Skincare Basic: Eye Cream

I used to hold the misconception that you only need eye cream if you have a sever case of dark circles or wrinkles. But, eye creams should be used as a preventative treatment before you develop bags, dark circles, fine lines or wrinkles. Eye creams are also important when it comes to smooth makeup application. Even the most expensive concealers or foundations won’t do a proper job if the under-eye area is dry and crusty.

But if you’re one of the lucky ones that don’t have to deal with dark circles or wrinkles, then all you need is a basic eye cream to help keep the under-eye area moisturized such as Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Eye Cream. This gel-like formula is quick-drying and a great base for applying concealer. The most common mistake many women make is not moisturizing the -under-eye area before applying concealer or foundation. Using a moisturizing eye cream such as this one ensures a smooth and even under-eye coverage. While this eye cream has a wonderful soothing effect, it isn’t necessarily the product you want to use to treat a sever case of dark circles, fine lines or wrinkles. This product is best for hydrating and moisturizing.

Trend Alert: Cream/Gel Eyeliners

Not to boast, but I love it when I realize that I had spotted a trend before it went mainstream. While gel/cream eyeliners have been around for a while, they hadn't been widely used until recently. I've been hooked onto it for quite a while now and here are some of the best ones I've tried and tested:

MAC Fluidline

This gel eyeliner comes in an array of colors and is relatively easy to put on. The formula is smudge-proof and long-lasting; the two reasons why gel eyeliners are so great in the first place.

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

When the girl at the BB counter at Macy's vowed to me that this eyeliner dries fast and doesn't come off without makeup remover, I privately rolled my eyes and played along just to please her. I was astonished when thirty minutes later, I was still walking around the mall with a sample of the liner on my hand, which wouldn't come off, no matter how hard I rubbed. Since one of my beauty woes happens to be smudged eyeliner, this one quickly became a personal favorite.

Benefit's Creaseless Cream Liner/Shadow

This two-in-one formula is great for when you don't want to spend too much time creating definitive eyes. Used as a eyeshadow or a eyeliner, this creamy formula is a good deal.

Smashbox Creme Eyeliner Palette

Apart from the ultra-chic and slim packaging, this palette contains all the eyeliner colors you could ever want. Perfect for creating a sweet smokey eye; by the time you finish this palette, you'll know exactly which color is ur go-to product.

Shiseido Accentuating Cream Eyeliner

You can always trust the people at Shiseido to come up with a sophisticated product, no matter what it is. This liner comes in two smoky colors and with a it's own separate brush. Not the dinkly little eyeshadow brushes that true makeup lovers never use, but it's a live one that is actually good to use, folks.

Stila Smudge Pots
This unversal favorite is one of the first gel 2-in-in eyeshadow/liner combos that made it big. The royal blue sheen of cobalt is my personal favorite among the colors.

Application advice: A little goes a long way with cream or gel eyeliners so use accordingly. Line eyes as close to the lashline as possible, using a Smudge Brush or Angeled Eyeliner brush.