How to Look Refreshed and Well Rested: 4 Fast Fixes to Try Now

Since having my daughter, I rarely get enough sleep at night and you can definitely tell in the mornings. I can’t remember the last time I naturally woke up to look refreshed and well rested.

I needed some help to look awake in the mornings without using a ton of makeup, because I don’t have time for that. I need to get everyone out the door quickly, sound familiar?

I found some products that can really help you look awake when you haven’t slept. I know we all have those days where we just look tired and have bags under our eyes, even if you don’t have kids.

I wanted to share some tips and tricks that I use to look refreshed and awake in the mornings without caking on makeup and having 5 cups of coffee. These tips are great for busy moms and those on the go.

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Create Good Bedtime Habits

Even if you are able to get a full eight hours of sleep, your eyes can still look red and puffy when you wake up. This is because the skin around your eyes is so thin and has less oil glands. Plus, if you have pale skin like I do, the blood vessels under your eyes are more visible and can look like dark circles.

No matter how tired you are, you have to do two things before going to bed: cleanse and treat.

Remove your makeup before bed, especially your eye makeup. I like using a Neutrogena makeup wipe to do this at night. It is quick and easy to remove even the most stubborn mascara.

After all the makeup has been removed, apply some eye cream. I like using an eye cream that has retinol as a main ingredient. This helps smooth lines and minimize dark circles by producing more elastin and collagen around the eye area. I like using Roc Retinol Correxion Anti-Aging Eye Cream.

Change your Nightly Routine

After I finally get my daughter to bed, I like to sit and watch some TV to relax. That usually means grabbing a snack as well.

I learned to stay away from salty foods at night because this can make you retain fluid which leads to looking puffy in the morning. The same goes for alcohol, too.

I now snack on fruit or something more healthy before bed.

If you get under-eye bags regularly, try sleeping elevated at a 45-degree angle. This should help keep fluids downward instead of settling under your eyes.

I also make sure to use a face cream at night to help prevent dryness and wrinkles. If you do the same, make sure to keep the face cream away from your eyes, especially if it uses any kind of fragrance. This can irritate the delicate skin around your eyes and make them look puffy.

Choose the Right Eye Cream

Using an eye cream is a very important step if you want to look refreshed and well rested in the mornings. There are so many different types out there, how do you know which one is best for you?

Determine your most common problem: puffiness, dark circles, or wrinkles and choose a cream that is specific to that problem.

Puffiness: Look for a cream that has caffeine and ginseng as main ingredients. This will help your circulation around the eye area. Store your cream in the fridge and the cold will help reduce swelling. I recommend: Garnier SkinActive Ultra-Lift Anti-Aging Eye Cream.

Wrinkles: Use a cream that contains hyaluronic acid. It helps retain moisture and smooths lines. I recommend Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream as an affordable option.

Dark Circles: Look for a cream that has ingredients like mica and titanium oxide to help reduce shadows and dark circles. Creams labeled “illuminating” are good options. I recommend Olay Eyes Illuminating Eye Cream.

There are plenty more options out there but I wanted to give you some choices that are affordable and have great reviews. If you have found a product that works great for you, share it in the comments below for others to try.

Fast Makeup Fixes

Until you have been using the eye creams for a while, you may still have to use some makeup tricks to look good when you wake up.

I use these fast fixes to look refreshed and well rested without spending more than 5 or 10 minutes getting ready.

Color Corrector: I did a full post on how to use color corrector for a variety of problems, but I like using peach-colored corrector to hide dark circles under my eyes. I blend it under my eyes to neutralize the blue undertones and then top it off with some cream concealer.

Highlighter: I like using a light colored eye shadow as a highlighter to illuminate my eyes and make them look brighter. Just apply some to the inner corners and across the brow bone. You can use an actual highlighter but light eye shadow works great if that is all you have on hand.

You can also try applying some white or nude eyeliner along your lower lash line to really make your eyes pop.

Eye Lash Curler: This is probably the quickest thing you can do to make your eyes look more awake. Use a few pumps of a good eye lash curler before applying some mascara. If you are prone to dark circles, just stick to applying mascara to the top lashes. Dark colors on your bottom lashes may draw attention to circles.

I hope that by using these quick tricks, you can look more refreshed and well rested each and every morning. Even when you are short on time.