We all know that a good night’s sleep is vital to looking your best and being healthy. We also know that sometimes things happen, and you run empty for the day. Sallow skin and dark and puffy eyes are tell-tale signs that you have had no sleep.
There are ways to look fresh even after a night of poor quality sleep, whether due to illness, work stress, or getting up at night to look after the keep. Luckily, you don’t have to spend the day looking exhausted, and you don’t need to pile makeup.
Health experts at Amerisleep shared with HOLA! USA five simple and natural tricks you can use to look refreshed after a bad night’s sleep.
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Drink powdered magnesium, or bathe in magnesium salts
Not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep per night can lead to higher stress levels and inflammation. This will make your eyes look puffy, and your skin look tired. Magnesium is an anti-inflammatory and anti-stress mineral.
Magnesium’s natural antioxidant aids oxygen uptake, electrolyte balance, and energy production. Add powdered magnesium citrate to a mug of hot water and sip throughout the day. It will help reduce tiredness and fatigue and help maintain healthy bones and muscles. If you have more time, take a quick bath with magnesium salts. The salts will soothe your tired muscles, lowering inflammation and minimizing puffiness.
Apply a quick coffee scrub
Drinking coffee is typically the go-to for the sleep-deprived. The caffeine may perk you up for a while, but coffee has dehydrating effects, which won’t help your skin. Instead, why not make a simple coffee face scrub? Here’s how you make it: combine a cup of ground coffee and two tablespoons of sugar (it’s best to use brown sugar as it is more gentle), then add enough coconut oil and mix until the scrub feels like wet sand.
Then, gently scrub your face. The coffee and sugar act as exfoliants, which will help to rid your skin of dullness, while the caffeine will help eliminate dark under-eye circles by causing the blood vessels to constrict. The scrub will last up to two months if stored properly in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Hydrate, exfoliate, and massage
Start by drinking 20-30 ounces, or between 2.5 and 3.75 cups, of room temperature (or slightly chilled) lemon water. The water wakes the body, flushes out toxins, and combats puffiness. In the shower, exfoliate with a gentle scrub to eliminate dullness by making the skin look bright and dewy.
If your skin still looks puffy, lightly massage the skin while applying a serum or moisturizer, focusing on moving the lymph fluid from the center of your face toward the periphery. Curling your eyelashes will open your eyes even more, and a bold lip color (i.e., fuchsia or red) will brighten your face.
Splash cold water, drink green tea
Splash your face with ice-cold water. This will take up your complexion and tighten your skin. Around your eyes, try applying a cream with green coffee extract or rosemary, which will help to de-puff and increase circulation.
Try drinking green tea rather than your morning coffee. Coffee has no health benefits and won’t hydrate you. Green tea is packed with antioxidants and will keep you hydrated.
It also contains caffeine, just not as much as coffee does. Dab organic grapefruit essential oil on your pulse points (wrist and neck), which studies show could cause people to perceive you as looking younger and fresher.
If you wear makeup, choose foundation instead of concealer. A light layer of foundation all over is the quickest and easiest way to look alive in one step, as this will even out your skin tone.
Reduce swelling with a cold compress
The eyes are usually the first signs of a fitful night, followed by the skin. To combat dullness, exfoliate and moisturize. A skin spritzer can help to wake up your skin and keep you looking fresh. It doesn’t matter whether you use a canned water mist or one from a skincare brand.
The cool liquid can feel energizing, too. For the eyes specifically, makeup will only go so far. If you’ve got time in the morning, apply cool cucumber slices or wet tea bags (green or black tea is best because the caffeine helps) that have been in the refrigerator to your eyes. This will help ease swelling and increase blood flow. Finally, a workout can help boost you, although it might be the last thing you want to do if you’re tired!