We all know that the secret of looking and feeling our best is an early night and a long uninterrupted slumber – they don't call it 'beauty sleep' for nothing. But for those of us with young children, eight hours sleep is a distant memory.
While we can't do much to secure more sleep, there are some ways to fake it …
1. Use a cream mask to brighten your face
Jennifer Taylor, Head of Beauty at the Australasian College Broadway, says that post-pregnancy hormones, along with sleep deprivation, can play havoc with water retention. To help combat this, she suggests using a cream mask.
"Cream masks don't set hard, but they feel amazing and gently soak into the skin to make your skin hydrated and smooth," she says. "There's no hard setting, no pulling on the skin – you can even sleep with the mask on and let it soak in overnight to wake up with skin feeling fresh. Minimal effort, maximum glow!"
2. The cold spoon trick
If there is one sure sign of sleep deprivation it's puffy bags under your eyes. Jennifer suggests a surprising solution: "If you're about to head out of the house and need a quick fix, try cold metal spoons on the eye to tighten the skin."
In addition, she suggests using natural astringent witch hazel or haemorrhoid cream to shrink under-eye tissue, but warns, "Just don't get any in your eye!"
3. Cover dark circles
Dark circles go hand in hand with puffy eyes. Make up artist Dolores Dunn suggests applying a concealer with a small synthetic brush, then blending with the tip of your finger.
"An affordable option is Maybelline Fit Me Concealer for medium to full coverage; for a matte finish, try MAC Pro Longwear," she advises. "If you need the big guns then cult favourite It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer is a really super concentrated formula that provides big results."
4. Curl eyelashes to look wide-eyed and wake
Dolores notes that curling your eyelashes is a great way to make you look awake, even when you're struggling through the day.
"If you've always been afraid of using an eyelash curler, try the Japonesque Heated Mini Eyelash Curler or Tweezerman Super Curl Eyelash Curler. For a traditional metal curler try the Shu Uemera Curler," she says.
5. The quick once-over
Beauty blogger Kim-Marie Williams knows that tired-looking mums are usually also busy mums. Her tip? Stick to a quick and easy make-up routine that will make you look and feel fantastic.
She's a big fan of BB creams, saying that a good BB cream "is great because it's multi-purpose: it's a foundation, moisturiser and sunscreen in one."
Kim-Marie also suggests applying a light lip gloss or lip stick and using a finger tip to press it on to your lips to save time. "You can then use the excess on your cheeks as a blush," she says.
6. Invest in a brow-shape and lash tint
Kim-Marie says that making some time for a professional eyebrow shape and eyelash tint is a great investment. "An eyelash tint gives you all the eye-popping benefits of mascara without the hassle of applying mascara," she says. Well-shaped eyebrows, on the other hand, can provide a big difference to your look – even when the shaping itself is quite subtle.
As an added bonus, you may not even have to leave the house to get treated, as there are lots of beauticians that can come to you. If you're looking to get out, some salons will allow you to bring your children along.