Fatigue can be quick to show on your face and your eyes are the first area it starts to show.
Think red, watery eyes, fine lines appearing more prominent and those pesky dark under eye circles are a bugbear many of us battle to be rid of. We hazard a guess it’s part of the reason concealer was invented in the first place.
But we don’t always have to feel tired to look it, and it can be frustrating if someone asks if you’re exhausted when you’re actually feeling great.
One way to ensure they won’t? Employing a few tricks to brighten and lift your eye area.
Use a good quality eye cream
Dr. Ellen Selkon, cosmetic medicine doctor at Auckland’s Clinic 42, says dark circles and hollowing under the eyes are a common complaint.
“Dark circles can be hereditary or caused by aging and can be one of the most difficult things to treat,” she says.
While a thin layer of dermal filler is one option (always consult an experienced expert as there can be serious risks involved) she says for a topical option, a good eye cream containing vitamin A (like ones containing retinol) “can perform wonders over time, thickening the skin and therefore reducing those circles.”
Vitamin C is also well known for its skin brightening properties, and some even contain a pearlised pigment that helps further reflect the light.
Dry, dehydrated skin can make fine lines more prominent, which doesn’t help with looking exhausted. So if it’s just a boost of hydration you’re needing, look for a hyaluronic acid-based gel eye cream or eye serum and apply morning and night.
For de-puffing, choose an eye cream with dedicated ingredients for the job, like caffeine which is soothing, anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive, as well one that has a cooling metal tip.
Try a nude pencil
One of Victoria Beckham’s favourite tricks, using a nude coloured eye pencil in your waterline by the base of your bottom lashes is a pro makeup artist’s little-known secret. The nude colour helps brighten the look of your eye, helping it appear less red. ” “I distinctly remember the first time a makeup artist used a nude pencil along my waterline, ” Beckham revealed. “I looked instantly polished and like I’d had 8 hours sleep (far from it!).
A white coloured pencil also creates a similar bright-eyed look but is more obvious than a nude shade.
Look for a long-wearing gel formular pencil so it stays in place even when your eyes get watery.
Use a colour corrector
Most people know a dab of concealer is the quickest way to hide dark circles. But did you know a makeup colour corrector applied underneath can cancel out dark shadows more effectively?
To address cool tones and general darkness, since dark circles have a bluish hue, shades of peach and orange can be useful to chancel them out.
Colour correctors are often a thick cream consistency, like the ones from Bobbi Brown that come in a compact or a stick, and can be applied by dabbing gently in with a fingertip, warming the product as you blend.
Wait a minute or two for the product to sent and then apply your regular concealer over the top, using a damp sponge to blend. A lightweight concealer or brightener like YSL’s Touche Éclat High Cover Concealer wont gunk up the area.
Curl your eyelashes
Simple but surprisingly effective, adding a bit of lift and curl to your lashes gives a more wide-eyed, refreshed look. For a longer-lashing option, book in for a lash lift, similar to a perm, but for your eyelashes.
At home, use a quality eyelash curler to get the look.
Begin with clean eyelashes as doing after mascara can cause sticking which can pull and damage your natural lashes, not to mention clumping the pigment together.
With your eyes open, place the curler over your top lashes so they rest in between the top and padded base, stopping as close to the root of your eyelashes as possible. Clamp down on your lashes carefully and hold for a few seconds before releasing.
Once you are experienced, you can also clamp a second time by moving the curler slightly outwards further down the lashes to create a further curled effect.
Pluck and define your brows
Brows are a frame for the face, and shaped well, can help your face look more defined.
By plucking or threading your brows and accentuating a slight arch you create a clean, matching set that visually lifts your eyes. Brushing eyebrows up with a spoolie and setting in place with a clear eyebrow gel also delivers a lifted look.
After getting rid of any strays, use a fine pencil in a matching shade to fill in any gaps and strengthen the shape, and apply concealer beneath the brow for extra definition.
