BEAUTY
Loved by A-listers, under-eye patches are the perfect way to treat dark circles, bags and puffiness. Our columnist picks five of the best
When I was younger, I had a definite idea of how I’d be as an older woman.
It involved a lot of lying in hammocks and a vast collection of expensive cashmere. Along with the elegance of Dame Helen Mirren, the serenity of the Dalai Lama, and the timeless effervescence of Jane Fonda.
Instead, I’ve mainly become someone who looks permanently tired. I know this because recently my gardener pointed this out to me. ‘Morning,’ he said cheerily as I welcomed him at 8am with a cup of Nespresso. And then he uttered those three words you should never say to anyone if you value your personal safety. ‘You look tired!’ As revelations go, telling a woman in her fifties she looks tired is up there with saying to Ryan Gosling that he’s actually not that bad looking. So, I simply responded, ‘To be honest, I think this is just basically my face now.’ He hurriedly began pruning the ivy.
Just as age brings wisdom, it can also land us with bags and puffy eyes due to gradual loss of tone and resilience around the delicate eye area. So, ruling out expensive surgery, how do we swerve this curse? Meet the under-eye mask. Everyone from Victoria Beckham to Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner swears by these half-moonshaped strips. Enriched with potent serums to cool, de-puff and rejuvenate under-eye skin, they deliver instant and long-lasting benefits. And as Margot Robbie relied on them for her flawless, youthful Barbie look, frankly, I’m all in.
If you fancy a trial run with the eye-patch revolution, a great entry point is 1. Garnier Moisture Bomb Hyaluronic Acid and Orange Juice Eye Sheet Mask (£3.49, boots.com). The crescent-shaped patches contain firming citrus properties as well as a host of hydrating and brightening ingredients to revive dull, tired, puffy eyes. These are my go-to when I need a quick morning fix to reduce swelling and bags.
tip
Store your eye masks in the fridge to maximise their de-puffing powers
British brand Pixi prides itself on skincare products that give you a just had ten hours’ sleep glow. So, unsurprisingly, it’s got this whole eye patch thing nailed. 2. Pixi DetoxifEYE patches (£22, pixibeaut y.co.uk) adhere beau
