No matter how meticulous my beauty routine, sometimes there are just those days where I wake up looking as though all the life has been sucked from my face. Whether it be a few too many cocktails the night before, sleep deprivation or, in my case, a case of the Flu That Refuses To Leave (which has currently taken up residence in my body), everyone sometimes needs a few tricks to pretend to the world that we’re positively beaming from that 8 hour sleep we’ve just had *cough* when we’re actually feeling horrid. So ladies and gents, I present to you my Radiance Arsenal:
Step 1: Damage Control
If you’re clever enough to know the night before that things aren’t going to be pretty in the morning, you can implement a few pre-emptive measures. Just before bed, drink as much water as you can manage, take off all your makeup (add a quick exfoliation if you have the energy) and slather on your most potent, repairative skin treatment. I swear by pure rosehip oil (I love Kosmea, though any decent organic version will do) or Aesop BCCC treatment; both of which feed your skin with a high dose of vitamins and help everything look a little more radiant.
Step 2: Hydrate and Glow
Once you’ve hauled yourself out of bed and into the shower, slather yourself in as much moisturiser and eye cream (Aesop Parsley Seed Eye Serum seems to tighten sleep-deprived eye bags into submission) as your skin will hold. For the body, I love Lierac Lait Sensoriel aux 3 Fleurs which has a light shimmer and a lovely scent (although I celeverly managed to promptly knock mine out the window right after this picture, never for it to be seen again). If you’re feeling pasty, use a moisturiser with a hint of fake tan, like St Tropez Naturals (which comes in face and body versions), so that by lunchtime when you’re flagging, the colour will kick in and make you look glowier than you actually are.
Step 3: Fake Radiance
On days like this, your two best friends are concealer and illuminator. After moisturising, prep your skin with an illuminating primer like Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (I don’t know how I lived before it) and even out skintone with a dewy foundation (I love Chanel Pro Lumiere). Dap a few dots of illuminator (I would struggle to function most days without Benefit High Beam, but the St Tropez Skin Illuminators are also excellent) under the eyes, in a half-moon shape from the brow bone to cheek bones, and a dap on the cupids bow and tip of the nose. Blend with a foundation brush so that it disappears into the skin, then apply concealer under the eyes (ie. over the top of the illuminator) and wherever else it is needed with the same foundation brush. Add a pop of pink blush (I use Mac Pink Swoon or Dolly Mix), some tinted lip balm (I love Carmex Moisture Plus in pink), a light shimmery eyeshadow (to make the eyes appear more open) and a few coats of mascara. You want everything to look fresh and pretty, so now is not the time for a bold smoky eye of gothic plum lip.
Step 4: Perk-Ups
Throughout the day, guzzle as much water as you can possibly manage (caffeine will be the temptation, but this will only dehydrate and sap you of radiance). Spray a spritz of your favourite fresh perfume, and freshen your face with a hydrating face spray throughout the day. I love Jurlique Rosewater, Aesop Immediate Hydrosol and Caudalie Beauty Elixir which all freshen your makeup and drench your skin in lovely vitamins and happy oils. Reapply concealer and lip balm as often as you need, and you’ll be glowing all day long.
So what are your tips to look radiant and perky (when actually feeling disgusting)?
Love, Miss B xx
Usually I just hide and avoid seeing people for the day… your ideas are much better though!
So that’s how you always look so fresh ;).
I do the light facial tan moisturiser one if I am not looking, or feeling my best – you are right, a little bit of colour makes ALL the difference.
I also love Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate – you put it on before you go to sleep, and it just seems to work wonders, it’s also very good at moisturising your face.
Hope your flu goes soon! xx
Thank you! And a hint of tan on the face makes *such* a difference! Have recently discovered the St Tropez Naturals Radiance for face which is truly excellent (and doesn’t contain as many nasties as other products). And have just discovered that Midnight Recovery Concentrate too and it really is excellent! Will be feauturing this in an upcoming post on face treatments.
B xx
Great post! I personally swear by a few dabs of good eye cream, followed by YSL touche eclat in all the right places and Bobbi Brown’s shimmer brick on the cheeks. Even on some of my worst days I’ve had friends comment that my skin looks radiant when using this routine. And of course, plenty of water the night before and immediately when you wake up.
Thanks! And those two products are truly fabulous! Although I personally find a straight illuminator followed by concealer does more (on both the highlighting and coverage front) for under-eye circles as an initial application, and then the Touch Eclat is great for touchups during the day.
B xx
Lovely advice, and lovely lovely products! Luxurious beauty products are one of those little indulgences that can put a smile on your face when you’re feeling rough (even if it’s a drawn-on smile!).
