I’ve always envied people who roll out of bed looking like a sleepy Brigitte Bardot, all tumbling fringe and glowing skin.
I wake up looking like the jetlagged (much) older sister of Jackie Stallone. It takes at least a half hour and a bag of tricks worthy of David Copperfield to put things right if I want to walk to work without frightening passing children.
When I caught myself looking at a burka and thinking: ‘That would actually solve a lot of problems’, I decided to investigate some less extreme options. These three tricks are simple but they really do reduce puffiness, lines and various other monstrous morning maladies that make the mirror a no-go area first thing.
Hit the pints
Before you summon the barkeep, this is water I’m referring to. Drink a pint of H2O before you get into bed and put another one on your bedside table. The minute you wake, drink the full glass. Dehydration really is a key factor in how you look in the AM, particularly when it comes to dark circles under the eyes. Extra hydration will also make you feel more alert first thing.
Add an extra pillow
This one takes some getting used to, but elevating your head a little more than usual keeps facial swelling at bay. Extra points if you can teach yourself to sleep on your back. A human head can weigh up to 8lbs, every ounce of which is pressing fabric-related wrinkles into your face if you’re not an… elegant sleeper (and who is?).
Exfoliate before bed
It makes sense to scrub off the day’s dead skin when you remove the day’s make-up. Spend five minutes working a good exfoliator into your face in a circular motion to boost circulation, then rinse it off and follow with a serum and a generous amount of moisturiser (don’t be mean, pile that stuff on there). Once or twice a week I substitute the serum for a wear-off facial tanner. If you’re me, this is the closest you’ll come to waking up with that fabled glow.
