Beauty

Looking refreshed even when you’re tired

how-to-look-good-when-you're-tired

how-to-look-when-you're-tired

Looking refreshed even when you’re tired

Didn’t get in bed on time last night?

Chances are, you know that you should get at least eight hours of sleep every night, but how much rest do you actually get? When you’re in school, you pull off all-nighters all the time.  You go out, you work, you study. You don’t get enough sleep. When you get out of school and get that “big girl”/”big boy” job, maybe you move in with your partner, maybe you start a family- you might often find yourself feeling stressed or busy- both of which can affect your sleep patterns. Sometimes, there might even be days when you’re too tired to fall asleep- sounds strange, but trust me, I’ve been there.

So… what do you do when lack of sleep causes you to feel stressed and tired all the time? You come up with a plan- staying organized can do wonders. Unplugging from social media (and putting your phone down altogether), turning off your TV and picking up a book before going to sleep are just a few things that can not only help you sleep better, but fall asleep faster.

There are days though when you can only sneak in a few hours of sleep. I don’t about you guys, but lack of sleep always shows up on my face and I have a few trusted tips that never fail to make me look and feel refreshed.

GETTING A QUICK START

I have trouble getting enough sleep especially when traveling. One of the first things I do in the morning on those days, is take a quick shower- a cool shower always helps me feel refreshed and energized. I also always make sure to have a good, hearty and healthy breakfast and a cup of good coffee or tea. Keep the breakfast light, as eating something heavy first thing in the morning can leave you feeling sluggish throughout the day- this and not enough sleep is not a good combo.

how to stick to new habits

START WITH YOUR SKIN

If you don’t have enough time for a shower, give your face a little ice water bath (I talked about in this post) it’s a quick pick-me-up for your skin that will leave it looking fresh and revived. Eyes looking puffy? Try using chilled tea bags as an eye mask- just brew them in hot water then place them in a freezer for a few minutes to cool them down. Apply on your eyes and keep them on for about 5 minutes- this will help bring the puffiness down. I also like using these Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Masks from Shiseido– they help to make the skin under my eyes feel plump and hydrated in an instant. If dark circles are an issue, I love using a brightening cream like this one from Origins that brightens and illuminates the area under my eyes. Prepping your skin for makeup is where you need to pay extra attention- tired skin has a tendency to feel dry, so a good moisturizer is key. I love the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for a few reasons- it’s very nourishing, brings instant relief for my skin when it feels dry, it doesn’t irritate it and works great under makeup. I have tried many, many high-end moisturizers and creams, and none have worked as well as this one- it does wonders for my skin whenever it feels dehydrated.

NOW, LET’S MAKEUP

It’s no secret that concealer is my best friend- especially on those days when I look tired. I always stick to lightweight formulas like the Naked Concealer from Urban Decay– it feels incredibly light but does a good job at covering and brightening. I find that anything that is thick or creamy doesn’t work too well with my skin when it’s tired and/or dry. Set your concealer with a little powder to prevent it from creasing.

Right before going in with my foundation, I like using either MAC’s Strobe Cream or Pixi’s Glowtion. Both brighten and slightly illuminate skin and when I’m tired, I’ll take all the help I can get. Similarly to my choice of concealer, I stick to lightweight foundation formulas like L’Oreal’s True Match or Guerlain’s Baby Glow. I love both of these because there’re both trusted products and both look really natural while still providing a nice coverage.

For the eyes, I like using a matte beige eyeshadow like MAC’s like Blanc Type all over my lid and define my crease with a darker shade like MAC’s Omega. A cream-colored liner on my water line, curled lashes to lift my eyes and a few good coats of my favorite mascara and my eye makeup is done. Sometimes I also like smudging a brown liner on my upper lash line for a little more definition. I definitely avoid heavy eye makeup when I’m tired, but also want my eye to have some definition.

Slightly warm up your face using a bronzer- like Benefit’s Hoola– so that your face doesn’t look too “flat” add a little blush and a highlighter. I think that highlighter is one of those products that I usually reach for the most when I feel that my skin is looking a little dull. Mary-Lou Manizer from The Balm is beautiful- I love using in my inner eye corner, too.

My choice of lip color really depends on my mood- I think that anything from nudes, pinks to bright berries and reds works well. Bright colors can really help in making you look and feel refreshed, but nudes paired with a good lip liner work just as well.

mascara

With the help of good skincare and a little makeup, looking refreshed, even when you’re tired, is definitely possible. Truth is, nothing can replace sleep, but it’s good to have a few trusted products and tricks up your sleeve for those days, when getting enough sleep isn’t an option.

