How to Hide a Bad Night's Sleep, According to a Beauty Editor

If there’s anything more annoying than not getting a night of solid and restful sleep, it’s having someone tell you that you look tired.

While a good hit of morning coffee can give you the boost of energy and the alertness you need to persevere through your day, there are a few skincare and makeup steps that can help hide your lack of shut-eye—and keep those haters off your back.

Use an illuminating eye treatment

There are hundreds of eye serums, creams, and treatments that can help treat the delicate skin under the eyes, but if you’re looking to fight darkness, and fatigue, a treatment that nourishes and illuminates is going to sort you out. The Lancôme Advanced Génifique Light Pearl Youth Activating Eye & Lash Concentrate features a brightening formula that helps deal with dark circles and puffiness, leaving your skin hydrated and luminous. Even better? The cooling and flexible applicator can help massage the area and reduce unwanted bags and puffiness. Apply in the morning for eyes that’ll look brighter and 10 times more rested than you feel.

Start with a peach concealer

If you’re dealing with stubborn dark circles that your regular concealer just can’t seem to cover, you may need to start your under-eye concealing with a peach-toned formula. The warm hues can help counteract and colour-correct any blue or purple tones under your eyes, evening out your skin tone to make you look less worn out and more awake.

Apply a few strokes of the MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast under your eyes and use your ring finger to gently dab and blend it in.

Layer your regular concealer

Once you’ve given your peach concealer a moment to settle in, you can go in with your regular concealer. If you don’t have one or aren’t impressed with the concealing abilities of what you’re currently using, try the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Concealer. With a formulation that’s light as air but packed with enough pigment to cover a multitude of sins—and in an extensive shade range—you probably couldn’t find a better option to cover dark circles. And you don’t need much either, so a little will go a long way. Simply dab some of the creamy formula under your eye and use the warmth of your finger to gently press it in and blend it out.

If you’re after serious high coverage in the under-eye area, you can’t go past the filter-like effects of the iconic Tarte Shape Tape Concealer.

Use the doe-foot applicator to ‘draw’ an upside-down triangle under your eyes (think of your lash line as the base of the triangle). Then use a wet Beautyblender to seamlessly blend it in.

Add some extra brightness

If you still feel like your eyes could use an extra hit of brightness, finish your concealing with an illuminating formula, like the cult YSL Beauty Touche Éclat, to add instant radiance and light to your otherwise-tired eyes.

Want more beauty content? Here's why linen pillowcases are great for your face.