A lack of sleep can be really stressful for the body. The skin, in particular, does most of its repairing at night, which is why it’s called beauty sleep.
So how can we combat tired and puffy skin?
Skin expert Lauren Lee, host of the Korean Beauty Show podcast, says, “It’s an uphill battle to fake a good night’s sleep, but my go-to is a Korean facial massage technique to drain the lymph nodes.”
Lymphatic drainage facials can help encourage circulation in the face, making the skin appear brighter and reducing puffiness.
How to give yourself a Korean face massage
Lauren says to start with a clean face and grab a facial oil or aloe vera gel.
“Apply the product over your face and down your neck,” says Lauren.
“Then, divide your face in two and work your hand, massaging outwards towards your ears. Bring your hands down your neck to your collarbone.
“The aim is to massage your lymph nodes, which run down your neck and around the underneath of your chin, leading up to your ears.
“You should actually be able to feel a change in the rhythm of your lymph after this massage.”
Another way to eliminate bloating and puffiness in the face is to massage the ‘v-line.’
Lauren says: “Make knuckles with your two pointer fingers and use firm strokes starting just underneath your cheekbones and moving up to your temples.
“This will help get rid of bloating and puffiness in the mid-face.”
For those who need a visual, this article can help.
How to look less tired: more tips
If a massage isn’t enough, Lauren offers more ways to help you look less tired.
- Use hydrogels under your eyes to help brighten dark circles and hydrate the skin. Lauren says Heimish makes an eco-friendly option that can be dissolved in hot water after use.
- Tea bags are another good option because of their tannin and caffeine content.
- Wash your face with cold water to help stimulate blood flow. “If you’re really game, you can even try dunking your face in a bowl of ice water for 5 – 10 minutes when you wake up.”
- Find a good concealer – a cult favourite is this Skinfood dark circle eye concealer, “containing Norwegian salmon oil to boost skin’s immunity,” says Lauren. “It also assists in concealing dark spots, under eye marks and fine lines.”
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