48 Comments

  • Reply
    Caked To The Nines
    May 23, 2016 at 11:29 pm

    I love taking a cold shower in the morning when I’m feeling very tired. It really wakes me up and of course makeup and lots of concealer helps as well, haha!

    xx
    Nida | Caked To The Nines

  • Reply
    Darina
    May 24, 2016 at 1:06 am

    I love to have a good breakfast and a cup of coffee and some fruits. And to make a to do list :)

  • Reply
    Yiotou_La
    May 24, 2016 at 1:14 am

    I always keep an eye gel on the fridge, it’s the best remedy for tired and puffy eyes and I love the cooling sensation it gives me.

    Yiota
    PinkDaisyLoves

  • Reply
    Aleksandra // bunniesaremagic
    May 24, 2016 at 3:19 am

    I still cannot believe that I haven’t picked up on drinking coffee yet. I never expected myself to be so strong when it comes to resisting the temptation for quick energy rushes :)

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      May 30, 2016 at 10:00 am

      If you don’t need it, stay away haha it can be addicting. I only have it once in a while now, but used to drink 3 cups a day :D

  • Reply
    Tracy's Way
    May 24, 2016 at 3:25 am

    I agree that eating a good breakfast can do wonders for your overall well being throughout the day and concealer is an absolute must! But skincare is your best friend on days like this! Great post!

    Tracy | tracysway.com

  • Reply
    Sophie
    May 24, 2016 at 3:35 am

    I definitely needed to read this today!

    Sophie x | SophiesMakeupBlog

  • Reply
    Rosie von Waldherr
    May 24, 2016 at 4:45 am

    Makeup-wise I think light colored makeup makes you look freshed up and highlighter can go a long way ;)

    xoRosie //Rosie’s Life

  • Reply
    Millie Robinson
    May 24, 2016 at 7:10 am

    I love to use Vitamin C products in the morning, they’re so refreshing and really wake my skin up! Breakfast is always super important, it’s my favourite meal of the day so I always make time for it! x

    http://www.abeautyromance.com
    http://www.abeautyromance.com

  • Reply
    Laura Marie
    May 24, 2016 at 9:00 am

    A healthy breakfast is a must have that’s for sure! Certainly cannot be without a great mascara to open up those eyes and touche eclat from YSL works like magic ;)

    Thanks for sharing!

    Laura xo

    http://www.shehearts.net

  • Reply
    Ela BellaWorld
    May 24, 2016 at 9:32 am

    “too tired to fall asleep”, I’ve been there, it is the worst! Cool shower definitely helps, even though it is the last thing I want to do when I leave the bed, it really increases the energy level. Good makeup saves the day and when you look good rather than tired, it also makes me feel better :)

    Ela BellaWorld

  • Reply
    Yized
    May 24, 2016 at 9:45 am

    Cold showers in the morning are a must for me to properly wake up and feel refreshed, especially now that it’s (finally) warming up outside. Breakfast is something else I can’t go without or I won’t make it halfway through the morning. ?

    x Yized

    http://www.novojun.com

  • Reply
    Samileen
    May 24, 2016 at 11:28 am

    I 100% agree with you on the cold shower thing. And glowtion is definitely the perfect skin pick me up. And for me a little massage with the Foreo, really helps in de-puffing my face, after I had a bad sleep and I look like a swollen monster. It’s something I have been doing and its such a good way to liven up the face.

    Sam || Beautydetour

    • Reply
      Samileen
      May 24, 2016 at 11:28 am

      P.S. That Maybelline mascara picture, just reminded me I need to get that back since I’m out of it.

      • Reply
        Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
        May 30, 2016 at 10:23 am

        Yes, love the Glowtion!! I need to pick up another tube of that mascara, too, it’s seriously the best! :D

  • Reply
    Kim Petersen
    May 24, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    These are some great tips. I need to suck it up and take the plunge into the cold shower/ice bath trick but I have such a hard time doing it, especially when I’m tired! I’m always in a state of not enough sleep so this is such a helpful post! Happy Tuesday! XO -Kim

  • Reply
    Ambar Syed
    May 24, 2016 at 5:44 pm

    Such a useful post! I find that a glass of cold water with a slice of lemon really refreshes me in the morning too :)
    – Ambar x
    http://www.herlittleloves.co.uk

  • Reply
    Barbs LeCupcake
    May 25, 2016 at 12:08 am

    Hi, I’ve been following your blog for a while now both on Blogloving and on my Blogger newsfeed (where I really keep track of my favourite ones). I am thinking of removing you from my favourites and I feel like telling you why, as a concrit that I really hope you will read and think about.
    As much as I love your pictures I find them confusing, especially when you mention a specific product and I can’t find it on the picture above or below that paragraph. I am one of those people who remember things better if they can associate an image to them. Reading the name and not knowing what the product looks like, doesn’t make it stick in my head. Probably not just me? The last thing, you are clearly good with words and writing and you like doing it, and it shows! Why are your blog posts so similar then? ‘Ways to start your day/week/year/morning/night/weekend’ and they are basically the same. Which always leaves me a bit upset, because I keep clicking on your posts and I never learn anything new.
    If I didn’t care I wouldn’t click nor leave you this super long comment ;) I know it’s just my opinion but I hope you will find it helpful somehow.

