So we have eaten too much at Christmas, drank too much Champagne on New Years Eve, enjoyed the salt water and sun of the recent heat waves, or is that just me?
It sounds like our skin needs a boost and at the moment everyone seems to be lacking in sleep, soaking up the summer month that is January, the back to work, yet party season!!
There is one word that comes to mind for all of you, HYDRATION!
I have a few tips that may help you fake it till you make it in the sleep department, giving glowing skin that a 12hr sleep could only wish for.
A lot of women who may be under the pump, having lack of sleep that turns into red eyes and tired looking, dull skin, straight away think make-up will fix all their problems – FALSE!
The worst thing you can do, if feeling tired and dull, is to pack on the makeup, hoping for some sort of boost and recovery from this tired look…
You should be thinking about giving the skin back what has been lost, hydration and radiance, this will instantly plump the surface of the skin, creating a boost that you will feel internally as well as externally looking smooth and fresh.
Only then can one apply make-up products as they will melt into your face, not sit in the cracks!
First step for when waking up feeling worse than you started is preparation, adding moisture to the areas that show signs of age first, eye and forehead expression lines.
If no time for anything else, use a hydration mask, as this will ‘instantly’ plump skin as some moisturizes take longer to penetrate through to where needed.
When I do this, I apply a thin layer to where I feel looks tired or where my expression lines are present, instantly they feel and look softer.
Because I am dehydrated, my product soaks in pretty much all the way to nothing, but if still a lot of product present in 5/10mins, just wipe or dab off skin with a tissue.
Masks are a great ‘quick fix’ for the skin as well as weekly moisture enhancers to boost your daily routine.
My fave mask is the Kiehls Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque! ($45 Selected Myer and David Jones stores and Kiehl’s boutique)
It boosts moisture and stores moisture for sustained hydration. Don’t let the word overnight throw you, at night I add an extra amount, but can be usec during the day also!
Never forget about the eyes ladies, it is the area that shows signs of age first after all!
Even if you have absolutely no time for any other product, always use a form of eye cream in the morning to soften any dehydration lines, especially when busy and suffering lack of sleep.
MB Eye Cream Application Tip!
Use your ring finger always, (softer nerve endings), and tap eye cream in a circular direction inwards towards nasal area on top lid, down and pushing built up fluids outwards on the lower orbital bone – great puffiness reducing technique!
My fave eye cream ever, is the Lancôme Renergie Yeux Multi-Lift Duo ($145 Myer, David Jones and selected pharmacies), as it is a smoothing eye cream, but with the added highlighter in the lid, perfect to smooth, and lift any tired eyes!
You can use the highlighter alone to brighten or over concealer to really wow those eyes up!
MB Pro Tip – Daytime is to prepare the skin for the day ahead and Night is to repair the day’s damage.
Night is when you can use extra serum or a richer, more nourishing cream, but daytime is all about light hydration and radiance to get quick, instant freshness.
Now that we have prepared our skin and given back some moisture, it is all about the radiance.
A lightweight, sheen giving primer is the perfect partner to a sleep deprived skin, remembering, our theme is light and less make-up when the skin is tired and on the dull side, otherwise it can do the reverse and look more tired when a heavy make-up is applied.
I’m a BIG fan of mixing my primer into my foundation upon application; it is the way to dilute strong pigments in foundation for a light, seamless effect.
Play around with your primer and foundation and see what coverage you prefer, but mixing is easy and great for the time poor as less blending is needed.
I’m in love with the Guerlain Météorites Perles Perfecting Primer ($102 David Jones)!
Just the look of it sold me, but it creates a beautiful light glow on the skin, a clear gel to revitalize the skin and the little pearls disperse on contact with he skin for the sheer radiance.
For some, this skin prep and primer can be enough to give fresh, glowing skin, especially with the highlighter built into the eye cream featured.
But, if you want that little bit of coverage to take away pink tones and even skin, but of course not covering it, then a lightweight foundation is perfect.
My choice this season is the amazingly lightweight Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation ($98 David Jones), so light it even comes in a dropper! I love lightweight formulas as you can always build them up to be more coverage when needed. A couple of drops are all you need for a super fresh look!
Your skin should be looking fresh and plump by now, perfect!
Add a lashing of mascara and perhaps a bold lip and you will be the envy of all our friends, effortless, fresh beauty – the best type of beauty.
Good luck ladies! x
By Michael Brown
Twitter: @mbrown_beauty
Facebook: facebook.com/michaelbrownbeauty
