Sleep seems to be hard to come by these days. We're all overworked and therefore constantly overtired. And it can really start to show, mostly in the form of under-eye circles, dull skin, and a chronic affinity towards sweatpants. But it is possible, despite your lack of sleep, to at least appear like you got a full eight hours.
Because it's true — we all suck at resting. I've honestly never heard someone say "Wow, I got so much sleep last night." Exhaustion seems to be a fact of life. And until the government makes three day weekends a thing, I'm sure we're all going to stay tired forever. So, knowing how to get rid of those dark circles? Definitely something that will come in handy, especially if you're heading off for a job interview or first date.
Of course, you could just go to bed on time and actually be well-rested. And yet that's always easier said than done. I mean, when else are you supposed to catch up on your Netflix queue other than in the middle of the night? (I'm joking. Go to bed.)
Regardless of whether you stay up all night because you want to, or because you kinda have to, there will come a morning when exhaustion catches up with you. Instead of stalking the streets looking like a total zombie, here are some ways to look well-rested, even when you aren't.
1. Start With An Invigorating Shower
This one might seem obvious, and yet it isn't always the first thing you think about when on zero hours of sleep. But regardless of how tired you feel, a shower is always a must. As Melanie Pinola noted on Lifehacker.com, "Drag yourself in there so the warm shower can wake you up, and if you have one of those exfoliating scrubbing brushes or energizing shower gels to use, all the better." Scrub your face, wash away the stench of exhaustion, and then flip on the cold water at the last second to really wake yourself up. You'll be looking bright eyed and bushy tailed in no time.
2. Get Rid Of Puffy Eyes
Baggy under eye circles are the dead giveaway that sleep has escaped you once again. So you're gonna want to do whatever you can to hide that fact. As Alexandra Duron suggested for Prevention, "[brew] some chamomile tea, and instead of tossing the bags, [stow] them in the fridge in a Ziploc bag overnight. In the morning, place the chilled tea bags over your puffy lids and under-eyes for 10 minutes. Since chamomile has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it'll help reduce swelling and repair damaged cells." Do this, and you'll look as well-rested as ever.
3. Distract Everyone With Bright Makeup
Skin can look pretty darn dull when you're tired, so I recommend taking the time to put on a little blush, if nothing else. You can also draw attention away from your sunken eyes with bright red lipstick. It'll help you to look put together, even when you feel like a tired mess. And it only takes a few minutes.
4. Add Some Shine To Your Hair
So you've been awake all night, and yet still somehow have a horrible case of bedhead. (How does that happen?) You can go ahead and rock it, because it's kind of in style right now. But, fair warning — while dull, messy hair can look kinda cute when you're well-rested, it also has the tendency to make you look even more tired. If that's the case, it might be best to go for a glossy look instead. Just throw in a bit of hair serum, and impress everyone with your shining, flowing locks.
5. Put On "Real Clothes" (No Sweatpants Allowed)
Sweatpants are wonderful, but if you're trying to look (and feel) more awake, then nothing is going to undermine you faster than super comfy, cozy clothes. So go the opposite route, and really do it up in the fashion department. As Ellen Freeman noted on TheFashionSpot.com, "A put-together outfit will make you look ... that much more awake." Save the comfy clothes for when you're finally able to crash into bed.
6. Cover Yourself In Jewels
OK, maybe you don't need to walk around dripping in diamonds. But a few pieces of jewelry that add to your outfit can help you look that much more put-together (read: awake). As Lindsay Cross noted on TheGloss.com, "If you took the time to put on a necklace or bracelet, people will notice. They'll assume that you've been planning this outfit for a week, instead of yanking it from your closet ten minutes before you left the house." It's the easiest way to trick everyone into thinking you got a full eight hours.
Sometimes it's necessary to look wide awake, even when you feel like a member of the walking dead. Fake a well-rested look until it's (finally) time to crawl back into bed again.
Images: Kristen Prahl / EyeEm/EyeEm/Getty Images; Giphy
