Wake Up Your Face

Sometimes, every day feels like a Monday.
Photo: Mariacarla Boscono shot by
 Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia, October 2010

Everyone in this house is currently fighting a cold/allergies/an ear infection. Rather than succumbing to looking as disheveled as I feel, I am encouraging myself to Go! Fight! Win!-- because as we all know, when you have kids you still have to show up at the grocery store/bus stop/sports activities, and face Room Moms, Taekwondo Masters and Baristas. Yes, I am that vain.

Why should I glower like the sneezy dwarf when I can I least try to "fake it 'til I make it" (home to bed, that is)?

Thus, I am sharing with you, dear reader, 5 Ways to Wake Up Your Face, should this pre-fall season with its muggy afternoons, chilly mornings and over-air conditioned hallways give you a reason to need them!

Benefit primer, sparkly face wash by class fave Neutrogena, Shu Umera's lash curler, Kerastase for damaged locks and Kate Spade's cheerful take on Spring 2013. 

1.  Curl your Eyelashes. Seriously. I haven't bothered with the eyelash curler for years, yet this morning my puffy lids convinced me to break it out. Totally worth the 2 minutes and 2 layers of mascara it took to create a rather compelling doe-eyed look.

2. Wash your face with a face brightening lotion. I tried Neutrogena's Visibly Bright Facial Cleanser--I swear it left a subtle layer of shimmer on my tired skin. Sorta like dousing your pores in iced coffee, only cleaner.

3. Dab on some Primer. Try a little Benefit "That Gal" brightening face primer and nothing else for makeup. It is a pinky sheer skin refresher that gives a happy glow without any caky foundation creases.

4. Wash your hair. Nothing says "Hot Mess" like unwashed locks in a bun. I like to let it air dry and slip in a bobby pin to keep the front off my face. This is where freshly highlighted hair is suddenly worth every darn penny.

5. Wear a bright colored top. Today I picked a neon apricot hoodie, and the reflection alone kept me motoring well through lunchtime.

Now take 2 aspirin, drink lots of water and call me in the morning (keep the co-pay, darling, Speed Chic takes insurance)...