How to Make Your Face Look Bright and Awake

Last Updated: March 23, 2023 References

Many factors contribute to a dull, tired looking face. Red eyes, uneven complexions, and puffy faces are a dead giveaway that you are not feeling rested and ready for the day, and like most people, you need to look your best. Whether it's sitting through a long meeting, giving an early presentation after a busy night, or struggling with insomnia, everyone has faced the challenge of looking awake. Instead of trying to avoid social contact, there are many methods you can use to help brighten your face and help you look more refreshed.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Starting Your Day with Great Routines

1
Use tea for more than just a drink. The cold and caffeine in tea will bring down any redness, and there are great plant compounds in tea that naturally remove eye puffiness too. Green, black, and chamomile teas are best for their anti-inflammatory properties like caffeine.^{[1]
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- Brew the tea by steaming water and putting the tea bags in to steep. After a couple minutes, drain the water and pop them in the fridge. Once they have cooled off, place them on your eyelids for twenty minutes.^{[2]
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- You can also buy eye creams that contain caffeine to reduce puffiness around your eyes.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kaveri Karhade, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  Expert Interview. 11 January 2021.}
2
Exercise every morning. When you first wake up, get your heart pumping with a thirty minute workout. Certain yoga positions that require you to hang upside down, like the downward dog, help to reverse the blood flow which diminishes dark circles that develop under the eyes. It also helps circulation throughout the whole body, adding a healthy color to the face.
- Exercise boosts energy which will help you look, and feel more awake.
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3
Eat a grapefruit, orange, or lemon in the morning. Foods made up of white flour or sugar will drag you down and make your skin appear dull. Citrus fruits however, will pick you up because they are packed with vitamin C and can increase energy and alertness.
- If you don’t want to eat these citrusy fruits, you can get a similar by using lemon-scented body wash.
4
Put your eye cream or eye mask in the refrigerator to make it cool. Avoid the freezer because if it gets too cold it could pop blood vessels on your face once it’s applied. To prevent this, only put it in the refrigerator for about five minutes. After you take it out, apply it on your face and leave it on for twenty minutes.
- Another method for a cooling, de-puffing fix is by using cold spoons. Put two spoons in the fridge before bed and in the morning, lay them over your eyes for about ten minutes.
5
Finish out your showers with ten seconds of cold water. This will not only physically perk you up, but it will give your face and hair an extra shine because the cold water will close your pores and hair cuticles. Also, try letting the water run down directly on your face to boost circulation and restore color to your cheeks.^{[4]
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6
Apply eye drops to diminish eye redness. If your eyes are red from allergies, sleepiness, or what have you, a few drops of eye moisturizer in each eye can remove redness. Eye drops should not be used everyday, but on those mornings that you’re seriously in need, a few drops will help restore the white of your eyes.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Cleansing Your Face

1
Cleanse your face with a mild face wash. Every morning and every night, it is important to wash off dirt and oil. Find a mild, cream cleanser that suits your skin type. Gently massage your face using light pressure and circular motions when applying to improve blood circulation and to make your skin glow.
- Depending on if you have oily, dry, or combination skin, there is a cleanser to help balance, repair, and moisturize your skin.
2
Steam your face to open your pores. This is the best way to thoroughly deep clean your pores. Steam your face once a week to loosen debris that may be embedded into your skin causing it to look dull. The steam works to widen any clogged pores and soften the skin in order to more easily cleanse out impurities, traces of makeup, dust, and dead skin cells that naturally build up.
- Boil a pot of water with herbs like thyme, peppermint, rosemary, lavender or lemon. If you have sensitive skin try chamomile or lime.
- Carefully hold your face over the steam for about ten to fifteen minutes and then cleanse with face wash. This process will allow your skin to detox.
3
Exfoliate your face everyday to make your skin glow. For the best results, exfoliate your face immediately after steaming it. Exfoliating removes dead skin and debris that clogs your pores and causes a dull and patchy complexion.
- Use a cream based exfoliator that suits your skin type and scrub with gentle, circular motions, avoiding the eye area. Don’t exfoliate your skin for more than 2 minutes, otherwise you can irritate it.
- Regular exfoliation prevents problems like blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and acne.
4
Use a brightening face mask to perk up a dull complexion. These masks add moisture, luminosity, and work great to bring back the natural glow to your face. They contain vitamin C which is known to give an especially bright glow to your skin. The best time for applying a face mask is after steaming your face, because the pores are open and the mask will be able to penetrate deeply into the skin.
- There are great firming, nourishing, purifying and hydrating facial masks you can try that are designed for every skin type.
5
Nourish your skin with a moisturizer every night and morning. You cannot have glowing skin if you don’t nourish it properly. Right before going to bed, apply a thick layer of face cream that uses natural ingredients such as aloe, honey, chamomile, almond oil, olive oil, vitamins, minerals and essential oils. Thoroughly rub the cream into your skin by using gentle, circular motions.
- No matter what age or skin type, this is essential for everyone to practice.
- Invest in a good eye cream. Use a peptide-containing eye cream with light-diffusing ingredients to mask dark circles, the inevitable cause of lack of sleep.
- When you do apply eye cream, gently massage a small amount using circular motions to increase circulation.
- Look for moisturizers that contain hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kaveri Karhade, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  Expert Interview. 11 January 2021.}
6
Try exfoliating with milk. The lactic acid in milk has a natural exfoliating effect that is easy on the skin. Pour whole milk into a bowl, and soak a wash cloth in it until fully wet. Lightly ring out some of the milk and gently lay it on your face. After five minutes, take it off and wash your face with a cream cleanser and water.^{[7]
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7
Make your own banana and milk face mask. Mash one banana together with milk and apply it to your face for 20 minutes. This natural mask will give the skin a healthy glow. Honey is another great household item to use on the face to get that fresh glow.
- Leaving honey on the skin for around 20 minutes will keep the skin tight and healthy looking. Wash your face with a cleanser after.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Makeup and Colors to Brighten Your Face

