Don't Look Like a Tired Mom: 13 Quick Mini Makeovers
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Don’t Look Like a Tired Mom!
Of course you’re tired – running a household with children is tiring work! We’ve all seen tired moms dropping off their kids at school in morning, desperately clutching a cup of coffee as if it’s their last bastion of hope… And we can all probably admit that we have been that tired mom on one occasion or another!
Being a mom often means we sacrifice a lot of things (sleep being one of them) just to get it all done, and while we know we need to take more time for ourselves, we also know that sometimes morning is still going to come a little too early. Just because you are tired doesn’t mean you have to look tired. Here are 13 surefire ways to wake up your look when your energy levels are less than full.
13 Quick Mom Makeovers to Take You from Tired to Terrific!
1. Drink more water. Hydrating your body is a sure fire way to look and feel better almost instantly. Another great way to use water for a quick pick-me-up is to fill a spray bottle with water, turn the dial to “mist”, and give your face a quick spritz of water.
2. Moisturize. Short on time in the morning? Never skip applying a facial moisturizer with sunscreen. The moisture in your skin will instantly make you look more awake (and protect your skin at the same time).
3. Brighten. Use a light colored shimmery eyeshadow or cream to brighten eyes. We’re talking white, ivory, or light beige. Light eyeshadows instantly brighten up the face, making you look more alert.
4. Concealer. Dark under eye circles are a tell-tale sign of not getting your Zs. Nothing hides circles like a good under eye concealer, which takes only 30 seconds of your busy morning to apply.
5. Do not wear pajamas out of the house! There is no more effective way to look like you’re still sleeping than to actually wear your pajamas in public! Please, please, please: take the extra 2 minutes and throw on a shirt and pants.
6. Add white shimmer under arches. You can perform this great trick on the go – even sitting in traffic. Dab a shimmery white lip gloss under the arches of your eyebrows and rub in. The bright color beneath the arch instantly draws the eye upward, causing onlookers to focus on the line of your eyebrow, not the tired eyes below.
7. Wear lipstick. A powerful punch of color can wake up a tired face when you don’t have a lot of time to get ready. Stick with a neutral color that’s not too dark, slick on one coat and you’re good to go. Instead of touching up lipstick throughout the day, keep a chapstick handy to keep lips moisturized and shiny. (Wearing bold lipstick and large sunglasses, no one will know you’re not a celebrity mom today!)
8. Wear clothes that fit. Clothing that fits and flatters your figure will make you look more put together instead of looking like you just rolled out of bed. Ditch the baggy tees and sweat pants. It takes just as long to put on a top and pants that fit your body and look great as it does to put on shapeless lounge wear!
9. Exfoliate. Use a facial scrub before bed to save time in the morning. Slough away those dead, dull skin cells to reveal fresh rejuvenated skin.
10. Self tanner. Self tanning moisturizers are a convenient way to give your skin a little pick me up. A healthy tan gives you a rested look and can hide dark circles when you haven’t gotten enough sleep. Try applying a self-tanning moisturizer before bed for a hint of tan by morning.
11. Put on earrings. Small details get left out when time is limited, and therefore are a surefire way to look more awake and put together. Large hoops will draw the eyes away from sleepy features, while small diamonds or other gems will add sparkle to your face.
12. Eye drops. Visine or other eye drops can help to eliminate eye redness caused from sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep can cause the blood vessels in your eyes to pump more blood than usual, making them larger and the whites of your eyes seem red and “bloodshot”. The tetrahydrozoline HCl found in eye drops is a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it shrinks these blood vessels, giving you back your normal white eyes. Keep eye drops in the refrigerator for a cool pick-me-up.
13. Cold water rinse. If all else fails, quickly rinse your face with very cold water. The cold temperature causes the pores to constrict, delivering the appearance of smoother skin and an instantly awake face.
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Eye photo by Flickr’s darkpatator.
19 Comments
Karen
Love the list! Brilliant idea for a TT!
Chris
Great ideas, even for those of us who aren’t moms. I use the cold water trick a lot and always try to drink 3 liters of water a day. Happy TT
Jennymcb
Lipstick, I just can’t find something that looks natural. Another new routine for me is too brush on some mineral powder, I like how it evens out the color and it’s quick. Great ideas, now I want to go up and put a mask on my face.
Alice Audrey
You mean there are women older than high school girls who wear PJ’s around town?
Diana
I am afraid I have already left the MOM stage and have made it to GRANDMA stage and need even more help….LOL
Home Ever After
@Karen: Thank you!
@Jennymcb: Mineral powder is a great idea; it’s so good for your skin. Lol about the mask! As for the lipstick, if you’re having a hard time with the color, try switching to a lipgloss with a lot of shine but only a hint of color.
Homemaker Barbi
Home Ever After
@Chris: True – these tips are great for non-moms and even tired college students as well! It’s great to have a daily goal for water consumption, because then it’s easier to measure how you’re doing.
@Alice: *laughing* Yes, it’s TRUE! I see it a lot at school while dropping off my daughter and even in the grocery store.
@Diana: Grats on the grandma stage! We can all take a few tips from you 🙂
Homemaker Barbi
Xee Momma
Thanks for this article! I agree 100% about wearing clothes that fit. When I take the time to take care of myself well, I feel a lot better about myself, I manage the household better and even work better. The positive energy just flows with proper self-care.
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Sleepy AVON Lady
The are excellent Tips! These are great for any woman or man for that matter to perk up and improve their appearance! For a more natural look Mineral Make-up and Neutral shades of lipstick or lipgloss are the way to go! Thanks for posting, it is important to also always wear a moisturizer with SPF during the Day, even on cloudy days.
Deborah
These are great tips! No kids…yet, and I can still apply these tips for every day. Thank You!
By the way…where does one get the “retweet” button for blog posts. Another great idea! And, I used them. 🙂
Deborah
Would you consider sharing this post with my readers during my upcoming Virtual Baby Shower?
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Jenny
I searched for this after my husband informed me that I have rapidly changed / aged in a little as 3 years. 🙁 Granted, I have had two children in that timeframe and only get 4-5 hours of sleep per night. I am desperate to try to get back my youthful look. Any suggestions for de-puffing the under eye area? Cold water just doesn’t cut it. Also, what concealers work without getting caked up in the fine lines under the eye? Any brand recommendations?
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