Are you looking in the mirror lately wondering how to not look so tired in the morning? Don’t you love when someone tells you how tired you look? It’s one of those things that makes you feel not so pretty even though that’s not actually what they mean. But tired typically is associated with being washed out and dull looking. If you’re lacking sleep lately ( like me), then let’s talk about how to NOT look tired in the morning and how we can fake a good night’s sleep.

How -To- not-look- tired- in-the-morning
Photo by Vladislav Muslakov on Unsplash

How To NOT Look Tired In The Morning

Sleep Differently.

Try to sleep on your back to help reduce puffiness in the morning. Sleeping on your side will guarantee that you get puffy eyes.

Now, this is obviously going to take you some time to train your body to sleep on your back if you’re not used to it, but it is worth it if you can do it!

Body Brush.

How -To- not-look- tired- in-the-morning-body-brush

Before you hop in the shower take the time to body brush your whole body. It will increase circulation which will in turn help give you that glow to fake being exhausted!

I have been doing this for years as it helps exfoliate the skin leaving your skin soft and smooth.

Start at your feet and use long brush strokes and brush towards your heart.

I do this every day before I get in the shower. It really does wake up the body.

Take a Shower.

So this is an obvious one, but depending on the person, some of you love morning showers, some night showers and some love to shower 2 times a day!

When you have barely slept the night before, a shower first thing is what you need. Don’t skip it even if you showered at bedtime.

This time though, end your shower with a cold rinse as this will also increase the circulation of your body. A cold rinse seals your pores and hair cuticles which means better hair and skin as a bonus! SOURCE

Moisturize.

Don’t skip the skincare routine in the morning.

  Moisturize your skin to avoid the dry and dull look. Nothing says tired like dull , pasty and dry skin. It can accentuate wrinkles and just make you look washed out.

Massage Your Face.

Massage your face to get the circulation going to give you a rosy look. You can do this when you are putting on your moisturizer. Take your time and slowly rub the cream into your skin. Lightly tap underneath the eye to wake up the eyes.

Have you tried using a jade roller? It’s one of my top beauty products that I use daily. It massages your face and boosts circulation. It helps to reduce eye puffiness to make your eyes look less tired.

Drink. More. Water.

Drink lots of water to keep your skin looking fresh


I feel like water is the answer to everything anymore. It’s so important for our bodies so that it functions at the level God designed it to be.

When you’re tired, at least for me, the last thing I want is water. I want nothing to do with it. Fight that and force yourself to drink up.

It will brighten your complexion as it offers moisture. Dehydration means dry and lifeless skin which isn’t going to make you look any better!

Side Note: Subscribe to my newsletter (top of this page) and get access to worksheets that help you track your water intake like this.

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Try The Old Frozen Veggie Trick.

Wake up tired eyes by applying a bag of frozen peas, a cold washcloth or frozen spoon over your eyes. It not only makes you feel more awake, but will brighten the eyes and reduce puffiness. It does work.


Exercise.

Try Stretching to boost circulation and give you a rosy glow. How -To- not-look- tired- in-the-morning

Try to do some sort of activity and fight the urge to resist it!

If you don’t have time to do a workout or take a walk then just do something quick like….

Stretch for a few minutes

10 squats

10 jumping jacks

10 sit ups

10 lunges

Exercise gets the blood flowing and will instantly make you look more awake. I notice that when I’m not even tired. Exercise just gives you a glow.

If there is no time to get any type of activity in at all then lean your head over quickly to get the blood rushing to your head. This helps get the blood flowing and will mimic that flushed look.

Drink A Cup Of Coffee.

I don’t know what I would do without it. It’s a must for me, but be careful to not overdo it.

Coffee can dehydrate you and make your skin look dull and washed out which can defeat the purpose altogether of what we’re trying to accomplish here.

Have just enough to give you a boost.

 Eat A Healthy Breakfast.

Sugary cereals, drinks, and processed foods will only make you more tired and keep you in that state of lethargy.

It’s not going to help your looks, trust me.

Eat a well balanced breakfast full of protein, veggies(if possible) and healthy carbs. 

That will give you the extra energy you need to start the day and will also stop you from eating poorly all day long.

When I’m tired all I want is junk. A healthy start gets your day on the right track.

Visine.

I always forget about this, but if you are eyes are looking really red and glassy then a little Visine can really help!

Smell Something Good.

Scents can help make you feel more awake. How to not look tired in the morning.How -To- not-look- tired- in-the-morning

So there is evidence that certain scents can wake you up. Coffee is one which is no surprise.

Here’s a list of a few other scents that will energize you-Source:

  • Citrus
  • Lemon
  • Peppermint
  • Mint
  • Jasmine
  • Grapefruit
  • Rosemary

If you don’t have these things on hand then an essential oil diffuser would come in handy or just rolling on an essential oil in these fragrances.

