They say the eyes are the window to the soul.... that's a whole lot of pressure for your peepers! So why not give your eyes the attention they deserve. After all, if it's through the eyes we get a glimpse of what makes you, you.... you should be batting away at those lashes, and telling the world that your beauty isn't just skin deep. Don't save it all for 'the big day', here are someEye-do's for every beautiful day of the year:
1) While you were Sleeping: They call it beauty sleep for a reason. While you're hitting the hay, Sleep researchers say, your body is healing and repairing itself. This is why dermatologist recommend using your strongest cream at night. We need our 8 hours each night to ensure "Sleeping Beauty" status. (I need to take a dose of my own medicine on this one!) In our hectic world we live in, with all the super-women flying around town.... it's no wonder so many women wear bags under their eyes instead of under their arms. Sweet Dreams are easy on the eyes!
Try: Skyn Icelands, Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gel Patches / Sephora $45.00
2) We all Scream for Eye Cream: Yes it's true, we ALL could benefit from eye cream. The skin under the eye is so thin and sensitive, and does not produce any oil, no wonder it's the first to show signs of aging. And no one wants that. One of my favorite tricks is to keep your eye cream in the fridge, not only do you get the benefits from the vitamins and other potent ingredients, you benefit from the chill factor as well. To relieve puffy eyes, try caffeine... not in your drink, but in your eye cream... puffiness is due to build up of water. In a nutshell, caffeine disperses the water under the skin, and leaves you puff free.
Try Prescriptives Vibrant-C Skin Brightening Eye Cream. $38 / Macy's Not only does it contain caffeine, it has a beautiful, light reflecting pigment that makes your skin glow. (When I worked at Prescriptives, nearly a decade ago.... their Vibrant line was cutting edge and one of the most popular eye creams on the market... apparently, it still is! )
For Dark Circles: Vitamin K is often recommended by dermatologists because of its lightening effect on the skin
Try: Jan Marini Factor-A Eyes for Dark Circles. $75.00 / select spas
3) Let the Sunshine In: Not in my oversized, overpriced Salvatore Ferragamos! While I do love the look of humungo sunglasses (you can take the girl out of Orange County.... but you can't take the Orange County out of the Girl!) I also wear them for my protection. I know, I know, it feels oh so good to have the warmth of the sun caress your skin... but you should always protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun.... especially on an area that's as sensitive as the eye area. So go ahead, rock your shades that would make the Olsens proud! Beauty and Brains... my favorite combination! Double up with a sunscreen in your eye cream (it will help ease the look of darkness under the eyes as well)
Try: Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream SPF 32 $30.00 / Macy's, Nordstroms
4) Heatwave: For eyes that won't suffer a makeup-meltdown in the heat of the night... or in the heat of the day , use a waterproof eye shadow cream base under your powder eyeshadow, or by itself. I never-ever put eyeshadow on without a proper base, especially since relocating to island life. And I'm sorry, but the ol' trick of putting concealer on your eyelids as a base, just won't cut it. Concealer is meant to be emollient, therefore, it will never dry to a matte finish, which is what you want to battle humidity.
Try: Bobbi Brown, Long wear Gel Eyeliner $21 ( you can use this as a shadow base on the lash line and eyelid. Use a synthetic brush to spread the color over desired area.) and Bobbi Brown, Long-wear Cream Shadow $22 / Nordstroms
MAC, Eye Paint and Fluidline $16.50, $15.00/ MAC Store, Ala Moana Mall (My all time favorite fluidline color is a beautiful shimmer deep bronze called, "Rich Ground"... and every makeup artist should have "Blacktrack" fluidline in her kit as well)
5) Batting Average: I'm sure we've all had our fair shares of 'striking out' when it comes to choosing a mascara. I can't believe how many options we have today, it's rather inundating if you ask me! I had fellow beauty gurus run to the Dior Counter when Dior Show first came out, some loved it, others... not so much. Maybe mascara is like perfume, it performs differently on each person. Well depending on what type of lashes you have, will decipher which mascara is best for you. And there you have it, the million dollar question, "What mascara is best for me?" With mascaras ranging from $5- $589 (yep, that's right, you heard correctly. There's a mascara named, "Socialite Mascara" that is embellished with swarovski crystals!! Go figure.) There is certainly a mascara that's just right for you! While some may refer to me as a Hawaii Socialite (okay, so it's just my BWB Girl friends, but still....!) I'm not about to spend a month's rent on a tube of mascara.... especially since I only have eyes for one.... Lash Out by Loreal. It grips every lash to fatten every last one of them, as well as lengthening. I have been faithful to Lash Out for the past 2 years. You could say, I have a great batting average... for the past two years.... I've hit everyone out of the park!
Try: Loreal, Lash Out Mascara $8 / Longs
6) Eye on the Prize: "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, , whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think on such things... (look on such things)" Phil. 4:8 We've all heard, "You are what you eat." Spiritually speaking, this is more true than we realize. Look on things that will bring you joy, that will fill your heart with love, that will fill your dreams with hope, that will fill your soul with faith. Why would we feed ourselves anything other than what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable? If eyes are the window to your soul.... what is your soul saying? Beauty comes from within remember. We have to concentrate on inner beauty even more than the outer. You can learn all you can to play up your eyes the best you know how, but what are they saying? Be mindful of what you look at, on what you allow in your minds eye... after all, what you see triggers a thought; a thought becomes an action; an action becomes a habit; a habit becomes your character; your character leads you to your destiny. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18
Try: Quiet time on the beach at sunset/ Priceless Focus on the beauty of creation. Look up. Take a deep breath. Forget all your worries. Let the sand run through your fingers. Dream a little Dream. Let the wind catch your hair. Count your blessings. Know you are Made Beautiful. Realize your Value. Smile. Thank God. And remember where your true help comes from.
