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5 Tricks to Keep You Looking Wide-Awake Through the Holidays
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Concealer Is Your Friend
Not just your friend, your BFF. You can fake a solid 8 hours of sleep with a good light-reflecting, shadow-chasing concealer. Look for ones with built-in applicators as they often come packed with light diffusers. Givenchy's Mister Light Instant Light Corrective Pen, $33, will not only cover up visible signs of fatigue, it will also revive and refresh your complexion. Added bonus? Its smooth formula contains SPF 10 to protect your lids from the harmful rays.
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Lighten Up Doll
Rather than going all out with your makeup palette, keep the shade of choice as natural looking as possible. Now is the perfect time to quicken your makeup routine by skipping steps two and three on the (figurative and literal) eye shadow compact. Instead, use only one color all over your eye area, a technique that will brighten up your lids instantly. Use a brightening color that is universally flattering like MAKE UP FOR EVER's Diamond Shadow, $20, a sparkling beige hue that you can swipe from lash line to brow bone as it goes on very light.
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Nude Is the New Black
Avoid dark colors and retro liners as they tend to wear down your eyes, making them look closed and tired. Instead, opt for nude-based pencils to line your lower rims. Givenchy Magic Kajal Eye Pencil in Delicate Nude, $22.50, is a tawny nude chubby pencil that will open up your eyes in an almost magical way. Because of its neutral color, this creamy and long-lasting formula can also be used on your lids and brow bone.
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Lashes Break Free
If you tend to skip the eyelash curling step in order to save 30 seconds from your morning beauty routine, now is the time to break out the tool. By curling your lashes, you will create the illusion of bigger eyes. Shiseido's Eyelash Curler, $19, firmly catches lashes at the root, leaving them beautifully lifted and curled. Finish off by adding mascara on both the upper and lower sets, another technique that will ensure eye-opening results.
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Back Away From the Oil
Avoid using cleansers, serums, and moisturizers that use oil-based formulas, as they tend to smear any residual makeup like mascara and liner around your eye area. If your skin type requires oil-based treatments, then make sure not to get too close to the lash line as lashes tend to trap residual oil. That being said, note that most eye makeup removers are oil-based. If you are a user, remember to wash your eyes and pat dry,making sure to clean up any remaining residue. Try Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser, $19.50, a gentle cream-mousse that rinses away both makeup and sunscreen.
