The good news? With the right combination of skincare and makeup, you can refresh and revive your eye area in just a few steps. A nourishing eye cream can smooth and hydrate, while targeted treatments with ingredients like caffeine can help reduce puffiness and brighten shadows. And once your skincare has done its magic, makeup can take your eyes to the next level—think a lengthening mascara to open up small eyes or a liquid eyeliner to change the shape of your eyes. To help you put your best gaze forward, beauty expert Taylor Daniel has rounded up her must-haves for eyes to make sure they look refreshed, awake and utterly captivating.
The Eyes Have It
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul—so you want to make sure they’re wide open and welcoming! Taylor Daniel shares her favorite products—from eye creams to mascaras—to ensure your eyes are looking bright.
BY GELISH
10.01.25
Your eyes tell a story: you have stars in them; they shoot daggers; they’re the windows to your soul. And because the skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than anywhere else on the face, it’s also one of the first places to show signs of fatigue, aging and stress. From dark circles and fine lines to hooded or close-set, this tiny area can have a big impact on your overall look.
Eye Cream
Maybe it’s because I’m a mom who doesn’t sleep or maybe I was born with them, but dark circles are always with me. But when I’m using an eye cream with a brightening ingredient like tranexamic acid, I see pretty noticeable changes in the darkness of my circles. Other dark circle-saving ingredients? Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and retinol, so look for those in your eye cream—they make a difference.
Taylor’s Tip! Use eye cream in the morning as a form of makeup primer, prepping the area for full-coverage concealer.
Concealer
Speaking of full coverage concealer, I like to use mine in a shade that’s a tiny bit lighter than the rest of my face. I put a dot under my eyes, on my chin and forehead and finish with a dot on the bridge of my nose. Having a slightly brighter shade helps give dimension to your face and, believe it or not, ends up making your eyes pop.
Black Liquid Eyeliner
I love black liquid eyeliner—you can also use brown if you prefer, but black is my fave. Liquid eyeliner is like contouring for your eyes; you can elongate, round or lift the corners with just a swipe, completely transforming your eye shape. My eyes are pretty round and slightly hooded, so I like to extend the length with a semi-thick wing. This opens up the eye and gives an almost doe-eyed look.
Mascara
If you want your eyes to look bigger and more open, a lengthening mascara is key. But if you’re like me, you struggle with mascara smudging under your eyes. Enter: tubing mascara. This product is special because the formula forms a tube-like film around your lashes, giving you a beautiful, defined look without any smudging or mess.
Taylor’s Tip! Apply two coats of mascara in true black to create definition and instantly make you look more awake.
