FEELING TIRED: It is possible to look well-rested while still tired

WHILE winter may be a time when we traditionally hibernate a bit, getting a little more sleep than normal, for many of us, colder, wetter weather can still take its toll, leaving us looking tired.

Lack of sleep can leave its mark all over our bodies, giving us dry hair, chapped lips, dull skin, and bags under our eyes.

Luckily, it is possible to undo a lot of this damage by simply getting an extra hour or two of sleep a night, as well as upping your intake of water and fresh fruit and vegetables. In the meantime, there is also plenty you can do cosmetically to hide any evidence of tiredness.

One of the biggest markers of a healthy, well-rested body is shining hair, skin, and nails.  Fake the look by using a deep conditioning mask on hair, left on for at least 10 minutes, preferably under a warm towel.  Next, apply plenty of serum of leave-in conditioner to the ends of hair to restore moisture and create a sheen.

For an added boost, apply any natural oil- even olive oil- to the very ends of the hair before going to bed at night before washing out thoroughly the next day.

Tiredness and wintry conditions can also leave us with chapped or dry lips.  Reverse this damage by creating your own lip scrub by mixing brown sugar with equal parts honey and gently massaging this onto your lips before rinsing off.  Next, apply a thick balm, making sure to reapply regularly throughout the day and before bed.

Now you can deal with your skin by using a gentle chemical exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells, revealing a glowing complexion. Alternatively, use a face mask containing vitamin C, which also works to brighten the complexion.  Either way, finish with a massage using a gentle facial oil, which will help to boost the circulation and tighten the skin, leaving you glowing.

Finally, if you still feel like you need an extra boost, there are multiple beauty products available which will cover up signs of tiredness.   The first step to brighten the complexion is starting off with an illuminating primer under any foundation or tinted moisturiser.   This will create a subtle glow and leave you looking naturally rested.

Finish off with a light-reflecting concealer under the eyes, applied in the shape of an inverted triangle stretching down towards your cheekbone rather than a traditional half-moon shape.  This will draw attention away from bags, leaving you shadow-free.