MUST DO's When you didn't have enough beauty sleep...



1. SCRUB RIGHT


The repair work that's supposed to happen in the skin at night includes the natural whisking away of dead cells that leave your complexion looking dull and ashen. A good face exfoliation in the morning can do much the same thing quickly (and inexpensively)—just be sure to choose one with soft round grains rather than a chemical agent such as glycolic or lactic acid, which can increase sun sensitivity and leave you a little blotchy. Try: Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub.






2. CHILL OUT
It may not sound appealing, but it works: A cool shower stimulates circulation in your body and can have a toning effect on your face, says Jeannette Graf, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City—and research has shown that lowering the temperature just a few degrees can make you feel more awake. (Consider using a peppermint body wash, too, since multiple studies have shown that its scent increases alertness and even improves performance on cognitive tasks.) Try: Dove Go Fresh Body Wash in Refresh.











3. MOISTURIZE WELL


Lack of sleep can compromise your skin's barrier and make it tough for it to retain water. "That dehydration then accentuates any fine lines you already have, which just makes you look even more tired," says Ranella Hirsch, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Boston University Medical Center. Pretty much any moisturizer will help restore the balance, but for this situation she lovesOlay Complete Touch of Sun Daily UV Facial Moisturizer Plus A Touch of Sunless Tanner SPF 15because it contains the tiniest bit of self-tanner.










4. SUBTRACT PUFFINESS  

The old tea-bag-on-the-eyes trick works for a reason: The caffeine constricts blood vessels, the tannins reduce inflammation, and the pressure tamps down the puff. But if that sounds like a pain (or a mess), a chilled compress is just as effective. "Cucumber slices, an eye gel you keep in the fridge, or a bag of frozen peas all work the same way," says Anne Chapas, assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical School. "It's really the cold that shrinks the capillaries and stimulates lymphatic drainage." (She uses the peas on patients to take down swelling.)



5. GET MOVING

Still bloated? Try ten jumping jacks followed by ten deep breaths (then repeat). "It sounds kind of hokey, but I swear, it really works," says Leslie Baumann, professor of dermatology and director of the University of Miami Cosmetic and Research Institute at the Miller School of Medicine. Because vessels in the lymphatic system lack their own muscles, the body relies on external movement and breathing to keep fluids from pooling in areas like under the eyes. "Because of the emphasis on your breathing, yoga is great for dispersing these fluids, too," Baumann says. "But when you're already running late, jumping jacks will only take a minute."




6. DON'T OD ON FOUNDATION


When skin is looking lifeless, the answer is actually less foundation rather than more. "Choose a creamy formula that contains light-reflecting particles and apply with your fingers, so it can really melt into the skin," says makeup artist Aaron De Mey. "And be sparing—your face will look much more awake if you can still see you skin." If you wear powder, he recommends applying it only to the chin, forehead, and the sides of the nose. "Having a little glow on your cheeks and the center of the nose is more natural," he explains. Try: LancĂ´me PhotĂ´genic Lumessence Foundation.



7. CURL YOUR LASHES

Makeup artists are pretty much unanimous about the best way to wake up your eyes. For the most fresh-eyed look, "hold the curler as close to the base of the lashes as possible," says makeup artist Chrisanne Davis. "You only need to squeeze once to maximize the curve and length."


8. LIGHTEN UP

While there are a zillion eye creams that promise to help dark circles, none of them offer an instant fix. Concealer, on the other hand, is a sure thing—so start by choosing a creamy formula that is slightly lighter than your skin (but be careful: Go more than one shade lighter, and it can look ghostly). Davis recommends applying it after foundation—"since you want to use the bare minimum, and your makeup will have already given you a head start." Cover just the dark areas, not the entire under-eye, and resist the urge to overblend.


9. POP A PILL

If your eyes look bloodshot and puffy even if you went to bed by 10 o'clock, the culprit could be allergies. "I've probably recommended moreClaritin than any pharmacist," jokes Hirsch, who advises her patients with recurrent puffy eyes or dark circles to consider taking an antihistamine as a preventive measure; you should know in a week or two if it's working on circles.

10. DON'T SKIP YOUR LIDS

If you're focused on undereye circles and puffiness, it's easy to look right past another dead giveaway of exhaustion: pink eyelids. Baumann tells patients to dab them with a cotton ball soaked in (of all things) Afrin."Nasal sprays contain something called oxymetazoline, which addresses both redness and swelling," she says—and notes that it's particularly effective when you've been crying. If they still look pink, makeup artist Troy Surratt recommends applying an eye-shadow base. "One that's peachy will neutralize blue, purple, and gray tones," he says. In a pinch, yellow-based concealer will work on purple circles—just be sure to pick a formula that isn't thick or drying. Try: EstĂ©e Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in 

11. ADD SPARKLE

While makeup artists agree that you generally want to avoid iridescence around the eyes when you're tired ("It just draws attention to the area," says De Mey), there's one exception: "Put just a tiny touch of shimmer cream right in that little hollow in the inner corners of the eyes. Use a golden color if you have dark skin, silvery or pearlescent if you're pale, and then blend well with a Q-tip," instructs De May. "It instantly makes you look refreshed." Try: Clinique Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator in Bronze for darker skin and Shiseido Makeup Accentuating Color Stick in Champagne Flushfor pale skin.


