The Best Hyaluronic Acid Beauty Products for Winter Skin Woes

CeraVe Eye Cream

This CeraVe eye cream is one of the best bangs you can get for your buck in the beauty world. It's under $15, dermatologist-approved, and really does work. It's honestly a go-to of mine because it's so affordable and easy to stock up on. Not to mention how the gentle and mild formula works wonders on my sensitive skin! I love this one for brightening and depuffing on the daily!

First Aid Beauty Brightening Eye Cream

What drew me to this eye cream — besides the fact that it was First Aid Beauty and I'm obsessed with them — was the Niacinimide in it. This is a hydrating ingredient that I'm always looking for in my skincare because of how nourishing it is. My skin truly drinks it up, so I knew it would work incredibly under my eyes. This cream has an almost iridescent glow to it that looks amazing when you first wake up and need a pick-me-up. It looks like a highlighter for your under-eyes!

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Eye Mask

Hi, my name is Kayla and I have a serious addiction to Summer Fridays. I can't get enough, and I truly wish I could (or at least my bank account does). This eye mask is just as good as the face mask, and that's saying a lot. It's very nourishing, and super hydrating. This makes my under-eyes look awake, bright, and de-puffed as soon as I wake up!

Kiehl's Avocado Eye Treatment

Kiehl's has a lot of great products — and you truly can't go wrong with any of them — but this eye cream specifically is amazing. It's made with avocado and caffeine, so you'll be looking like you got 10 hours of sleep in no time (even if you didn't). If you have dry skin like me, then you'll really love its hyper-hydrating formula.

Farmacy Brightening Eye Treatment

Did you know honey is actually a great way to brighten up your under-eyes and help them look more awake? Well, this Farmacy eye cream is full of it, and caffeine, as well. It also features Vitamin C and Cranberry Peptides, which are great if you have older, or more mature skin. So tackle your wrinkles and your dark circles simultaneously — we love a multi-purpose product!

Biossance Squalane Eye Cream

This eye cream is a bit on the pricier side, but it's a product where you start to see results almost immediately. It really is that good. You'll definitely start to notice immediate brightness, but this also increases overall brightness over time as well with frequent use. Definitely a fave I keep going back to!

Mario Badescu Eye Cream

Another brand that's sensitive-skin approved! Mario Badescu has such great products for people that are sensitive to perfumes and certain ingredients. I love this eye cream, in particular, given the helpful caffeine in it! After using it for a while, I've noticed that the blueness and bags under my eyes aren't as visible, and that my undereyes are way more bright overall. I love to see those kind of results!

Locked Kiss Ink (Teaser)

This toasted warm nude has everyone's name written all over it because it's literally perfect for fall? Why? Well, it's more of a peachy color that won't make you look washed out if you use a contrasting brown lip liner. How dark you want to go is up to you, but gorgeous ombré effect will make others wonder how you achieve the perfect pout.

Frost Lipstick ("O")

No, I haven't lost my mind because one of the MAC lipsticks I'm thinking about buying is frosted. It's a purplish red that has golden pearl flecks that literally reminds of me a shiny copper penny. I'm sure I'm not completely deviating from my signature '90s lip look, but I'll be adding this in the center of lips instead of a nude matte lipstick! Once it's topped off with gloss, I'm sure it's going to mimic a beautiful fall sunset.

Locked Kiss 24-Hour Lipstick (Ruby True)

Okay, I'm giving in because I know someone is looking for red lipstick that won't budge. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm the someone who can't stay away from this sexy shade. I don't care what season it is, it goes with everything you can think of. Plain t-shirt and jeans combo? Sure! Cute midi sweater dress and boots? Of course! That one date night outfit you've been saving for a special occasion? You bet!

Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour (Carnivorous)

The name of this shade is fitting because it is spooky spooky season. I don't suggest you pretend like you're a hungry beast waiting for its next victim, but you could certainly pull this off when you're in a spicy mood. It'll take you from the boardroom to the bedroom (if you want) which will no doubt make someone say, "Wow, I love it here."

P.S. This theory may or may not have already been tested, but you didn't hear that from me!

Lustreglass Lipstick (Spice It Up)

I'm a firm believer that not all fall looks require bold MAC lipsticks. Sometimes you need a touch of color that's soft and airy like this Lustreglass shade. Unlike matte or creamy formulas, this will keep your lips moisturized once you apply it. The color is also buildable so you can apply as much as you want, but I think a little goes a long way.

MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick (Film Noir)

Get away from this red completely and go for this deep cool brown shade if you dare. IMO, you can even save this for your scary Halloween costumesbecause it's the literal definition of BOLD. While I usually don't deeper brown lipsticks, I will use them as a lip liner because I'm not always a fan of using pencils, so this could be a neat trick you use in your routine!

MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick (Guessing Game)

Skip the bright red lipstick in favor of something deeper like this gorgeous shade. This is one of my go-to colors whenever I get tired of wearing a nude lipstick look because it's effortlessly sultry. Not only that, but it looks good on all skin tones which is important to me as a brown skinned woman!

What causes cramps when someone is PMSing or on their period?

Consider yourself lucky if you don't struggle with PMS — I'd honestly love to trade places with you for a day. According to the Office on Women's Health, almost three in four women say they experience PMS, and the National Institutes of Healthnotes that one in ten women deal with painful period cramps every month. In other words, some of us are genuinely struggling to function without really understanding why we're in so much pain. What gives?

"Cramps, or dysmenorrhea, occur due to the release of chemicals called prostaglandins during menstruation. These chemicals cause the uterus to contract in order to shed its lining," Dr. Margolis says. What people tend to feel is the result of contractions" becoming "too intense," thus causing them to "cut off blood flow and oxygen to the surrounding muscle tissue, leading to pain." Dr. Margolis also wants you to know, "The higher the level of prostaglandins, the more severe the cramps are likely to be."

If that sounds painful, just know it is! I never thought about the actual process our bodies go through during menstruation, so understanding that better makes me want to be kinder to be my body. Still, does this mean cramps are normal?

Are period cramps normal?

Dr. Margolis says that period cramps are "a normal part of the menstrual cycle for many people." He explains that "mild to moderate cramps" typically occur towards the beginning of your period, as your uterus is contracting. IDK about you, but it's definitely nice to know that cramps are a part of the process and they don't necessarily mean anything's wrong. However, this doesn't mean you should ignore severe pain.

"If the pain is severe and disrupts daily life, it might indicate an underlying condition that requires medical attention," Dr. Margolis says. Only you know the level of pain you're able to handle monthly, but there are definitely some key factors that can help you identify what is considered "abnormal" when it comes to your period cramps.

When are severe period cramps considered abnormal?

"Severe cramps that are unmanageable with over-the-counter medications or last for an extended period may indicate underlying health issues," Dr. Margolis continues. Based on his experience, these conditions can be "fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)" which "often cause more intense pain."

Prior to my painful period cramps returning, I underwent Laparoscopy surgery in 2019 to rule out endometriosis as the culprit for unbearable cycles. My OBGYN didn't find that, but she discovered a large fibroid nestled in the side of one of my uterine walls which needed to be removed.

Some of the signs Dr. Margolis says you need to pay attention to are:

• Heavy bleeding
• Irregular periods
• Pain during sex
• Bleeding between periods

If you notice these symptoms, Dr. Margolis implores you to consult with your doctor about them. Truthfully, it took years for someone to take my pain seriously, so I also recommend you keep advocating for yourself if you're dealing with cramps that feel abnormal.

What's the worst thing to eat before your period?

Here comes my favorite topic — food! I love eating all kinds of food, but I'm having to relearn how to balance hormones all over again. Between that and my digestive system, I know my undisciplined eating is the root cause of painful period cramps, but I've forgotten what I should be avoiding.

Dr. Margolis says, "Highly processed foods, sugar, and salty snacks should be avoided. They can increase inflammation, contribute to bloating, and worsen cramps. Caffeine and alcohol can also dehydrate the body and lead to more discomfort during menstruation."

I feel like your jaw just dropped in disbelief because most of the things that make periods so painful taste so good. I mean, who doesn't love snacks, coffee, and yummy cocktails? Sigh...as much as we may love or crave them, they're not always the best things to indulge in when we're already going through so many bodily changes.

What foods should someone eat to lessen painful period cramps?

But, there's things we can do to lessen our chances of suffering every month. Dr. Margolis says, "Anti-inflammatory foods are particularly helpful for reducing period cramps." He says these include the following:

• Leafy greens like spinach and kale, which are high in magnesium and calcium
• Fatty fish such as salmon or sardines, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation
• Nuts and seeds that contain magnesium, which can relax muscles and reduce pain
• Fruits like bananas and berries, which provide antioxidants and potassium, aiding in muscle relaxation and inflammation reduction
• Whole grains that are a good source of fiber and help regulate blood sugar, preventing spikes that may worsen cramps

Is it actually possible to avoid sugar before and during your period?

Sugar is in a lot of things we eat and drink so I asked Dr. Margolis if there's a way to avoid it altogether. He says, "It’s challenging, but not impossible to avoid sugar entirely. Cravings for sugary foods often increase due to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle." I don't know about you, but I always crave specific things like sugary juice, muffins, or cupcakes right before and during my period. It's like my brain knows they're going to cause more harm than good, but my hormones demand them.

As a replacement, Dr. Margolis believes "reducing sugar intake by opting for natural sweeteners like fruits or healthier alternatives like dark chocolate can help curb cravings." Also, there's more benefits to putting down the artificial stuff. "Cutting back on sugar may also help in managing inflammation and stabilizing mood and energy levels during your period," says Dr. Margolis.