Raves and Reviews . . . Eye Cream

I got an email from Glory's Mama the other day asking for an eye cream that would actually make a difference before her daughter's wedding . . . so tonight it's all about eye cream!

My top pick? Bliss' The Youth As We Know It Eye Cream ($75). I've been hearing from almost everyone I ask about this how wonderful it is, so I finally tried it myself and it's pretty legit. To be honest, I'm not super-focused on anti-aging products right now, so I haven't used this over a long period of time, but enough to know it works in the short term. I also spent some time talking to the Sephora peeps at the Burlingame store about it and it's chock-full of antioxidants, moisturizers and firming active ingredients. 

The only downside is if you'd like something that acts as more than just a base lotion - any illuminating or priming you'd like, you'd need to add something on top of this. 

If you want the all-in-one, I recommend Cosmedicine's Optimologist ($45). 

It does wonders for under-eye circles, while firming and preventing wrinkles. And I *just* saw that if you enter "COSMED1" at checkout on sephora.com you can get a free deluxe sample of this one. TIMELY!

Raves & Reviews: Eyeliners

Eyeliner is the most intimidating makeup item in my bag. I started using it regularly in college and ever since I've been struggling to find the perfect fit for my style. I'm still not very good at applying it (getting better) so the way it goes on and how thick the tip is are the first things I look for. I've come across some samples lately so let me tell you about what I've been trying lately: 

Tarte EmphasEYES High Def Eye Pencil (Sephora, $18): 

My favorite these days - goes on very precisely, probably because of the fine tip and relatively hard consistency. If an eyeliner is too creamy or thick I end up getting it all over the place, so this makes it easy for me to apply with broad strokes right above my lash line, moving outward. The green is great daytime alternative that is subtle while still providing definition. 

Rock & Republic Bound Gel Eyeliner (Neiman Marcus, $24): 

I think I'm going to love cream eyeliners. Having to use a brush actually makes it much easier for me to apply, while still getting the rich and defined look of a less chalky liner. R&R has some fun colors, but it seemed a little dried out when I put it on. 

Despite the dryness, I threw some of this on with my regular makeup this morning and was pleasantly surprised by how much of an impact it had without being too . . . "va va voom". It made my eyes really stand out without standing out itself. 

Sephora Brand Slim Eyeliner Pencil (Sephora, $5): 

I have this in navy and am surprised by how great this eyeliner is for how little it costs. Perfect option if you want to check out different color liners for fun before committing to a more expensive brand. As long as you keep it sharp, it's easy to apply too.