How to Look Less Tired Instantly

Looking tired happens to all of us now and again and is easily rectified with rest. But it can be a predicament if you’re facing an appointment where you need to make a good impression. Fatigue can make you seem disengaged, inattentive, and sloppy.

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Why You Look Tired

Whether your job involves heavy labor or sitting and staring at a screen all day, it can lead to a tired-looking face and slouchy posture. If you haven’t had time to eat properly and spent the day consuming coffee or not drinking at all, you’ll look even worse.

Or have excitement and worry kept you awake all night? Maybe a wedding where you’re to be the groom or best man. Or an interview for a life-changing job. For these events, you’ll need to look your very best.

But the man peering back at you in the mirror is a haggard shadow of his former self. Puffy eyes, dark circles, and a pale, dull complexion.

Red eyes from screen strain are even worse; people may assume you’re hungover.

Unsurprisingly, the outward signs of tiredness become more pronounced as we age. Years ago, I could party all night and still look fresh the following morning. Nowadays, losing just a couple of hours of sleep leaves me looking like a hollow-eyed wreck.

If you’re under 40, a few quick, natural remedies using household items will have you bouncing back in no time.

For more mature men, a couple of well-chosen cosmetic fixes can play down a tired appearance with instant results.

In this post, I’ll be covering both approaches.

The Effect of Good Grooming

But first, a word on grooming.

Even if you’re tired, appearing neat and tidy will make you feel more confident, which affects posture and poise. It’s the difference between coming across as a bumbler—disheveled, tired, and unfocused—or a man who’s got everything under control.

• If you haven’t already, get a haircut. You’ve no doubt noticed that a man exiting a barbershop looks a lot fresher than he did when he went in. And don’t forget to get your eyebrows trimmed if necessary—it will make a world of difference.
• When styling your hair, bear in mind that a messy look can make fatigue more noticeable.
• For men who typically buzz or shave their heads, take a moment to decide whether you need a refresh.
• Running a razor over your face or a trimmer over your beard or mustache can make a huge difference. To enhance shine and tame flyaways, apply beard balm. And make sure your five o’clock shadow is nicely shaped around the neckline and the tops of the cheeks.
• In case you usually cover up grays, give yourself a touch-up. Patchy coloring, whether of facial or head hair, emphasizes tiredness.
• Don’t overlook unwanted hair growing out of your ears and nostrils. Invest in a nose and ear hair trimmer if you don’t already have one.
• If my nails are just a tad too long, I feel scruffy, which doesn’t help if I’m tired. Clipping and filing will give you a sense of being more put together.

Quick, Natural Remedies to Look Less Tired

As previously mentioned, these remedies may be all a younger man needs to bounce back. But they’ll benefit all men, even if the effect isn’t immediately noticeable.

Maybe you look shattered after a hard day at work and now have an important date. Or maybe it’s early morning and you’ve just crawled out of bed after only a couple of hours’ sleep. Go through these fixes one by one until you see results—you don’t have to do them all. We’ll begin with the fastest and simplest, progressing in a way that fits into your usual grooming regimen.

Most use items that we all have at hand, and a few require no extra supplies at all; you can even do them on the go.

Before Showering and Shaving

• Stand tall in front of a mirror. Apart from making you appear more confident and self-assured, pulling back your shoulders and elongating your spine promote better blood flow and reduce fluid retention, which is the cause of puffiness. It has a similar effect to stretching exercises.
• Animate your face. To create an impression of being alert and engaged, raise your eyebrows very slightly and feel ready to smile. This technique, often used by performative professionals (e.g., actors, TV presenters, and public speakers), may be the only fix you need.
• Splash cold water on your face. This is the most obvious thing to do. It tightens the skin and reduces puffiness.
• Apply cold spoons. Run two tablespoons under cold water or chill them in the fridge for a few minutes and gently press them over your closed eyes for 30 seconds. This reduces inflammation and eye fatigue, which minimizes puffiness and redness. After a day at the office, red eyes may be due to screen strain.
• Apply a cold washcloth. Run a washcloth under cold water or freeze it for a few minutes. Place it over your entire face for five to 10 minutes, pressing gently over your eyes, cheeks, and jawline.
• Apply cold teabags. For this, you can use black or green tea. Both are rich in antioxidants and contain caffeine, which helps reduce puffiness and brighten dark circles. To use: steep two teabags in hot water to release their beneficial compounds, allow to cool in the fridge, then place over your closed eyes for 15 to 30 minutes. If you don’t have teabags, cucumber slices have a similar effect.
• Exfoliate. Slough off dead cells to instantly brighten dull skin. A facial scrub boosts circulation and leaves a healthy glow. If you don’t have one, mix baking soda with a soap-free wash lotion or sunflower oil, but be very gentle. Alternatively, a chemical exfoliant like The Ordinary’s Peeling Solution with alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids can improve the appearance of fine lines, which tiredness accentuates. Exfoliate only a couple of times a week.

After Showering and Shaving

• Apply toner or micellar water. As a man, you may not have this at hand. Instead, dab cold green or black tea over your face with a cotton pad; this could be a byproduct of the above-mentioned cold teabag treatment. Other effective alternatives are witch hazel, aloe vera gel, rose water, and apple cider vinegar diluted to a ratio of one part vinegar and three parts water. If none of these are available, rinsing your face with cold water can provide a refreshing boost.
• Apply eye patches. To target under-eye puffiness and dark circles, choose hydrogel patches with hyaluronic acid and panthenol. Apply after toning and before moisturizing. For best results, keep in the fridge.
• Apply moisturizer. Choose a day cream suited to your skin type. While your face is still damp, massage it in with upward and outward motions. This stimulates lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness. Enhance the effect by gently tapping around the eyes, forehead, and jawline. At the same time, practice facial animation, as described above.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

Instant Cosmetic Fixes to Look Less Tired

As a man, you do not want to be seen to be wearing makeup.

