We’re limping toward the end of the year - and if you’re feeling exhausted, too, here’s how not to let it show. From banishing dark circles to illuminating the skin with a faux glow, here are the tips we follow to help us look fresh and wide-awake, even when we’re fading on the inside, by editor Trudi Brewer and style director Lousie Hilsz.
Editor Trudi Brewer and style director Louise Hilsz
Brighten Your Waterline
A neutral-toned or white eyeliner instantly makes tired eyes look more awake. Victoria Beckham is a fan of this trick and believes it makes a big difference. It works by balancing out any redness while opening up the eyes and making them appear larger and brighter—Trudi Brewer.
tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight, in White, $47.
We have tested plenty of white liners to get that wide-awake look. This, by far, is the best. It instantly neutralises redness and makes the whites of your eyes look brighter. (Tip: If you find white looks too stark on you, try Nude — this colour does the same thing, just less intensely.) The formula glides on gently in just a swipe and stays all day. It can also be applied to sculpt or underscore the brow arch to give the illusion of an instant eye lift.
Go for Glow-Boosters
Hydration is challenging to maintain at this time of year. What helps? A face oil or serum works wonders by giving you a more natural glow when layered underneath your foundation. It plumps fine lines, brightens, and helps make-up look better, too. Another top tip, Hilsz swears by using eye cream stacked brightening ingredients like caffeine or vitamin C to boost luminosity further—Louise Hilsz.
Tailor Your SKin AWAKEN Brightening eye cream, $50.
We find ourselves recommending this tube of goodness all the time. Why - it works. Not only will it address the look of dark circles fast, thanks to the caffeine extract and golden mica that leaves skin under the eyes sporting a subtle shimmer, but it calms puffiness, too. At the same time, hyaluronic acid minimises the look of dry lines. There are three good reasons why it’s addictive.
Tweak Your Concealer
Concealer alone often isn’t enough to cover dark circles. But layering a corrective concealer underneath your go-to concealer is. It helps neutralise hyperpigmentation and redness, thanks to a range light-reflective ingredients. Just a tiny amount dotted under the eyes, and then blend it through to the high points of the face will give your entire complexion a lift—Trudi Brewer.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid Concealer, 64.
It’s not dubbed the ‘trusted miracle stick in one swipe’ for nothing. UK celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury certainly knows how to create a perfect canvas on the skin, and with this concealer, now you can, too. Where to begin? It covers blemishes without looking chalky or cakey, just a poreless-looking cover. Even the deepest of dark circles can be erased. It targets imperfections without looking like you’re wearing a makeup mask. Oh, and Tilbury promises it lasts 15 hours - we must agree.
Blush is everything
Blush energises the skin and adds colour back into a dull complexion. When you look lacklustre, choose a pink blush over a brown bronzer. In contrast, bronzer is brilliant for contouring or adding depth, but a pink blush gives your skin a youthful, healthy glow. Buff it on the apples of the cheeks, blending upward toward the temples to create a more lifted effect. Dab liquid and cream blushers on the skin with your fingers, then blend any lines with a fluffy brush—Louise Hilsz.
NARS Pure Luxury Light Reflecting Cheek & Eye Palette, $112.
Shimmer and highlighter make this limited-edition palette of gorgeous blushes so covetable. Irresistibly silky, the colours range from barely with pearlescent pigments that give your skin that light-from-within glow. From radiant to soft-focus, this palette of powder blushers lasts on the skin all day, and there are two colourways. Pictured here is Medium Deep.
Get glowing
A highlighter is the easiest way to achieve an illuminated look on the skin. However, wearing sunscreen daily is the best way to give skin a permanent glow. If you are still searching for a formula you like to wear, today, many brands offer light-reflecting benefits along with SPF that improve your skin while protecting it against UV damage—Trudi Brewer.
Naked Sundays Cabana Glow SPF50+ Mineral Glow Drops, $50.
Meet a mineral SPF that feels and looks like glow-giving makeup. It is stacked with skin-caring ingredients like wild rosella oil (promotes an even-looking skin tone and fights hyperpigmentation), vitamin C, and hydrating hyaluronic acid, while mineral pigments tint the skin. This sun-kissed glowy sunscreen can be worn under makeup or alone (the finish is like an illuminating, tinted moisturiser). There are three shades, pictured here: Bronze.
