Ahh, Summer. The time for socializing.  I mean, yeah, it's hot, but the nights can be comfy to hang out on the deck, crack open some vino and laughing till really late. Sometimes too late, and too much vino. And you know....you just KNOW, that it's gonna show up the next morning, with the puffy eyes and dark circles. Well, I know of something that can help that.

It's a product from France, called the Talika Eye Therapy Patch.  You put this patch on and in 30min you look like a rested, functioning human being. They say, "This reusable patch, spectacularly reduces all trace of fatigue appearing under the eyes. It is a pleasant, effective, natural and comfortable solution for combating wrinkles, circles and under-eye puffiness. The results are visible and have been clinically proven by Dermatologists at the "Hôpitaux de Paris de la Salpétrière".

I say, "You can keep these in the fridge for an added burst of coolness. Put these on and lay down - either to go to bed, or when you wake up in the morning feeling 'under the weather' - and in a little while, your eyes really do feel better." Now, I don't really have eye wrinkles - *knock on wood* - so I can't really speak to the effectiveness on those, but it truly did reduce puffiness and lessen the darkness under my eyes when I had a chance to try them. (*You are not required to keep these in the fridge - in fact the carrying case makes it easy to take these with you.)

You can get these patches online for $62, which includes a jewel case with 6 pairs of patches, that can each be reused 3 times or so. There are also refills available for $56.

I am so pale that I will sunburn if someone just mentions going out in the sun. It doesn't matter how much sunscreen I slather on, there are still those days when I get as pink as Barbie's Dream House. Yes, Aloe Vera is the best thing for soothing the burn, but I sincerely hate the stickiness that comes from Aloe Vera gel.

So, I was so happy when I found Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Skincare Lotion. This lotion has Aloe Vera as the number one, first, ingredient, so you are getting as much relief as with the gel, only with lotiony goodness. It absorbs quickly, and helps keep peeling to a minimum, in my experience. Seriously, even as pale as I am, if I put this on several times a day, after burning, I have found that I don't peel like when I used the sunburn relief sprays or sticky gels. And, by leaving it in the fridge, it feels so good going on the burn - so cold and refreshing, it takes the heat right out of the burn.

The only downside I know of right now, is the fact that I used to be able to buy the large, regular sized bottles at my local Wal-mart, but I can't find it there at all any more. Now, I have been lucky enough to find a travel sized bottle at CVS, so I grab a couple of those, just to have around.