Clean hair: fake it
We all love the idea of wash 'n go hair, but most of us would never trust the elements with our damp tresses and need to take our time on the drying and styling process.
 
When you don't have time for a shower, let alone a blow-drying session, dry shampoo really is your best friend. Spritz it about 5cm away from your roots, flip your hair forward and use your fingers to loosely comb it through your roots (where grease is most present). Dirty hair often lacks the volume of a fresh wash so don't be afraid to do some light teasing at the root, either with your fingers or a thick toothed comb, and opt for a fresh-scented one to mimic the smell of a shampoo wash.

Take a cat nap
When it doubt, get your winged eyeliner-look out. It's a quick and easy way to instantly look perky and pretty, and the angle of the wing will counteract any droopy eyes.
 
If you have yet to nail the cat eye look here is your how-to: Drag the liquid liner around your top lid, right along where your eyelashes start growing. Keep your eye closed and draw a straight line from the outer edge of your eye lid as far out as you'd like (the longer the more dramatic the look) aiming the straight line to the very end of your eyebrow for the perfect angle. Then join the end of your wing to about the middle of your eyelash line along your eyelid so it forms a triangle. Colour in the triangle and you're good to go...

Look right
Besides dark under-eye circles the inner corners of your eyes are the other major culprit when it comes to giving away how few hours of sleep you've had.
 
When you're tired this part of your eye will often appear red, so before you simply reach for your concealer let’s do some colour correcting. Red is counteracted with green so dab the green shade from your colour correcting palette, like this one from Catrice, then use a brush to pop your concealer on top. Instead of setting it with your regular matte-finish face powder use a highlighter for extra light-bouncing effect.
 
Related: Insider Secrets on How to Use Colour Correcting Concealers

Get right with highlighter
When you're tired your skin looks tired too. Bring it back to life with some subtle and strategic highlighting. The illuminating particles in this strobing powder by LA Girl will give you a gorgeous glow and distract the world from your sleepiness.
 
Use a thick brush to sweep along these key areas: the centre of your forehead, just below the arch of your brow, along the tops of your brows, down the centre of your nose, on your Cupid's bow, in the middle of your chin, and just along the top of your cheekbones. It sounds like a lot of work but the result is subtle yet effective.

Paint it red
Red lips make it look like you've got a grip on life, even if inside you're craving a third cup of coffee and/or a nap.
 
Who said red lipstick was only for special occasions and going out at night though? They are always appropriate (yes, even if all you're going to do with your day is pop into Pick 'n Pay) and the right shade will instantly make you look glam and well put together. Being tired will leave your lips craving extra hydration, so go for a liquid formula, like this Catrice Fluid Lipstick.
 
Related: Finding the Most Awesome Red Lipstick for You Is Actually Easy

Feed your skin
Your regular moisturiser won't crack it; you need an extra oomph of hydration for your skin. The signs of fatigue, like dryness, shades of grey and that tight skin feeling, can all be attributed to a lack of moisture. You need a power product to take things to the next level, like Vichy Idealia Life Serum, which will transform the appearance of your skin ASAP, leaving you radiant and fresh.

Focus on your eyes
Eyes are a dead giveaway for your lack of beauty sleep because they look red and puffy. The puffiness makes them look smaller, which you can counteract with some artful eyelash curling. By curving your lashes upwards your eyes will appear wider, like you've just had a cup of coffee or, you know, actually had some sleep.
 
Use your eyelash curler on clean lashes, clamping at three spots: at the base of your lashes, then the middle part, and lastly the ends. Finish with a layer of lengthening mascara to extend your lashes even further.
 
Related: Secrets on How to Create Blockbuster Lashes - Without Going Fake

Colour in your eyes
Another way to quickly lift tired-looking eyes is to add a dash of colour. A slick of blue mascara will add some life to your face while distracting away from any tell-tale signs of sleep-induced discolouration around the eye area. Alternatively get out your colourful eyeliner pencils (like Essence's Tu Tu Turquoise) and add a simple but bold line of colour to your top lid.
 
For extra brightening effect use a nude pencil in the waterline of your bottom lid. This will look subtle and natural but do wonders for lifting the eyes. Try LOV's Confession Eyes Kohl Pencil in Veil of Nude.

Breathe life into your face
Never before has blush been such a crucial step. Use a warm-toned blush on the apples of your cheeks to give you that just-woke-up-from-a-nap glow. To amp up the warmth add some bronzer in the mix too.
 
Brush your bronzer just below your blush, in the hollows of your cheeks, and blend the two together well. This blush contains flecks of yellow, which will cancel out the blue undertones that come with looking tired.
 
Related: How Choosing the Best Blush Is the Key to Always Looking Awesome

Keep your look in check all day
It's all very well to take the time and follow these steps to perfect your bright-eyed and bushy-tailed look, only for it to slowly melt and smudge during the day, making you look like a sleep-deprived mess. Keep make up removing wipes in your bag to dab at any shifted eye makeup; the racoon look won't do you any favours...