Have too many parties left you looking like the lost luggage department at the airport? Worry not, as Fiona Adams has found some great remedies to pep up your peepers
"The eyes are the window to the soul,” as William Shakespeare is reputed to have said. And that was 400 years ago, before the world’s beauty boffins came up with all those formulas and treatments to melt away lines, droopy lids and eye bags. These days the weapons at our disposal are many – and infinitely safer than those of Tudor times. So choose your favourite and let your soul – bright and perky, of course - shine through.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Recovery Complex II
Estée Lauder Night Repair products are amongst the best loved on the market. A few dabs the night before the morning after can really ease the pain when you face the mirror first thing. Transfer this beauty magic to the eye area and you have a winning combination. Estée Lauder has launched two eye formulas, a serum and a cream. Both are designed to work with the body’s ability to regenerate during sleep. From £40.
Crème de la Mer Illuminating Eye Gel
This, as my teenage daughter would put it, is ‘the bomb.com’ of cosmetic brands and this particular product has just come onto the market. Of course, at £100 a pop you expect it to be good, but even I was mightily impressed by its apparent ability to suck up pouchiness within minutes. The gel is easily absorbed and you only need a tiny bit, so use sparingly.
Murad Instant Radiance Eye Cream
This is unlike any eye cream I have come across, with its almost bouncy, mousse-like texture – but a little goes a long way. You hardly have to smear your finger across the pot to have more than enough. This is a useful attribute, as it’s easy to overload the area with greasy formulas, which end up being stored under the skin. Murad claims that the appearance of dark circles can be diminished within 15 minutes. £49.50.
Spa Fabulous Little Pot of Heaven
If you like to go organic, then this luxurious cream is for you (£55). Magi Vaughan, make-up artist on Downton Abbey, says that it’s her favourite product. It certainly looks 1920s glamorous, but its fragrance is 21st-century spa. Liquorice helps balance out pigmentation, while natural sunscreens are a useful bonus.
How to keep your eyes healthy by Optician Joanne Boyd
of Horrocks and Boyd, Fife Road, Kingston
- Protect your eyes from UV rays, which can cause macular disease and cataracts, especially when playing sport
- Eat well. Vitamins A, C and E, plus Lutein and Zeaxanthin, are all good for eye health
- Always remove eye make-up at the end of the day, as it can cause irritation overnight. Don’t share make-up and throw old products away
- Stop smoking! It increases your risk of cataracts
- Remember the 20/20 rule if working on a computer. Every 20 minutes look at least 20ft away for 20 seconds
