Pay particular attention to the skin around the eyes. Too little sleep and too much alcohol, sinus congestion, heavily salted and spicy diet and headaches can affect the delicate under-eye area, creating inflammation and shadows. Chilled spoons and fresh cucumber slices are a thing of the past – the savvy woman has a new arsenal of beauty supplies to rejuvenate tired eyes.

Look for soothing ingredients that calm and de-puff like green tea, Vitamin C, chamomile and algae, which have anti-inflammatory benefits. Vitamin K also helps reduce dark circles. DDF Erase eye Gel ($42, www.ddfskin.com) offers an ideal mix of these natural ingredients.

For fine lines around the eye, the product of choice should be a Vitamin A derivative. Renova® and Avage® work wonders, but for more sensitive skin types, a retinol like Lancôme RE-SURFACE EYE Retinol Concentrate Wrinkle Corrector for Eyes ($47, www.lancome-usa.com) may suffice. Soy extracts are good for firming and toning mature skin. I am a big fan of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex to calm and tone puffiness. ($46.50, www.esteelauder.com).

Eye formulas are designed for the delicate skin around the eyes that requires special care. If your face moisturiser is light, there’s nothing wrong with using around the eyes as well. But there are times, when only an eye formula will get the job done. Some products made for the face and neck are just too heavy and overload thin eyelid skin and cause more puffiness.

Use makeup to your advantage. Blue pencil on the lower eyelid can brighten the whites of your eyes. If your eyes are dropping downward, draw your liner upwards towards the outer corners to give yourself a lift. Add a dash of shimmer in the center of the upper lid in a pale shade to draw light to the eye. A great concealer with light reflecting pigments – such as Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer To Go ($18, www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com).

Place eye gels in the fridge or using ice packs and cooled tea bags for soothing and relaxing. Another tip is to put your eye gels in the fridge and let them thaw for a few minutes before applying – very soothing indeed. For a quick fix that won’t require an extra trip to the grocery store for fresh cucumbers, try Earth Therapeutics Cucumber Eye Pads ($6, www.drugstore.com).

Wendy Lewis & Co Ltd offers private image enhancement consultations in New York, and in London, and via phone and email from all over the world, for both men and women. She is the author of 9 beauty books, including The Beauty Battle. www.wlbeauty.com, wlbeauty@aol.com.

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