Are Eye Creams Really Necessary?

We all know how important it is to apply a moisturizer to our face daily, regardless of our skin type. Moisturizers literally help lock water in and protect skin from free radicals, which are extremely damaging to our cells.

Years ago, during a trip to Saks 5th Avenue in NYC, a Lancôme sales associate approached me (at Saks, they can be just as harassing as those mall kiosk crazy ladies) and asked me what kind of eye cream I used in my skincare routine. Mind you, I was only 19 years old, so I innocently said "whatever moisturizer I use on my face, why?". She replied with a big, wide-eyed "Oh... OH! OH Nooooooo!". Sacrilege? Oops.

I was learning for the first time that, as it turns out, the skin around our eye area is more sensitive and thin than the rest of our face, therefore needs extra special attention. I instantly felt guilty for apparently neglecting that part of my body for so long.

Ironically enough - and I wonder why - very few eye cream products contain SPF protection, something which is very crucial to me. Most eye creams set their targets towards either fighting undereye puffs and dark circles or wrinkle damage and prevention. If the skin under our eyes is so sensitive and delicate (and it really is), how come they are not packing those creams with heavy duty sunscreen? That never made sense to me.

Eye Cream Guinea Pig
Traumatized by my Saks 5th Avenue lecture, I've tried a lot of eye creams since then and I confess I've yet to find the perfect one. I usually get a lot of samples from Sephora's Beauty Insider program or those gifts-with-purchase from the department stores, but I've also invested on a few "surefire creams" that didn't do much for me, as far as I could tell. Clinique All About Eyes is a classic, but was no different than a plain ol' face moisturizer. I really wanted Benefit's EyeCon to work, but my eye circles stayed right there where they were. Neutrogena Radiance Boost actually irritated my skin a little.

My biggest concern when it comes to my eye area is dark circles, something that even 8 hours or more of sleep can't fix. So whatever claims to help fight that raccoon look, I'm trying, but I'm very skeptical if not reluctant.

So do they work or they don't?
If you don't have wrinkles yet, I would say don't worry so much about a specific cream just for your eyes. If you have puffiness (whether it's chronic or you cried yourself to sleep the night before), however, you might want to try one of those rollerball gel thingies (more info below) that contain caffeine. Caffeine helps with blood circulation and is also anti-inflammatory, which is why most anti-puff creams contain some form of this ingredient.

I don't have much puffiness going on and to combat undereye darkness, the best trick is to keep it hydrated and concealed. None of these expensive creams have worked alone for me so far, so I never skip the concealer. An illuminating concealer or some kind of illuminating powder, stick or cream also helps a good deal by reflecting light into an otherwise dark area and giving you that well-rested appearance. Just be very careful not to use a concealer that's much lighter than your skin tone or you will look very goofy.

Finding a concealer that works for you:
Makeup professionals say that if you have very dark circles and you use a yellow-toned concealer, the result will be a grayish appearance. Not good. You may want to try a peach or pink-undertoned concealer (that matches your shade). The best way is to test it out on yourself and take a picture. Use flash light and then natural light as well. That will tell you the truth far better than any best friend.

As far as maintenance goes, until I find the most amazing, life-changing eye cream, I will continue to apply face moisturizer to my eye region. I'm currently using Lancôme Absolue Premium Bx, which I got as a sample. The sample size is 0.5oz (pretty much the average volume for a full-size eye cream) and it's been lasting me a while. It's a great moisturizer, feels good on my skin, dries fast, doesn't cause irritation and it contains SPF 15.  They make an eye version of this cream but if the regular-size face version is $125, I don't want to know how much the eye cream costs. Besides, eye version has no SPF! This little pattern puzzles me to no end. When I run out of this one, I will just have to hope for more samples.

Out of all the samples I've tried, the best one so far has been Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Protective Creme SPF 15. Yes, they have the eye version, no, it doesn't contain SPF either so yes, I was using the face cream on my eyes. It was really fantastic. It absorbed quickly, it offered great moisture without feeling sticky and worked great under makeup. This is actually a moisturizer I would buy the full-size version.