Just thinking about the smell of peppermint wakes me up!

Peppermint tea is my go-to mid afternoon for when I’m dragging.

How To Look More Awake With Makeup


How -To- not-look- tired- in-the-morning-with-makeup

Apply Foundation or Tinted Moisturizer.

Assuming you already followed your skincare routine the next step is to apply a tiny bit of foundation or tinted moisturizer.

You need a little something to even out that complexion when your skin is looking tired.

It doesn’t have to be heavy. The lighter the better when you haven’t gotten much sleep actually.

I apply less than a pea size amount of foundation and mix with my moisturizer. Then I blend with my fingertips. (Sunscreen applied as well of course).

Find a GOOD Under-eye Concealer.

Some of us were born with dark circles that are always there no matter how much sleep we get! Thanks to genetics and allergies I always have them.

A good concealer will go a long way in keeping you looking awake when you’ve had absolutely no sleep. 

I always used cheap concealers, but a few years ago I had enough and decided to try a more expensive concealer.

What a difference.

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

The texture and staying power of this product is amazing in comparison to the dozens of products I have tried in the past.

I absolutely love the creamy texture and how smooth it goes on.

It will stay on all day and doesn’t dry me out. Sometimes concealers will start to look cakey after a few hours if they aren’t creamy enough. Not a problem with this concealer.

Dot the concealer under the eye and apply in a triangular shape underneath they eye.

If you have dark circles this is a must-try product.

Curl Your Lashes.

curl-your-lashes
Photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels

Use an eyelash curler to give those lashes a boost and to open up the eyes.

If you haven’t used one before I promise it’s not painful! It does look odd though!

You will love the results. The curl just makes those lashes stand out!


Mascara.

mascara

After curling apply your favorite primer(love this one) and mascara(can’t live without) to the top and bottom lashes.

Applying to the bottom lash adds a bit more drama and may not be for everyone.

If you aren’t a fan of mascara, then a clear mascara would even help.. You just need a little something to open up the eyes and make them brighter.

If you want to know how to not look tired in the morning then this is the one thing that I believe totally makes a difference even more than concealer (the second beauty product I can’t live without).

Mascara is EVERYTHING.

White Liner or Shadow for the Eyes.

A dab of your favorite white or creme shadow along the inner corners of your eyes will also give the illusion of a night well-rested. 

White or nude eyeliner along the inner corners or bottom waterline of your eye will also help deflect the redness in your eyes.

Blush.

Next dab some peachy or pink creme blush on the apples of your cheeks to give yourself a rosy glow.

Creme blush is ideal if you feel you are looking washed out and dull. If you’re looking dry then a powder blush will only accentuate it.

Bright Lip.

A bright lip is best because it distracts from tired eyes, but let’s face it, not every woman likes a bright lip.

So if that describes you then pick your favorite lipstick or lip balm and apply to your lips. Then swipe a tiny bit of lipstick off your lips and dab along the cheekbones to give you an extra glow.

It’s a quick way to give yourself a little glow if you don’t have a highlighter and

Finish with A Refreshing Mist.

You may have heard of this product as it’s considered one of those cult favorites.. Mario Badescu’s Rosewater and Green Tea Facial Spray.

This has been a beauty favorite of mine for years. These facial sprays will definitely wake you up.

It gives you such a great feeling. Hard to explain, but it feels awesome as it’s a cool refreshing mist and the smell is just amazing.

Love this product.

I have another new favorite that is a little more versatile then the Mario Badescu Spray…

EVIAN FACIAL SPRAY

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This spray is fragrance free so it’s really nice when you don’t necessarily want a scent.

I use this to refresh myself in the afternoon and it really gives me a boost!! Check out my full review on the benefits of Evian Facial Spray.


So in speaking about how to not so look tired in the morning, I just happened to get woken up by my two-year-old at 3 am this morning. She was wide awake so my day started at 3.

I had this post almost ready to go so I used a lot of these tips today and I have to say I feel pretty good right now. 🙂

Any tips you can share about how you fake a good night’s sleep? I would love to hear them.

Please share this post and pin for later. Thanks!

How to look more awake.  Follow these steps to not look tired and fake a good night's sleep!
How To NOT Look Tired in the morning – Pin for Later!

44 Comments on Look Like You Had 9 Hours of Sleep with These Beauty and Lifestyle Tips

  1. I try to drink at least 2 litres of water a day as it not only leaves me feeling less tired throughout the day but also i end up looking less tired as a result as water is great for the skin.

    • That’s amazing Lee. Water has so many health benefits and really does make such a difference in our appearance when we get the right amount. I bring my water bottle with me everywhere I go so I don’t forget to drink! Thanks for visiting!!

