4 Must Haves for Bright Eyes

My 17 years of Army life has definitely taught me a lot. It’s taught me that I’m stronger than I give myself credit for, I actually like some MREs (cheese tortellini is the best), and it’s truly taught me the value of hard work.

What I have YET to learn–believe it or not–is how to truly be a morning person. True, my alarm goes off at 0530 every day. But, does that mean I instantly wake up bright-eyed and energized? Definitely…not. 😴 I’m a full-fledged snooze-button addict. Which means, more often than not, I end up seriously short on time. Many mornings include a serious debate between the merits of showering or getting to work on time. (All hail dry shampoo!) Add a make-up routine to that time crunch? ABSOLUTELY!! 😉

There is a whole arsenal of beauty products aimed to help us all “save face” in as little as 5 minutes. Here are my 4 Must Haves to achieve a bright-eyed, fully-rested look (even when you’re working on zero sleep).

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Concealer

Genetics + early Army wake-ups make under eye concealer a MUST. I’ve tried the whole spectrum, from boutique brands to cheap-o drugstore brands. These are my three faves so far. (Let me know if you have another great one I should try).

Eye Highlight

This bright liner applied to your waterline instantly makes it look as if you are running on a full 8 hours of sleep.

Lights, Camera, L*A*S*H*E*S!

Of all my musts, a reliable eyelash curler is my must-must-MUST have of them all! If I only have time to do one thing in the morning…this is it! A 10-second squeeze with a good lash curler instantly brings life to tired eyes.

For a great DIY curl, I love my black Sephora curler. Good ol’ Tweezerman brand gets the job done, as well!

If you have a little extra “splurge money” in the budget, then you’ve gotta spring for a lash lift at your local salon. It’s basically a mega eyelash curl that can last up to 2 months. You can even add tinting for a mascara effect without needing makeup remover at night! It’s a fun treat, for sure. Check out my first-ever lash lift experience!

After curling, apply a coat of lash primer, topped with your favorite mascara.

My current fave is this flashy li’l number from Tarte (I mean, the packaging alone is worth it!).

Before you poo-poo lash primer, hear me out. This one from Tarte TRULY made a difference. I was a total lash primer skeptic, too, but this one made me a believer. It adds a few seconds to your morning routine, so if you DO need to leave something out, drop this step.

Final touches

These four steps are my top recommendations for an easy, instant eye “lift.”

If I have some extra time, I’ll prep with a cooling eye mask or 10-minute dry face mask.

If I’m feeling FANCY, I’ll swipe on a quick eyeshadow stick or highlighter for added brightness. There are several options out there, but Beautycounter’s “Luminous Lids” set is my current fave (not an associate, I just love it!). The hint of shimmer is 💯.

~ Happy pampering, friends!