So here's a quick tip list for common undereye issues and easy (even if temporary) solutions:

• Puffiness, bags, redness and swelling: 

          Try this: Slices of cucumbers (make sure they're cold) or cotton pads soaked in cold chamomile or green tea. Squeeze excess liquid and let it rest on your eyes for 15 minutes. Follow with a moisturizer.
          Also try: An anti-puff rollerball gel like Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller or Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage). The rollerball gets the blood circulating and caffeine helps de-puff.

• Undereye darkness and circles:

A highlighter in reverse C shape
on the upper cheek bones
fakes an 8-hour sleep

          Try this: A good concealer. Start with a moisturizer for sensitive skin. Pat gently with your ring finger, don't rub. Let it dry. Apply concealer that doesn't make you look like you went tanning with your sunglasses on, making sure skin looks even on entire face. Use a luminizing concealer, lotion or stick (like YSL Touche Éclat or Nars The Multiple in Copacabana) just below the undereye area, on the upper cheek bones, in a reverse C shape that goes from outer corners of eyes, inwards.

Some people like to keep their eye creams in the refrigerator for added boost. Like a nice cold water rinse in the morning, the temperature really helps waken skin up and get the blood circulation going. Leaving your cream in the fridge can do you no harm.

Skip the expensive eye cream, not the SPF!
Eye creams may be an unnecessary extravagance, but a good facial moisturizer never is. Look for one that is sensitive-skin friendly since the skin around our eyes is indeed very delicate. Some ingredients, such as salicylic acid, are great for the face but a no-go for eyes.  Focus on these 3 letters: S-P-F. No matter what age you are or skin color, your face cannot afford to live without SPF. Sun damage is a fact and it's a fast-pass to early aging. Prevention pays off.

This I Tried: Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse

I'm one of those people who swear by Bare Escentuals mineral makeup. That being said, I will avoid what could be a 5-page rant about how amazing and life-changing this makeup line is and (try to) go straight to my product review.

Besides my tendency to accumulate cosmetic clutter, it seemed reasonable enough to find a drugstore brand - more affordable - that I could wear to work and then save the BE for outings and such.

I'm reluctant to change because one of the amazing benefits of authentic mineral makeup is that it keeps my acne-prone skin from further breakout. There are a lot of brands these days that market themselves as "mineral" but when you read the ingredients, you find out they're still adding talc, alcohol etc. So, when you choose a so-called mineral makeup that is not Bare Escentuals, keep that in mind.

Revlon Colorstay foundations (mineral or not) are very good. I used to wear the Colorstay Active, which I believe is now discontinued and replaced with the Colorstay for Combo/Oily Skin with SoftFlex, and I loved it. It was high-pigmented so provided full coverage and it lasted all day. But then I abandoned liquid foundations altogether and that's another long story.

Never tried Revlon's line of mineral makeup (they first came up with the loose powder form) and I was about to buy their Photo Ready Foundation to see what the High Definition makeup brouhaha is all about but changed my mind last minute. I picked the mousse version so I could try something different from powder, in order to achieve a perhaps more "dewy" finish, while maintaining 4 properties I look for in a foundation:

• Full coverage
• Lasting power
• No pore-clogging
• SPF

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse has one gazillion ingredients, including alcohol, while still writing "mineral" on the bottle. I'm no scientist so I don't really know what ingredients define a makeup as mineral, but let's just say this one is not "pure". Whatever. If it clogs my pores I can always return it.

So onto the test:

Texture:

Texture is soft and indeed mousse-like. First ingredient on the list is dimethicone, which is a silicone that gives you that smooth sensation on skin. This foundation feels a lot like Philosophy The Supernatural primer, which is the primer I use under foundation. That's a good thing.

Shade:

There aren't a lot of shades to choose from - be warned - but the one I picked, 020 Fair/Light seems to match my skin tone without issue. When it comes to everyday makeup, always choose a shade that disappears on your skin. Now for pictures (say, if you have a wedding to go to), I would say pick a shade slightly darker than your skin tone, since the flash lights are never very kind on us, especially the pale faces like moi.

