There’s no doubt about it: raising kids is hard on the body. Sometimes I feel like that old Stretch Armstrong doll, whose legs and arms could be used in a tug-of-war battle and then snap back into place. And that’s with a full night’s sleep. Factor in sleep deprivation, and there are days I look in the mirror and think Cloris Leachman might be staring back at me.
Fortunately, I’ve got a few tricks in my trick bag on how to hide my tiredness – and I don’t mean holing myself up in the house until I’m well rested again!
Here are some tried and true tips for hiding a tired face.
1.      Conceal. Ya gotta invest in a good concealer, because it’s worth its weight in gold. It’s one beauty product I don’t skimp on. A quality undereye concealer does wonders to hide gray shadows, dark circles, even red blotches. My personal favorite? Givenchy’s Mr. Light, which I buy at Sephora. In mass quantities.
2.      Confuse. I’m not suggesting you act confused when your BFF says, “Gee, you look a little haggard today.†I’m suggesting you use the art of distraction to draw focus away from your tired face. How, you ask? A strategically placed accessory, for one! A bright scarf, cool purse or better yet – a killer pair of shoes – will have everyone paying attention to anything but your face.
3.      Cover. Take a page from a Hollywood starlet like Nicole Richie or Paris Hilton. Hide your eyes completely with a giant pair of sunglasses. The bigger, the better. There’s nothing that a massive pair of Jackie Os to forgive all.
4.      Caffeine. Sure, we all pop a little (or a lot) of caffeine to make our insides feel awake, but did you know you can use caffeine on your face to help tired eyes? The tannins in green and black teas can act as an astringent, making skin look tighter and lessening the appearance of dark circles. Just steep a couple of tea bags in boiling water, let them cool and place them directly on your eyes for 10-15 minutes. Voila!
You can also buy eye creams or gels that have caffeine in them to achieve a similar effect. You’re getting moisturizing properties from these products that well, frankly, putting tea bags on your face won’t achieve. A low-priced option would be the 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream for $18, or a luxury option is Murad Essential-C Eye Cream for anywhere between $45 and $69, depending on where you buy it.
5.      Comedy. Get a little laughter going in your life. The more you smile, the less tired you’ll look. And this remedy? Doesn’t cost a penny. You have kids, remember? They’re your in-house comedians.
Use some of these tips and you’ll be looking more rested in no time at all!
