The Secrets of Women Who Wake Up Looking Beautiful (Hint: It’s Not a Good Night’s Sleep)

“IT’S HIGH-MAINTENANCE to be low-maintenance,” said Leanna Caroselli. Ahead of her September nuptials, the Boston nurse, 33, augmented her mouth with a lip flip—a nonsurgical procedure that creates a fuller-looking pout via a neuromodulator (like Botox).

Caroselli, who’s also a fan of lash extensions, sees her pricey beauty services as good investments that deliver daily returns. She no longer wastes precious minutes in front of the mirror lining her lips, and wakes up feeling “more put-together.”

Whether you want to forgo foundation or tame frizzy locks, the latest in-office and at-home treatments for skin, hair, lips, lashes and brows can deliver visible results that let women do less in the long run, according to some adopters. But the luxury of rolling out of bed already looking “ready” isn’t cheap. The top five minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in the U.S. average between $389 (for laser hair removal) to $2,914 (for soft-tissue fillers) according to a 2020 American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) report.

Price hasn’t deterred eager customers. Over 76% of plastic surgeons surveyed by ASPS in 2022 reported increased demand for cosmetic procedures compared with prepandemic numbers. Manhattan plastic surgeon David Shafer recently upped his clinic’s exam-room count from three to 45 to accommodate an influx of patients. “We can’t expand fast enough,” he said.

Every four months, Linda Descano, 63, a communications executive in Jim Thorpe, Pa., visits the salon for a strand-smoothing treatment, which she said boosts her confidence and reduces hairstyling time. “It makes me more effective [at work] because I’m not worried about the image that I’m projecting,” she said.

Sound appealing? Read on for ways to maximize your look while minimizing your morning routine.

1 | For Full Lips

SPLURGE

So you want a plumper pout but are afraid of filler that could inflate your smackers to carp-like proportions. Consider a lip flip. The procedure is designed to make your top lip curve slightly upward, an effect that’s achieved by relaxing surrounding muscles with botulinum toxin injections, said Anna Guanche, a dermatologist in Calabasas, Calif. A quick, in-office option, lip flips last about three to five months and cost between $60 and $1,000. Plus, they can negate the need for lip liner.

SAVE

If needles make you squeamish, try an at-home lip mask—but beware of any containing cinnamon oil or capsicum, which might irritate and swell lips. Instead, look for ingredients such as peptides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter and ceramides that promise to rejuvenate and hydrate. Lawless’s popular Forget the Filler Overnight Lip-Plumping Mask ($22) contains all these and, adherents say, can give you a plusher-looking pout—at least temporarily.

2 | For Lush Lashes

SPLURGE

Since the early 20th century, women have curled their lashes by clamping them between the jaws of a metal contraption that resembles a torture device. If you’re tired of this unnerving daily ritual, consider a lash lift, which is basically a “perm” for your top lashes, said Ashley Cornett, a Los Angeles makeup artist and lash specialist. During the treatment, a specialist applies a two-step keratin solution designed to gently break down the bonds of lash hairs and then sculpts them with a silicone shield or rod. The fanned-out finish can last between eight and 10 weeks. Cornett caps off the treatment with a tint to make lashes look thicker sans mascara. She charges $250 for the combined services.

Celine Yousefzadeh, 30, founder of a New York caviar company, used to curl her lashes at least five times each morning, only to have them droop a few hours later. After her lash lift, she said, she always looks like she’s wearing eye makeup. 

Those seeking extra drama can opt for extensions. Chito Ozawa, a lash and brow artist in Brooklyn, uses 50 to 100 individual extensions per eye, which she applies one-by-one with tweezers and glue. To negate the need for eyeliner, she suggests splurging on denser, pricier 2D extensions (two-pronged lashes). Ozawa charges between $175 and $275 for lashes and application. The finished look can last at least three weeks. 

Margaret Siple, 37, a Seattle research biologist, has thin natural lashes. Steamy daily bus rides used to cause mascara meltdowns—until she got extensions. They’re “a godsend,” she said.

SAVE

To add length at home, try Lashify’s DIY lash extensions (kits start at $145). Beloved by celebrity makeup artists, these versions attach to the underside of your natural lashes and stay put for up to seven days.

3 | For Lustrous Locks

SPLURGE

Two decades ago, Descano, the communications exec, tried her first in-salon keratin treatment. Back then such fixes contained harsh, noxious chemicals that left locks poker-straight but often lifeless. Today, she relies on Cezanne—an updated professional service that uses a combination of keratin, glycolic acid and sericin (a natural protein produced by silkworms) to smooth strands and boost shine without combating natural texture. Promoted as safe for straight, wavy, curly, kinky, color-treated and relaxed hair, the treatment is popular among celebrity hairstylist Mateo Jon’s “wash-and-go” clients at Virgo in Los Angeles. Adena Whitlow, 36, a lawyer in Vancouver, Canada, said it helped tame the “frizzy nightmare” she developed postpartum. The silky effects, say advocates, can last anywhere from 10 weeks to five months. Costs range from $200 to $800. 