Application:

This mousse dries out fast without feeling too cakey. Another rule of thumb: when you use powder foundation, put concealer (liquid, powder or otherwise) on first. When you use liquid foundation, apply it first all over face and then concealer over it, only where you feel the need for more coverage.

Coverage with this foundation is good, I used the dot method, applying with my fingertips, blending in all the way to my neck to avoid the mask look. Had to go back a few times to cover some stubborn redness and zits but I forgot I can always use my concealer for it. With Bare Escentuals, it's all one product, you just switch brushes. So is it buildable coverage? Yes, but you don't want to stuff your face with the product, so don't skip concealer if you need.

I followed with Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer (which is really good, comparable to Lancôme Effacernes, but one slice of the price) and Maybelline Mineral Power Finishing Veil in Translucent, which are both products I use even with my BE foundation.

Quick Tip:

The good thing about liquid or mousse foundation is that you can play with cream blushes and highlighters without streaking. It's easier to blend. If you're gonna use a cream blush, leave the setting powder for last. If you choose a powder or compact blush (or bronzer), apply a setting powder first.

Everything seemed to blend in okay.

The Look:

Please excuse the low-quality of these pics. My camera broke, my cell phone camera is a joke and so is the lighting in my house.

From top left: bathroom lighting, bathroom lighting close-up,

natural light and natural light profile.

You can notice in the pics that there are still some minor visible (acne) scars on my cheeks. I try not to go overboard with foundation for daytime, but you can always build more coverage whether with this foundation or a concealer, or both.

Performance:

I picked a very interesting day to test this makeup out. Ironically, I locked myself out of my house and had to walk to work. Granted, it's only a mile away, but it was a sunny Florida Hurricane Season summer day. In other words: hot, humid and windy. Add to that the greasy kitchen environment I usually work in and Revlon was in for quite the test.

I noticed no makeup meltdown as I sweat through the 90F+ weather. One thing I also like to use as a test for a new makeup is people's comments at work. If someone says something about my makeup at work (positive or not), I know it's not looking natural. When I go to work, I try my best to keep it looking like I have no makeup on, even though I spend about 20 minutes putting it all on before I leave the house. No comments that day. Second test passed.

Later that night when I came home, I noticed my makeup still looked reasonably okay, despite the usual oily spots that just happen no matter what I do. Nose, chin and forehead, nose being the first one to go. I'm too lazy to use oil blotting sheets at work, but I'm sure that would help and I recommend them, especially for touch ups. Other areas in my face could use a little concealer touch up as well, but overall, it looked decent.

Verdict:

Pretty satisfied with the product. Was my mind blown? No. Is it life changing? Meh. Is it better than Bare Escentuals? No way.

Like most liquid foundations, you still get that strange feel that you're wearing something on your face. A feel you only know exists once you try Bare Escentuals on. It's a fact. I'm very spoiled now and I love wearing makeup that doesn't feel like I'm wearing makeup. It's like switching from pads to tampons. Just being honest.

Is it worth the buy? Sure. For $12 for a 1 FL Oz/30 ml tube, it's a competent everyday makeup that will look natural on your skin (if you find a shade that matches). I Probably would not wear it to go out or for a big event because you can certainly find better (I will still give the Photo Ready foundation a shot someday). Also, don't expect the dewy "red carpet" look, because this will give you a more matte finish than anything else. Can you wear to the gym, for instance, or a beach barbecue? Absolutely. I noticed no makeup meltdown and it contains SPF 20.

Will I buy this product again? Hmmm, not sure. I'll keep shopping around. It's a maybe.

* ~*~ *

"My Makeup Reviews", in Australia, has a detailed review on this product, with swatches and comparisons.

This video can be pretty helpful too.

The Boyfriend Razor

Hey, you should steal your boyfriend's razor. Because Mach 3 is waaaay better than any Venus out there.

There's something about the grip in women's razors that I'm just not entirely happy about. Crazy as it may sound, they make the handles much bigger than any guy's razor. I mean, really! Google search "women's razors". That's right. WTF! It's not like guys' hands are smaller! That just always bothered me.

