How to Say Bye Bye to Tired Eyes & Look More Awake

If your co-workers keep asking if you’re sick… Then it might be time for a serious wake up call. While the easiest way to look like you emerge from a peaceful slumber every morning to a chorus of adorable woodland animals is to, well, actually get enough sleep - that isn’t exactly the five-minute fix you actually want when you’re sporting serious racoon eyes. 

1.Alright Stop - Caffeinate and Listen

No, not like that. Overdoing it with caffeine can dehydrate you - and your skin - so cutting down your Starbucks intake may help with your skin long term. Green tea is a great alternative, and it’s chock-full of antioxidants that may be more beneficial for your complexion. However, when we’re talking about a quick-fix for tired-looking skin, we have a more immediate solution than a coffee-fast. Take 2 tea bags and soak them briefly in warm water before sticking them in the freezer for a few minutes. Hold the cold tea bags against against your eyes to help depuff (caffeine will restrict blood vessels and calm the skin) and the whole process will take about the same time as it does to steep and drink a cup of tea. 

2.Rub it in Why Dontcha

We know - everyone swears by a nightly eye massage with serum to make sure your eye contour stays fine-line and dark circle free, but who has the patience? Not only does IRIS automate the eye-tapping technique for more uniform ocular attention, its soft silicone also makes it perfect for daily use (just 1 minute a day!) as well as when you need an instant pick me up. Try using IRIS to massage in Ren Instant Brightening Beauty Shot Eye Lift - it’s light enough to sit under your makeup while giving you that quick fix you need. 

3.Correct Your Color

We aren’t by any means suggesting  that one snippy comment about looking tired means you need to contour every day (plus, you know she’s just being like this because you called her out for using other people’s coffee sweeteners, Linda) but you can use a few quick swipes of makeup to correct your color for a more polished complexion. All you need is a cover up for dark circles - we opt for 3 dabs under your eye of NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, in a slightly more yellow tone to counteract the purple, and a sweep of a makeup sponge (or finger, we don’t judge) to blend.   Then, use a 2-in-1 contour stick like the budget-friendly NYX Wonder Stick to make that eye contour pop. A touch of highlighter in the inner corner of your eye, lower outer lash line, and brow bone goes a long way. 

4.Liven Up Your Lips

If you’re actually tired (and prone to rubbing your eyes when you are) then spending too much time trying to fake wakefulness with eye makeup is likely to result in smudgy eyeliner and a way more burnt out look. Instead, go for a pop of color by wearing a bold lipstick - we’re not scientists or anything, but we believe no one looks tired with a bright lip. Just remember to prep with light exfoliation and a moisturizing primer before applying lipstick, because dry lips + lipstick will look more ‘I never went home last night’ than ‘I woke up like this.’ 

We Know You Don’t Want to Hear it But…

At the end of the day, the easiest way to make sure you’re always looking fresh and alert is putting in the effort to do all those things that are never very much fun  - drinking lots of plain old H20, working out regularly, and getting to bed on time. But, even if you’ve got the best of intentions when it comes to following these 3 golden rules, none of us are perfect - and these 4 tips will work in a pinch!