    Barbs

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      May 30, 2016 at 10:43 am

      Hey Barbs, thanks so much for your comment! Whenever I mention any specific products, I always make sure to link them within the post, for easy reference. In posts like this one, I usually mention quite a few products and I can only include so many images. I’m not a full-time blogger and as you can guess, taking pictures, and writing a blog is pretty time-consuming so I can’t always spend as much time on working on my blog posts as I’d like. I really appreciate your comment, I’m definitely going to keep everything you mentioned in mind. Thank you! x

  • Reply
    Nereyda @This Girl Is Obsessed
    May 25, 2016 at 2:00 am

    I love that Maybelline mascara. Mascara, bronzer, highlight and lips are my musts for looking refreshed :)

    Nereyda│ This Girl Is Obsessed

  • Reply
    Kathy
    May 25, 2016 at 3:12 am

    I find that just chucking a glass of water down in the morning helps me a lot with just feeling more awake!

    Kathy x

    http://www.alongcamekathy.blogspot.co.nz

  • Reply
    Vanessa Buttino
    May 25, 2016 at 7:36 am

    I wash my face with ice cold water both in the morning and at night before I go to bed and it really helps my skin stay smooth and bouncy. I think most people are taught from childhood to wash their faces with warm water and I don’t think that advice is helpful at all. When I switched from warm to ice cold water I noticed a REAL difference in my skin right away.

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      May 30, 2016 at 11:07 am

      Oh yes, I definitely see a difference when using cool water, too- I always finish my shower and rinse my hair with cold water as well.

  • Reply
    Danielle
    May 25, 2016 at 7:45 am

    I never ever ever get enough sleep. I’m usually in bed around 11 and have to wake up at 4am for work. It’s awful (and so bad for me, I know). My eyes suffer the worst I think. They’re usually SUPER puffy. Is there a specific kind of tea that’s best for the tea bags on the eyes? Should I freeze them overnight so they’re ready to go in the morning while I’m frantically rushing around? Thanks for a great post!

    xoxo
    Danielle
    Afloat On A Full Sea

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      May 30, 2016 at 11:10 am

      I really like using green tea for that. I put them in the freezer for a quick cool, but usually just keep them in the fridge, Chamomile tea works nicely too. You can just brew them, let them cool off a little and keep them in the fridge so they’re ready to grab in the morning ;)

  • Reply
    ashortblonde
    May 25, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    When I’m super tired getting up early enough to shower and eat breakfast makes such a huge difference.

  • Reply
    SavBanav
    May 26, 2016 at 9:05 pm

    Wow- I haven’t read enough blogs in way too long!!

    I’ve been noticing how it’s so easy to fall asleep after you’ve just been on your electronics for a while, and something that’s really been bothering me lately is the fact that I used to read a book until I’d fall asleep, and now I use my electronics before bed instead. After realizing that, I’ve really tried to either read a book before bed or write in my journal. It’s a much healthier way to get to sleep, especially since the “blue lights” of electronics keep you awake, ironically.

    As for using cold water for washing your face- that sounds like an excellent idea! I’ve never really tried that a lot, only when I’m upset and need to get calmed down and refreshed. Looking at the comments below, it seems as if that’s made a positive difference in people’s skin after doing that, so I’ll have to try it as well!

    I really enjoyed reading your blog some more!

    xoxo
    Savannah
    savbanav.wordpress.com

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      May 30, 2016 at 11:14 am

      Yes! I always get tired and sleepy quicker when I read, rather than when watching TV :) Cold water really does wonders for skin, at least I notice a big difference, since I have quite problematic skin.

      Thanks so much Savannah!

  • Reply
    Marlene Guevara
    May 30, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    What palette is that?

  • Reply
    The Gossip Darling
    June 5, 2016 at 10:39 pm

    I LOVE this!!!!!! I have to learn how to pick up books more!! I always go to bed with my tv and iPhone!! It’s terrible. Lol.

    Mel | http://www.thegossipdarling.com

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