How To: Look Better In Any Instagram Photo

Here’s a beauty and wellness tip from me to you.

And it won’t cost you anything.

If you stayed up late the night before (doing housework and rereading Patti Smith’s autobio “Just Kids”), you should refrain from applying extra Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude and Lancome Brow Groomer in Taupe the next morning. None of that will make you look well rested—you'll only look as though you’re exhausted and wearing too much makeup. (See above photo of me with my husband.)

One of the keys to looking good—in both Instagram photos and real life (equally if not MORE important since you don’t have the luxury of all those super-flattering filters IRL)—is plenty of sleep.

You may be thinking that this is a load of bs.

Believe you me, I felt the same way –

When I was in my teens and twenties.

Back then, whenever I used to read interviews with celebs who would say that their beauty secrets were plenty of sleep and water (another biggie!), it would drive me crazy mad. Not what I wanted to hear. But as anyone over the age of 35 knows, if you don’t get enough sleep, you wind up looking seriously crummy. And no amount of Clarins Flash Balm, La Mer, or white eyeliner pencil applied inside the rims of your eyes will make you look the way 8 hours of great sleep will.

All the great-looking actresses over 40, from JLO to Courtney Cox and her bff, Jen Aniston, credit 8 hours of slumber and plenty of water for helping them look so fantastic. #JustSayin

So put down the phone or IPad (both interfere with your ability to get to that deep REM sleep that truly benefits both your body and your mind) and get to sleep.

Full disclosure: Even I make it a habit to turn off my phone, I-Pad, and notebook computer 1-2 hours before I go to sleep. Unless, that is, I get a really great idea for a blog. #Wink