LONG-LASTING

Make Up For Ever
Full Cover Concealer ($32.00, makeupforever.com)

PRODUCT 101: An ultra long-lasting, matte finish, oil-free, waterproof, full coverage concealer. Designed to cover major imperfections like scars, hyperpigmentation, major discoloration, burns, and tattoos. This light and creamy concealer contains a high concentration of pigments that stay put, making it perfect for use on the face, as well as the body. Clinically tested on sensitive skin and dermatologically controlled for gentleness.

SHADY LADY

DOLCE AND GABBANA TEAM WITH MADONNA TO CREATE SUNGLASSES FOR “THE WOMAN WHO WANTS TO FEEL LIKE A DIVA” – Lightning struck when Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana hosted a party for the superstar in Milan last summer: The trio would create MDG, D&G’s first product collaboration with a celebrity; perhaps to shield her from any harmful UV Rays of Light. “With the line we want to capture femininity and extreme sensuality,” says Gabbana. That same attitude was caught on film by fashion photographer Steven Klein for the ad campaign, which features the pop icon in a steamy embrace. Says Gabbana, “The images evoke the essence of a star like Madonna: admired, chased, spied on, and adored but never completely revealed.”

“Designing an eyewear line with Madonna was a new experience for us. The oversized and wraparound designs are sexy and very feminine, like our clothes. Madonna’s creative contribution and unique point of view were key, even in designing the MDG logo,” says both Dolce and Gabbana. Madonna and the designers have collaborated on numerous projects, including their first, designing costumes for her 1993 Girlie Show tour, and she currently appears in the design house’s spring ad campaign.

EYE BELIEVE IN YOU

HOW TO DIMINISH PUFFINESS AND DARK CIRCLES

What ages you most? Surprisingly, it might not be wrinkles or gray hair but dark circles under your eyes. Although dark circles under eyes usually aren’t a sign of exhaustion or serious illness, they can make you feel old, unhealthy and exhausted, and most of us have experienced the “raccoon eyes.”

Handle with care. The skin under the eyes is the thinnest on the body. The many blood vessels in this area can show through the delicate skin, contributing to the appearance of dark under eye circles, especially if the vessels become dilated. Fat pads surround the eyes, and the muscles that enclose the upper and lower eyelids hold the fat pads (and skin) in place. As we age, skin and muscle lose elasticity, which can result in sagging around the eyes. With this known fact, as a makeup artist and avid beauty addict, I stress out the importance of a proper rigid eye care system to almost everyone that I encounter. I will always go out of my way to get my eye cream fix.

Puffiness under the eyes occurs when you retain water and your under eye tissue swells. Dark circles indicate blood vessels or hereditary pigment. To reduce puffiness, look for an eye cream containing caffeine, which causes blood vessels to temporarily constrict, or shrink. You should also avoid salt and drink plenty of water. For a quick at-home fix, apply cool compresses (tea bags soaked in ice water or cucumber slices work well) and rest with your head elevated for as little as 15 minutes or as long as overnight. To lighten dark areas, use a cream containing hydroquinone or kojic acid; both brighten hyper-pigmented skin. To cosmetically improve the appearance of dark circles, apply eye cream that contain mica or light-diffusing particles to make the skin seem lighter and brighter, if necessary, follow with concealer.

Shiseido
Benefiance Concentrated Anti Wrinkle Eye Cream ($50.00, shiseido.com)
PRODUCT 101: An ultra-rich, age-defense eye cream that protects skin from dehydration and dramatically minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and lines to promote a youthfully smooth, radiant look. Developed with Shiseido-exclusive Anti-Photowrinkle System, consisting of plant extract chlorella to counteract the appearance of future wrinkles. Recommended for dry and very dry skin. Pat around eye area, morning and night, as last step of skincare routine.

Murad
Lighten and Brighten Eye Treatment ($75.00, murad.com)
PRODUCT 101: A patented, triple-action formula targets the signs of environmental damage around the eye area. Scientifically proven to fight multiple signs of distress around the delicate eye area by lightening dark under eye circles and diminishing under eye bags and puffiness. Clinical testing has shown that using this product lightens dark under eye circles by an average of 59% and diminishes under eye bags and puffiness by up to 50%.