Tips on looking refreshed & awake

What part of your body gives away how well you take care of yourself? Your eyes. Walking into an early morning meeting, flashing bright, wide-awake eyes will show people you’re ready for business. Puffiness, redness or dark circles under your eyes tell a completely different tale.

We all know that for great looking skin in the morning, a great night’s sleep is at the top of the list. But it’s not the only thing that can give you an awake and refreshed appearance. Things like staying away from sugar and alcohol can play a part, too.

Sounds good in theory. Yet, we all remember a time or two (or three) that we’ve stayed out a little too late with friends or couldn’t turn off the latest Netflix binge. Late nights and early mornings are inevitable. They aren’t going to stop anytime soon.

But no matter what your daily habits look like or how often they are broken, looking your best is possible if you take these important steps every day.

Before Bed:

Hydrate
Drinking enough water during the day is essential to looking and feeling your best. Drinking water throughout your day has a variety of benefits. It helps your body maintain the perfect balance of fluids, keeps your muscles energized, assists in proper kidney function and keeps your skin looking fresh, staving off the wrinkles.

Proper Skin Regimen
You can also help lock in moisture by hydrating your skin with proper cleansing, eye treatments and moisturizer.

If you wake up with dehydrated skin, you’re not performing the right nighttime routine. Before bed, make sure you cleanse your face with a high quality cleanser that is both non-irritant and highly moisturizing. Use a toner that is alcohol-free, non-drying, controls oil and primes your skin. Use an eye treatment cream to protect against puffy eyes, dark circles and crow's feet. Follow it all up with a moisturizer that is gentle, filled with essential vitamins and minerals and absorbs quickly to begin working right away.

Proper Night Regimen
Ever been so stimulated when you lie down at night that it takes a very long time to fall asleep? In many cases, it stems from not having the proper ritual before you crawl into bed. You can’t dance the night away, down a few cups of coffee, watch an action movie and expect to instantly fall into peaceful sleep. Relaxation starts long before you pull the covers down.

Sleeping well isn’t just about how long you sleep; it’s also about how well you sleep.

Before settling in for the night, try to take time to clear your mind of any stressors. Turn the TV off. Turn off bright lights and leave a soft glow instead. Meditate or listen to quiet, relaxing music. Read a book for enjoyment. Avoid using electronic devices because of the harsh glow they often expel. Eliminate both caffeine and alcohol as both are extremely dehydrating. Alcohol also causes blood vessels in your body and face to dilate, which can lead to flushed, puffy skin overnight. Drink water or a cup of hot, relaxing chamomile tea.

When you wake up:

Start with a Cup of Tea
Tea is great habit to get into for your morning routine. And there is more than one reason to make it a part of your daily habit. Black or chamomile teas are best for their anti-inflammatory properties. After making the tea, pop the leftover tea bags in the fridge to cool, then place on your eyelids for a bit. This will help reduce puffiness and get you ready for the day ahead.

Exercise
You don’t need a long and drawn out routine to make a difference in the way your body looks and feels. In the morning, even just a few minutes of light exercise can get your circulation going. Try hanging upside down, or perform yoga poses like downward dog; it helps reverse the blood flow and brings circulation directly to the area impacted by dark circles under your eyes.

Cleanse
After sleeping all night, dead skin and excess oils rise to the surface of your skin. By repeating your nightly cleansing routine, you’ll remove these skin cells and oils from the surface, making your skin clean and healthy for the day.

As you add your eye treatment cream, do a light massage on the eye area to increase circulation. This will help the eye treatment cream penetrate your skin and give you that wide awake appearance.

Makeup Tips
The more tired you are, the more stressed out your skin can be. That means there may be more signs of irritation, redness, puffiness, dehydrated skin or even breakouts and pimples. Makeup can be an aggravator to skin that is already under stress. The key is not to overdo makeup, especially if your skin is feeling the effects. Keep it looking radiant with a tinted moisturizer instead of a foundation. This will continue to add moisturizer without blocking the pores with heavy products. Keep concealers light too. For a bit of color, go with a cream blush over a powder blush to continue giving your skin a healthy, glowy appearance. Use a sheer berry lip color as well to add brightness and polish to your overall look.

Remember, a healthy glow isn’t something you’re born with or something that comes naturally to everyone. It’s a well thought out, habitual routine that ensures your body is receiving the best of everything.

Sticking to a routine will win out every time in how you look and how you feel. Make sure sleep, eating right and drinking enough water is a part of your routine. Be sure you have a simple cleansing process morning and night; one that includes a gentle cleanser, an effective eye treatment cream and a powerful moisturizer that leaves your face well hydrated. With just these few simple methods, you’ll look your best every single day.

What eye treatment cream are you currently using?