Beauty: Tired eyes? Try these super-hero rescue products

Blue-light damage, dehydration, sleep deprivation: the delicate skin around our eyes is under constant assault. Alice Ryan finds products to both protect and perk your peepers

Peep Club Eye Rescue Lidstick, £15, victoriahealth.com
Squinting at a screen for endless hours leaves my lids dry and droopy. Applying this overnight balm - to clean, closed lids, right before going to bed - has been a game-changer. Richly nourishing and hydrating without being heavy or dragging on the skin, it deploys a roll-call of powerful plant extracts, including oat ceramides and evening primrose oil, to variously heal, protect and perfect. My lids looked smoother from first use.

Skinbunny Under Eye Enhancer, £19.99, skinbunny.co.uk
When I read this product’s promise - to ‘dramatically reduce’ bags, shadows and fine lines in less than 60 seconds - I’ll admit I was sceptical. But, wow. . . it’s nothing less than wizardry. Simply sweep a pea-sized blob across clean, dry, product-free skin, working from inner eye to outer, and let it dry. Results are both immediate and dramatic, with skin visibly brightened, smoothed and tightened. Plus, unlike other products of its ilk, it leaves no telltale white residue.

CACI Eye Revive Masks, £35 for 5, cacibeauty.com
Like all products developed by the British aesthetics brand, these CACI eye masks mean business. Not only do they leave you and your skin feeling refreshed; thanks to cucumber, green tea and hyaluronic acid, they also have a tangible smoothing effect, reducing both puffiness and the appearance of fine lines in a single 10-20 minute application. For maximum depuffing - and a delicious experience - pop your mask in the fridge for a few hours prior to use.

Sensory Retreats Sensory Sleep Vegan Silk Mask, £59, sensoryretreats.com
Designed to alleviate eye fatigue, reduce stress, release tension and promote sleep, this may be the best eye mask ever. Not only is it a great sleep mask - made from skin-friendly silk and snugly cut to keep out the light - it also comes with 10 pairs of heat-pad inserts (replenishable, priced £24 for 12 pairs), which niftily self-heat when exposed to the air, stay warm for an impressive 30 minutes and provide unrivalled relief to aching eyes. Bliss.

Ciaté London Extraordinary Brightening Under Eye Perfector, £22, ciatelondon.com
Blurring the line between makeup and skincare, this hybrid formula colour-corrects (using light-refracting pigments, which tune seamlessly into skin tone), brightens (thanks to a good dose of Vitamin C) and smoothes (courtesy of super-hydrator hyaluronic acid). A midway step between eye cream and concealer, just tap it onto skin with a ring-fingertip or cosmetics sponge for immediate, natural-looking results. It comes in three shades - Light, pictured, Medium and Deep.

Doll Smash Cosmetics Iconic Luxury Mascara in Obsidian, £21, dollsmash.com
A good mascara is a fast track to brighter-looking eyes; Iconic by name and iconic by nature, this one’s a belter. Both mascara and brush are designed to lift, lengthen and define each individual lash, giving all the drama with none of the smudging, flaking or clumping you might expect from a high-octane mascara. It’s also cruelty- and nasty-free and sustainably made, too.

Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner Longwear Waterproof Eyeliner, £30, victoriabeckhambeauty.com
A calling-card for the former Spice Girl’s eponymous beauty brand - industry and consumer reviews are unanimously rave - this eyeliner’s eminence is well-earned. Creamy textured and richly pigmented, not only does it glide on, no gapping or snagging, it’s also brilliantly versatile, capable of creating both the cleanest of lines and the softest of smudges (the latter with the aid of the inbuilt buffer). It’s also quick-setting, long-lasting and wonderfully waterproof. Plus there’s a shade to make every eye colour pop.