A tumble in the sheets can do great things for your skin. Endorphins are pumping and there's no need for blush, but sometimes you're faced with some less enviabe beauty ailments. Whether you're facing a simple case of extreme bed head or you're looking to cover some unsightly post-roll-in-the-hay evidence, here are some tips to solve and soothe your morning after beauty dilemmas.
That three-day-stubble looks awesome at dinner, even better at drinks, but the morning after? The stubble's still there but you're faced with that dull stinging that can only be attributed to one thing, beard burn. It’s a common problem and your skin never really builds up a tolerance to it. There are steps you can take before and after a make-out session to ensure your skin is left burn-free. If you’re in a relationship, your partner can definitely help prevent the dreaded burn. By using a moisturizer, or even a moisturizing shave gel, he can soften his skin and hair, which will help limit the irritation. You can also make your skin less sensitive by avoiding chemical exfoliation and peels (both before and after). If it’s too late to prevent it, a cool compress can provide some immediate relief. You should treat beard burn like any other irritation such as windburn. A 1% hydrocortisone cream will help with the irritation as well as a good moisturizing routine. Be careful of applying moisturizers with fragrance or SPF in them while your skin is quite raw as it can be quite uncomfortable; instead, try a gentle cream such as REN's Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream, $55.
I’m not going to go all Fifty Shades of Grey on you, but marks happen and they can be embarrassing (especially if you work in a conservative environment). The first step to covering them up is to really look at the color of the mark. It may sound funny, but this is the perfect time to pull out a trusty color wheel. If the mark is more purple/blue than red, look for a yellow toned concealer to help cover it. If your mark is redder, look for a green tone. If this is a common problem for you, you might want to invest in a palette (or softer handcuffs!) such as Make Up For Ever's 5 Camouflage Cream Palette, $38, which gives you a number of color options.
If you've channeled your inner Ana or just your inner teenager with hickeys, you're going to want to skip right to covering, but if you're dealing with rug burn, you might want to treat the irritation before layering on products. Layer on the tinted concealer, and follow that with your regular shade. If you're using a correcting concealer, apply it before your foundation. Really try to buff the product into your skin at first so it looks seamless. You can go in after with a product such as MAC’s Face and Body Foundation, $33, which offers easy, buildable coverage. Finish off with a dusting of powder or a setting spray for all day coverage. And if all else fails, there's always the morning-after standby: the scarf.
Waking up with morning-after hair can be cuter than you might think. Instead of panicking and tossing your hair up into a bun, think of all the times you’ve tried your hardest to get volume and texture. If your hair is naturally wavy, this is a perfect time to take advantage of it and use a styling cream or pomade such as Bumble and bumble's Sumotech, $26, to give it definition and shape. If your hair’s a bit more unmanageable, take this opportunity to do a messy updo. Twist or braid sections of your hair and secure them with pins. This will give you a texturized, but still polished, look. If you’ve had a particularly active session, you might want to give your hair some TLC. Pulling or excessive friction against sheets can cause breakage and damage to the hair so a moisturizing and repairing mask such as Ojon's Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment Plus, $33, would be a good idea.
Image: bruceweber.com
Via: Banish Bed Head, Beard Burn, and Other Morning-After Beauty Disasters