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8 Easy Ways to Look More Well-Rested Than You Actually Are

4 minute read

I have a secret: I never get eight hours of sleep. Actually, I never get six hours of sleep. On average, I function on about four to five hours of sleep everyday. Yes, I’m aware of the repercussions of not getting enough sleep: Exhaustion, weakened immune system, weight gain, lack of focus…bags under my eyes. It would be cliché to say that there aren’t enough hours in a day, but between my commute, my 10-plus-hour work day and my (hopeful) trip to the gym, there really aren’t enough hours in the day.

A study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that the average woman between 30-60 only sleep six hours and 41 minutes during the week. So although the average woman is getting more sleep than I am, she’s still getting less sleep than recommended. Here are seven ways to upgrade your beauty too look like you got more sleep than you did.

1. Fight tired eyes with yogurt
Instead of heading to the bathroom to beauty prep first thing in the morning, head to the refrigerator instead. Apply a thin layer of 100% Greek yogurt underneath puffy eyes, and let it sit while you make your morning coffee. Not only will the probiotics in yogurt help fight bacteria naturally and help prevent breakouts, but the lactic acid will also reduce puffiness. If you don’t have any yogurt on hand, a fresh herbal tea bag will also do the trick.

2. Bump up your hydration
Dewy skin gives the look of healthy skin. Mornings when your skin looks dull and lifeless require an extra boost of hydration. Start with a hydrating mask like Peter Thomas Roth Blue Marine Algae Intense Hydrating Mask ($52, at sephora.com) to infuse your skin with humectants and leave you with a dewy glow.

3. Add a brightening cream
Hyaluronic acid is your skin’s best friend once you reach the age of 25. Wash your face, and follow with a hydrating skin plumping cream like Sunday Riley TIDAL Brightening Enzyme Water Cream ($65, at sephora.com). Or reach for organic coconut oil and use that a a facial moisturizer instead.

4. Boost your foundation with an illuminating concentrate
To maximize your glow, add a drop or two of highlighter or an illuminating concentrate like Nars Optimal Brightening Concentrate ($74, at sephora.com) to your foundation or moisturizer; blend with your fingers for a natural finish.

5. Don’t skip the blush
A fresh flush of color adds a youthful glow to your skin. Find a complimentary shade, and dot the apples of your cheeks to freshen up your look. For the perfect flush, we love Black Up Cosmetics Blush in NBL 02 ($26.50, at sephora.com)

6. Opt for a lipstain or a bold lip to make your lips a focal point
The same way that blush add a freshness to your cheeks, lipstains and lipstick have the same effect to make you look vibrant and effortlessly chic. We love a good lips stain to give appearance of plump, just-bitten lips. For the perfect stain, we love Tarte Lipsurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint ($24, at sephora.com) The special formula responds to your natural lip color and adjusts to reveal a custom berry shade that unique to you.

7. Line your eyes with a white or nude liner
The trick to brightening your eyes for more a of a doe-eyes look it white or nude liner. Simply line your lower water line with a pencil or kôhl liner like Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kôhl Liner ($20, at sephora.com).

8. Skip the liner and mascara on your lower lid
Dark liner on your lower lid, while chic, generally ages you and makes you look tired. If you’re a die-hard liner on the lower lash line kind of girl, opt to line the outer corners of your lower lash line instead, and skip coating your lower lashes with mascara all together.

This article originally appeared on Essence.com

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