Schick Intuition. You're too big to fit in here.

Then one fine day I was in the shower and who knows where my Venus Vibrance was but I had to shave my legs anyway and there I saw it... Nice and silver and black and all manly looking: my then-boyfriend's Mach 3. Now that thing looks like a serious razor for some serious shaving. None of that plastic, anatomically weird and pink BS that honestly, just looks cheap imho. I don't care how many blades you put on that thing - I've seen razors with 5 blades, FIVE FREAKING BLADES! - but once you try a man's razor, you will know what I'm talking about.

Call me irrational, perhaps I'm just loving it because there's some sort of "sneaky" freudian fetish about me using a man's razor (like wearing a guy's t-shirt, perhaps? Wearing men's cologne?), but maybe I'm right and there really is scientific explanation to why Mach 3 kicks the Barbie version's ass.

The handle is heavier - and I like that! -, the grip is oh so nice and the blades... They glide so smoothly! I love how they adapt to your curves so well, sliding easily, with more precision and even the blue little lubricating strip thingy feels nicer! I also notice less irritation after shaving with Mach 3. It really is better quality overall. My favorite so far is the Mach 3 Turbo. I have felt no need to upgrade it to the newer versions.

If you think about it, men's facial hair is pretty thick, correct? So those NASA engineers or whoever designs those things must know what they're doing. They also must know nothing about women because they keep on designing crap that looks more like a sex toy than anything else and it doesn't work that great. Not even as a sex toy. Not that I have ever tried. We don't need one gazillion aloe strips or a freaking coating of solidified shaving gel. Just give us a very effing sharp set of blades (and 3 is more than enough, by the way) and a nice heavy grip and we're good! Make it pink, I don't care! But until then, I'm sticking to the Boyfriend Razor.

Boyfriend jeans may be in style (are they still? Who knows), but here's one thing you should definitely, ahem, borrow from your significant other and it's guaranteed to look good on you: his razor.

Best. Screwvenir. Ever.

Search For The Perfect Primer

A few years ago, I had never heard of a makeup primer. But then again, I wasn't too concerned about visible lines, creases, mattifying power, that sort of thing. Once upon a time, wearing foundation and some setting powder sufficed, maybe a little moisturizer beforehand, if you were the type of girl who took extra time and care with your skin. Those days are long gone.

I used to think makeup primers were an unnecessary, superfluous item. That was until I tried one on. First makeup primer I ever got my hands on was the classic Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. Oh, and what a milestone! It's one of those things that once you try, you can never go back to being your old self without it. That stupid thing starts at $38 for a 1 oz. container but somehow it finds its way to the top of your grocery list.

Smashbox Photo Finish line now comes in a huge array of primers, with different formulas, shades, all designed for specific needs you never knew you had. They feel like heaven on your skin. Like your cheeks are made out of baby's butt. So velvety smooth, poreless, creaseless, flawless.

A good makeup primer works as a sort of canvas for your foundation, evening out your skin tone, texture, minimizing pores, lines and enhancing the staying power of your makeup. Although the premise for these primers is silicone (to smooth out texture and create that wonderful "velvety" effect), a lot of them are oil free and claim to be non comedogenic and won't clog pores. Still takes me some guts to buy and endorse a product which main ingredient is silicone, but for 38 bucks or more, it must be freaking good.

Which is why after my first Photo Finish trial - despite loving it to death - I couldn't stay faithful. I assumed there could be another makeup primer out there just as good or even better. These days, there are a lot of fish in the primer sea, especially at the place where I like to drop off my paycheck every other week, otherwise known as Sephora. Drugstore brands are still a couple of light years away in the primer department. So far, I think I've only seen L'Oreal market such product, but don't quote me on that. Without that option, one has to be prepared to cash at least $18 on such beauty marvel.

Here are a few primers that I've tried so far:

Make Up Forever HD Microperfecting Primer in Blue

What it Claims: "Adds radiance to fair skin/ reduces minor imperfections."

