Expert Advice: Bad Skin Day?

QUESTION: Whenever I get too little sleep or have a stressful day, my skin looks awful. What can I do to perk it up on bad days?

ANSWER: Some say the eyes are the windows to your soul, but beauty insiders know that your skin is the window to your state of mind! When we're anxious, stressed out, running low on sleep, or otherwise down, our skin responds. Circulation hits a slump, robbing our cheeks of their rosiness; hormones kick in, causing an odd pimple to pop up unexpectedly; and thin-skinned areas seem to become more so, making dark circles and shadows look prominent. The result: Not only do we feel less than great, we look it, too.

But there are some beauty tricks you can use to wake up your face on those bad beauty days. Begin with your skin care routine. Skip harsh, drying cleansers and wash up with a mild, moisturizing (but non-comedogenic) cleanser, such as Cetaphil. Apply with a washcloth for some gentle exfoliation, which will add a rosy hue and whisk away any dull flakes of dead skin. Follow your cleansing with a rich, but again non-comedogenic, moisturizer to hydrate and add more luminosity. Allow your moisturizer to sink in for a few minutes, and in the meantime, apply an eye cream under lower lids. This will cut down on any under-eye puffiness and crepiness, both common problems under the eyes.

After completing this skin care routine, reach for your makeup. The trick to making a bad skin day better is to keep your makeup natural and soft. Start with a creamy concealer applied to any dark spots on your face. Apply a little more than you think you need and pat into the skin to blend. Set this concealer with powder. To make eyes look wider and more awake, choose a light-colored shadow, such as vanilla or taupe. Powder shadows with a hint of shimmer are your best bets. Skip heavy eyeliner and contouring; instead, just apply two coats of mascara. For cheeks, go for two steps: First, apply a light bronzer over cheekbones; then layer on a dusting of soft pink or apricot blush. The combination will make skin look healthy. Finally, top lips with a sheer-colored gloss.