Going easy on the eyes

When it comes to giving away our age, the eyes really do have it. Your skin may be smooth, your cheeks plump and your neck swan-like, but if your eyes are shadowed, puffy and lined you won't be fooling anyone. So follow the experts' tips to get younger-looking eyes — overnight.

BOOST YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP
A good night's sleep will work wonders but if that's not always possible, give your skin a helping hand with md Formulations' Vit-A-Plus Anti-Aging Eye Complex (£45; 0870 850 6655). Vitamin A increases collagen production and improves skin texture while the hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps out crow's feet. If sagging lids are your problem, Bremenn's new Upper Eyelid Lifter (£52; harveynichols.com) contains a protein complex to re-contour the socket area. Both come in opaque packaging to prevent light compromising the stability of anti-ageing antioxidants.

SLEEP RIGHT ALL NIGHT
Adding an extra pillow to elevate the head will help reduce fluid retention and morning puffiness while silk — rather than cotton — bed linen will bring an end to waking up with "sheet imprints" on your face. Finally, Silk Sleep's Eye Mask (£12.95; silksleep.com) will block out light so you sleep more soundly and encourage smoother, brighter skin come morning.

TECHNIQUE IS EVERYTHING
Your eye product may be a miracle worker but apply it the wrong way and you'll do more harm than good. Rubbing causes lines and over-applying product will only worsen puffy eyes. Pat a pea-sized amount of product in a semi-circular motion onto the bone around the eye and up to the brow. Alternatively, L'Oréal Paris' new Collagen Micro-Vibration Eye (£16.99; nationwide) combines collagen and peptides (to firm and counteract pigmentation) while the oscillating rollerball encourages fluid drainage and reduces swelling.

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS...
Need to hide hangover eyes fast? Beauty guru Sarah Chapman (skinesis.com) advises soaking cotton wool pads in your eye make-up remover, placing them in the freezer for 10 minutes and using as a cold compress.

PREPARE LIKE A PRO
No amount of make-up will cover tired, puffy eyes if you don't put in some groundwork first. Skeen's Eye Powder (£34; spacenk.co.uk) is a revolutionary formula containing ascorbic acid to brighten and caffeine to stimulate blood flow and de-puff the eye area, so make this your first step. Follow with the Photo Finish targeted Pore and Line Primer by Smashbox (£32; debenhams.com) which contains silicone to instantly plump out lines and provide the perfect smooth canvas for make-up.

BE A MASTER OF COVER-UPS
If dryness is your problem, stick to creamy formulas that don't settle in lines. "To tackle dark circles and bags simultaneously, dab a concealer one shade darker than your foundation onto puffy areas to create the illusion of a flat surface.

Follow with a yellow-based concealer one to two shades lighter on the shadows (usually just below) to counteract the blue colour. Then blend them together," says head of artistry at Bobbi Brown, Paul Herrington. Bobbi's Creamy Concealer Kit (£23; bobbibrown.co.uk) contains two such complementary shades — plus a fine loose powder to set your cover-up in place all day.

MAKE-UP TO WAKE UP EYES
Resist the urge to use shimmer-based eye make-up to "brighten" the eye area — it will highlight rather than hide undereye baggage. Instead, wash a matte shadow over the lids and along the waterline (try Trish McEvoy's Deluxe matte Shell for pinky skintones and Soft Peach for yellow ones, £17; selfridges.com). Then line upper and lower lash lines with a shadow one shade darker than your own skin (Heather by Trish McEvoy is ideal, £11; as before) to make the whites of your eyes look brighter by comparison.