Conclusion: Why did I waste my money? For $32 for a 1 oz pump-jar, I'm still wondering why I didn't return the product and exchanged for something else. I'm a huge fan of Make Up Forever, their eyeshadows are amazing, they have the best eye makeup remover in the Universe, but I still don't get the hype with their HD line. The blue color in the primer does help even out a little bit of redness, but not enough. The texture of the liquid is so not what I expect from a primer - it's no different from a lightweight moisturizer and this is not why I wear a primer. I still have a little bit left in my bottle; I'm an eternal optimist when it comes to certain products and I want to get the most out of every penny spent on that thing. Would I buy this primer again? Oh noes.

Bare Escentuals Prime Trime

What it claims: "Prepares your skin for the most amazing foundation with this preservative-free foundation primer that's great for all skin types."

Conclusion: It's true, Bare Escentuals is the most amazing foundation out there. It should - and probably will - get its own 5 page post some time in the near future. But as far as makeup primers go, BE is just okay. If you're on (sort of) a budget, this is a good option (21 George Washingtons for a 1 oz container), but whatever you do, don't get the oil control version. It's terrible! Texture is just awful. Looks messy and sticky on the skin. Stick to the original flavor.

Smashbox Photo Finish Targeted Pore and Line Primer:

What it claims: "An ultra-concentrated primer that works to erase fine lines, stubborn pores, and other complexion imperfections—all while absorbing shine for a flawless finish."

Conclusion: Now this is a very specific primer. It's sort of a Photoshop for your face, once you're finished with all the makeup and everything. Texture is uber velvety, silicone concentration probably higher than Pamela Anderson's implants. They instruct you to use only around undereye creases, fine lines along the lip area, nose etc. I used it as an undereye primer before my concealer and what a big mistake! I had to remove all my makeup and start over. You're supposed to just pat over the fine lines (not rub), but even so, it didn't do it for me. You can wear OVER makeup, and that might work as a finishing "airbrush" touch for minor flaws, but I don't think it's worth the investment. I'm not a professional makeup artist and perhaps this product was designed for people who know what the heck they're doing, which is probably not my case. After two trials and repeated error, I returned the cute and pricey little tube to Sephora.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer in Color Adjust (Green):

What it Claims: "The silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants smoothes and perfects skin, while the unique formula helps to inhibit the destruction of collagen, and fills in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish."

Conclusion: Worth every penny. Get it in the supersized or even travel sized squeezable tube instead of the pump because you will want to use every last drop of it. And then some. The texture is what a perfect primer should deliver: feels lightweight on the skin, makes pores way less noticeable, prepares a smooth canvas for foundation, dries out quickly, never cakes. Once you give this makeup primer a try you will know why this kind of cosmetic gimmick was invented in the first place.

Philosophy The Supernatural:

What it Claims: "An oil-free, tinted foundation primer that multitasks as a skin perfector and an SPF."

Conclusion: This is the one I keep coming back to. Texture is very similar to Smashbox Photo Finish color adjust primer but with one added bonus: SPF 15! This primer has a hint of tint but goes on clear in the skin - believe me: I'm very pale. For $30 you get 1.6 oz, almost double the amount of most other brands market. Philosophy makes great products and so far I'm a fan. My pores become less visible, the fine lines smoother and it feels really good on the skin. My foundation already comes with SPF but I like multi-tasking products and this is definitely one of them.

I hear Boscia Skin Perfecting Primer is also very good and I might give it a try when I run out of my Philosophy primer. Boscia products are all natural, so if you have sensitive skin, it might be a good option.

A lot of cosmetic brands now have eyelid/eyeshadow primers as well - most popular one being Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and most recently, Benefit's Stay Don't Stray. They claim to increase staying staying power of your eye makeup, making it creaseless, smudgless and all. Personally I think it's a little too much. If you prep your entire face with a primer, add a good concealer and finish off with some translucent powder, you should be more than fine. I work in a hot and greasy kitchen all day and my eyeshadow still stays put after a long shift. If you wear good eyeshadow and eyeliner, there's no reason why it should crease. I don't recommend wearing eyeshadow paste alone but under a powder or solid shadow, since the creamy texture is not made to stay on for a long time.

