How to fake being awake

So, you stayed out too late. (Or maybe you had to get up too early?)

Maybe you had a really, really fun St. Patrick's Day.

And now you need to look like an alert, functioning, not-hung-over human in a hurry. Grab some coffee; a few simple steps will have you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in no time.

Moisturize. Tired skin is often dry skin, and dry skin only highlights fine lines and wrinkles. Use an extra pump of your daily moisturizer, or, if the situation is really dire, add in a beauty oil. Try the Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil, $16 at Sephora, or the Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate, $46 at Nordstrom. A few drops of either will plump the skin, helping to mimic a full night's sleep.

Use a yellow-based concealer. No, you won't look like you've painted your face. The yellow will help balance out the dark circles that almost certainly are under your eyes, leaving you looking like your usual well-rested self. Try the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in shade Neutralizer, $9.99 at drugstores; set the concealer with a yellow powder, like Bare Minerals Broad Spectrum Multi-Tasking Face Powder in Well Rested, $20 at Sephora.

Easy on the eye makeup. Dark eyeliner can accentuate dark circles. A light, yellow-based eye shadow (try Foxy from the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, $29 at Ulta) will cancel out any lingering darkness, and a few extra swipes of your favorite mascara will make you look wide-eyed and awake.

A pop of blush will brighten up tired, sallow skin. Applied right to the apples of the cheeks, a luminous blush (try the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush, $38 at Sephora) will bring needed color to the face, giving you a (faux) healthy glow.

A spritz of a refreshing face spray (try the Evian Mineral Water Spray, $12.50 at Sephora), an extra-large cup of coffee, and you'll be out the door like last night never happened.