7 makeup tricks to make you look more awake

There was a time when makeup was all about experimentation and occasionally it still is.

But for the Monday to Friday grind, it serves one purpose: to make us look a little more pulled together and a lot less like we haven’t slept properly in weeks.

Here are the seven tricks Insider Beauty recommends to look more awake:

1. Mix your skin care with your foundation

Mix one pump of hydrating serum with a pump of liquid foundation and blend from the middle of your face out to get dewy, even skin with zero fuss.

Picture: iStock

2. Use your highlighter in unexpected spots

You already know what a dab of highlighter can do for your cheekbones, but the real magic happens when you add a tiny dot of the stuff under your lower lash lines.

The light reflective particles draw attention to the center of your eyes (and away from the shadows below them), making the entire area look brighter.

3. Use concealer in unexpected spots

After tackling any under-eye shadows or blemishes, be sure to add some concealer around your nose and mouth to get rid of any redness or discoloration there. It’s the smallest thing that makes the biggest difference.

Picture: iStock

4. Add a swipe of lipstick

And if mascara is the key to looking more wide-eyed and awake, lipstick is the fastest way to pull the whole thing together.

On any given day, a soft pink will add just enough colour to your face to brighten things up (whereas a bold red or coral is good to have on hand for those particularly rough mornings when you need a little extra help).

5. Skip the smoky eyes

Or save them for a night out. For day, a simple sweep of neutral shadow (like beige or taupe) and a flick of liner is much more eye-opening (as darker shades can make your peepers look smaller).

Not to mention, it’s far less time consuming to do. Perhaps this is why it’s currently trending in Hollywood?

Picture: iStock

6. But never skip the mascara

Fact: Lush, curled lashes are the key to looking more wide-eyed and awake.

Get the most out of your mascara by running the wand over the tops of your lashes before applying it on the underside as you normally would. so you get even darker and fuller-looking fringe.

7. Rethink the placement of your blush

Though we’ve been taught to apply blush to the apples of our cheeks since the beginning of time, it turns out that putting it directly onto the hollows of them first (and then patting any remaining colour onto the apples) gives you a more lifted (and sculpted) appearance.

Tip: Use a cream blush for this as it’s easier to control and doesn’t require a brush.

Read the original article on South Coast Sun

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