1
Open up your eyes with bold lashes. Use mascara to immediately widen your eyes and make them look bigger, brighter and more well-rested. Make sure your eyelashes are clean and free of residue, as applying more mascara on top of that could lead to a lumpy mess.
- Curl your eyelashes with a curler for an even wider awake look.
2
Cover up your dark circles with concealer. Sometimes dark circles are impossible to get rid of and are the most obvious sign of fatigue. Often, dark circles are genetic and around even on your most well-rested days. To help disguise them, simply purchase an under eye concealer that matches the skin tone of your cheeks.^{[8]
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- Use your finger to pat the concealer on very gently starting from the outside of your eye and working your way in. Do not rub it on.
- Continue to reapply throughout the day as needed.
3
Pop a little eyeshadow highlighter on your eyelids. By physically adding a light, shimmery color near your eyes, you will brighten your face and add sparkle to your eye. It will help to enhance the color of your eyes and the white in your eyes.
- Start at the lash line, just above your iris. Lightly apply a sheer, white color across your lid.
4
Wear a sheer liquid foundation. To cover any redness that won't seem to go away, cover your complexion with concealer. First, cleanse and moisturize your face. Then, apply the foundation using your finger tips and circular motions. This will give your face a natural looking color and even out your skin tone.
5
Use a blush in pink or peachy shade as these shades suit almost everyone and look more natural. Apply the blush with a round brush and build the color gradually. Use a powder blush as it lasts longer than a cream or gel blush.
- Choose brighter shades because they will make your skin glow and will freshen your face.
6
Use lipsticks or lip glosses in brighter shades to make your skin glow. Choose a pink or peach lipstick to keep your look on the lighter side.Use a brush to apply the color evenly. Remove the excess with a tissue and your are good to go.
- Continue to reapply throughout the day to keep your lips looking bright.
- Stay away from darker lip colors like plums and browns.
7
Wear colors that compliment your complexion. If you are feeling like you need an extra lift for the day, don’t reach for neutrals. Black also won’t help your face look more awake and it will cast dark shadows on your face. The wrong shade of white could possibly make you look washed out. It's key to know what your skin tone is so you can choose a color that will flatter you. Certain colors can give your skin a natural, healthy flush. The wrong colors can make you look even more tired than you feel. There are generally two types of skin tones. Here is the general guideline to follow:^{[9]
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- If you’re cool-toned, choose jewel tones like blue, pink, purple, blue-green, magenta, blue-based red, or pure white.
- If you’re warm-toned, choose earth tones like yellow, orange, brown, chartreuse, army green, orange-based red, or ivory.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Lifestyle Changes

1
Get a full night of rest. Your body biologically needs around seven to nine hours of sleep on average in order to be fully rested. Without proper sleep, it will cause dark circles around your eyes that will make you look tired. Be sure to plan accordingly to that you can get the proper amount of sleep.^{[10]
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- Regular sleep deprivation will lead to premature aging over time. Make sure you get your rest.
2
Drink tons of water for soft, hydrated skin. If you wake up with a dull, sunken complexion, drink a tall glass of water. Drinking plenty of water helps to naturally restore your skin’s moisture and natural glow. At the minimum, you should be drinking eight, 8oz. glasses of water a day. Dehydration starts on the inside without proper water intake and if you don’t get enough, your skin will look dull, patchy, and dry.
- Try keeping a large water bottle at your desk throughout the day and refilling it each time you’re done to encourage you to drink more. Water hydrates our organs and our brain, so we’ll not only feel more awake, but also look it.^{[11]
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3
Minimize your sugar intake. The sugars that are found in processed foods and candies cause many negative side effects for skin. Sugar causes inflammation which produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging skin and wrinkles. It also causes acne breakouts and makes your skin age faster.
4
Take care of your eyes. Eyes are generally the first place to show signs of tiredness. Take preventive steps to keep your eyes healthy and clear, and avoid the itchy red eyes associated with sleep deprivation. If you wear contacts, make sure you clean and store your lenses properly to keep your eyes bright and white.
5
Do not smoke. Besides all of the negative health consequences such as cancer and gum disease, smoking takes a huge toll on your skin. It causes your skin to look mottled and even with premature fine lines and wrinkles. It also causes a leathery, rough skin texture because it dries out your skin and breaks down cells.^{[12]
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6
Wear a moisturizer with added sunscreen everyday. Sunscreen helps to prevent facial brown spots, skin discolorations, the appearance of red veins and blotchiness. It also prevents the development of wrinkles and premature aging skin.^{[13]
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- By regularly using sunscreen, you can keep your skin looking young and healthy.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I use Retin A for brighter, better skin?

Kaveri Karhade, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Kaveri Karhade, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Topical retinoids work well for improving the appearance of the skin, including reducing the appearance of wrinkles. However, a common side effect is dryness and irritation. Use only a small amount of the product for the entire face, and follow with a moisturizer to minimize these side effects.
Question

Are face serums worth it?

Kaveri Karhade, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Kaveri Karhade, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Serums contain a large variety of ingredients that are beneficial for various reasons. For example, a vitamin C serum may be beneficial as an antioxidant, and niacinamide serum may be beneficial to hydrate acne-prone skin.
Question

How can I make my face look whiter with powder?

Community Answer

Apply a white powder and use a blusher to do it all over your face, especially under your eyes, forehead and nose.

Warnings

Never substitute make-up for sleep. Shoot for 8 hours of sleep a night, or else, no matter how much make-up you wear, you will be groggy!

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