I don’t really take issue with my under-eye area. Maybe that’s due to the whole Inés de la Fressange thing, where a little bit of shadow there can be perceived as a sort of rumpled sexiness. Or maybe it’s just not troubling me yet ('yet ' being the operative word, as from what I gather with under-eyes and necks it’s only a matter of time), so when Emily retrieved Chantecaille’s very shiny, very elegant Nano Gold Energizing Eye Serum from the refrigerator during our Holiday Party Look prep, I was sort of resistant. “Don’t worry about it, I think I'm fine, not feeling particularly puffy!” I said, the gold-ball tip advancing towards my eye. “Just try it,” Emily laughed (in a tone that I'll have you know was not totally dissimilar to school nurses). “It’s good for you.” Since I was already trusting my face into her very capable hands (did you see that eyeshe did? I want to wear it every day), I relaxed, and, as the frat boys say, let it happen. And friends, happen it did. Not only did the cold, soothing serum feel energizing (I never realized how tired my eyes felt before), it was like a 'bright eyed and bushy-tailed' transformation. So naturally, I squirreled it away for my trip to Palm Beach and Miami last weekend, and spent the entire time both singing its praises and spending excessive amounts of time reveling in its rejuvenating, relaxing properties.

It de-puffs and brightens (the ingredients include, yes, 24k nanogold particles, which are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, and energizing; lycoskin from tomato stem cells, raspberry stem cells, and bioNymph peptide—anything ‘nymph’ sounds good to me), as well as builds collagen and (apparently) reduces wrinkles and damn it, Emily! I think I’m hooked. It’s not cheap at $210, but frankly, neither are most addictive habits and this one is less likely to result in your loved ones calling Dr. Phil (I think). And anyways, as my mother used to say whenever I wanted something she didn’t want to buy me, “Christmas is coming...!” So, treat your damn self, a lucky relative, or the guy/girl in your life who has everything—I sincerely doubt they have this.

—Alessandra Codinha