Instant Beauty Fixes to Beat the Signs of Sleep Deprivation
Here’s how to fake a full night of sleep. (Photo: Trunk Archive)
Ever wake up from a restless night in the middle a long week of stress, look in the mirror and just think ugh? There’s a reason: it doesn’t take much sleep deprivation to wreak havoc on your complexion.
According to recent research, losing two hours of sleep for just one week can result in a dramatic increase in fine lines and wrinkles, as well as more visible age spots. This affirms a past study in the journal Sleep, showing that sleep deprivation exacerbates issues like droopy skin and puffy, red eyes.
If you want a healthy glow and smooth skin, there’s no substitute for adequate sleep — that’s seven to eight hours per night, in case you were wondering. But you’re truly strapped for time, under the gun at work or laden with events and obligations, you can fake it ‘til you make it with a few simple strategies. Here, we ask the experts to spill their quick fixes for beating the signs of sleep deprivation in the morning.
For Fine Lines
The makeup artist says: Use a pore-tightening spray.
When you’re tired, rubbing on creams or oils can seemingly exacerbate your skin problems, especially fine lines. “It feels like you’re irritating your face even more,” says celebrity makeup artist Marni Burton, who says “a spray that gives a quick face-lift” is the better option. Burton recommends a spritz of Kate Somerville Dermal Quench Liquid Lift ($95) to hydrate and blur fine lines.
The dermatologist says: Look for a hyaluronic acid serum.
According to Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital, you can turn to a hyaluronic acid serum to ditch fine lines and wrinkles. “Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that attracts water, and can therefore plump the skin,” he explains. Try Neutrogena Hydro Boost ($19) or L’Oréal Revitalift Daily Volumizing Concentrated Serum ($25) to nab the wrinkle-banishing benefits.
For a Sallow Complexion
The makeup artist says: Try a lifting foundation.
When your skin looks as dead as you feel, Burton says to give your complexion a pick-me-up with the perfect foundation. “Revitalize your complexion,” she says. “Armani’s Designer Lift Foundation ($67) restores that lost luminosity.”
The dermatologist says: Splash your skin with ice-water.
To take your skin from flat to vibrant, think cold. “In a pinch, I like ice water splashes,” says Dr. Angela Lamb, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital. “This helps constrict the blood vessels, and give you a rosy glow. In addition, just drinking a glass of water is helpful to hydrate yourself.”
For Dark Circles
The makeup artist says: Grab your illuminator.
You can play with light to nix dark circles, says Burton, who loves Guerlain Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator ($52). “It’s really lightweight and brightens the eye area, but this formula doesn’t over do it with brightener, so it looks like you’re not wearing any makeup,” she explains. “I don’t like when you can see the eye makeup area the eye area.”
The dermatologist says: Go for eye gel & concealer.
You can also take another approach: blur and prime the eye area, before concealing those circles. “Laura Mercier Eye Gel ($60) is a good one for under the eyes, as well as putting spoons that have been the freezer for a few minutes under the eyes to prep,” says Lamb. “Concealer that is slightly lighter than you skin is also a good way to take away the shadows.” Try ultra-lightweight Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo ($49), which also has an anti-fatigue complex to hydrate, de-puff and reduce dark circles.
For Red Skin
The makeup artist says: Use a correcting cream.
Skip concealers here. The right CC (color correcting) cream, like Bye Bye Redness Correcting Cream by IT Cosmetics ($32), can zap the blotches you see when you wake up in the morning after a sleepless night. “This cream works to specifically cover up redness,” Burton says. “It saves time, because this cream is a neutral color — you won’t waste energy covering like you would with a green-colored concealer.
The dermatologist says: It’s all about the skim-milk compress.
You can also banish redness at the source, instead of cover it. Zeichner likes a nice, cool skim-milk compress. “The proteins in the milk soothe inflamed skin,” he explains. “They can help repair the skin barrier, reducing inflammation, which can in turn reduce skin redness.” Simple yet effective.
For Puffy Eyes
The makeup artist says: Go for eye patches.
Give the delicate eye area a quick boost of vitamins while you’re hustling to get ready in the morning, says Burton. “I like Patchology Flash Patch Eye Gels ($50) to cool, soothe, and deeply rehydrate in five minutes,” she recommends. “They can be used under eyes while applying shadow to your lids.”
The dermatologist says: Use damp tea bags.
Damp tea bags are an old remedy for de-puffing the eye area, but they really do work, says Zeichner. “The caffeine in the tea bag constricts blood vessels under the eyes to remove excess fluid,” he says. “Do not use caffeine-free tea!” Which won’t work, so keep black tea or green tea on hand instead.
For Age Spots
The makeup artist says: Try a creamy concealer.
Go straight for the concealer to cover spots, says Burton, who raves about Cover FX’s ultra-smooth Cream Concealer formula ($27). “It conceals imperfections, darkness, and discoloration, and it’s also gluten-, mineral-oil, fragrance-, talc-, and paraben-free! That’s a plus.”
The dermatologist says: Grab a BB cream.
If you’d rather do a full-coverage, one-stop shop, you can also opt for a BB cream to glide over age spots, says Zeichner. “A beauty balm evens skin tone and texture, reduces inflammation, and usually provides sun protection,” he says. Try Bobbi Brown BB SPF 35 ($44), or Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35 ($35) for major multi-tasking benefits.
Disclaimer: Bobbi Brown is the Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo Beauty.
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