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Live By A Youth Code

You guys, I go through eye cream on a shockingly quick basis because I never get enough sleep, so I'm always trying to find a way to lessen my dark circles and undereye bags.  I'm also thoroughly convinced that wrinkle prevention works, so I feel like the better I treat my skin now, the happier I'll be in 30 years.  (Future me is going to be so happy someday!)  L'Oreal's Youth Code brand is awesome because it's fabulous skin care that you can get right at your local drugstore, often with discounts or money back if you spend a certain amount.  (Why yes, I'm a frequent CVS shopper - why do you ask?)  Right now, I'm totally obsessed with their Eye Cream Daily Treatment.  It comes in a tube, but with this fabulous metal scoopy rollerball on the end for application, which lets you massage in the eye cream in an easy way that's especially delightful during the ridiculous heat wave we're having in Los Angeles right now because it's nice and cool to the touch.  I've been using it both morning and night like the instructions recommend and I think it's definitely helping to keep my eyes more moisturized because the bags underneath them look slightly less haggard.  It's always hard for me to tell how well eye creams work because honestly, I never get enough sleep so I feel like it's almost unfair to judge them because they're fighting an uphill battle.  But I love the undereye massage the applicator gives and I do feel like this one is making a difference after a few weeks of use.  Maybe if I keep going, I'll start to look like I actually sleep more than 5 or 6 hours a night.  A girl can dream, right?  

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Premier Cru - the Ultimate Eye Cream

I have always told myself that I need to use an eye cream daily, but I'll try it all gung-ho and then a week later I've completely dropped the habit (much like working out, actually).  I guess it's because I hadn't found an eye cream that I loved so much that I had to use it every single morning and night, until now.  Caudalie has released a new eye cream called Premier Cru and it's insanely awesome.  I mean, first of all it's super hydrating so my eyes actually look more refreshed, but it's a light cream so there's not that heavy feeling when you put it under the eyes.  In just a few weeks I have noticed a difference in the skin around my eyes and I couldn't be more thrilled!  It's definitely not cheap at $95.00 but it's so worth it.  I also am a huge fan of Caudalie's Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid which is great for sensitive skin like mine, makes my skin glow, and is so hydrating you only need a little to see a big difference.  The scent is also so refreshing (shockingly I don't smell any sunscreen even though it's SPF 15).  Again, not a cheap moisturizer (retails for $68.00) but I always find it easy to splurge on skincare because it's so important.  Caudalie is a superior skincare brand - no nasty, harsh chemicals and no animal testing or animal products.  Plus, if you order online before August 26 and enter the code SUMMER you get 20% off your entire order.  I'm placing an order in the other Safari window as I type this!

Note:  A sample of the products were sent to me by a PR representative working with Caudalie.

Protect Your Eyes

 

I buy a crazy amount of eye creams because I'm determined to fight wrinkles in that area as long as possible.  I swear, I've been using them since I was like, 21 or something.  Which sounds impressive, but since it takes about 15 seconds to put it on in the morning and another 15 at night, it's not exactly a big inconvenience in my life.  (But one that damn well better pay off one day when I should have wrinkles and don't!)  Recently I tried MLA Skincare's Eye Serum and I'll definitely be adding this one to my eye cream rotation.  I really like the consistency of this cream - it's thick enough to blend in easily without running down your face, but not so thick that you need to tug at the eye area to rub it in (which would only cause more wrinkles).  And it has a ton of good ingredients in it including Goji Berry Extract, which is an antioxidant that helps reduce redness and irritation (fantastic when it's the middle of allergy season).  I've been using it for over a month now and during that time I haven't been getting much sleep (because I'm terrible at going to bed - every night, I vow that I'll be in bed by 11pm, midnight at the latest, and every night I'm still watching TV or doing something equally as frivolous at 2am).  Obviously I can't vouch for how well it reduces fine lines/wrinkles because at the moment, I don't have any noticeable ones yet (thank God) but it does seem to help with the dark circles that inevitably appear under my eyes after one of those 2am nights.  (I swear, a Jerseylicious marathon just sucked me in the other night and before I knew it, it was practically morning).  It also keeps my under eye area smooth and moisturized, which has to be a good thing.  The serum is kind of expensive at $75, but you do get a lot of product for your money - 1.7 ounces should last you for months, as long as you don't accidentally drop the tube, kick it across the floor, then somehow manage to step on it, squirting all the product onto the floor and wasting most of it, like I did with an eye cream last year.  (True story).