SAVE

DIYers should look for at-home bond-building formulas that can help revitalize damaged hair. Among the newest is Epres Bond Repair Treatment ($48), an acid-free spray. Considered safe for even chemically treated strands, this concoction combines four impossible-to-pronounce ingredients intended to repair hair and up its gloss factor.

4 | For Bold Brows

SPLURGE

Raising your arches by a few millimeters—the amount of elevation achievable with a chemical brow lift—might seem minuscule, but Siple, the biologist, contends it fosters a “more refreshed and bright-eyed” look. Los Angeles dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban said the newest technique involves injecting a neuromodulator (such as Botox or Daxxify) near the bridge of the nose, into the head of each brow and directly above each arch. These pokes result in a “nice lift and pretty arch” that can last up to six months, she said. The procedure, which can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000, can also create symmetry and reduce sagging. 

SAVE

To articulate arches sans injections, Beverly Hills brow specialist Kristie Streicher combines a two-step keratin solution with tweezing, trimming and tinting. This quartet sets arches in an “upward, outward position” that gives a “visible lift to the entire face” for six to eight weeks, she said. At $425, the treatment is pricier than similar services, but “feeling put together at all hours of the day” is money well spent, said Carin Gerard, 64, a Montecito, Calif., artist and Streicher client.

5 | For Bright Eyes

SPLURGE

“I was tired of always looking tired,” said Rachel Montiel, 49. The Chicago real-estate broker’s failed attempts to camouflage eye bags with concealer led her to Dr. Kami Parsa, an oculoplastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, and his signature Trifecta Lift. The three-in-one procedure typically involves a lower blepharoplasty (to recontour the fat pads), a fat transfer to the midface (to address volume loss) and skin tightening. Montiel expected to “come out looking like Frankenstein,” but the incisions are made inside the eyelid, so she has no visible scars. (If you can’t make it to Beverly Hills, many oculoplastic surgeons can perform versions of the Trifecta Lift’s three components.) Most patients experience mild swelling and bruising but return to work in seven to 10 days. This procedure is an investment—expect to wait between three and six months to see full results and plan to shell out upwards of $7,000. (Dr. Parsa’s Trifecta Lift starts at $22,000.)

SAVE

Hyaluronic acid filler (like Juvéderm Volbella or Restylane Eyelight) is a comparatively budget-friendly brightening option. When injected under eyes, it can help counteract darkness caused by “hollowing” or lack of volume, said Dr. Shafer. 

Lindsey Perlstein, 40, tried under-eye filler for the first time shortly after having a baby. “Instant gratification” is how she described the results. “By the time I walked out of the doctor’s office, it looked like I had gone on vacation for two weeks,” said the Brooklynite, who works in content marketing. Results usually last at least eight months and procedures usually cost between $700 and $2,500.

6 | For Firm Skin

SPLURGE

After a series of Sentient’s Tixel treatments, “it almost looks like I’ve had a mini face-lift,” said Shannon DeJarnette, 53, a retired nurse in Park City, Utah. “I don’t have to wear as much makeup.” This noninvasive device delivers short bursts of thermal energy via a titanium plate studded with tiny spikes. Heated to 400°C and stamped across the face and neck, the tip creates micro-channels that stimulate collagen and elastin production, said Dr. Shamban. Designed to deliver a smoother, brighter and tighter visage, the device is similar to a high-powered laser but requires less post-procedure downtime (redness and scabbing typically dissipate after a few days). It’s considered safe for all skin tones and can also address acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles. Most practitioners suggest three treatments, each typically between $500 and $2,000, every four to six weeks. 

SAVE

To achieve hydration and radiance at home, seek out products that contain carbon dioxide, which promise to boost blood flow. Lumisque’s CO2Lift Carboxy Gel Treatment ($93) infuses carbon dioxide with the aim of expanding blood vessels, rushing oxygen and nutrients to the skin that promote cellular regeneration.

Just Say No: Skip these products to avoid emulating the walking dead

• Lip-Plumping Tools: Suction devices only deliver fleeting volume and can damage nerves and tissue, said Dr. Shamban.
• DIY Microdermabrasion: At-home exfoliating devices can scrape and scratch skin. Reach for topical products instead, which are less likely to cause adverse reactions, said Dr. Shamban.
• Permanent Eyeliner: Tattooing eyelids can cause gland problems. Plus, the skin will eventually sag, so what looks good now may not later, said Dr. Parsa. 

The Wall Street Journal is not compensated by retailers listed in its articles as outlets for products. Listed retailers frequently are not the sole retail outlets.