Ten Ways to Refresh Your Eyes

How many times have we heard, seen or heard the expression “You look tired” recently? It’s probably a lot. Blame your eyes. These gossips can’t help but spread the word about your allergies, insomnia, last night’s extra drink, bag of chips, or weeping-inducing Netflix film. Zoom and FaceTime also display our bags and dark circles so that everyone can see. Don’t worry. These are 10 ways to restore your twinkle quickly.

1. Make a cold-shot plan

After a long night of sleep, aged eyes can look worse. This is because fluid retention, dry air and horizontal position have all had hours to work. Celebs and older models still use the tried-and-true Ice Jolt to wake up. This involves putting their tired faces in a sink of cold water with ice cubes. They can also go back to bed and do ice rehab for 10 minutes with frozen teaspoons or bags filled with frozen peas sealed lids.

Although cold can reduce swelling and soothe it, there is an easier way. Keep a stash of under-eye masks with proven ingredients such as caffeine, hyaluronic, peptides and collagen in the fridge. Then, apply them immediately after cleansing. While you enjoy your morning latte, you can also store the packs. There’s no need to lie down or yelp when you have patches such as Peace Out Puffy under-eye patches ($25, sephora.com), Yes To Cucumbers depuffing under eye masks ($16 at target.com) or Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hydra-Gel Eye Patches ($55 at bloomingdales.com). They provide a quick, painless refreshment.

2. Rediscover the joy!

There is a distinction between redness due to medical reasons (such as sties, conjunctivitis or blepharitis) and everyday redness. Dry, itchy eyes can be caused by eye strain from working at a computer screen all day. We all rub our eyes! This only makes matters worse. To reduce itching, you can use cold compresses. Next, use Biotrue HydrationBoost Eye Drops ($14 at target.com) to clear your eyes. For a quick cosmetic solution, lastly, line your inner rims using a beige pencil such as the Tarte Fake Awake Eye Brightener for Ulta Beauty ($20; target.com), or Revlon ColorStay Ultra Precision Gel Eyeliner In Beige ($6; target.com).

3. Let caffeine deflate puffs

Swollen eyes are not a good look. Although it can’t treat genetic under-eye bags, caffeine-loaded eye creams and serums can reduce temporary swelling due to seasonal allergies or binging on alcohol or salt the night before. Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor, compressing blood vessels under the skin to reduce swelling. Tap on a treatment such as The Inkey List’s Caffeine Eye cream ($10, sephora.com), DHC Eye Bright (23, ulta.com), or Makeup Revolution Skincare Revitalizing Cauffeine Eyecream ($14, Target.com).

No caffeine cream or serum around? Make some tea bags and let cool. Cover them with a lid for 10 minutes. Because you are curious, I suggest skipping the hemorrhoid cream for under-eye relief. It’s a myth that has outlived its time.

4. You should keep your eyes hydrated all day

It might be a surprise to you that your eye cream can double as a face moisturizer. It could. But a separate treatment is better. Here’s why. Your eye area is more sensitive than other areas of your face. It’s thinner, drier, and has fewer oil glands. This makes it susceptible to stretching and sagging. Eye creams and serums such as Olay Vitamin C+ Peptide 24 Eye Crème ($29, target.com), Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye gel-Cream ($26.ulta.com), and RoC MultiCorrexion Hydrate+ Plump Eye Cream With Hyaluronic Acid ($20 at target.com) are concentrated, emollient, and gentle for this delicate area. They contain one or more proven ingredients, including ceramides, retinoluronic acid for plumping, hydrating, hyaluronic acids for plumping, hydrating, hyaluronic and hyaluronic to plumping eyes and hydrating. Apply it after applying moisturizer, or anytime your eyes need an extra boost.

5. Make sure you use the correct concealer.

Most women over 50 are not “tired”. It is a permanent condition, just like thinning hair and wrinkles. You want a concealer that is hydrating, smooth and easy to apply to the eye area. To be clear, it is not the same concealer you would use for brown spots and blemishes. Every day, you should aim to highlight and brighten the eye area. You can use a fluid cream formula such as NYX Professional Makeup Born To Glow Medium Coverage 12H Radiant under Eye Concealer ($9 on ulta.com), Tarte Form Tape Concealer (29 on ulta.com), or Estee Lauder Double-Wear Radiant Concealer (30 on bloomingdales.com), to prime your lids to reduce redness.

6. Get new eyeglasses

Bolder glasses are a great eye-wakeup for both men and women. Here’s why. For tired eyes, a strong shape frames them for a defined look that draws attention away form saggy lids. A modern cat-eye is a great way to lift your eyes. All are welcome to try black, tortoise, and refreshing shades of bleu.

7. Modify your eye makeup

Keep the dark, smoky stuff out of your eyes. You can save black eyeliner, concealer, and any other under-eye makeup (see tip number 2) for another day. You need to tone down the color in order to make your eyes appear clear and bright. You can use medium-to-light shadows that have shimmer (not glitter), in the sandy, peachy and apricot ranges — such as the Almay Shadow Squad ($7, Ulta.com or the Jason Wu Beauty Flora9 Eyeshadow Palette Desert Rose ($15 at Target.com) — but stick to brown liner or mascara. This will help you draw attention to your eyes and distract from other problems. To subtly enhance your brows, use a tinted eyebrow gel, such as Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brw+ Tinted Volumizing Eyebrow Gel For Ulta Beauty ($14; target.com). Brush them upwards to open your eyes.

8. Make a distraction using lipstick or bangs

Eye makeup is not for everyone. Some women skip eye makeup altogether, while others opt for a pair of dark sunglasses to replace it. Some people use sunscreen and moisturizer to get through the day. You can also add a bit of color to your eyes with a full-length fringe or lipstick. A bright lipstick such as Clinique Pop Reds ($20, ulta.com), or a trendy berry color like MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick For Ulta Beauty In Dubonnet Buzz ($22 at target.com) will grab everyone’s attention, especially if they smile. For tired eyes, long or short bangs can transform your appearance. You won’t believe the power of a snip and a swipe in color. And don’t forget your sunglasses. Gradient lenses allow you to play hide and seek. Wink wink

9. Change your habits

Healthy lifestyles can help your eyes. To flush out excess salt, set a daily water intake goal. Dehydration can cause saggy and sunken eyes. Line dry skin to give it a softening effect. Double up on pillows at night to elevate your head while you sleep. Maintain your weight stability, as weight fluctuations can cause sagging. Your body should be moved daily. A quick walk in the morning can help boost circulation and drain any fluids that have accumulated overnight.

10. A surgical solution is an option

Physical eye changes can make us look tired and old. A board-certified eye surgeon is an experienced and skilled option for cosmetic surgery. This is not the best solution but it is something you should consider. Some women choose to have their upper-lid blepharoplasty done to correct saggy lids. This procedure costs $4,000 and requires a two week downtime. Others opt to have their lower-lids lifted or both. Here’s why. The fat pads under our eyes that cushioned the eyeballs from the collagen loss will become less visible. These fat pads become visible and can appear like under-eye bags. However, they are actually fat protruding through skin. The lower-lid blepharoplasty, which removes fat from the skin and tightens any excess skin, can be as expensive as $3,000 to $4,000 depending on your location and experience. It takes two weeks to recover.