Beauty Reporter: Beauty 101.

beauty101

Bright Eyes

Three simple steps to faking a good night's sleep. By Catherine Piercy

In the movies, dark circles and puffy eyes signal a dramatic plot change -- usually resolved when the lovers kiss and make up several scenes later. In real life, erasing bags isn't quite so easy. "The skin beneath the eyes contains less collagen and elastin than the rest of the face," says New York City dermatologist Patricia Wexler. "That means it's the first place swollen blood vessels, excess fluid, or fine lines show up when you're tired." She suggests applying either a moisturizing cream to plump crow's-feet or a depuffing gel to drain excess water from lids each morning. "What solves one of these problems can just exacerbate the other," she says. Dark-circle treatments can cause sun sensitivity and temporary redness and are best used in the evening, as are anti-aging creams (because cell metabolism peaks then). Expert camouflage is also essential. Makeup artist Scott Barnes recommends a sheer to medium-coverage creamy concealer matched to the palest part of your neck for results worthy of a big-screen close-up.

moisturize

If fine lines are your top priority, choose moisturizing eye creams with ...