Beauty Solutions

“Spring Forward” Beauty Recovery Tips and Tricks

image by Steve took it

Every year I “spring forward.” I move my clocks up an hour and enjoy the sun shining a little longer and later each day. It’s great for my spirits. But the time change always takes a toll on how I look and feel. This past week, I’ve been soooo tired. I’ve been looking a bit haggard and feeling like a zombie as my body adjusts. Has this happened to you, too?

I have several tricks up my sleeve to help me recover.

Thankfully, I have several tricks up my sleeve to help me recover. Despite the time change, I can still look and feel good. I do some things that don’t cost a penny, have easy ways to brighten my face and eyes with skin care and makeup, and surround myself with uplifting, energizing fragrances. Here are some of my favorite things that work like magic – I pick and choose from these to get me going while my body adjusts.

Wake Up, Sunshine!

I start my beauty recovery with some healthy habits.

• A Brisk Beginning. I find that a good splash of cold water in the morning is highly effective at waking up the zombie in me. If I’m feeling bold, I’ll even give myself a cold shot of water at the end of my shower. Hello!
• Metabolism Jumpstart. To get my blood pumping even more and boost my energy quickly, I do about 20 push-ups against a counter or wall. They aren’t that strenuous and only take a minute or two; but they definitely give me a good kickstart.
• Proper Fuel. I used to be so bad about eating breakfast in the morning. But after some health coaching from my beautiful friend Christine Gonzalez, I’ve learned that it really is the most important meal of the day. Something easy like yogurt with granola provide protein and fiber to give me much-needed energy that lasts so I’m not a total slug through the morning and not totally starving by lunchtime.

Skin Care to Brighten Up

Despite how many skin care products I use, my routine is actually quite quick and makes a world of difference.

• The World’s Fastest Facial. To help brighten my skin quickly, Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare Brightening Treatment ($24) is outstanding. It’s a quick fix that works in the time it takes to brush my teeth. It has a lovely cooling, tingling feel.
• Fragrantly Whisk Away Dull Skin. I also like to brighten up with a quick, revitalizing exfoliation. The Body Deli has a really cool Bamboo Polishing Powder ($15) that can be added to any cleanser to buff away tired, dull skin. I use it with The Body Deli Fresh Cell Rose Geranium Cleanser ($22),  which has an uplifting, natural fragrance from lots of wonderful herbs and plant oils. It’s a cream cleanser that’s especially good for sensitive and combination skin.
• Depuff and Brighten Sleepy Eyes. Just a tiny bit of Boscia Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment ($38) or Duchess Marden Anti-Wrinkle Serum ($58) works really well to depuff and brighten. The Boscia treatment is a gel that relieves puffiness, firms, moisturizes, and contains vitamin E to help with dark circles. The Duchess Marden serum is an oil that leaves no oily residue. It depuffs, firms, moisturizes, and is designed to reduce dark circles by reducing melanin. It also smells really good with its lovely rose hip and Damask rose oils. I think the Boscia works better for normal, combination, and oily skins. Whereas the Duchess Marden would work better for a more dry skin.
• Eye Compresses. When I have a little extra time (mainly on the weekend), I’ll put on eye compresses for about ten minutes to depuff. I plop some cool, green tea bags on my eyes or, for a more luxurious experience, I spritz Duchess Marden Damascena Pure Rose Water ($25-$40) on cotton pads. This spritz, which contains rose oil, is said to reduce redness, stimulate blood flow, and balance the skin’s pH so I also spritz it lightly all over my face.
• Bright Eyes. Along with concealer to mask any under eye circles, I find that it’s really helpful to use something that firms skin and reflects light to brighten the under eye area, like Terra Firma Eye Brightener ($15.99). I apply it right before concealer; and it makes a big difference. It also looks really nice applied to the inner corners of the eyes and can be used as a highlighter all over.

Add Some Shimmer and Luminosity

There are so many great ways to “cheat” with makeup and get an instant glow.

• Perfecting Primers. To give my face a subtle, all-over glow, I like to use ultra smooth Global Goddess Upgrade Complexion Face Primer ($36) or silky, pinky Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer ($28). Both have lovely light diffusers that give the optical illusion of skin looking better than it really does – looove that. They can be worn alone or applied before foundation and concealer to help makeup last longer. I also like to pat one of these on during the day for a little midday lift. The Global Goddess primer also contains vitamins A and E to provide antioxidant protection.
• Highlights for the Face. Bobbi Brown introduces yet another stunning shimmer brick as part of her new Platinum Collection. The Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick ($40) has five bars of soft pink, platinum, bright pink, golden coral, and rose to light up the face. I love to blend all the colors to give a cool, pink glow to my cheeks and eyes. The platinum and golden coral shades also look beautiful applied individually on the eyes. But if you want it, get it soon – it’s a limited edition release. Check out Bobbi’s video to see how she uses the collection.
• A Rosy Glow. For a golden touch of pinky coral, Benefit’s new CORALista ($28) is the way to go for just about anyone. This universally flattering powder-in-a-box instantly provides a golden, rosy glow that’s so perfect for spring.
• Shimmery Eyes and Lips. Benefit also has three new Creaseless Crème Shadow/Liners ($19) with gorgeous shimmer that are great money- and time-savers, because they double as eye shadow primers that make color last just about all day. Wear them alone or under other eye shadows. It’s cool that you can really build up the intensity of the shimmer and color by applying more layers. My favorite is the golden Samba-dy Loves Me. Benefit also has three new, super silky Full-Finish Lipsticks ($18). My fave is Thrillin’ Brazilian, a shimmery, golden nude that they describe as a “spiced chai.”
• Subtle Shimmer. If I’m not wearing makeup or very little, I love to use Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare Sheer Pink Lip Shimmer ($8.50). It moisturizes and gives me a hint of sparkly color that makes me feel a little dressed up even if I’m being a lazy homebody.

Fragrance Lift

Fragrance has such an incredible way of transforming how we feel. I instantly grab something that smells wonderful to lift my spirits or energize me.

• A Room Full of Aromatherapy. Filling a room with lovely, natural aromatherapy is always an effective way to wake me up. Aura Cacia Energize Essential Oil Blend ($10.15), with its citrus and peppermint essential oils, added to an oil diffuser works wonders.
• Like Fresh Flowers in a Bottle. To give me the feeling of being surrounded by fresh-picked flowers, I wear light, floral fragrances. The Body Shop has a new Moroccan Rose Collection that smells of fresh roses with a touch of citrus and warm vanilla. I love to layer the eau de toilette ($25) on the body butter ($20) or simply go with the body butter. Pacifica also has a whole host of new floral solid perfumes ($9), which are made with essential and natural oils. I just adore the Egyptian Bergamot Rose, a unique blend of Egyptian rose and jasmine, and orange-scented, Mediterranean bergamot.
• Clean and Crisp. I’m also quite fond of light, clean fragrances to freshen me up when I’m feeling exhausted. Along with Pacifica’s sumptuous new florals,  there are Thai Lemongrass solid and spray perfumes ($9-20), which are exotic, fresh blends of grassy lemon and ginger. The green, crisp scent of Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Revitalize ($27-35) is another wonderful choice with its delightful mix of things like lemongrass, mandarin, green tea, magnolia, and moss.

I feel better and more rested just thinking about all these things.

Do Tell

So have you been feeling a bit groggy with the time change? What do you do to perk up when you’re feeling zonked?

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