The best way to de-puff tired eyes is to apply a cooling eye cream right when you wake up, which will help decrease swelling while moisturizing and priming the skin for makeup. Also, opt for a cream that dries instantly, like this reader favorite: MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, $30.
Expert tip: If you don't have an eye cream on you, apply Preparation H gel onto the lid, which helps reduce puffy eyes fast, says Carmindy Bowyer, author of "Crazy, Busy, Beautiful."
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Open up your eyes
After applying your eye cream, the next step is mascara. "Even if nothing else is done, your eyes will look finished to some degree," she says. When skipping liner or shadow, it's imperative to take care to apply mascara directly to the roots of the lashes so that it helps frame the eye. And don't forget to curl. Curling your lashes helps the light hit your eyes so that they look bigger and more awake.
Next, apply a highlight shadow under the brow and on the inner corners of your eyes. Bowyer says, "The contrast of the highlight next to your bare skin on the lid creates the illusion that you are already wearing a neutral lid shadow."
Expert tip: If you accidentally smudge your mascara elsewhere on your face, Prior says primer will easily remove the stray makeup without stripping off everything else.
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If you have under-eye circles ...
Use a concealer that is the color of your skin tone -- not lighter. "A lighter color doesn't cover darkness, it's just going to make your skin look muddy," she says. Another important tip: Look for an orange-based concealer in your skin tone (try Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit, $32). "Under-eye darkness often has a blue-ish base, and orange will counteract that." Then apply a wash of lightweight powder over the concealer to secure it in place.
Expert tip: Use your ring finger to dab on the concealer, says Bowyer. "It is the weakest digit, so [you] won't pull too hard on your delicate eye area."
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Brighten your lids
"For a quick eye-brightening look, lightly apply a single highlighting shade across the whole eye, from lashline to the brow bone," says Bowyer. For light skin, choose a white iridescent or pale pink shade; for medium skin, opt for champagne or pale gold; and for dark skin, choose a sunset pinky gold or pale bronze hue.
Expert tip: "A white eyeliner on the waterline of your eyes eliminates redness, which can make eyes look tired," says Prior. "It automatically makes the eyes look more alert and awake." Try Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Pure White, $3.99.
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If you have a zit ...
We know how busy the days get, so to ensure you don't need touchups throughout the day, Prior recommends breaking one cardinal rule: Apply concealer over powder. If you have any imperfections that you want to cover up, spot conceal with a concealer before and after applying your powder. (Try Shiseido The Makeup Concealer Stick, $20.) Prior says spot concealing after powdering gives the concealer something to grab onto. "If you do a controlled amount [of concealer] and tap it on the problem area, you'll have extra coverage that'll last longer throughout the day," she says.
Expert tip: Don't have concealer on you? Bowyer says to use "foundation left over in the cap or on the nozzle. It's a little thicker and can be lightly layered onto spots."
We see her all the time. The woman in the next lane, swerving because she's applying her mascara while going 55 miles per hour. Or the one who's so busy perfecting her smoky eye that it takes her a solid 30 seconds to start moving after the light turns green.
Oh wait, was that you we spotted on the road today?
It's OK, we won't wag a finger just yet. We know how hectic mornings can get with the kids screaming and the breakfast burning and the dog scratching at the front door because he's ready for his walk.
So, when we are finally out the door, sometimes we, too, hope for a red light or four so we can finish filling in our eyebrows.
And while there's the obvious problem with putting on your makeup while driving (read: it's illegal), there are other risks as well. Like stabbing yourself in the eye with your eyeliner from a sudden stop. Or hitting a bump in the road that forces you to draw your liner so thick you walk into work wearing a cat eye to rival Cleopatra's.
Now, we're not saying that you should forego wearing makeup to the office altogether. In fact, researchers at Harvard University and Boston University found that wearing makeup can actually raise your perceived level of competence, likability, and trustworthiness. It can also help you look more awake and put-together -- even if you didn't get enough sleep or have enough time to get ready in the morning.
That's why we've compiled these makeup looks that are so easy, you can apply them in five minutes flat -- ideally when your gearshift is in park. We also uncovered the best makeup tricks to disguise the problems one too many busy mornings cause: sallow skin, tired eyes, and other dead giveaways that you're overworked and not getting enough shut-eye. Ready to look awake, competent, and not like Cleopatra for that 8 a.m. meeting? Park that car and try one of these looks.
