Nix those undereye circles today!
Mar 26 '03
The Bottom Line Tighten, Cover, and Sparkle -- three simple steps to undereyes-no-more.
I am a woman with a cause. I think I've found a few of the secrets to combating ugly undereyes--and as of today, it's my mission to share them with the world.
By undereye circles, I don't mean the kind that come with age (although admittedly I am submitting this review under the category of Anti-Aging/Treatment Products.) Almost everyone gets undereye circles, except very young children and the genetically blessed. They usually come from lack of sleep--in the short time you sleep, the body is not able to replenish the supply of a chemical (the name is totally eluding me now!) that restores the natural color of your undereyes. Hence, those dark, raccoon-esque circles. They're no fun-- but they CAN be fixed!
Here are the tips that have served me best:
1) Tighten and firm
By lifting and firming the skin under the eyes, you are helping to reduce the problem (part of which is the big, ugly sag!) If you get the circles frequently, you might want to invest in a creme or gel especially for the purpose. Practically every major cosmetics brand sells something like that, or you can customize it at reflect.com. My advice to you is to get the highest quality one you can.
If your occurrences of undereyes are more sporadic, or if you're on a budget, choose my quick-'n'-easy drugstore method: purchase 2 products (trial size is fine). One should be an intensive moisturizing lotion (preferably containing collagen and elastin), and the other should be a Vitamin C cream. I recommend Revlon Vitamin C Absolutes Daily Radiance Creme and St. Ives Extra Relief Collagen Elastin Dry Skin Lotion.
First, TAP on a little bit of the moisture lotion. Then, over top of that, tap on some of the Vitamin C lotion. Leave it on for 20 minutes or so while you bathe, have coffee/breakfast, or pick your clothing. By the time you're done, most of the lotion should have absorbed and you need only to blot off the excess with a tissue.
At this point you will notice that your skin is a good deal firmer and the undereyes should have almost totally cleared up. But if they haven't, never fear--there are some more steps coming your way.
2) Cover It Up.
You'll need to start with a good concealer. And in this case, good does not have to mean expensive. Try to find a concealer with a yellowy undertone--this will optically cancel out the blue in undereye circles. You will also need a separate concealer without a yellow undertone--just an average, skin colored concealer. Lastly, you will need a good blush--the one you normally use, subtle and correct for your skin tone.
My favorite concealer to try is the very inexpensive Physicians Formula Concealer Twins. It comes in 2 color choices: yellow tone plus plain, or green tone plus plain. The green tone will be excellent if you frequently experience acne or redness as it cancels out that, but the yellow one is what we're looking for in terms of undereyes. This one REALLY works (use very sparingly), and it even includes the plain, yellow-free concealer.
First apply the yellow-tone concealer to your undereyes (try using a stippling method -- that is, dot on the concealer in tiny dots, then pat them in. Don't rub...undereye skin is very delicate, and pulling and tugging will be of no help.) Then, on top of the yellow concealer, add a very small amount of your plain concealer. Pat that in as well.
Finish with a small sweep of blush over that area. Without blush, it will look unusually pasty where you have applied the concealer. For consistency, sweep the same blush lightly all over your face.
Now, your undereye circles should be barely visible.
3) Sparkle Up Your Eyes.
Sparkly, bright eyes will draw away from the undereye circles, and produce an overall more awake, alive effect. Here are some ways you can create this effect:
-Use shimmery eyeshadow in light, pearly colors. Try Urban Decay's white shadow. Apply lightly (don't overdo!) with your fingers.
-Skip the mascara, or go for clear. Dark mascara will add to the raccoon effect when you have undereye circles, and volumizing/lengthening your lashes will make the overall appearance darker. Clear mascara will separate and sexify your lashes while keeping the look light, dewey and fresh.
-Use light-reflecting eyeliner. Physicians Formula (no brand loyalty, I swear! ::wink::) makes an awesome one. It's a double-ended eye pencil; one color is platinum, and the other color is a black that contains light-reflecting particles. Try the black end, but apply much lighter than you normally would. And try your utmost not to rub it during the day or else...smudge city, and back to square one!
-Make your eyes sparkle. Two brands of contact lenses--Freshlook Radiance and Glitter Eyes--are designed to do just that. Even if your vision is perfect, you can wear these lenses, just be sure to check with your optometrist first. The Glitter Eyes are "permanent" contacts and can be worn for about a year. Radiance lenses are 2-week disposables.
If you experience undereye circles on a repetitive basis, not simply when you don't sleep enough, something else may be a factor. Age and genetics are two possibilities--if your parents have undereye circles, chances are you will too. It might be hyperpigmentation, or a mineral deficiency. If it becomes a chronic problem, you might want to have a word with your doctor or dermatologist.
I wish you good luck and uplifted undereyes!
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perfectprep
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