When it comes to primers, you should always wear over a moisturizer, whether primer will be worn alone or under a foundation. Primers are not made to substitute moisturizers, they are supposed to lay over your skin and not be absorbed by it. Even if you have oily skin, it's important to not skip the moisturizer step, since it literally helps balance the moisture levels on your skin, keeping water in and protecting your cells from free radicals, loss of collagen etc. I like Murad Oil Control Mattifier SPF 15. It acts as a moisturizer while seriously controlling excess oil and delivering SPF protection. I've used this product alone for a long time before adding a primer to it and it still helped my makeup stay put for hours while preventing my acne prone skin from further breakout. When I go out and want my makeup to look more "red carpet" ready, that's when I add the primer step.

I currently only wear powder mineral foundation, which is very primer-friendly. I've tried with liquid foundation before and felt like it just melted in with the primer and desired effect was not achieved. If you wear liquid foundation, I recommend you choose a primer that is designed to go along with said foundation, so they don't "clash". My concealer is still liquid and a lightweight primer such as Photo Finish (not the Targeted Pore one) and The Supernatural work very well with it.

I wouldn't go as far as saying primers are crucial to beauty routines, but once you find one that suits you, it can really make a difference.

Products That Changed My Life: Garnier Skin Renew The Brusher Gel-Cleanser

I've been trying different facial cleansers for as long as I can remember, constantly switching and having multiple ones at one time for different uses. In the morning, I like to use a milder kind (like Philosophy's Purity Made Simple) , just to prepare my skin for the day. At night when I come home from work, I need the heavy duty stuff (currently using this Boots Botanics one), to remove all my makeup and excess oil. In the shower, I like to use a mild scrub (Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Scrub), but nothing too harsh for daily cleansing.

Anyway... That's a lot of product clutter if you ask me, not that I ever had a problem with that. But I think I finally found a cleanser that combines all my needs in one cute little 5 Fl.Oz bottle: Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew "The Brusher Gel-Cleanser". Long name. Amaaazing product!

First of all, whoever designed this bottle is a genius. The rubber scrubber brush is super soft and easy to clean, making this cleanser versatile and hygienic - for those of you bacteria-phobic freaks. The gel per se smells really good and fruity and so far my sensitive skin is loving it.

It's easy to use - believe me: I'm very lazy. I first tried it out to remove my makeup at night (except for eye makeup, of course, but I'm assuming we have common sense here) and it worked wonders. I simply moisten my face with lukewarm water, twist the cap where brusher is located, squeeze out some of the gel, twist cap back in and start-a-scrubbin'. It's so simple (dare I say... fun?!), mess-free, and the bristles give you a nice little facial massage... I'm in love!

I noticed how clean my skin looked and felt after rinsing. It's really more powerful than cleansing your face with your bare hands and as effective as scrubbing but less harsh on skin. I wear mostly waterproof makeup and it literally removed everything.

The best part of this godsend: it's only $.599 at Tarjhay!

Conclusion: this product does exactly what it claims: deep cleans and exfoliates, smoothes skin after 1 use. All true. It also claims to have Vitamin B5, Vitamin E and Green Leaf Extract. Now, I'm no expert, but I don't take all these vitamin things into high consideration when it comes to cleanser because after a few seconds, you're literally washing all those properties down the drain. But sure, thanks for the extra boost of vitamins, Garnier. The detergent properties are mild and have not caused my skin to dry. I'm super acne-prone and so far, no new breakouts. I also noticed some pimples vanishing faster after each use.

I read a few reviews on this product, saying they recommend a makeup remover first because it doesn't provide a super deep clean. I beg to differ since I always wear moisturizer with SPF, makeup primer, waterproof makeup, endure hours of kitchen sweating and grease and this thing worked like magic. But each skin is different and I urge you to try for yourself.

I just wanna buy this product to all my girlfriends, mom, relatives and spread the love around. Thank you, to the genius team (I'm gonna assume it was a bunch of experts) who created this!