Why do I look best in the morning?
June 28, 2012 8:37 PM Subscribe
So, it seems like I look my best first thing in the morning (right after I wake up), and I lose that look after about 30 minutes. I can't figure out why this is the case - it seems people tend to usually think the opposite. I'd like to prolong this effect as long as possible, so any suggestions to that effect are also welcomed. Any ideas hivemind?
What about you, specifically? Your skin? Eyes? Hair?
posted by coupdefoudre at 8:54 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by coupdefoudre at 8:54 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
There are a couple reasons that you might look your best (or at least different) right after you wake up:
1) Your face looks plumper because water migrates back toward the head as we sleep. This can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and make your face look younger/rounder.
2) Most people are more relaxed when they immediately wake up, and it goes downhill from there. Stress can express its self a number of ways though the muscles in the face adding creases, lumps and asymmetry.
How to prolong these effects?
1:Water) Practically you can't. (You could stay lying down all day, or do various things to retain water, though retaining that much water all the time would be difficult.) To simulate it moisturize like crazy and work with makeup to emphasize roundness and curves of your face.
2:Stress) Have less stress. (Yeah, I know... Not really practical advice most of the time, but I stand by it.)
posted by Ookseer at 8:58 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
1) Your face looks plumper because water migrates back toward the head as we sleep. This can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and make your face look younger/rounder.
2) Most people are more relaxed when they immediately wake up, and it goes downhill from there. Stress can express its self a number of ways though the muscles in the face adding creases, lumps and asymmetry.
How to prolong these effects?
1:Water) Practically you can't. (You could stay lying down all day, or do various things to retain water, though retaining that much water all the time would be difficult.) To simulate it moisturize like crazy and work with makeup to emphasize roundness and curves of your face.
2:Stress) Have less stress. (Yeah, I know... Not really practical advice most of the time, but I stand by it.)
posted by Ookseer at 8:58 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Can you be more specific? Are you talking about makeup?
posted by KogeLiz at 9:01 PM on June 28, 2012
posted by KogeLiz at 9:01 PM on June 28, 2012
Moisturize moisturize moisturize. Drink tons of water (not enough to kill you or whatever but enough). Yes, mix moisturizer and foundation (though I use a creme-powder foundation over moisturizer and once it sinks in a bit I still get the dewy look). Use a luminizer (like Benefit High Beam) to give your face dimension and some glow. Or, just use blush-- I never used blush until about a year ago but cream blush is ridiculously simple and instantly perks up your face.
If you're like me, you might get kind of flushed as you exert yourself/get stressed, which means basically just daubing some foundation/concealer and leaving the rest alone.
Is it your hair? My early morning bedhead looks great but rapidly goes downhill, and I still don't know what to do about that, except add volume with volume powder/strategically straighten or curl certain sections so it doesn't look too frizzy. Keep smoothing serum on hand.
Sorry, a lot of this is how to rebuild that fresh, well-rested look, but I don't know how to maintain my early-morning healthy freshness (or sex appeal) either.
posted by stoneandstar at 9:41 PM on June 28, 2012
If you're like me, you might get kind of flushed as you exert yourself/get stressed, which means basically just daubing some foundation/concealer and leaving the rest alone.
Is it your hair? My early morning bedhead looks great but rapidly goes downhill, and I still don't know what to do about that, except add volume with volume powder/strategically straighten or curl certain sections so it doesn't look too frizzy. Keep smoothing serum on hand.
Sorry, a lot of this is how to rebuild that fresh, well-rested look, but I don't know how to maintain my early-morning healthy freshness (or sex appeal) either.
posted by stoneandstar at 9:41 PM on June 28, 2012
I just thought of something: I bet if you made sure to get a solid eight hours of good, solid sleep you'd look fresh/well rested/just woke up longer.
posted by spunweb at 9:56 PM on June 28, 2012
posted by spunweb at 9:56 PM on June 28, 2012
Response by poster: What about you, specifically? Your skin? Eyes? Hair?
That's the thing, I can't pinpoint it exactly. My face in general looks better (skin, eyes, etc.), and even seems more symmetrical; the plumper/relaxed face thing mentioned by ookseer seems like a good explanation.
I never wear makeup, but I do have dry skin, so I think I'll start moisturizing more.
