Sags, bags, circles, lines…. just as we were about to resign ourselves to living with these eye issues, the skin gods smiled down upon us and we received a sample of Relastin Eye Silk from Revance Industries. We started applying it twice daily with a huge grain of salt, having tried so many products for so many years that we were pretty jaded about what eye products could actually do. But since Allure magazine named it “Editors’ Choice Best of Beauty/Best Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream” in 2007 and again in 2008, we thought it was worth a shot.

Day 1: Our eye area looks brighter. Nah. Must be wishful thinking.

Day 8: What happened to the dimples (okay, crepiness) on our upper eyelids? Nothing works this fast.

Day 12: Is it our imagination, or have the bags under our eyes diminished by half?

Day 14: We’re sold. Our crows’ feet are much improved, and our entire eye area looks undeniably younger. We’re sticking with the program because we’re told to expect even greater results by week three and beyond.

As you probably know, elastin is the protein fiber that lets young skin stretch and snap back to a firm resting state. What you probably don’t know is that we stop producing elastin in our early teens. Nobody ever said life was fair. So after that, all the usual suspects-time, stress, pollution, sun-conspire to break down the fibers into useless shreds. Minus any support, the skin has nowhere to go except down. Adding insult to injury, lax skin also produces wrinkles.

The good news for us is Eye Silk’s Zinc Firming Complex works at the cellular level to promote the formation of functional (young-acting) elastin in the skin. In a clinical study, Eye Silk was shown to significantly decrease fine lines and wrinkles, coarse wrinkles, and undereye laxity and puffiness. Participants in the study also noticed a decrease in dark circles after four weeks.

While most anti-aging products focus on stimulating collagen production, Eye Silk is specifically intended to increase skin elasticity. True, there are other contenders on the market. But in a double-blind clinical study, skin treated with Eye Silk showed a 53% increase in epidural elastin and snapped back 2.1 seconds faster after stretching when compared to a leading copper peptide product. (We’re not naming any names, but we tried that one. Don’t bother.)

At $69 for 0.5/15ml fl.oz., Eye Silk doesn’t come cheap-but hey, neither do a lot of non-performing formulations. Find it on relastin.com. and select online retailers, or in select dermatologists’ offices nationwide.

Faster than you can say fabulous, a summer-perfect look is yours with the new mark Costa Rica makeup collection. Vivid eyes and lips took pride of place on the Spring runways, making this destination-themed line right on the money. So check winter’s neutral eyes and lips at the door and try these high-voltage colors on for size.

Ocean Hues

We tested the Eye Exotics Ocean Hues eyeshadow trio ($6) and wow, did our eyes ever pop. We applied pink to the eyelid, pink and black in the crease, and blue as an eyeliner. The Jungle Love and Beach Babe trios are equally alluring options.

Jungle Love

        v

Beach Babe

Lip Lacquer ($6) comes in an array of saturated tropical colors such as Fever (red), Pop (pink), Thrill (brown), Wild (plum) and Rush (coral). Fragranced with energizing spearmint oil and loaded with conditioners, its high-shine formula made our lips look and feel full and lush.

Mosaic Cheek Color

We completed our look with Good Glowing Mosaic Cheek Color ($7). You can achieve a shimmery or gentle blush finish according to your mood with this ultra-smooth powder.

As for the bargain prices, talk about bang for the buck. The collection is available at meetmark.com  or through a mark representative.

Since we don’t work for AIG and haven’t received a seven-figure screw-up bonus, we’re cutting back on discretionary spending. No more Starbucks double skim lattes. We’ll pass on those Jimmy Choo gladiators. Our personal trainer will have to be put on hold. Why take a cab when a five-mile hike would do us good?

This mindset also applies to buying beauty products. We’re only allowing ourselves one makeup purchase for spring, and the winner is Shiseido Perfect Rouge lipstick in Rose Bronze. The 20-sku lipstick range is the full first color cosmetics line by Shiseido artistic director Dick Page, who honed his craft as a makeup artist for Calvin Klein, Alexander Wang, and Narciso Rodriguez, to name a few.

The collection delivers true intense color and all-day hydration in an ultra-smoothing formula. Shiseido’s proprietary Super Hydro-Wrap Vitalizing DE supplies and holds moisture in the lips, while its Dual Optimizing Powder works with available light and adjusts the color accordingly. The payoff is continuous comfort and a depth of color that appears on the lips exactly as it does in the tube.

We put that intriguing claim to the test with the Rose Bronze lippie. Sure enough, the color in the tube-a deep rose with subtle blue undertones and a bronze pearl finish-was true to the beautiful hue that appeared on our mouth. Without screaming “lipstick,” the color had just the right amount of presence and made our lips look and feel plump, smooth and luminous. Does it get any better than that? The 19 other lipstick shades range from Baby-a gentle, classic nude color-to blood-red Dragon. Forget what we said about making only one beauty purchase for spring. We’ll take one of each.