Looking forward to seeing more of these posts 🙂
Alina x
P.S. Devastated to hear that the Lierac has escaped for good – was hoping for its safe return after reading that Tweet!
So glad you love the beauty posts! And no, the Lierac never did turn up sadly (I’m presuming there was a very happy passer-by below).
B xx
I seem to go down the road of no make-up and feeling sorry for myself when I’m ill, but I do have Clairns Flash Balm (which I didn’t like at first but it has grown on me!) and I’m also trying the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery (like Lorien above) which is also excellent! I think I’m going to attempt to apply a tanning moisturiser this winter as it always makes me feel better to have a bit of a glow! Get better soon m’dear! De x
Thank you lovely! And I need to follow my own advice and make sure I use a bit of tan on my face during the winter – it really does wonders!
B xx
Thanks for sharing your beauty secrets! Please let me add to your list a product I couldn’t live without: it’s Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask. It’s fun to use (a gel that magically turns into froth on your face) and in just 3 or 4 minutes your skin looks fresh and radiant. I stock up every time I’m in London (unfortunately it’s not available in Italy!).
Ooh thank you for the tip! Will definitely go and try this myself (oh how I could do with those benefits!)
B xx
Great post. Could you provide links so we know where to buy them? x
Oh good point, will make sure I include some links where I can in future posts
B xx
More recent studies found caffeine doesn’t dehydrate you as everyone thinks, unless you’re not used to drinking it (then it does). But if you normally have a cup or two a day, your body will have adjusted to it. So, good news – it’s fine to drink it when you’re hungover, and it WILL probably make you feel better, not worse.
A very much needed post. Some great advice. THANK YOU!! xxx
My pleasure! Thanks!
B xx
Great tips 🙂 now i have better use for my beam blush 🙂
When feeling like a zombie i just turn up my everyday look with a SMILE to attempt a well rested look..haha
Oh but this is the best tip of all! A smile makes everyone instantly more radiant 🙂
B xx
Love this post B and am in serious need of some radiance! Will be taking tips and digging out my Beauty Flash balm – had forgotten about that little wonder! xx
Thanks lovely! And only just discovered Flash Balm but it really is brilliant!
B xx
Love it – Dolly Mix blush makes me instantly happy. We took a slightly sillier approach to the never-ending flu…colour blocking inspired by pills! http://snapfashion.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/cold-cures-how-to-feel-better-snap-fashion-style-part-two/
Feel better! x
Isn’t it the best? Looks scarily bright in the pot, but I’m yet to see a single person try it and not look instantly more gorgeous!
B xx
This is a great post! I like to use a creme highlighter on my face to contour and wake me up!
-Bianca at http://theinbetweengirls.wordpress.com/
Thanks! And highlighter is definitely one of my can’t-live-without products!
B xx
Ooh, this is what I want to know for years! Thank you!
I love Aesop and have been using their hand balm for years, then tempted to have a look at special treatment by them. BCCC sounds nice, as well as Rosehip oil which I’ve heard about Trilogy’s a lot. Also I need to get a spritzer for my new office.
Oh my pleasure! Let me know how it works for you. I cannot speak highly enough of Aesop, and have also heard good things about Trilogy’s rosehip oil (must try this).
B xx
What a thorough, ideas filled post. I’m definitely a shimmery but still tasteful blusher and good foundation person. I always have terrible dark circles and have never tried the high beam under the concealer trick- it’s now a technique for tomorrow. Informative work.
Thank you.
Lauren
Oh dear, do I need this now or what? 7 days of 6 hour sleep-eek. Does not for a nice complexion make!
Isn’t it amazing the number of products you need to look human before leaving home? I’m a big believer in peelings to destroy all those dead cells for radiance (Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask), Caudalie Eau de Beauté to wake my skin up, Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-reversing Primer to erase those wrinkles (alas…) and smooth my skin, and Chanel blush to pretend I have rosy cheeks.
Love this, except I find when I drink a whole load of water before bed I wake up with really puffy eyes! Did a bit of reading up on it and apparently you shouldn’t drink toooo much water right before bed as it leads to water retention.
I’m going to check out High Beam as I’ve been looking for a more shimmery highlighter than my touche eclat…And, I call Pink Swoon the ‘magic’ blush in that it literally looks good on everyone I’ve recommended it to, regardless of skin tone!
Also thought I’d mention Urban Decay’s ‘de-slick’ compact for touch-ups during the day – perfect for the warmer summer months [if they ever arrive in England…]