12. DRAW THE LINER

Once you've done everything you can do for the skin on and around the eyes, pull out your eye pencil. "Take a nude-colored pencil and line the inside rim of the lower lid—it will cover any redness and brighten the eye. It's an old Hollywood trick that really works," says Giordano. To define your upper lashes, "go with something a little less severe than black, like a charcoal or a chocolate brown, and push the point into the lash line as you go," says Davis. "Then wing it outward and upward just the tiniest bit at the end—it really does have the effect of opening up the eyes." Try: Laura Geller Double Eye Appeal andRimmel SpecialEyes Eye Liner Pencil in Sable Brown.










13. BLUSH BRIGHTLY

When you consider that another synonym for tired is "drained," adding color to your face with blush makes perfect sense. Makeup artist Susan Giordano likes cream formulas in shades like sheer wine, which, when blended, will "create a transparent flush like when you pinch your cheeks. A light layer of bright blush that has melted into your skin looks more natural than lots and lots of a lighter pastel," she says. De May recommends applying the color slightly higher on the face than usual when you need to look more awake. "Use your fingers to rub it on the highest point of the apples, right over the edge of the orbital bone," he says. "Blurring that line a little will help draw attention away from any darkness or puffiness there." Try: Paula Dorf Cheek Color Cream in Candy Apple.

14. WHITEN YOUR EYES

The most artful makeup in the world won't do squat if your eyes are bloodshot. Usually caused by dehydration, it's easily treated with drops likeVisine, which contain ingredients that will shrink the blood vessels. If you're willing to spend a little more (and you don't wear contact lenses), Graf swears byCollyre Bleu from Alcone. "They have the slightest blue tint that also counteracts any yellowness you may have in the eyes and makes them incredibly white," she says. "I use them before I go on TV." Just don't use whitening drops every day—opthalmologists warn that over time, they can have a rebound reddening effect.



*Thanks to Sarah Van Boven

GREAT WAYS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR AURA

12 Great Ways To Strengthen Your Aura:

“Every cell in my body is loved and healthy”

Your aura is simply an extension of you.   When strong 

it acts as a protective shield. When fragile or damaged 

it can leave you drained, unwell and feeling disconnected 

from yourself. Think of your aura as your own personal 

body guard (in the form of a giant bubble) that simply

 “flicks off” anything stressful, disturbing or potentially 

draining that you may be sensitive too.

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I’m a firm believer in cleansing and nurturing the aura for 
the overall integrity of our health and well being.   
 Particularly, when many ancient cultures from around the 
world believe, that illness first starts with a weakness in
 our auric field.
Years ago I completed a crystal healing practitioner course, 
and discovered how relatively easy and inexpensive it was 
to repair and strengthen an aura, by simply 
wearing or even just holding certain crystals.
However if crystals are not your “thing” then I have shared
 with you below, a collection of aura cleansing and 
strengthening remedies that I have gathered and 
used (at some stage) over the past 20 years.
Please feel free to share your own aura strengthening 
remedies that you have successfully used the past, I’d love 
to hear them.
12 great ways to strengthen 
your aura:
1: Yogic cleansing bath:
This recipe helps removes chemicals from your physical 
body and negativity from your aura.  Soak for 20 minutes 
each day and repeat for 7 days.
If you start to feel dizzy or a little weird leave bath
 immediately as you have successfully loosened and 
removed enough toxins and negativity for one day.
  • 1 lb Baking soda
  • 1 cup Sea salt
2: Sage smudge stick:
The smoke from white sage is known by the North 
American Indians to be very cleansing.   I love white sage 
and have used it successfully for many years
 to remove negative vibes that I sense in my home or around 
me.    Sage emits 
negative ions which is the good stuff you find in the air 
just after a storm or at the ocean.
To cleanse your aura, simply light your sage smudge stick 
and use your hand to
 direct the smoke over your head, face, front/sides of your
 body, under your 
feet, around your hands and arms, and as much of your 
back as you can reach.
3: Let the sun feed your aura:
Lots of lovely sunshine is known to feed and expand the
 aura.  Spending time outside amongst nature is incredibly
 healthy for your body, mind and soul.
The sun fuels you with energy, optimism and loads of 
vitamin D whilst nature nourishes your senses and grounds 
you.
4:  Sea salt:
Swimming in the ocean or soaking in a salt water bath 
greatly helps to cleanse the aura and draw out stress.
The sun expands and feeds your aura whilst the sea 
carries away the negativity.
If you don’t have a bath, and not near the ocean, simply 
give your body a sea salt scrub before taking a shower.  
Grab a handful of sea salt and rub it all over your 
skin before showering.  It helps remove dead skin cells, 
refreshes your aura and draws out toxins.
5: Cold shower:
Cold showers have the ability to clear away negativity 
in your auric field, remove toxins, improve circulation and
 draw out tension from your body.
I have personally put the cold shower theory to the test 
for a whole 3 months (over summer a few years ago). 
 The results were amazing.
My thoughts were clearer, I felt lighter, more energy and 
things which normally bothered me and hung around my
 thoughts for days – came and went with ease.  
I didn’t hold onto negative stuff like I had done before. 
 It helped me greatly through a very difficult time in my life.
6: Sound medicine:
Sound is recognized by many ancient cultures as 
a healing tool.  The sound from Tibetan singing bowls
 and crystal bowls are well known for their ability
 to dissolve negativity and clean your energies.  
Listening to their sounds before going to sleep is an easy 
way to support your overall well-being.
Alternately chanting the sound   “Om” is an incredibly 
fast and efficient way to shift stuck, stagnant or 
negativity energy from your aura and physical body.

