at home, or are traveling for work at a ridiculous and break neck pace. Of course these women are exhausted!The only problem is, living a hectic lifestyle can wreck havoc on your face. Haven't slept in 2 months thanks to your adorable newborn? Your eyes look it. Just flew from Houston to Raleigh to Denver to set up for a conference? Your skin tone shows it. Stayed up all night studying for a Managerial Accounting final? Yeah, girl, we can tell.
So if you can't control how much is suddenly on your plate, what can you do to fake it 'til your next much deserved vacation? Well, luckily I've compiled a few of my fatigue covering "secret weapons" so that you too can look a bit perkier until you can get a chance to do the only thing that truly helps us all look a bit better... sleep! (For more on the importance of sleep and tips on counteracting stress, check back to a previous blog post of mine- "The Three S's- Stress, Sleep, and Skin").
Fatigue is often seen most prominently around your eyes. Bags, puffiness, dark circles. Here are a few products that I find really help perk up my eyes when I haven't had a good nights sleep or when that well meaning neighbor is about to drop off dinner and your baby hasn't napped all day...
1. Cosmetix Brand Opti Crystal Chirally Correct Eye Serum- I've raved about this stuff before, but it really will give your eyes an instant boost, and it just keeps improving eye skin over time. I've found the best prices for this on Amazon.com and recently snagged a bottle for around $55, instead of the $90 on retail. One small bottle lasts you a pretty long time, so though it might seem like an investment, it's one worth making! You only need a teeny, teeny little bit to get both eyes nice and covered.2. Curl your eyelashes, and put on some mascara- Ok, so this sounds super simple, and it is. But if you're hopping off a red eye from Denver to Raleigh, curling your eyelashes and giving yourself a mascara boost (whatever your favorite may be) is a great way to perk up your eyes a bit! Eyelash curlers are not expensive, and you can get one at any local drug store for less than $12 or so.
3. Benefit's Watt's Up Stick- I don't normally recommend make up on my site, as I tend to stick to skin care, but a nice sales lady gave me a sample of this once when I was purchasing some benetint (good stuff!) and I have fallen totally in love with it! It's a simple little stick and by swiping just a small bit in the corners of your eyes, you will look instantly more awake and pulled together. It's pretty great! A full size stick is around $40 on Amazon.com, but I'll be honest, this is another product that will last you forever. My small sample tube has lasted me months! You can also swipe a little on your cheekbones for a nice glow.We all know that forgoing a good night's sleep makes our skin look a little less than rosy and glowing, so here are a few products for an all over improvement.
1. Pevonia Botanica Lumafirm Repair Cream and Freeze Dried Disks- Two little wonder products so fantastic that a while back, I actually did an entire blog post on just these products. I won't repeat myself too much here, but will say that this is by far my all time favorite face lotion and skin care booster set. I have no idea how Pevonia Botanica discovered this, but after using the disk and the lotion, you do look instantly refreshed. It's pretty amazing. Sadly, this stuff isn't cheap, but I'll swear to it's worth and value all day long! If you're a frequent flyer, new mom, or just could use some instant glow, go online and order this stuff immediately! (Thank me later).
2. Water- Yep, drink water. Lots and lots of water. After listing a few expensive fixes, I thought I'd throw in this friendly and cheap reminder. Often when we are tired, we reach for coffee or a trusty Diet Coke. (I'm not saying you can't have a little caffeine, because I am totally not one to take a morning cup of 'joe out of the hands out a new mother who has been up all night!) But caffeine only has a short term effect, and can actually dehydrate you in the long run. So if you're zipping through the airport terminal or nursing a cranky baby at 3:30 am, grab a water bottle as a trusty side kick. Your skin will thank you! Sometimes if I'm trying to really give my skin a boost, I'll do the "gallon of water a day for three days" routine. You feel like you have to tee tee non stop, but by day three, you look like a new woman!
Now, let me be honest, a good nights sleep will help far more than any product or trick, but if it's not in your cards, then hopefully these tricks can help you boost your glow until you have time for some rest. Do you have any favorite fatigue busting tricks? I'd love to hear them, so please list them below, readers!
