Fake Awake

There are still a lot of news stories about new year’s resolutions. One of my favourite articles of all was in the Globe and Mail a few weeks ago. The reporter asked a number of experts for ONE resolution that could make for a healthier new year.  Most of these suggestions were achievable (stop doing sit ups? check! enjoy my food slowly? will do!), but the one sensible goal that eludes me every year is the goal to get more sleep. The expert suggests we aim for 7.5 to 8 hours of slumber per night. I, like most UrbanMoms members, achieve on average 6-7 hours of sleep…on a good night.

I can’t help you to get more sleep, but I can suggest some beauty tips that will let you look like you have.

Face First First of all…take care of your skin. Exfoliate regularly and moisturize a ton, because nothing makes you look more tired than sallow and dry skin.  My favourite way to exfoliate is by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to my facial cleanser, rubbing it onto my skin for 2-3 minutes and then rinsing off.

Chill Out If your eyes are tired, they’re likely puffy. Cut a couple of slices of cucumber, place them on your closed eyelids and catch a quick 10 minute nap. Beauty doctor’s orders.

Lash Out For those bleary eyed mornings, it’s essential that you use every trick in the book to open your eyes. Curl your lashes, use navy eyeliner (the contracts makes the whites of your eyes look more white than red), and I’ve been having great success with Cover Girl Lash Blast Clump Crusher mascara. I ventured away from my tried and true L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara on a whim a few weeks ago and I’ve fallen for Cover Girl. It lengthens and separates my lashes, and is easy to build up for a more impactful eye (without clumping up). On days when I really need to open my eyes, I put a light layer of mascara in the middle of my bottom lashes. 

Brighten Up If you’ve ever thought about using a highlighter product, now’s the time. I use Benefit’s High Beam on top of my Nars Orgasm blush for a dewier look. It’s like a one-two knockout punch,  creating a more youthful and healthier glow, and it instantly gives me an hour of sleep (that I never had).

So, until those elusive 8 hours per night of sleep appear (I’m assuming they’ll arrive around the same time my grandchildren do), these are the tips and tricks that get me through my days.

These are all products that I’ve discovered, used and purchased on my own. All opinions are my own. I’m not really a Beauty Doctor…I just play one on the internet.