Brighten Up in 2010 :)

Hey there! Sorry it's been a while since I've posted - the holiday season gets pretty hectic when you work crazy retail hours. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's.

Lately, I've gotten a lot of inquiries about how to brighten up under the eyes. Not just with makeup, but also what skincare products really help get rid of those yucky dark circles and puffy bags.

One of Lancome's newest creations, Genefique Eye Youth Activating Concentrate ($59) is at the top of my list of all-time favorite products ever made, and obviously at the top of my list of best products to get rid of dark circles and puffiness. It's a gel-cream that's lightweight and can be applied under any makeup because it sinks right into the skin and leaves a smooth, velvety finish. It boasts that within 7 days, the skin will look brighter, more luminous, and radiant. All signs of fatigue are gone. The science behind Genefique Eye is that it boosts gene activity in the skin cells and stimulates the skin's production of youth proteins that are in everyone's skin. As you get older, these proteins break down and wear out, and depending on the level of damage the skin has, Genefique Eye will work differently for everyone. It's by far one of the most amazing products I've ever used. Lancome also has Genefique for the face ($78-$98) and will be coming out around late January/early February with a cream version of both that will not only brighten the skin as the Youth Activating Concentrate does, but it will also provide plenty of moisture that everyone needs, too.

As far as makeup goes to help cover dark circles that just won't go away, I recommend using a yellow-based concealer. Dark circles are nothing more than pooled-up blood that appears purple, and on the color wheel, yellow is opposite purple. This means that the yellow will counter-balance that purple-y look, helping effectively hide those ugly circles. One of the best yellow concealers is Benefit's Lemon-Aid Eyelid Cream ($20). Yes, it's called 'eyelid cream' and it is technically intended for use as an eye base, but I've actually never once used it as such. I use it as an under-eye concealer because of it's creamy, yellow appearance and it always instantly make my eyes look a million times brighter.

Another awesome under-eye concealer that's won tons of awards is Yves Saint Laurent's Touch Eclat ($40). It doesn't come in a yellow shade, but what it does do is reflect light. By doing this, it helps brighten the eye area and banishes shadows. *(Another trick I like with this is to put it on the inner corners of the eyes - it instantly widens them if they're set close together). It comes in a nifty click-pen contraption with a brush on the end, and you just brush it right on - super easy.

I also recommend setting the concealer with a light sweep of loose powder (not too much or it'll make the skin look crepey) that also reflects light. It will help hold the concealer in place and keep the area looking smooth and luminous all day. Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder ($22) is perfect, and can actually be used all over the face if necessary, too.

Good luck with having bright eyes in 2010! Make sure to get plenty of rest (not just for those puffy circles, but for your all-around wellbeing) and drink lots of water, too - that always helps!