Photo: A Juell/Studio D
Never mind how great things seem to be going for you this month—if you haven't cried yet, you probably will. So says a recent report by the German Society for Ophthalmology, which found that women cry, on average, 30 to 64 times a year. More lugubrious news: Sixty-five percent of the time, mild weeping turns into shoulder-shaking, throat-catching sobs.
While a good cry can feel cathartic, the aftermath, unfortunately, is rarely pretty. Salty tears leave your eyelids waterlogged and heavy, and your eyes bloodshot. But there, there. With the help of dermatologist Doris Day and makeup artist Maria Verel, we've formulated a six-step plan to soothe and camouflage post-cry eyes.
1. Apply a cold compress for five minutes or so. It acts as a vasoconstrictor, shrinking blood vessels to reduce both swelling and redness. Soak a washcloth in icy water, or cut a couple of slices from a chilled cucumber and place them over your eyes.
2. Carefully dab a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream on lids, and underneath eyes if that area is puffy as well. (Hydrocortisone is also an effective vasoconstrictor.)
3. Use an over-the-counter allergy eye drop, like Zaditor, to get the red out.
4. Trace a navy blue eyeliner along the upper lashline. "It's not as harsh as black and can make the whites of your eyes look brighter," says Verel, who's partial to Stli-Style's long-wearing version: 24-Hour Power Line & Seal 24-Eyes ($6; StyliStyle.com).
5. Curl your lashes, and apply two coats of mascara (waterproof—in case you're once again moved to tears).
6. Give a little smile. "Even if you fake it, changing your expression will help you look calm and collected," says Day.
Get another makeup fix: How to whiten and brighten your smile
From the March 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
