I’m up yet again in the middle of the night with insane hot flashes. Hour number 3 and counting. WTF? Thank you, F-bomb Tamoxifen. As I lay on the couch (after removing my flip-floppy self from our bed so as not to disturb the HOTY) I find my self pondering how on earth I ever worked as a nurse for on the night shift in the ICU. I’m so NOT a night person.
But yet, here I am – AGAIN. Schvitzing. F-bomb.
The Silver Linings here are that I’m up fewer nights than I used to be AND that Buzz waddled out to sleep right next to me. There is nothing more sweet than the sound of his snorning. Really.
By the time Finally Five finds me sprawled out on the couch in a few hours, I should have some Black Birkin Bags under my eyes (I would really prefer for them to be on my ARM!).
When I lived in Chicago and needed beauty advice, I always turned to my friend Amy Tara Koch because shopping for beauty products is an overwhelming, perplexing and paralyzing experience to me. Amy would deftly shuffle me from counter to counter at Barney’s saying, “You need This. This. And This.Don’t buy that.”
So, when we exchanged emails today, she referred me to her blog with some fantastic Five-Minute Fixes to Pack (Under Eye) Bags (Silver Lining).
DIY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY STRATEGIES
GOAL: Restrict capillaries, reduce swelling and increase circulation
- Ice
- Witch hazel soaked cotton pads
- Green tea-tannins and caffeine draws out fluids/speeds circulation
- Cucumber compress (grind ¼ cucumber rolled into paper towel) reduces swelling
- Cold soup spoons-decreases swelling
- Reducing salt intake to decrease water retention
STEP 1
UNDER EYE SERUMS/ CREAMS
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
- antioxidants like green tea and pomegranate
- Caffeine to speed up circulation
- Retinol (retinoid) and peptides to stimulate collagen production
- Hydrating ingredients like Vitamin E, K, grapeseed extract, rose extract, chamomile
STEP 2
COLOR CORRECTORS
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
- Pink, green or peach-based product (depends on your skin tone) which neutralizes the purple skin with a yellow when layered under concealer
- ATK’s Recommendations:
- Pixi Correction Concentrate
STEP 3
CONCEALERS
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
- Creamy, smooth and super blendable product with nourishing ingredients to tame puffiness
OTHER TRICKS
- Decongestant eye drops relieve redness and irritation
- Lengthening mascara opens the eye
- Apply white line to the inside of eyelid to brighten eyes
- Curl your lashes to make the eyes pop!
Special thanks to Amy Tara Koch for sharing her beauty brilliance.
Taking joy in living is a woman’s best cosmetic.
~Rosalind Russell