Having worked with cosmetics for over 30 years, I can say with certainty that nearly all complexion-enhancing products containing pigment tend to settle into fine lines and wrinkles, often leaving a crinkled texture—especially around the eyes. It doesn’t matter whether it’s foundation, tinted moisturizer, alphabet creams, powder, or concealer. In fact, even if it’s advertised as light-textured, concealer in particular must be heavy or dense enough to fully cover dark circles and other flaws, making noticeability inevitable. Even if you think it’s invisible in your bathroom mirror, you’ll be shocked at how it looks under harsh lighting.

Regardless of customer base—whether male or female—circumventing these unwanted effects is an age-old challenge in the cosmetic industry.

But there are alternatives that instantly enliven the complexion while sidestepping actual makeup.

Pycnogenol by The Ordinary

This is an orange serum derived from the bark of the French maritime pine. It works as a powerful antioxidant, protecting against environmental damage.

Over time, it also helps to fade discoloration and even out skin tone. And it supports collagen production to keep the skin firm.

But what you need right now is its instant ability to plump and hydrate while leaving a subtle but healthy-looking glow. This effect lasts all day long.

Apply the serum to your face and scalp (if you’re bald), but not your neck. It will otherwise permanently stain your collar.

You can mix a few drops with your moisturizer or apply directly to your face—either under or over your moisturizer. The latter is my preferred method.

How to Apply Pycnogenol

1. Add six to eight drops to your palm.
2. Dot generously over your face and scalp.
3. Distribute evenly.
4. Before finishing, rub your palms together and run them over your ears for improved blending.
5. Wait at least 30 seconds before applying further products.

It can be layered to enhance the effect, but this is enough for men who simply wish to look less tired.

The first time I wore Pycnogenol, people asked if I’d been on vacation.

Magic Finish Transparent Perfecting Balm by M. Asam

Don’t worry about the word “makeup” on the jar, nor its being referred to as a “primer” on Amazon.

M. Asam advertises this product for men and women, and it’s absolutely undetectable. I know—I use it every day over Pycnogenol.

Containing iron oxides, it has a very light peachy hue. This helps neutralize the gray cast that results from a lack of sleep and plays down dark circles.

It’s otherwise a transparent product that uses blur technology to soften fine lines, minimize pores, and refine skin texture.

Hydrating substances like hyaluronic acid and botanical extracts support the skincare benefits of Pycnogenol if you use both products.

Like Pycnogenol, I find that its cosmetic effects last all day.

Apply by dotting and spreading as you would a moisturizer, but don’t rub. Use it on your entire face, or confine to problem zones like under the eyes or on the nose and cheeks if you have broken capillaries.  

I tend to apply too much, which leaves an overly dewy appearance that highlights puffiness. To remedy this, allow it to set for about five minutes, then blot with a tissue.

CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen

This is a tinted sunscreen that blends well with all skin tones. If you’re darker, go for medium or deep. I use the light version.

Like the M. Asam product, its pigmented with iron oxides. This neutralizes visible light exposure and counteracts the white cast associated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide found in mineral sunscreens. As a side effect, it lends an even skin tone and healthy-looking glow. In spite of pigment, it does not settle into lines.

Its hydrating ingredients include ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.  

Because it blends so well, there’s no need to apply it to your neck, which will save your shirt collars.

Simply spread over your face and scalp as you would any other sunscreen. I find that it goes on more smoothly over moisturizer. If you let the product set for a few minutes, blotting with a tissue will take off any excess and increase longevity.

I’ve tried this product while unshaven, and its pigment did not cling to my whiskers—not even those that are now white. But I wouldn’t use it on longer facial hair.

In case you find it too matte, apply the above M. Asam product to the center of your face (forehead, nose, chin). I add a little jojoba oil to my dome since I like it to shine.  

Lash and Eyebrow Gel

I’ve already mentioned that raising your brows can make you look less tired. Here’s a cosmetic trick to enhance this.

If your eyebrows are compliant, combing them upward will give a more refreshed, alert appearance. To keep them in position, brush with eyebrow gel, which comes in a tube with a spiral applicator.

For even more lift, brush the gel over the tips of your lashes. This causes them to point upward as well as darken and define for a sharper, cleaner look.

Use clear gel so as not to risk smudging. Don’t apply “alternatives” like petroleum jelly, which is sticky and may attract particles. Hair gel isn’t a good idea, either, since it may flake.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

Colors That Keep You Looking Fresh

Wear pale, reflective colors near your face to brighten your complexion and minimize dark circles.

Whether a dress shirt, polo shirt, or t-shirt, choose cool shades like icy blue, sky blue, pearl gray, and mint green. Or wear white if you’re not too pale. A slight sheen in the fabric will further enhance the effect, which may be appropriate for dress shirts.

Contrast these with a darker jacket and trousers to sharpen the look. If you’re wearing a tie, silky fabrics and subtle patterns can keep you looking fresh, especially in colors like teal, emerald green, or royal blue. For a more understated appearance, go for silver and cool lavender.

But avoid off-white, beige, muted pastels, and all-black since these make fatigue more noticeable.

Movement

Looking less tired isn’t only about skincare and grooming—movement and exercise also play a role.

Personally, I take a brisk 20-minute walk to work every morning to shake off sluggishness, improve circulation, and help me feel more energized. Of all the methods listed above, this is the simplest and most effective.

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With just a few small fixes, you can replace that dull, fatigued look with one that feels ready for whatever the day asks of you.

© 2025 J. Richardson