You’ve exhausted yourself going over your PowerPoint presentation and practicing your speech for your make-or-break meeting, and now you’re sleep-deprived and worn out. How can you make a favorable impression when you don’t look and feel your best? In this article, you’ll learn how to carve out a few much-needed moments to pamper and prepare your mind and body for the spotlight. With a little relaxation and a few beauty tricks from the pros, there’s no event you can’t conquer.

Night before prep:

•    Bring out the glow. So you’ve been spending extra hours at the office? The stress and dry air could be taking its toll on your skin, leading to a dull, dehydrated complexion. Achieve instant brightening with an enzyme-rich exfoliating mask like Tracie Martyn Enzyme Exfoliant, which reduces redness and fine lines while loosening dead skin cells. The result is soft, balanced skin that glows. Or, if you’re prone to breakouts during times of stress, try a purifying clay mask like GlamGlow Tingling Exfoliating Mud Mask to draw out impurities and uncover a radiant glow that’s been hiding for weeks.

•    Get polished. Ragged nails and chipped polish are a major faux pas when it comes time to network and shake hands with the pros. Take a cue from job interview etiquette and give yourself a subtle manicure with a barely-there shade like Butter London Nail Lacquer in Hen Party. Start by clipping nails into a neat and uniform shape (like the popular squoval) and filing edges to prevent snares on your presentation-day pantyhose. Apply a coat of clear polish like SpaRitual Topcoat to seal in the color and shine, and clean up any messy spots with a cotton swab dipped in polish remover for nails that look neat and tidy. 

•    Bonus: If you have extra time, sneak away for a massage. According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a 45-minute massage treatment can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as give your body an immune boost, which could prevent you from waking up with a cold on a day when you need to feel your best. Or de-stress at home by giving yourself a mini hand massage with a calming lotion like L’Occitane Lavender Harvest Hand Cream. Focus the pressure on reflexology points like the tops of your fingertips, and work on relieving stressful anticipation and tension in your head and neck.

Morning-of prep:

•    Banish puffiness. Got a good night sleep but still battling eye bags? Ease under-eye skin with a cooling, de-puffing eye cream that’ll perk up the delicate eye area, such as MD Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Eye Crème, which also illuminates dark circles with light deflecting pearls. Watch your face look – and feel – instantly refreshed and tightened.

•    Freshen up. Use a time-tested makeup artist trick to look more rested and alert. Dab a small amount of concealer like Fusion Beauty IllumiCover Line Smoothing Luminous Concealer near the inner corners of your eyes to brighten the shadowy area and impart an energized glow. When you’ve completed your makeup application, mist your face with a finishing spray like Skindinavia Bridal Makeup Finish to prevent colors from smudging, creasing or fading before you make your appearance.

•    Rev up with scent. Focus your mind with a dose of invigorating aromatherapy. Dab a citrus or mint essential oil blend on pulse points, or lightly spritz on a refreshing fragrance, like Caudalie Fleur de Vigne Energizing Fragrance, with vibrant grapefruit. Just be sure to apply early in the day so the scent doesn’t come on too strong when you’re in close quarters with colleagues.

•    Bonus: With a few minutes to spare before your meeting, take a meditation break to focus your thoughts. A 2008 study linked mindful meditation with cognitive flexibility and attention, which could give you an extra performance edge. Turn your focus to your breath and progressively relax your muscles in a quiet place for your own mindfulness moment.

With the right pre-meeting beauty prep, you’ll be feeling at ease when it’s time to take center stage. While your talent and hard work may be essential to take your career to new heights, these beauty tricks will help you look and feel more confident on your professional journey.