It’s been one of those months lately – full of coughs, colds, viruses and ear infections. Which when one member of your household is 20 months old, means that no one is getting much in the way of sleep. What’s always amazed me about baby induced sleep deprivation is that it is possible to still walk and talk and function something along the lines of a normal human being, even when you feel like a extra from The Walking Dead. So to stop myself from going full-zombie, there are certain skincare items that I know I can rely on to give my skin a little lift and a bit of a glow, even when I’m feeling at my lowest.

Mask of Magnaminty – Lush

Lush’s Mask of Magnaminty has been one of my skincare favourites for around 12 years now, so it’s almost like an old friend. I was originally recommended it to tackle those nasty red PMT-type spots as the peppermint works to calm them down, but I find it works fabulously on my now early-thirties skin. The powerful peppermint smell is perfect for when you’re feeling tired as it gives you that mental slap round the face you need! You can even feel it tingling on your skin (in a good way!). As well as containing honey for its moisturising and antiseptic properties, it contains ground aduki beans which give it a thick, slightly grainy texture and means you get some exfoliation as you remove it. It leaves my skin feeling super clean, calmed, but most importantly of all, it positively glows.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

I’ve used a night cream on and off since I was in my twenties, but it’s only since I hit my thirties that I’ve really noticed the huge difference that it makes. Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair is one of the most widely acclaimed night creams - a serum containing a combination of vitamins and plant-based antioxidants which aim to repair your skin while you’re soundly sleeping (or not, whatever the case might be!). It’s applied with a pipette and you only need a small amount to cover your face and neck (which is a good job, since it retails at £50 for 30ml). It’s very light in texture and soaks in quickly, allowing you to apply your normal moisturiser straight on top. The difference in the morning when I use this is remarkable – even on very little sleep my skin still has a smoothness, plumpness, and a glow. I look like a person who actually slept. And slept well - a good 7 hours with a lazy wakeup; not a snatched 3 with frequent interruptions via the baby monitor… This stuff is basically sleep in a bottle.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

Ever since I developed eczema and discovered Liz Earle I’ve been a complete convert. The Cleanse and Polish is their signature product and is fantastic for soothing and rejuvenating the skin. The cleanser is really thick and feels very calming when applied to the face. You then use a muslin cloth soaked in warm water to gently exfoliate, rinsing the cleanser away. The combination of the soothing cleanser and the exfoliation is guaranteed to get rid of those dead skin cells and leave my skin glowing. It contains a mix of botanical ingredients, including eucalyptus and rosemary oils - both of which I find work to free up my breathing if I’m suffering with a cold. I love the Sweet Orange and Mint Limited Edition after a particularly rough night as the sweet orange fragrance gives that little uplift to my mood. I always follow this with the Instant Boost Skin Tonic toner and Skin Repair moisturiser.

Since it looks like this bout of sleep deprivation is set to continue for me for the foreseeable future, I’d love to know what your favourite skincare products for when you’ve been missing out on sleep?