Seven coordinating lip pencils ($20), which we didn’t get to test but are said to be smooth-spreading and smudge-proof, round out the collection. Perfect Rouge Rose Bronze ($25) is a limited-edition offer only at Nordstorm’s or nordstrom.com through June. The other 19 lipsticks (also $25) are available at Shiseido counters everywhere. Be on the lookout for Page’s second color cosmetics collection-this time eyeshadows-that Shiseido will launch in the fall.

We never had any luck with makeup palettes before now, because we’d end up using only one eyeshadow or lip gloss in the entire collection. Sound familiar? So we were happily surprised by mark’s very wearable Flip for It’s color kits. Inspired by the runways, the two new spring collections-LA and Tokyo-contain seven complementary products, and all of them are winners. One side of the kit holds a blush and two eye shadows. Flip it around and there are two lip glosses and two lip colors. The case comes with a mirror and a snap-shut front closure.

LA’s shimmery taupe and golden-brown eye shadows (Hollywood and Mulholland) make our eyes positively pop. The soft coral blush (Sunset Strip) looks natural even on our very fair skin. The lip products (Melrose, Rodeo, Malibu and Beverly Hills) are sheer and moisturizing and fun to layer. If you like a down-to-earth look, this is the palette for you.

As for Tokyo, don’t let the high-voltage, girly pink palette fool you. Applied with a light hand, these colors are a beautiful look for spring. The eye shadows (Shinjuku and Plum Velvet) are drop-dead gorgeous. For an everyday look, we apply Shinjuku on the lid and use Plum Velvet as an eyeliner. The blush (Pink Kimono) has the sweetest hint of petal pink, while lip products (Sake, Cherry Blossom, Ginza and Geisha) add a whisper of rose to the mouth. This collection flatters every skin tone, and it’s a knockout on darker complexions.

We love the convenience of slipping the kit into our bag for touch-ups on the go, and it’s a lifesaver when we travel. An incredible deal at $20, mark Flip for It’s are available at meetmark.com or through a mark representative.

Fabulous doesn’t begin to describe the newly launched fragrance Amanda-a scented celebration of iconic personality Amanada Lepore, who is known throughout the world as the reigning doyenne of transsexuality.

The juice is signed by Christophe Laudemiel, the nose behind many wildly successful fragrances including Estee Lauder Youth Dew Amber Nude, Island Michael Kors (with Loc Dong), Elton John Black Candle, Clinique Happy Heart, and Ralph Lauren Polo Blue (with Carlos Benaim).

Called “the enfant terrible of contemporary perfumery,” Laudamiel was so inspired by Lepore’s larger-than-life persona that he created a fragrance especially for her as a birthday present many years ago. Lepore has worn the scent faithfully ever since, and it has become as much a part of her allure as her famous red lips.

Now available to the public in a limited-release edition of 5,000 bottles, Amanda has an assertive blond-woody structure bolstered by Orriniff, a new molecular structure that imparts a warm orris amber note in counterpoint to natural floral extracts Tuberose absolute, Orris butter, Violet, and Orange flowers. A sliver of Cristal champagne combines with elegant citrus inspired by an Italian Renaissance elixir to give the fragrance a golden shimmer. Notes of cucumber and strawberry and-our favorite-a red lipstick accord add quirkiness to the composition.

The Amanda coffret is sheer decadence. It’s lined in black satin and includes a bottle sporting more than 1,000 Swarovski crystals, a blush-colored satin atomizer, and a signed booklet featuring new photographs of Ms. Lepore by Nico Iliev.

At $950 (hey, what recession?) for the coffret, Amanda EDP comes in 4.25 fl.oz/125 ml and is available exclusively at artwareeditions.com.

Heat, cold, emotion, stress, red wine, cosmetic procedures … is there anything that doesn’t leave our complexion looking like a boiled lobster? We know we’re not alone. Beauty market research names reactive or persistent redness among the top three skin conditions that women pick as their primary problem.

So we could barely believe our eyes when we tested Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder ($32.50). It went on like silk, was soothing to the skin and immediately banished redness and broken capillaries. The product even neutralizes rosacea.

If you want to get technical, here’s how it works: A cocktail of caffeine and extracts of magnolia bark, Poria Cocos (mushroom) and Citrus Grandis Peel (grapefruit) tame redness, while natural minerals including calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium absorb oil and comfort the skin. The formula also contains vitamin E, a powerful anti-oxidant.

The precise yellow shade of the creamy powder was created to blend seamlessly into the skin, leaving us with an even skin tone that lasted all day until we washed it off at night. It can be used alone, under or over makeup. The formula is also non-acnegenic and 100% fragrance-, talc- and oil-free.

All we can say is, Instant Relief Mineral Powder does exactly what Clinique says it’s going to do. When’s the last time that happened? Grab it at Clinique counters nationwide or on Clinique.com.

Talk about an enlightening experience. We pay an arm and leg to our stylist, secretly suspecting we’re putting her kids through college, only to have our color bite the dust all too soon. So when we discovered Pravana Naturceuticals Sulfate-Free Pure Light Brightening Shampoo and Pure Lightening Conditioner (try saying that ten times fast), we thought we’d reached the Promised Land.According to Pravana, its products are “a unique hybrid of European artistry, ancient Mayan natural botanicals and innovative American technology.” In plain English, Pravana uses a duel ultra-violet dye system that works like a virtual optical brightener to neutralize sickly yellow undertones in blonde or silver hair. The result? Blonde hair dazzles, silver hair shimmers, and highlights pop.

