13 Products That Make It Look Like I Got 8 Hours of Sleep When I Simply Did Not

I never get enough sleep. Even when I force myself into bed by 10 P.M., somehow my thumb always finds itself scrolling on my phone screen (in Night Shift mode, of course) and burrowing down rabbit holes on Instagram. When I finally shut my eyes to get some rest—usually around midnight at the earliest—I swear that my alarm goes off about 20 minutes later and then it’s time to get up.

On days where I don’t get as much beauty rest as I need (and it shows), I look to a few products in my beauty routine for a little pick-me-up. Since my combination skin tends to get a bit shiny by midday anyway, I try to use products that subtly enhance my complexion with a natural-looking radiance.

Read on for my list of tried-and-true skin care and makeup favorites that help me glow from within when I haven't gotten enough sleep.

Step One: Moisturizer

I can’t even begin to stress the importance of moisturizing your face every day before putting on makeup, even when you’re not aiming for a dewy glow. A hydrated, supple surface ensures a smooth overall look, which is pivotal for your morning glow up. Here are two options I like:

Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15, $10

Since this moisturizer is formulated with SPF 15, it’s like getting two benefits for the price of one every time I apply it. It feels light on my face and hydrates my skin without making me look oily.

Buy it: $10, target.com

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream, $65

Whenever I want to treat myself first thing in the morning, I reach for Sunday Riley’s luxurious Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream to prep my skin after cleansing. It contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid and tamarind extract, which help to hydrate and brighten my skin.

Buy it: $65, dermstore.com

Step Two: Primer

Primer is applied on top of moisturizer and it helps your makeup stay put. Oftentimes primer will matte-ify or give the appearance of minimized pores, but it can illuminate the skin as well. When I want to look dewier than morning drops on plants, I use an illuminating primer to help boost my skin’s overall radiance. Here are a few primers I recommend:

Estee Lauder The Illuminator Radiant Perfecting Primer and Finisher, $38

This primer takes my skin to the next level, thanks to light-reflecting properties that sparkle in natural light. On days when I don’t feel like wearing much makeup but still want to glow, I wear this primer alone after moisturizing.

Buy it: $38, esteelauder.com

YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer, $52

This new product has recently become a favorite, and I’m borderline obsessed with its lightweight texture. While it’s on the pricey side for a primer, a little—I’m talking two pumps at most—goes a long way. It’s formulated with rice bran oil, apricot kernel oil, passiflora oil, and corn oil to hydrate skin as it smooths.

Buy it: $52, yslbeautyus.com

e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer, $6

This primer’s lightweight formula is infused with tea tree and vitamins A and E to smooth and hydrate the skin. It has a matte finish that doesn’t make my skin look overly dry but keeps my T-zone in check.

Buy it: $6, elfcosmetics.com

Step Three: Foundation

After applying primer, I use a few pumps of foundation to even out my skin tone, and there are a couple trusty products I alternate in my makeup bag. Here a couple of foundations that I like:

Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, $49

This longwear foundation is meant to last up to 16 hours per application. Despite its heavy-lifting capabilities, the formula feels light and blends into my skin in a way that looks completely natural. Plus, it’s available in more than 30 shades.

Buy it: $49, sephora.com

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, $39

I’ve raved about the magic of this CC+ cream before, and I’m not afraid to do it again. It’s formulated with brightening and hydrating ingredients, like vitamins A, B, C, and E, and hyaluronic acid. Most importantly, it lets my skin shine through without looking cakey. I particularly love this CC+ cream because it’s really seven products in one: foundation, sunscreen, concealer, color corrector, moisturizer, antiaging serum, and primer.

Buy it: $39, ulta.com

Step Four: Concealer

A good concealer can make all the difference when it comes to looking like you got more rest last night than you actually did. I faithfully apply concealer to my undereye area to instantly appear more awake, and I typically use a shade lighter than my foundation, because the slight difference helps to make the area even brighter. These are two concealers that I recommend:

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer, $26

I’ve been a Fenty Beauty fan since Rihanna launched the line, and her matte concealer range is one of the stars. Available in 50 shades, this concealer helps me to erase dark circles and under-eye puffiness without feeling like I have a ton of product on my face.

Buy it: $26, sephora.com

LA Girl Pro Conceal, $4

This full-coverage concealer is one of my all-time favorite beauty go-tos from the drugstore. Its creamy texture easily blends in with my foundation of choice, and provides a natural finish to my makeup look every time. Most importantly, the formula is crease-resistant, which is perfect for days when I can barely keep my eyes open long enough to look at my computer screen.

Buy it: $4, cvs.com

Step Five: Highlighter

Just like illuminating primer, highlighter helps the skin look more glowy and awake. However, highlighter is only applied in certain places to make the contours of the face stand out. I apply mine anywhere that natural light hits: down the bridge of my nose, the top of my cheeks (slightly above where blush is applied), and sometimes at my cupid’s bow. By using a small amount of product at a time and a light touch, I gradually build highlighter in these areas so my skin doesn't get overly shiny. Here are two highlighters that I like:

Noto Cosmetics Hydra Highlighter Stick, $19

I love that this highlighter is travel-sized, because I take it everywhere. I don’t have to worry about the product spilling, since it easily twists up and down. Plus, it has a comforting, minty smell.

Buy it: $19, freepeople.com

Milani Hypnotic Lights Powder Highlighter, $13

The golden hue of this highlighter in the shade Flashing Light expertly blends with my cafe au lait skin tone. While a fan brush is great for applying powder highlighter, I also like to use my fingertips to gently blend out any harsh lines.

Buy it: $13, ulta.com

Step Six: Face Mist

I don’t always use a face mist in my beauty routine, and indeed there’s some ~ controversy ~ about what, if anything, it actually does for your skin. However, I am firmly on Team Face Mist: Whenever my skin feels dry during the day, or I can’t handle yet another cup of coffee, a generous spray of face mist perks me right up. (You can also use face mist during makeup application, too. Spritz your makeup sponge prior to applying face makeup and it can help the products sink in more easily.) Either of these two face mists that I love are great:

Mario Badescu Rose Water Facial Spray, $7

I always keep at least one bottle of this face mist around, whether it’s in my bathroom at home or my desk at work. Not only do the rose and herbs smell divine when I spritz it on my face, but it also makes for a great hair scent, too. Bonus: Mario Badescu has another version of this face mist with aloe, chamomile, and lavender, and it smells equally amazing.

Buy it: $7, urbanoutfitters.com

Evian Facial Spray, $18

This mineral water face spray just feels fancy, and it always makes my skin feel moist and dewy—never uncomfortably sticky.

Buy it: $18, amazon.com