From the time I was five years old, I’ve had bags under my eyes big enough to take a two-week trip. My lovely French Nana would tell me that it was a Mediterranean thing but it wasn’t until many years later when I realized that Mediterranean=Inherited from Nana. Fortunately, I’ve learned a few tricks that turn my suitcases into wallets.
Good Eye Cream- At night I remove my eye makeup with baby oil on a cotton ball. The oil keeps the skin around my eyes nice and hydrated during the night. In the AM, I dab a little Phyto Contour by Yonka under my eyes and massage it in for about 30 seconds. The Phyto Contour tingles at first (similar to Noxema) but it gets rid of all swelling in the eye area, minimizing the bags. A gentle massage will increase circulation, brightening the eye area.
Yonka Phyto Contour ($47- pricey as hell but worth every cent)
Highlighter, aka ” The Best Concealers on the Market”– I honestly don’t know how I lived as long as I did without a highlighter. Unlike a thick, cakey concealer that looks more like warpaint than makeup, a highlighter will illuminate your eye area, making you look 5 years younger. There are two I love in opposite ends of the price spectrum:
Yves St. Laurent Touche Éclat ($40 @ sephora.com)- This is an instant pick-me-up that I usually splurge on in the winter months when I’m whiter than a glass of milk with big, black circles under my eyes. A few dots blended around the eyes are all you’ll need for a completely refreshed look.
Revlon Color Stay Under Eye Concealer ($9.99)– Although I’m not a fan of the Color Stay foundations (too thick for my liking), I’m in love with the concealer. It’s extremely light, doesn’t crumble in the corners of the eyes and is a great summer alternative for the pricier YSL one. 
Nefeli Instant Eye Rejuvenating Mask ($65 for 3 eye masks @ nefeli.com)- The night before my wedding I slipped on a wet floor at the Cranford Hotel and landed flat on my knee. It was swollen to the size of a grapefruit, walking was agony and I cried for the better part of the night. When I woke up the next day, I looked like a monster with big puffy eyes to match my fat, puffy knee. Luckily, I had one of these masks in my medicine cabinet and in 20 minutes it erased all the crying damage from the night before. These little beauties use Chinese herbs to address urgent skin needs around the eyes such as dry sensitive skin, fine lines and wrinkles, eye puffiness and bags and/or dark circles. Although temporary, it’s like a 20 minute eye lift.
My bag lady days are far from over, but at least, with the help of a few tried and true products, they’re few and far between.
what's the pH? 