A case of the Mondays

I dragged myself out of bed around 5:30 this morning, having worked a late shift the day before, with about 4 hours of sleep under my belt. Although it's tempting when I'm exhausted to do the bare minimum to make myself presentable, I have found a few beauty tricks can make a huge difference in how I look and feel. Here's what I do:

Clothes

If I'm tired, not feeling well or just cranky, I always make an extra effort to look good. For one thing, it distracts people from whatever negative things may be going on with me. Plus it gives me a little boost to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

Source: gilt.com via Susan on Pinterest

For work, I like a flattering jersey dress with a structured cardigan or a blazer. It's comfortable and easy to put together, but it still looks super polished, especially with pointy-toe flats or kitten heels.

Hair and Body

I will totally skip the shower if it means I can sleep for another 10 minutes. Talcum powder is a great pick-me-up for greasy or dull hair; just shake some on, comb it through and fluff out the excess. And hand sanitizer is amazing at removing underarm odor!

Face

A warm water rinse, followed by cold, always leaves my face feeling fresh. Add a gentle toner (I use witch hazel) and you're good as new.

Source: mountainroseherbs.com via Emily on Pinterest

I'm not a big makeup wearer, but if I'm looking really bleary, I love a little blush, and my secret weapon - white eyeliner. You can scoff if you want, but I swear by it - it brightens up my eyes so well. With my complexion, I've found that a strong lip color usually just emphasizes the dark circles under my eyes if I'm tired, so I usually skip the lipstick.

What are your beauty secrets for those days when you wish you could just stay in bed?