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I rely on lots of sleep and cherish it above all else, but for the last few months, I’ve been waking up between 2am and 4am every night, and struggling to go back to sleep. I’ve done everything – phone down-time, no caffeine, regular exercise, the list is endless. But still, I wake.
I’ve become very good at faking longer sleeps out of necessity. If you’re a mother of small children, if you suffer from anxiety, or if you’re generally just not a great sleeper, you might be interested in the following ways to fool the world into thinking you’re fully rested.
As soon as you get up, drink a pint of water. It’ll not only liven up your metabolism for the coming day but it will refresh you and give your body back any hydration it lost during the night.
Run the cold tap (or better yet, throw some ice into a bowl) and rinse your face for 30 seconds in nice, cold water. Because of something called vasoconstriction, the cold water will reduce the blood flow and the size of your blood vessels, causing a de-puffing effect, especially effective around your eyes.
Tired eyes are the biggest giveaway of a sleepless night. Make a small investment in a decent bottle of eyedrops and pop a couple of drops into each eye in the morning after you’ve washed your face to brighten them and make you feel less like there’s a beach-worth of sand in there.
Optrex Refreshing Eye Drops for Tired Eyes, €5.99
If you have a jade roller, make use of it. Not only will it aid lymph drainage, refreshing and plumping your whole face, but the coolness will liven up your under-eye area and make you feel more awake. No jade roller? Top model tip: put a spoon in the freezer for 20 minutes and use it under your eyes to de-puff.
Rejuvenating your face with a jade roller is great, but a bit of facial massage for lymph drainage using your hands can be just the ticket. During your skincare routine the morning after the night before, use some of the techniques beauty expert and Lancôme Creative Director of Makeup Lisa Eldridge employs in one of her most-watched YouTube videos:
Charlotte Tilbury was on to something when she called her creamy-nude-coloured eyeliner Eye Cheat – it really does cheat brightness and openness. Pop it on your lower waterline after your interrupted snooze and you’ll see an immediate difference.
Charlotte Tilbury Eye Cheat pencil, €27
Yes, the old reliable – a great concealer will tell all sorts of lies to both your mirror and anyone who encounters you the day after a crap night’s sleep. Start with a peach or orange-toned colour corrector, then go over that with your foundation. If needed, top that up with your usual concealer afterwards.
Wear a bright red lipstick. Outright distraction is sometimes the only way.