The lazy girl’s guide to faking awake

Some days it seems like no matter how much sleep you’ve had, your face tells a different story. From tired eyes to a lacklustre complexion, we can all use a little help to look more awake. But it doesn’t have to mean a full face of make-up or a time-consuming routine. With these tricks, even the laziest of us can fake a fresh and glowing face.
#1 Illuminate your complexion
For quick coverage that also instantly brightens your complexion, try mixing your BB cream or foundation with an illuminator. Just dispense equal parts of each, mix together and apply as you would normally for fresh, dewy skin (and no extra time added to your morning routine). Or for some next-level glow game, make-up artist Hayley Dutton says to apply a cream highlighter “on the high point of the cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose and on the cupid’s bow.” Use a product like Rimmel London Good To Glow Highlighter, and simply pat it on after your base. Or, if you prefer a fresh face, it can also be used on its own.
#2 Highlight your eyes
The eyes are always the first to give away any tired signs. Traitors. But if you know the secrets to highlighting your peepers (or, as we like to call it, eye-lighting), it can take just seconds to pull them back into line.
First and foremost, Hayley says, “Using a highlighter in the inner corner of the eyes is a fab trick to assist in opening the eye up when you’re looking a little tired.” It’s also really quick to do when you use a pencil highlighter like Rimmel London Brow This Way Highlighter Pencil.
Pencil highlighters also make it easy to highlight your browbone, which Hayley says “creates the illusion of a brow lift, which automatically assists in opening the eyes and creating an awakening effect.” Ummmmm, YES PLEASE!
And lastly, ditch any dark colours for under your eyes and instead sweep some highlighter under the bottom lash line for a brighter, wide-eyed finish.
#3 Lift your lashes
You’ve probably never thought much about your mascara technique, but how you style your lashes can be key to looking (and feeling) more awake.
Hayley recommends “really working your mascara through your lashes, curling the lashes up and outwards as you do, to create a mini lash lift.” Try to make sure your wand evenly coats, lifts and separates your lashes, rather than just adding layer on top of layer.
And choose your mascara wisely. Hayley says, “Opting for a separating and defining mascara, rather than a heavy voluminous mascara, will help to make eyes look brighter and bigger. Adding too much volume on the lashes can sometimes close the eye up, so keep it light and fresh.” Aka go for natural definition over heavy volume.
Try using Rimmel London Wake Me Up Mascara – it has a precision brush, designed to wrap each individual lash for extra length and defined volume, but without any clumpiness to drag your lashes down.
And if you’ve ever used a mascara that sets rock-hard (think: impossible to remove and heavy on the eyes), you’ll be pleased to know the formula contains vitamins and cucumber extract, to keep it gentle on those tired eyes. And the best part? It smells like fresh cucumber to invigorate your senses in the morning too!
How do you look less tired in the mornings? Have you tried the Rimmel London Wake Me Up Mascara?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
Review them now to earn points that you can swap for free beauty products in RewardsRoom.
87 Member Comments
I need to invest in highlighter my usual tricks are not working anymore these days LOL
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Need to get my hands on "Good to Glow" looks like a winning product.... Bring on the looking awake complexion.
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Particulary loved the tips about the eyes. Really makes sense re the mascara technique.
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underage concealer is my saviour
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I've never used a highlighter before... definitely adding to my shopping list to try out. Thanks for the article.
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I'm all about the brow bone and mascara !!! Love the inner eye tip ! Thanks!
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Some great tips here. Thanks for the advise!
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Oo I'm keen to try mixing my foundation with an illuminator
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I want to try the rimmell! Cold water, BB cream and concealer!
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I use two of these three products and they do complete the jobs the labelling states.
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Very good tips! I use a white shimmer eyeshadow in the inner corner of my eyes - works wonders :)
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I need to try these tips
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Guilty of doing this every morning before work! Love the wide awake look at 6am! The highlighter in the inner corner makes all the difference.
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I love these tips, practical and something I can do without too much effort, thank you!
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I love the awakening look that mascara gives, if I feel like I shouldn't wear makeup somewhere like just running into the shop or drop the kids at school I'll still apply mascara because it opens my eyes beautifully. I always use Arbonne mascara
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Love highlighting the eye area to create interest! Using a nude liner on the waterline is my favourite trick. Combine that with a really good under eye concealer and a stunning inner corner highlight and you're set to go!
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Yeah i use mascara to lift my lashes. It makes me look more awake and also opens up my eyes more. I use maybelline mascara, but anyone would work obviously
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Definitely going to start using these tips to look more awake in the mornings. Who doesn't need help doing that in our busy lifestyles today.
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The Rimmel highlighter looks great too, I must give it a try.
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I like the sound of the Wake Me Up Mascara - I love any product that smells like cucumber for a start and if it makes me look fresher too then it's one I'm interested in!
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Must try that mascara!!
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Great tips! I use the highlighter pencil but never thought about using the illuminator to mix with BB cream - must invest in some as the one I have is a stick one!
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I always have bags and dark circles under my eyes no matter how much I sleep. I look like a zombie all the time. So frustrating!!!
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Need to try these tips. I have puffy under eye bags and always look (and most of the time)feel tired too.
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bright eyes look this easy I can do. Thanks bh
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