MANILA, Philippines?Sleep plays a major role in our lives. It affects the way we look, feel and perform on a daily basis.

But there are days when our schedules get so hectic that we barely have time to sleep. The reflection that confronts us the next day?dark circles, puffy eyes, bloated face, pasty skin?is enough to send us running to our kikay kit, hoping to find an instant fix.

Although piling on makeup may seem like the obvious solution, there are other ways to undo the ravages of staying up all night.

Hydrate. Little or no sleep raises the chances of waking up to a bloated face. Water retention is the culprit, and is caused by raised cortisol levels. Drinking a big glass of water the night before will help counter the effects and reduce puffiness.

Try tea bag therapy. The caffeine in tea helps shrink blood vessels and reduces swelling. It is essential for diminishing dark circles and de-puffing eyes. Dip brewed tea bags in milk and store them in the refrigerator overnight; then use them on your eyes in the morning. Milk has been known to brighten the whites in the eyes and alleviate puffy eyes.

Use ice-cold water. Wake up the face with a splash of ice-cold water, then apply moisturizer while the skin is still damp. The icy water will minimize bloating and the moisturizer will leave the skin looking refreshed.

Go for the potato. Reduce swelling and diminish dark circles by cutting up a potato into thin slices and placing them under each eye. Potatoes have starch that?s been proven to tighten skin.