Written By: Style and Fashion Contributor, Coco Michelle

When was the last time you had eight glorious hours of pure sleep?  That only happens in your dreams, right? We’ve all been there! But even when you only have a few hours of sleep and just a few minutes in the morning, there are a few quick tricks of the trade that will help you look like you’ve spent ten lazy days frolicking on the beach.

Makeup Fix #1

Get your hands on some concealer!

Dark under eye circles…ugh!  There are two ways to deal with the “groggy eye” look. First you have to constrict the blood vessels around the eyes by using an ice pack or a cooled, used tea bag (preferably chamomile).  This will help with the puffiness and discoloration.  Then use a nice creamy concealer to cover the discolored areas around your eyes. But concealer is not for your eyes only. Make your concealer play double or triple duty by using it on any discolored spots or flaws on your face. A little dab will do the trick.

Makeup Fix #2

Mask your exhaustion with mascara!

Are you eyelash challenged? The best way to open up your eyes and look more alert is to curl your lashes and use mascara.  Mascara is often the forgotten hero of the makeup world but it is the quickest way to lengthen and thicken your lashes.  To get to the most miniscule lashes, there are several mascara lines that use smaller wands and finer bristles.  Don’t forget to use the mascara on your top and bottom lashes.  Be careful not to overdo it on the bottom lashes at the risk of getting the dreaded “raccoon eyes”.

Makeup Fix #3

Light up your face with lip gloss!

A touch of lip gloss can be a wonderful thing. Everyone who knows me can attest that I am the biggest advocate of lip gloss ever. At any given time, I am carrying 3 or 4 tubes of lip gloss – don’t judge me! When you add a pretty peachy or pink lip gloss, it adds a youthful glow. It never fails to deliver.

What are you favorite beauty fixes when you’ve had too little sleep?