If you wake up with puffy eyes, the best thing you can do is place something cold over them for a few minutes (think cucumber patches), but really who has time for that? Instead, I find a splash of cold water with a facecloth works fine. Hold it over your face for a minute for bonus points.
Next, you need a cotton bud (200 for €1.49 at Boots). It's amazing how much a small bit of leftover mascara or eyeliner can close up your eyes. Run the cotton bud along your lower waterline to make sure you are squeaky clean (it also helps with any gunk that may have built up overnight).
A concealer is next on the list. I like Laura Mercier Secret Concealer (€27, Brown Thomas). The creamy formula doesn't settle into fine lines and the yellow/orange tones are designed to combat dark circles. Apply in a triangle under your eye, with the apex pointing away from your eye. Dab on with a beauty blender, or brush. Don't rub, your delicate eye area will thank you in a few years.
Next up you need a nude eyeliner. I used to use white but now find this too obvious and jarring. Charlotte Tilbury has a nice liner called Rock 'N' Kohl Eye Cheat (€25, Brown Thomas and Arnotts), that when used properly creates the allusion of wider eyes.
A bright champagne-coloured eyeshadow, dabbed just in the corner of your eye, will lift the whole area. There are so many of these available. I am currently using No 7 Matt Calico Stay Perfect Eyeshadow (€10, Boots)
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Finally, you need a good mascara. I like Clarins Be Long mascara (€26, Boots) as it includes a serum that actually lengthens and strengthens your lashes over time. The small wand can get to those hard to reach lashes and the formula really does an amazing job of fluffing out even the most thin of eyelashes.
