This time of year can feel pretty disorientating. One minute your in the midst of festive celebrations and aren’t quite sure what day of the week it is and then suddenly, you’re jolted back to reality by your work alarm and the busyness of daily life begins all over again. If your complexion is showing the signs of how little sleep you’ve had over the past few weeks (not to mention the amount of sloe gin, sherry and mince pies you’ve enjoyed) we’ve got some easy skin and makeup hacks to help you fake a fresh-faced, well-rested look fast…
Tip 1: Why Skincare Layering Saves The Day
After the season of excess drinking and eating, skin can feel parched, dehydrated and weary. Which is where clever product layering comes in. At this time of year more is more when it comes to skincare, we’re blending our serums and finishing with a thick barrier cream to help plump, moisturise and protect the skin. A cocktail of targeted serums such as Allies of Skin Triple Hyaluronic Antioxidant Serum and Dr Sturm’s new Lifting Serum deliver a multitude of benefits including intensive hydration and protection from harmful free radicals.
We’ll be applying a thick layer of Verso’s new Nourishing Cream that helps lipid production and encourages your skin to retain moisture and keeping a refreshing face mist like May Lindstrom’s Jasmine Garden Botanical Facial Mist on our desks for midday top-ups. For overnight skincare replenishment, Drunk Elephant’s new F-Balm Electrolyte Mask can’t be beaten. It contains a blend of ceramides, essential fatty acids and electrolytes that will help plump, smooth and moisturise skin by morning.
Tip 2: Eye Masks That Instantly Make You Look Awake
Game-changers for refreshing a tired complexion fast, a targeted eye mask can help reduce puffiness, disguise dark circles and smooth fine lines. Our top tip? Keep them in the fridge for a refreshing cooling effect that will help calm inflammation for a more wide-awake look. The one we’re lusting after now is Sarah Chapman’s innovative new Platinum Stem Cell Eye Mask because its unique Tri-ocular allows you to treat the brow bone, lids and undereye area at once.
Tip 3: Under-Eye Concealers That Change Everything For The Better
The best undereye concealer will instantly brighten weary eyes, disguise dark circles and illuminate skin. It’s worth investing in a concealer specifically created for the area to prevent it looking cakey on the thinner skin or sinking into fine lines or crow’s feet making them appear more pronounced. To illuminate dark circles Becca’s Under Eye Brightening Corrector contains ultra-fine, light-reflecting pigments, for dry skin sufferer’s NARS Soft Matte Concealer’s creamy texture melts into skin for a barely-there finish or try Hourglass’ hybrid Hidden Corrective Concealer, which is infused with antioxidant vitamin E to help nourish the delicate area.
Tip 4: The Clever Bronzer Hack To Illuminate Your Eyes
Wearing bronzer on your eyelids is one of the easiest ways to revive a dull complexion, make the whites of your eyes appear brighter and distract from any undereye bags or shadows. Plus, it has the added benefit of looking like a natural eye shadow and means you can streamline your makeup kit too. Double win.
To try it yourself simply use the soft pads of your fingers to dust a light layer of bronzer over the whole of your eyelid. For a subtle sheen effect, we love Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Bronzer or for a matte finish try Tom Ford’s Small Bronzer in Terra or Chantecaille’s warming Compact Soleil Bronzer.