Shelf the matte makeup
If you’re looking washed out, ditch the matte makeup. Matte finishes can make your skin appear flat and lifeless. Go for light-reflective formulas instead, particularly cream, shimmer eyeshadows and liquid blush. Adding a touch of highlighter on the centre of your eyelid and at the inner corners of your eyes will make you look more awake—you can try applying a little under your brow bone, too—Trudi Brewer.
VIOLETTE_FR Yeux Paint Twinkling, $60.
Every time my eyes are dressed in this gorgeous, rich, sparkling colour, the compliments flow. It can be used as a slick liner or blended across the lids to give a punchy eye makeup look. The best news is that it doesn’t move once in place. It's blendable and buildable, and no shadow brush or touch-ups are required—just gorgeous shimmery lids that will light up your face. There are seven shades; a festive green called Scarabee d’Or is pictured here.
Frame Your Face
If you have time to groom one feature, make it your brows. Well-groomed brows will automatically enhance and frame your features, making you look fresher and more awake. We are both fans of a full brow. To groom, push the hair upwards, and then I follow the natural arch towards the tail. Brushing the hair up creates the illusion of more eyelid space, so your eyes look lifted and brighter. Then, finish with a brow gel to keep the hairs in place—Louise Hilsz.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel, $41.
Brow gel is the most underrated beauty buy. Here’s why. Even if your brows need pencil or pomade to enhance their shape or fullness, nothing grooms brows like a slick of gel, and this is one of the best. First, it’s transparent, so no white, flaky residue. It offers a flexible hold that never feels stiff. It allows you to comb brows into place for a fuller-looking finish and complements any other brow products.
Lip Gloss is forever
It’s a small addition to any makeup routine but an instant way to refresh dull-looking skin and plump up your pout. Lip gloss, glaze or lip oils instantly inject a youthful glow and touch of glam into your makeup look - I promise—Trudi Brewer.
Jane Iredale ColorLuxe High Impact Lip Glaze, $69.
This gloss ticks two boxes when you need an instant pick-me-up. The dynamic 3D shine gives a mirror-like finish, and this shade is a pop of gorgeous, bold, but sheer red that whitens the teeth simultaneously. This new clean cosmetic contains hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate the lips and jojoba seed oil. It’s not sticky and lasts for hours on the lips. There are seven shades, including Crystal Clear. Cherry Noir is pictured here. #love.
Don’t Forget a faux Tan
We are hooked on the benefits of self-tanner, not just for its instant safe colour but also for its boost in feeling of well-being. Facial tanner is a godsend. Mix a few drops into your usual moisturiser. The colour will build gradually throughout the day, instantly injecting some life into your skin. Look for a hybrid tanner that nourishes your complexion while adding a sun-free bronze glow—Louise Hilsz.
St Tropez Luxe Tan Tonic Drops, $52.
The perfect facial self-tanner for busy women. Supercharged with niacinamide (vitamin B3), hydrating hyaluronic acid, and superfruits like echinacea and acerola cherry extract, it’s also a vitamin shot for the skin, including C and E as well as a 100 per cent natural self-tan. This clever tonic ensures you wake up with a faux glow. Apply a few drops (like a serum) to the skin, or mix it with a day or night cream (we apply it at night). It’s a nourishing glow you can use all year round.
LED Light Therapy is a game-changer
Beyond keeping eye masks in the fridge – using them cold works incredibly well on crepey, tired eyes. LED light therapy (read Hilsz review here) can be particularly effective for smoothing and brightening the undereye area. A targeted LED eye mask, which does the job in just minutes a day, is not only a natural approach to skin rejuvenation, but the skin-plumping results, while gradual, can transform both your skin and improve tired-looking eyes—Louise Hilsz.
Omnilux Mini Eye Brightener, $190.
With this mini eye mask, Omnilux is leading the way again with its all-natural approach to skin rejuvenation (where your body does the healing). Not only does it work to de-puff and brighten the delicate skin under the eye area, but it boosts collagen production to firm the skin and help wipe out those signs of fatigue and ageing.
To use: Use the LED mask for ten minutes on each eye three to five times a week.
HOW TO HERE
Here’s why it’s a summer essential.