The formulations have all the bells and whistles. Sunscreens, amino acids, and wheat protein strengthen the hair while protecting its color; natural botanicals provide vital moisture, shine and elasticity.

Also good to know: Pravana Naturceuticals products as kind to the earth as they are to your hair. They aren’t tested on animals, contain no animal by-products or phthalates, and are EPA and CARB compliant.

So more excuses for lackluster locks. The Brightening Shampoo, retailing at $18.40/10.1 oz, and Brightening Conditioner, at $20/10.1 oz., are available at select spas and salons. Go to pravana.com to find one near you.

Ever envy fashion editors who shop private sample sales for designer clothes at wholesale prices? Here’s your chance to get in on those savings.

Editors’ Closet offers established and up-and-coming apparel, accessories, watch, and jewelry brands at up to 90% off. In a recent sale on Malini Murjani handbags and accessories, we spotted an Italian multi-color dyed mink satchel marked down from $885 to $305. An Italian tan woven belt was offered at $165, down from $400. In a sale on Invicta watches, a sapphire diver chronograph was practically being given away at $190, marked down from $455. Members receive an invitation 48 hours prior to a sale, which generally lasts 48 hours. Membership is free but you need to be referred by a friend or sign up on the waiting list. (We actually got in by going to christinaloves.com, where she’s giving away invitations.)

The Top Secret is another online destination for sample sale shopping. The site gives it members access to exclusive offers from premier brands with discounts up to 75% off retail. Each designer sale runs from one to three days, and members are given advance notice.. In the current sale on Trianni handbags, we found an adorable red quilted satchel marked down 50% from $80 to $40 and a red leather tote, originally $75, for $35. Upcoming sales include Betsey Johnson and Ellen Tracy dresses. To become a member, you fill out an online application and go on a waiting list. We only had to wait a couple of days before we became members.

In the midst of a recession, this is a rare opportunity to shop guilt-free for up-to-the-minute looks. Ladies, start your engines.

We hope you’re sitting down before you read any further. Major retailers including Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman and Nordstrom will be giving away $175 million worth of cosmetics and perfumes later this month.

This largesse is the settlement of a class action suit brought against a number of high-end retailers and cosmetics manufacturers for alleged price fixing. Their loss is definitely our gain. While we brace ourselves for what promises to be a free-for-all, we’ve got our eye on freebies such as Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair and Very Irresistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette.

So here’s the deal: From January 20th through the next seven days-or as long as supplies last-consumers who bought beauty and/or fragrance products between May 1994 and July 2003 from the stores listed in the suit can claim one select free product from every brand that they bought during the period in question. L’Oreal, Estee Lauder and Chanel are among the brands whose products will be handed out.

Since no proof of purchase is required, some people undoubtedly will game the system by going to every participating store and claiming products from every eligible brand. So be fast on your feet before it all goes away.

For more information, go to www.cosmeticssettlement.com

We know you’re out there. Armed with your gift list, you hit the stores on December 24 because there’s nothing like the adrenaline high you get from stealth shopping. Or you decided to cut back on excessive spending this year for obviously reasons, but suddenly that hemp tote for your BFF is starting to look pretty sad and you want to trade up. Or you’re hyper-organized and got all your shopping done before Thanksgiving, but now you want to gift yourself because you know your clueless Significant Other is going to give you three pairs of wool socks. In any case, run to the nearest high-end fragrance counter and score these holiday-perfect Woody-Oriental scents.

You may remember your mom wearing Shalimar back in the Seventies, which started the craze for Orientals. The category has been given an update by Anick Goutal Encens Flamboyant (EDP 100ml/$175), which plays on our strongest scent association to this season with notes of fir balsam and lentisk, an evergreen shrub. Spicy Frankincense, nutmeg and cardamom round out the unisex juice.

Hermes Elixir des Merveilles is a confectionary story that smells like Christmas treats baking in the oven. Based on a blend of citrus pulp and chocolate, it opens with the scent of candied orange peel followed by a sweet biscuit note composed of tonka bean and vanilla combined with sugar and milk. Men will gravitate to this fragrance without knowing why. (Answer: It reminds them of eating milk and cookies.) At 48ml/$85 for the EDP, it’s a relative bargain.

Serge Lutens Arabie (EDP 50ml/$120) translates the richness of fruitcake into olfactory form. Even those of us who find the holiday dessert inedible will be hooked by notes of candied mandarin peel, dried figs and dates spiced with nutmeg, cumin and clove. Winter is the perfect time of year for bold scents, and Arabie is exactly that. Its presence is big enough to be detectable even in the rush of a New Year’s Eve party, which is where we’re planning to wear it.

Discounts on all fragrances can be found online through www.amazon.com, www.BizRate.com or www.Best-Price.com, to name a few.