Wake Up Makeup! Makeup Tips to Look Wide Awake.

 

Today’s post is an article I did for Dear Dharma a while back and wanted to share with you guys. Dear Dharma is an online advice column that covers a variety of tops so check them out! Now on to my advice on looking bright eyed and bushy tailed.

So you woke up this morning feeling completely wiped out, the dark circles are shining in all their glory, and oh look, they’re puffy too. Your skin is parched and looks like crepe paper to top it off. Not to mention you really could just use about twelve more hours of sleep but alas the day must begin and you got to look at least like you got six hours of sleep last night

Here are a few makeup tips that will help you fake it until you make it that I have used for years on myself and as an MUA on clients alike.

Skin prep is key. Most the time we only think our eyes show our exhaustion but our skin tells on us too. A lot of times we wake up after a long day and our skin is somehow puffy and dehydrated (Probably cause we had way too much coffee and maybe a cocktail or two the day before). Addressing the skin first will help everything else come together.

The first thing I do is cleanse my face with cool water, this will not only wake you up but it will brighten your complexion. Then while I am waiting for my coffee or tea to brew and I’ve downed a glass of water is to put two spoons in the freezer for about five minutes then rest them on my eyes for around ten minutes. The cold helps to reduce puffiness around the eyes by constricting blood vessels.

Next, I like to follow-up with a good moisturizer or serum, applied in small circles really working it into the skin as if I were giving my face a massage. This will help to plump up the dehydrated skin. I would recommend using a moisturizer that contains caffeine or green tea to give your skin some extra pep.

After the moisturizer has had some time to sink in, it’s time to move on to the makeup. I like to go for products that are light weight, easy and can offer some color correction where needed.

I personally opt for a green primer as I have a lot of redness on my skin but sometimes tired skin can look sallow so a lavender or pink tinted primer will counteract that any yellow tones.

To get rid of those panda eyes, with your ring finger pat a small amount of a salmon-tinted undereye concealer just to the areas where the darkness is visible. Doing this step before foundation and your regular concealer will ensure no dark circles will peek through.

As for foundation, I like to use one with a light dewy finish that will keep the skin looking youthful without looking dry or cakey which can happen with a matte finish. Then highlight with a brightening or radiant concealer to make sure the skin looks fresh and awake.

Another great trick, if your skin is looking dull is to apply a liquid or cream highlighter to the high points of the face, like the tops of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupids bow before powder. This will give a more natural looking highlight without adding texture. Go for one with a fine texture so it will keep the skin looking smooth and glowy without being too glowy.

Then I set everything with a light dusting of a translucent or color correcting powder where needed, if you have oily skin you can opt for a mattifying powder but only in the areas that get oily. Be sure to set the undereye so you don’t get creasing.

Now to add some color, never underestimate the power of blush. A pop of color on the apple of the cheeks can make a huge difference, giving you a healthy glow. I tend to reach for soft corals, peaches, and pinks. For deeper skin tones a more vibrant coral or peach will do the trick.

A touch of bronzer around the perimeter of the face can bring in some warmth to the skin and I would avoid a strong contour on days like this.

I like to finish the skin off with a radiant, illuminating powder anywhere I put the liquid or cream highlighter, and even lightly under the eyes. If you are very oily or prefer a more matte finish this is totally optional but I love the light from within radiant glow it can leave on the skin.

Moving on to the eye, the trick here, like with the skin is to get them looking bright and vibrant.

For eyeshadow, a simple wash of a soft shimmery shade can do the trick, especially in the inner corner. If you have the time, though, I like to add a soft matte shade into the crease to give the eye some depth and disguise any remaining puffiness and a take a darker matte shade just in the outer corner to give the eyes a lifted look. This technique is great if you have hooded eyes like me. You can head over to my blog Bee Beauty for more makeup tutorials that suit a hooded eye.

A lot of the time when we are tired our inner rims of the eye can appear red and irritated, allergies or a cold could also cause this. I great trick to hide this is an off white eyeliner applied to the waterline, a pure white can look unnatural but find one close your skin tone can really open the eye up as well. A champagne colored liner is also a good option.

Adding a brown or off black eyeliner smudged into the upper lashline can give a subtle definition without appearing harsh, I like to smudge a bit on the lower lashline as well just at the outer corner.

Curling your eyelashes can really open the eye up too, give them a squeeze and hold for 30 seconds before applying your favorite mascara.

Don’t forget your brows! Giving them a light fill can really frame the face and give the eyes a nice lift. A brow pencil with a fine tip is great for this, and just fill in any bald patches them brush them through with a spoolie in an upwards direction. I have a whole series on eyebrows over on Bee Beauty too.

To finish off, the face I like to apply a “Your Lips but Better” kind of a shade that has similar tones to the blush I used. The finish up to you, but I would avoid an ultra-matte finish as this can emphasize any lines or dryness in the lips. My favorite is a cream or satin for days when I’m not feeling my best.

There you have it, all my tips and tricks for days that I feel like a zombie but need to look like a human. A little makeup can make all the difference not only to the outside but it can make you feel awake on the inside, at least for me. Taking a moment for yourself like this in the morning can help you relax, breathe and get ready to take on the day

Don’t forget to check out Dear Dharma for all you advice needs, I’ll be having another guest spot on there soon.

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