How to make your eyes sparkle
How to make your eyes sparkle
From lifestyle habits to beauty hacks, here’s the lowdown on achieving beautiful peepers…
If your eyes are the windows to your soul, what are they saying about you right now? Our eyes can reveal a huge amount about our emotional and physical health, so if they’re not giving off that full-of-life sparkle, read on…
Bright eyed
We all know the importance of an eye test – not only for vision but also picking up on a whole load of eye conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Hit up on your vitamins – there are a host of vitamins helpful for eye health and can reduce dark circles under your eyes. Include foods such as eggs, sweet potatoes and carrots for Vitamin A; kiwis, oranges and tomatoes for Vitamin C, and olive oil, almonds and spinach for Vitamin E.
While a lack of sleep can cause dark circles, there are other causes. If they are persistent, even after a good night’s slumber, it could be down to allergies, nasal congestion or dermatitis. See a GP to rule out rarer causes such as anaemia.
Dehydration can cause dark circles so ensure you are drinking enough water and eating water-rich foods such as cucumber. Cucumber slices can be used as a cold compress on the eyes. Other quick hacks include cold teaspoons held against the lids and gently run over the eye area.
Allergies can make your eyes appear puffy, red and watery. Consider air purifiers and eye drops to control symptoms. Make sure that you are taking regular breaks from screens as they can dry out your eyes. Smoking and alcohol are also the enemies of sparkling eyes. Reduce salt, too.
Avoid exposing the delicate eye area to the sun – invest in a pair of decent sunglasses and an eye cream with an SPF.
Instant beauty lifts
There are some simple tips that will make a heap of difference to how your eyes appear. Your brows frame your face so book in to a good brow bar or salon where they can help you achieve the perfect shape and colour. Daily, use an eyebrow pencil to fill in any gaps and brush the hairs upwards for a wide-awake look.
An eyelash curler can open up the eyes, and try a paler shimmery liner or shadow for the inner corners. Use a black eyeliner along the top lash line for definition. Some make-up pros swear by white or nude eyeliner on the bottom waterline of your eyes, but other experts advise against putting anything in contact with this delicate area – if you do, make sure your pencil is really clean or freshly sharpened.
An under-eye brightening cream can help with dark circles, as can an illuminating concealer (apply in an upside-triangle shape)
Always apply and remove make-up as gently as possible. Try tubing mascaras, which contain polymers and coat each lash in a tube. They are easier to remove by massaging with warm water.
Your hairstyle can help make your eyes pop with face framing fringes. Most people can wear a fringe, it’s about finding the right style and length for you. Headmasters notes that curtain bangs (a more casual fringe where the hair is parted down the middle or off centre) naturally draw attention to your eyes, making them appear brighter and more expressive.
