The Staples: Eyes

Regardless of whether you’re a twenty-something year old who goes out too much and sleeps too little (me), or a mom with a full time job and children/heathens to chase around (not me), you probably experience the recurring morning horror of waking up with bags under your eyes.  The only bags I want to wake up to include the following: fast food or designer.  Whether you are dealing with puffiness, dark purple or blue shadows, an unhealthy sallow hue, or all of the above, I have found a concealer that is guaranteed to make you look as fresh and awake as a baby (maybe the same one that kept you up all night).  IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye is by far the best concealer to solve a myriad of under eye issues and it’s also anti-aging and waterproof!  Its thick, creamy texture can be used sparingly by patting under the eye area and blended out with your fingers or a damp beautyblender sponge.  It is also great for covering pesky little blemishes on other areas of your face.  It has incredible staying power and can be easily set with a little loose powder (I prefer Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder applied with a small stipple brush).  With any concealer, I recommend applying foundation first and building concealer over it.  Your concealer shade should be slightly lighter than your skin color to offset and brighten the darkness of the skin under your eyes.  I wear the medium shade in Bye Bye Under Eye but also like the medium shade of their Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination version (it is enhanced with pink toned brighteners which are great for cancelling out the darkness but might not be the best for skin with yellower undertones). 

As a sometimes sad, lonely white girl, I spend a good amount of time crying openly in inappropriate public places (i.e. my favorite local Starbucks, in the backseat of an Uber, and in the airport security line).  While there is no shame in a good cry, no one wants their mascara dripping down their face when they see a puppy ten minutes later and suddenly everything is fine again (hormones, am I right?).  Cue the Chanel.  Chanel’s Le Volume De Chanel Mascara in 10 Noir, is guaranteed to stay put during the waterworks, even at the most emotional time of the month, or if you’re me, two to three times a week.  If you’re not prone to frequent bouts of crying, this is still my number one recommendation for mascara.  It won’t flake out on your face, it creates volume and length, can be worn for a daytime look or can be built up for a more dramatic night out.  If you are looking for more length, you can always add a layer of Dior’s Diorshow Mascara in Black 090 over it (a cult favorite that just doesn’t do it for me on its own but is good for second and third coats).  I know you’re thinking Chanel? That’s expensive! But this mascara has earned its place as a staple in my cosmetics bag for a reason and it lasts long enough to (mostly) justify the high price point.  Indulge! And if your bank account gives you something to cry about, at least your mascara won’t be running.