We all know those mornings, when a late night, the baby who has you up every 30 minutes or, worse, a head-banging hangover, literally makes you look like you have aged ten years (and then some!) over night.
Even if we are still young(ish), those nights can really go to town on our appearance, making skin look grey and dull, fine lines suddenly seem way more pronounced, and eyes look like you haven’t slept a full night for at least a decade.
But fear not, mamas, a little make-up trickery goes a long way – and I mean, let’s be honest, when it comes to making the best of things, the goal is to continue being asked for ID when we buy wine for as long as humanly possibly, no?
If yes, then say hello to these brilliant ways of turning back the clock – no needles involved:
1. Amp up hydration
Dry skin means older looking skin, so remember to stay hydrated (especially after a wet night on the town!).
The good news is that fine lines and wrinkles can most often be softened by plumping the skin with moisturizers, so opt for a day cream that really packs a punch or try layering a balm over your day cream for an extra boost of hydration on days when your skin really needs a little extra help. We love the Extra Repair Moisturizing Balm from Bobbi Brown for this.
2. Start with a primer
When your skin is looking a little worse for the wear, whatever you do, do not skimp on primer. For a flawless complexion, a great primer will work wonders in evening out your skin tone and even diffusing the look of both fine lines and open pores.
There are plenty of great primers out there, but I personally keep coming back to Laura Mercier’s Radiance Foundation Primer. This lightweight creamy gel minimizes the look of any imperfections and leaves my makeup looking fresh all day – a total investment buy.
3. Go liquid with your foundation
It might be tempting to think that when your skin is looking rough, the best thing to do is to cover it with an industrial sized layer of foundation to try and hide every sin. The problem with this is that if you go for full-on, heavy coverage, the foundation will end up sitting in your creases, making these far more visible than they need to be.
Instead, opt for a lightweight liquid foundation, or, do what I do, mix a few drops of foundation into your tinted moisturizer, and dab on. Alternatively, you can also try adding a drop or two of liquid highlighter (Nars’ Copacabana is the best one out there, trust me), as this will also help give your skin a fresher and more dewy (AKA younger looking) finish.
4. Get hands on
For the most natural looking make-up, ditch the brushes and instead pat both foundation and concealer on with your fingers. Not only is it easier to get it perfectly blended this way, the heat from your skin will also warm the products and make them glide on smoother.
5. Ditch the powder
In case you didn’t know, powder will, for the most part, have an ageing effect as it dulls your skin and can end up sinking into any little line or crease.
If your skin is very oily and you feel like you need powder to help set your makeup and avoid it sliding off, then make sure you only apply the powder to the following places: Forehead, under eyes and under chin.
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