To read more about the Eye Serum and order it for yourself, go to mlaskincare.com.

Note:  A sample of this was sent to me by a PR representative working with MLA Skincare          

Awesome Eye Cream Alert!

I have already raved about RareMinerals facial moisturizer, but now I have to spread the word about their amazing eye   cream - Active Triple Treatment Eye Cream - which is releasing soon!  This wonder cream seriously keeps my eye area looking brighter and has minimized my wrinkles in a short amount of time.  Incredibly non-irritating (especially fantastic for those of us with sensitive skin who also wear contacts), it sinks in almost immediately so there's no greasy or sticky afterfeel.  Fantastic, fantastic stuff!  I'll keep you posted as soon as I know when it's hitting shelves.  Put me down as a big, big fan.  Wow, never thought I'd get so excited about eye cream.

A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with bareMinerals.

Give Your Eyes A Zing

I was traveling on the east coast for most of the last three weeks and even though in theory there was a lot of time for sleeping and relaxing, somehow that never actually panned out and I ended up exhausted most of the time.  Which led to even more dark circles and puffy eyes than usual.  Never a good look on me.  Luckily I'd packed a sample of Origins new GinZing eye cream that I'd been sent before I left Los Angeles, so I put it to the test.  After about 5 days of using it, I definitely noticed that the bags under my eyes were less pronounced and seemed to have faded a little, which is what I was hoping for.  (I used the cream under my makeup in the morning and at night before I went to bed).  GinZing goes on with a slight cooling sensation and blends in easily, but what I really like about it is the slight shimmer that it leaves behind.  (Due to the silica and mika ingredients).  It makes the area under my eyes a little glowy and somehow, that makes it less old person looking.  (I mean, I'll be middle-aged at some point, there's no need for my eyes to get there decades earlier).  GinZing also contains caffeine, which in skin care works as an anti-irritant that helps to calm your skin.  Overall, I thought GinZing did a really good job of making my under eye area look much more well rested and smooth.  It's a pretty good value too - the jar is $29.50, but it's .5 ounces, so if you use the correct amount and don't over cream (a beauty faux pas I'm trying not to commit anymore) it should last you a decent amount of time.  Also, GinZing is just a silly word to say, right?  Who said beauty wasn't fun?         

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Origins.

My Eyes Have It

If I love something, I always take it too far and never shut up about it which I think pretty much annoys everyone around me.  I mean, okay, New Kids on the Block - didn't shut up for all of 1989.  High School boyfriend - didn't shut up for all of 1993 and then when he dumped me, didn't shut up again for all of 1994.  Whatever, you see where I'm going with this.  I focus...entirely too much.  Products are no different for me.  I haven't shut up about Become Beauty since I was introduced to them earlier this year and here I am, still going on and on about them.  I have been dilligently slathering their Age Resistant Eye Cream on and I am (no surprise) very impressed.  It sinks in almost immediately, has a very pleasantly light fragrance and soothes and cools the eye area - really reducing puffiness.  Aside from containing Pearl Extract which brightens the area, it also contains Matrixyl 3000 which promotes collagen production (helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles - I think it sounds like a space station).  I adore how incredibly moisturizing and how reasonably priced the eye cream is (for a big ol jar of the stuff).  It retails for $39.00 and comes in their signature, adorable, red container.

To order Become products, call 877-232-6632 or order online by using the code #100109 with the password “become."

Photo courtesy of Become.   

Belli's Not Just For Moms

Because I'm in a constant state of stress over just about everything in my life, I have developed these lovely dark circles under my eyes.  After trying a bunch of eye creams, I finally found one that works in the most unexpected line - Belli.  I know, I know, the line is meant for moms, but I swear this stuff works.  And so what if my dark circles are from worrying about how I'm going to pay my bills and not from a newborn?  Dark circles are dark circles and when I started using their Eye Brightening Cream I noticed a difference within just a few days.  The lightweight cream has no fragrance and dries quickly without a sticky residue (gotta love that in an eye cream).  It contains Vitamin K, which helps to increase circulation, and I was stunned at how bright my eyes look now that I've been using it for a week.  It's actually very reasonable for an eye cream ($28.00 for .85oz) and can be purchased online at belliskincare.com and in a few select stores.  Only catch is now every time a friend sees the tube on my shelf they assume I'm pregnant, which I am not.  Maybe it's because it's bookended next to a box of pregnancy tests and a bottle of folic acid.       

Photo courtesy of Belli