4 Easy Hair And Makeup Tips And Tricks To Make You Look Less Tired

Summer is over and we are already suffering from autumn fatigue, the dark circles and the bags under our eyes are a reminder of how tired we have been feeling lately. 

Don’t panic we have the solution for you! We interviewed two French experts, and they gave us all the tricks and advice to help us look less dead and more humane.

“You look tired…” the expression we dread the most and we dream of never hearing again, just like we dream of having full 12 hours night sleep. However, even that is not enough to get rid of the dull complexion and dark circles which we can see clearly every morning on our face. Is looking tired a mandatory period of transition between summer and winter? Not necessarily if we apply the right beauty tips to have the radiant skin back just like we had it during summer.  Makeup artist at Estée Lauder Patrick Lorentz and hair-colorist Manon Bazin will give you the right tips.

Keep a tan

“The definition of “looking bad” varies from a person to another. For some women, it could be a lack of tan, while for other women it could be the absence of a fresh and luminous complexion” explains Patrick Lorentz.

As we age, the complexion is less even and dark spots will stand out more on a slightly white face. But be careful not to go for a tan in the wrong way. "Products that will give a tanned complexion tend to give yellow tones, which is not a good idea”.

The makeup artist also alerts on the choice of the foundation shade, taking into consideration that some women prefer darker shades in winter to make them look like they’re tanned: “You should always choose the same shade of your skin, it’s the best way to have a brighter complexion”. What’s the alternative? BB cream is a good alternative according to the expert, for women who only need a bit of corrections since it provides less pigments.

For a subtler tan, it’s better to go for some sun powder which we should apply on strategic areas. “It should not be applied on the cheekbones, unlike what many women think. Dark shades hollow while light ones give volume. Having high cheekbones will make you look good”. Therefore, apply the powder under the cheekbones, on the nose and on the forehead. Choose the powder in one to two darker shades than your complexion. Focus on a powder that is less yellow and without shimmer”.

Makeup: a gently powerful detail

Makeup, with the help of palettes rich in pigments, comes to the rescue for all the women who look tired. Starting with choosing the right blush according to your skin’s complexion. The makeup artist recommends peach for a Mediterranean skin, and a beautiful pink for a white skin. Try not to choose powdery formula “because on a tired or dehydrated skin, it will mark wrinkles”.

The tip? Patrick Lorentz mixes a touch of the iconic Advanced Night Repair serum with a little powder to create water blush. “We can also replace the serum with a primer for a glow effect”. The creamy formulas are equally good solutions also.

Lipstick will always flatter your looks, if you choose the right one. While blondes will go for an orange shade, brunettes will choose a beautiful red tone. “If we have dark hair, we can go for a cherry color with touches of blue”. And for those who are happy with the effect of gloss and they have no issue wearing it during winter, you can wear it because it actually brings light to the face”. 

The right concealer strategy

Dark circles are the number one enemy in this period of fatigue. They are highly linked to lack of sleep. And today we point out to that blue light that is still there 3 hours after we turn off our phone or tablet, so we anticipate and try not to use our phones for at least 3 hours before sleep. When you wake up, the concealer is undoubtedly needed, but for the choice of shades, two opinions clash. “There are those who go for a concealer lighter than their complexion, and this risks in turning grey and drawing attention to the dark circles. I recommend using the same tone of your skin and adding a touch of lighter tones on the corners of your eyes and under the dark circles. “

To apply the product, you don’t need to put too much, usually a tiny amount of the product placed in the corners is enough. “On the other hand, we should not neglect the skincare aspect with a touch of the eye contour beforehand” says Patrick Lorentz. The expert also warns those with light eyes (blue or green) whose mucous membrane, under the eye, tends to redden: "Red is the worst enemy of the gaze and to overcome it, it is better to correct it with a touch of pencil. Beige or off-white for freshness”. Finally, on the eyeshadow side, we will favor beige, taupe or even coral shades but not glitter, which we will leave for sunny days.

Importance of the haircut

Makeup does matter a lot, however hair is not to be neglected, because it can accentuate the fatigue effect. “This is especially the case when the length and color are not suitable”. explains Manon Bazin. “A really short haircut and a really long haircut can both affect the traits of the face”.

The colorist who won French Championships recommends to start by finding a suitable cut that will emphasize the face and thus highlight it. It is indeed important to have your lengths cut regularly, every two months, "especially in winter, when you tend to lose more hair”. 

Hair color is as important as the haircut. “I recommend depth at the roots, illumination with a bit of light around the face with a balayage for example or with the contouring technique for the hair to become radiant”. adds the professional. When it comes to color, listen to the recommendations of your hairdresser who will guide you according to your skin tone and the morphology of your face.

Another thing to keep in mind: “A short haircut will be essential because it has character. We can then play with strong colors such as platinum blonde or a deep brown or chocolate. You should not hesitate to dare to use more distinct colors”.

This was enough to convince us to make an appointment now rather than waiting for the sunny days to adopt a new hairstyle.