tibetan-singing-bowls.jpg

7: Labradorite (crystal) :
This crystal is worth a special mention.
Labradorite has been shown by Kirilian photography to heal 
tears in the auric field by preventing leakage.  Holding a 
labradorite crystal for 20 minutes will last for about 12 hours
 after the stone is no longer worn.
It is dubbed the “healers” stone and is widely used as 
protection by body workers, 
teachers, childcare workers and nurses.  It’s a great crystal
 to wear as a bracelet.
8: Reduce your exposure to electrical stuff:
The radiation and frequencies which are emitted from 
electrical gadgets, I believe, 
can interfere with our bodies own natural rhythms, 
cycles and
 well-being.  
Spending too long, at close range, to these man made 
frequencies can build up 
static in your auric field and can cause disturbances.
Make your bedroom a priority to be as electrical free as 
possible.  Charge all your
 gadgets away from your bedroom or at the very least 
away from your head when sleeping.
Lepidolite is a fabulous crystal to have as a protective 
field of energy between you 
and your electrical gadgets. At home I place piece near our 
TV, beside the beds
 and near the computer.   You will notice over time, 
the lepidolite eventually becomes
 paper thin as it absorbs the radiation. It’s quite amazing.
9:  Vetiver (an essential oil):
A few drops applied to your belly button at night with 
help you from taking 
on too much of other people’s junk.  Vetiver is very 
grounding, and particularly 
balancing when feeling spacey after long sessions in front 
of a screen.
It’s excellent essential oil for calming and grounding and 
one of my favourite 
essential oils to use at home.
Vetiver also has a special relationship with your chakras
 and helps to bring them 
into alignment.  Your chakra’s are directly connected to
 your aura.
10:  Black Tourmaline (crystal):
Great for deflecting radiation and is well known for
 transmuting negative energy
 from the aura.  It’s a protective stone that can also help 
you with negative thinking.  
Its the perfect crystal to carry in your handbag.
Crystals have been used for thousands of years for 
healing and protection.  
Smoky quartz on your desk or near the phone will 
protect you from other 
people’s stresses and negativity.  Amber is an excellent 
stone to help strengthen 
your aura. Kunzite will detach unpleasant thoughts.
I can highly recommend wearing an ametrine 
(amethyst and citrine) bracelet 
for around 3 – 6  months to heal tears and holes in 
your auric field that may have
 appeared from surgery, child birth or extreme stress.



11: Flower essences: Fringed violet and Angelsword:
Angelsword repairs and Fringed violet helps heal 
damaged or distressed auric fields. 
Take orally or dab 7 drops of each onto your solar 
plexus (just below your 
belly button) before going to bed.
Both these flower essences come from the Australian 
Bush Flower essence range. 
  If you don’t live in Australia I recommend buying
 the equivalent flower essences
 from your own country.
One overseas essence that I can recommend is the 
Guardian spray from Alaskan 
essences.  I have personally used this spray many 
times.  It is known to create a
 powerful force field of protection in your aura.
12: Be mindful of people and places that zap 
your energy:
Notice which places, people or situations leave you 
consistently feeling zapped 
or drained.  Limit yourself to these situations or at the 
very least wear a 
protective crystal to prevent your energy being leached.
Labrodrite would be a good crystal to start with.
By Carol Fogarty