Get 'Wow' Lashes
Before applying mascara, when eyelashes are clean and dry (wet ones post-shower won't hold a curl), position the curler at the root of the lashes and give three firm, gentle pumps. Release and repeat—holding it steady doesn't create a natural-looking, fluid curl. For even better curl, heat your curler with your blow-dryer for 15 seconds first. "The warmth holds the bend better," says makeup artist Mally Roncal.
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Fill in Your Eyebrows
"When brows are thin and light, they make your features disappear, adding years to even the youngest-looking face," says Damone Roberts, a celebrity eyebrow artist. If yours are growing sparser (or have just had too much tweezing), use these steps to get back a full, youthful arch.
Read on for step-by-step instructions.
Step-by-Step Eyebrows
Step 1: Start by gently pulling your skin taut with one hand to create a smooth surface.
Step 2: With a stiff, angled brow brush like Ardell Duo Brow Brush ($4.50; sallybeauty.com), dust on brow powder like Anastasia Brow Powder Duo ($22; sephora.com) in the same direction your hairs grow, using light, feathery strokes. Concentrate on sparse areas, says Kristie Streicher, eyebrow expert at Warren-Tricomi Salon in Los Angeles.
Step 3: When you're finished, brush the hairs up and out with a spoolie (it's like a clean mascara wand); this blends and softens the powder so it looks more natural and removes any excess powder.
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Camouflage Crow's Feet
Nix heavy cover-up, which makes lines more obvious, says Matin Maulawizada of Laura Mercier Cosmetics. Instead, brighten the area with concealer under the outer third of your lower lashes and a creamy highlighter such as Benefit Ooh La Lift ($22; benefitcosmetics.com) just below any lines.
Caffeinate Your Eyes
Tea bags are a great at-home natural beauty trick to perk up tired-looking, puffy eyes. "The caffeine helps shrink the underlying dark blood vessels and forces out some of the liquid that creates puffiness," explains Ava Shamban, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA. Soak tea bags in hot water for a minute before plunging them into ice water for a few seconds. Lie down and apply them directly to your eyes for 15 minutes.
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Brighten With White
Apply to inner eye corners to instantly brighten a dark area women often miss, says London-based makeup artist Liz Pugh. Focus around tear ducts and the hollows of your nose, smudging with your pinky to soften the effect. Try Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil in Pure White ($3.50; drugstores).
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Cut Circles With Vitamin K
In a 2003 study, women who applied an undereye cream containing vitamin K and retinol every night for 12 weeks saw their dark circles improve 33%. Try: NeoStrata Bionic Eye Cream ($50; skinstore.com) or Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15 ($67; sephora.com). Like retinol, vitamin K is sensitive to ultraviolet light and should be used only at night. Bonus: The retinol helps erase crow's feet.
Soothe Puffiness
This brilliant blue flower boasts a long history as the go-to remedy for eye troubles, including puffy eyes. Even today, practitioners of herbal medicine treat conjunctivitis with a cornflower eyewash and relieve strain by applying a poultice of petals over the eyes. Studies explain why it’s a natural for peeper problems: Besides being antibacterial, the flower heads contain several anti-inflammatory substances, says a Journal of Ethnopharmacology study. Fear not if you’re out of practice making poultices but still want to reduce under-eye puffiness: The blossom is found in a bevy of products. Try Vichy Laboratoires Purete Thermale Eye Make Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes ($15; drugstores), Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches with Cornflower ($18; beauty.com), and Talika Eye Dream Regenerator Night Mask Eye Contour ($55; talika.com).
Apply a Finer Eyeliner
Lining your eyes provides instant lift, and a waterproof gel liner like Maybelline New York Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner ($10; drugstores) ensures that the anti-droopy effect lasts all day—for a fraction of the cost of other gels. Don’t worry if you think it’s going to be tricky to apply: Gel liner is thicker than liquid liner, so it’s easier to control. This creamy version glides on without skipping over fine lines.