As for sleep, it seems like no matter how much I sleep the "look" only lasts a short while in the morning, so I don't know how much of an impact it has.
posted by Sakura3210 at 10:18 PM on June 28, 2012
That's the thing, I can't pinpoint it exactly. My face in general looks better (skin, eyes, etc.), and even seems more symmetrical; the plumper/relaxed face thing mentioned by ookseer seems like a good explanation.
I never wear makeup, but I do have dry skin, so I think I'll start moisturizing more.
As for sleep, it seems like no matter how much I sleep the "look" only lasts a short while in the morning, so I don't know how much of an impact it has.
posted by Sakura3210 at 10:18 PM on June 28, 2012
I get this, too. Reasons I've picked up on so far: My skin is much, much more evenly colored. I usually get annoyingly pink in patches (around my nose and mouth), when I wake up I'm the same pale-ish color all over. On top of that, my eyes are a much darker color and also more wet/sparkly directly after waking. Pale skin and dark eyes is pretty vivid.
How to prolong the effect: Don't yawn or rub your face when you wake up, you might get ten more minutes?
posted by anaelith at 3:45 AM on June 29, 2012 [2 favorites]
How to prolong the effect: Don't yawn or rub your face when you wake up, you might get ten more minutes?
posted by anaelith at 3:45 AM on June 29, 2012 [2 favorites]
I recently bought Garnier BB Cream, and i looooooove it. It combines moisturizer with a bit of coverage, but i think the key is that is also contains caffeine, which tones down redness and imflammation. I think it gives me a 'fresh in the morning' look, so maybe that will work for you too!
posted by Kololo at 5:42 AM on June 29, 2012
posted by Kololo at 5:42 AM on June 29, 2012
I used to really notice this, for me its that my skin is nearly goddamn translucent and when I just woke up I looked almost porcelain. As opposed to when I got moving and I just turned pink/red depending on the heat.
posted by stormygrey at 5:46 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by stormygrey at 5:46 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
I recommend BB cream! But I say stick to the Korean BB creams over the American ones, the quality is better. They even skin tone, provide anti-aging, moisturize, protect your skin from the sun, and don't have over the top, cakey coverage (like moisturizer mixed with foundtation) and together all of it really helps me keep that morning glow you are mentioning!
I love Skin79 products, the pink and the gold. (I have combination skin, The Missha BB cream is better for dry skin, I've heard)
posted by xicana63 at 6:59 AM on June 29, 2012
I love Skin79 products, the pink and the gold. (I have combination skin, The Missha BB cream is better for dry skin, I've heard)
posted by xicana63 at 6:59 AM on June 29, 2012
Is it possible this is related to lighting? I feel like I like much better in some mirrors/lighting situations than in others. Do you wake up at a time when the lighting changes substantially throughout your morning routine?
posted by taltalim at 7:26 AM on June 29, 2012
posted by taltalim at 7:26 AM on June 29, 2012
For anyone else who did not know, BB is Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm.
posted by Glinn at 7:37 AM on June 29, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 7:37 AM on June 29, 2012 [3 favorites]
Are you sure this is not because of your eyes not adjusting to the light immediately after waking up? I find that I look my best immediately after waking up if I look in the mirror but I think it's because my skintone looks more even due to my not completely light-adjusted eyes not picking up certain blemishes.
posted by peacheater at 8:09 AM on June 29, 2012
posted by peacheater at 8:09 AM on June 29, 2012
Maybe its just gravity?
When you're laying in bed, (horizontally and face up) I would think your whole face "evens out" - gravity is pushing down on your whole face towards the back of your head. When you get up and get vertical, gravity takes over and drags your skin downward.
Try laying down for an hour or two to see if you can replicate this effect.
posted by NoraCharles at 8:12 AM on June 29, 2012
When you're laying in bed, (horizontally and face up) I would think your whole face "evens out" - gravity is pushing down on your whole face towards the back of your head. When you get up and get vertical, gravity takes over and drags your skin downward.
Try laying down for an hour or two to see if you can replicate this effect.
posted by NoraCharles at 8:12 AM on June 29, 2012
Maybe it's your own perception. You may look the same, but wake up in a good mood and tend to be pleased with things like your appearance.
posted by Doohickie at 12:59 PM on June 29, 2012
posted by Doohickie at 12:59 PM on June 29, 2012
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posted by spunweb at 8:44 PM on June 28, 2012 [1 favorite]