How to Fake Looking Awake

Crying babies or pregnancy aches or plain old stress got you sleep deprived? Here are some tricks to hide it.

By BabyZone and ParentZone Editors

If you're lucky or have spaced your children so that you don't have toddlers and teens at the same time, you may get a few years of good sleep while your kids are in grade school. Otherwise, get used to the ongoing life of sleep disruption and deprivation, and learn to fake looking awake! Check out these self-care and makeup techniques to help pull it off.

Start with the Eyes

If the eyes are, as the poets say, the windows to your soul, they'll be the first to give away how exhausted that soul is! Take care of them and dress them up to fight the look of fatigue. For puffy eyes, drink plenty of water, try not to rub, remove contact lenses at night, and wash off the day's makeup before bed.

Cucumber slices on your eyes (or cold, wet teabags) for five minutes really will reduce puffiness. Anything cold will have an anti-inflammatory effect, but the caffeine in tea and an astringent property of cucumber will also help tighten things up. Only trouble is, when are you going to lie down with cukes on your face (without falling asleep)? Read on for more tips.

Photo 1 of 11

Free BabyZone Tools

Get Full Access Now!

Personalized Calendars & Weekly Emails
Interactive Tools & Resources
FREE Stuff & Special Deals

Ages & Stages

Pregnancy Week by Week

Free Stuff Picks

Great Deals & Free Stuff
Get discounts on baby formula, win FREE diapers and more. Check out these amazing offers now!
Take me to BabyZone Free Stuff