  2. I don’t wear makeup so right off the bat I look tired. But I can reduce that look by taking a shower. I always feel refreshed and wide awake after showering. I wasn’t aware of the ‘smelling something good’ portion of this post, however, you have me reaching for my blood orange essential oil!

    This was an excellent post, well written, well laid out, informative and engaging 🙂

    • Hi Nyxie, I’m with you. If I don’t shower first in the morning I feel completely off the whole day. THat’s perfect! That citrus oil will definitely help wake you up and make you feel more refreshed! Thanks so much for your kind comments:)

  3. I always have my coffee when I’ve got a short night of sleep and it helps my whole day. These are some amazing tips provided that I wasn’t aware of. Thank you for sharing them.

    • Hi Amisha, I can’t live without my coffee in the morning! I look forward to it the minute my eyes open! I set my coffee to automatically brew so I wake up to the smell. Love waking up to it. Thanks so much for the comments and for visiting!

    • Agreed!A healthy breakfast makes such a difference and can really give you a boost even though you don’t realize it. Many years ago I used to eat lots of sugary cereals for breakfast and it always made me feel so much more tired! Thanks for the comment!

  4. Love, Love, Love the tips. I could see how they can be helpful to so many people: to the party crowd and to parents whose babies keep waking up all night long. First time i read the brush trick, I’ll definitely give that a try.

    • Thanks so much Sonila! So happy to hear that this was helpful. Body brushing has so many benefits to our health and our appearance. I highly recommend trying it. It takes no time to do and it will energize you in the morning especially. Let me know if you do try it!

  5. These are some amazing tips! I go have troubles looking exhausted in the morning, I don’t sleep as much as I should. I will give your tips a try 🙂

  6. These are some amazing tips! I do have trouble looking exhausted in the morning, I don’t sleep as much as I should. I will give your tips a try

    • Hi Cris, Thank you for the kind comments! I don’t sleep as much as I should either:) It’s hard for me lately so I’ve been putting a lot of these tips to use!

  7. Wow these are some amazing tips! I am one of those people who like to shower at night because I like going to bed clean and I don’t have the time in the morning but after reading this I am going to try and make time to get a shower both morning and night because even though I will get one in the morning I will still have to get one at night to have that feeling of clean before bed time lol

    • Thanks Felicia! I’m totally the same! That’s funny because I also love to shower before bed as well. I love climbing into bed feeling clean and it’s also very relaxing to shower before bed. I think it helps me sleep better too. I do both whenever I can. The morning is a must for me to get me going for the day though!

  8. HI Nicole.
    Great tips. I love peppermint and I use it to energize myself and it really does give me a pick me up. Eating a healthy breakfast is also very important and your make tips are really good too. It amazing what a little make can do. Thanks for sharing your helpful tips. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day.

    • Hi Marla, love hearing that you already use peppermint! I was thinking that peppermint oil in one of your homemade scrubs would be perfect for giving a boost of energy while you take a morning shower. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting and you have a blessed day as well!

  9. So many great ideas!! I often have trouble sleeping when I have a big presentation the next morning at work. So, these tips will at least make me look presentable even when I’m exhausted inside! Thanks!

    • Hi AKiko, Thanks so much! I would be the same if I had a presentation as well! I would be tossing all night thinking about it. Hopefully, some of these things will help you fake a good night’s sleep:)

    • Hi Oyinkan, I’m right with you! It’s something I’ve been working on lately too. I used to be good with drinking my water, but for some reason haven’t been good about it recently. That’s why I created a tracker to keep me accountable! Thanks so much for visiting!

  10. Perfect post for this morning!! According to the gals in my cosmetic surgeon’s office you should sleep with an extra pillow the night before a special event so you look more refreshed. I agree that mascara can not be underestimated for making you look better. Fabulous lashes draw attention to your eyes.

    • Hi Gillian, I forget about that! lol. I have always slept with two pillows. That way the fluid doesn’t just sit and it drains so you won’t look as puffy. Great tip. Thank you for sharing that:) And yes mascara does wonders! Thanks for the comment!

    • Hi Kim, Yes, you have to try it!! I started using it for exfoliation and then I found out it was also great for circulation. Thanks for stopping by!

    • Hi Lora, Thanks so much! It’s amazing what a difference taking care of your skin can make in your appearance. I hope these tips helped. Thanks for visiting!

  11. Love these tips. I need this more than I would like to admit. I can’t make it through my day without my coffee and I actually just recently tried a rosewater mist and it does help.

    • Hi Alicia, Thanks so much! I can’t make it through the day without coffee either:) That’s great to hear. I knew there was something to those mists! They are so refreshing.

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