A poor night’s sleep leaves its mark on your face, but with clever brightening and light-reflecting products you can look – and feel – a little fresher
Everyone I talk to these days mentions feeling tired. Could you imagine being able to step off the treadmill, disconnect from responsibilities, chill on a warm beach and stare into nothingness? I can’t give you that dream. But I can offer you help. First, Diome’s Rested is a scientifically proven supplement to tackle poor sleep, essentially offering a great night’s sleep in a jar. And then: makeup. If you use anything brightening and light-reflecting, at the very least you won’t look tired, even if you feel it.
1. Kosas DreamBeam Sunlit Comfy Smooth Sunscreen £16, SpaceNK
2. Nars Hot Escape AfterGlow Lip Gloss £27, Nars Cosmetics
3. Prada Beauty Glow Highlighter £40, Look Fantastic
4. Fara Homidi Essential Face Compact £83, Fara Homidi
5. Tata Harper Brightening Eye Gel £72, Tata Harper
I can’t do without… A hydrating facial mist that’s also a delight to hold in your hand
Chanel No 1 Serum in Mist, £94, Chanel
Not so long ago, face mists, to my mind, were nothing more than a restrained version of a grown-up water fight; one you had with yourself. Then the bar was raised. A coterie of mists rebranded as a hydrator, a makeup setter, a skin reviver. The latter is a lifeline if you sit in an office where the only air you get is other people’s breath, because the windows never open. Hence, years ago, when I looked in the mirror at the end of the working day and realised I could legitimately be mistaken for a prune, I got a mist and never looked back. These days, mists are essentially skincare. Still – and feel free to call me shallow – the first thing I loved about this Chanel mist is not its skincare credentials, it’s the aesthetics. This egg-shaped glass thing is beautifully and ergonomically crafted to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. That said, it’s not all style and no substance. The formulation includes red camelia, a plant known for its longevity. It can live for up to 200 years and it is rich in protocatechuic acid (sorry, yes it’s a mouthful), meaning it protects skin from oxidative stress, ie the damage caused by free radicals – think UV and pollution exposure – which makes skin susceptible to premature aging. It’s too soon to tell if it’s making me age backwards, but my skin is definitely looking healthier and less shrivelled. Finally, an objet d’art that’s actually useful.
On my radar… Cleansers, masks and sprays for good-hair days
Ahead of the curve Only Curls, the award-winning curly-hair brand is stepping up their sustainability credentials. Their best-selling haircare products now come in 500ml refill pouches. Only Curls All Curl Cleanser, £30, Only Curls
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Fine thinking Dehydrated, frayed and damaged hair that puffs up at any sign of humidity will delight in this science-backed repairing hair mask. Dreamy indeed. Color Wow Dreaming, £39.50, Color Wow Hair
Feel the flex Want tousled waves without the stiff texture? Look no further. This salt-free, UVB protective hair spray hydrates, adds texture and movement sans the usual crunch. Hershesons Air Dry Spray, £18, Hershesons
Photograph by Matteo Valle/Launchmetrics/Spotlight
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