When it comes to hiding your under-eye circles, your regular concealer that you use to cover blemishes won't cut it.

You need is a peach-based one in a shade slightly darker than you would normally use to neutralize the purple rings, says NYC makeup artist Dara Klein. "Identify your skin tone first relative to your level of under-eye darkness."

• More on covering up skin flaws

For example, if you have fair skin and very dark circles, your instinct may be to choose a light concealer. But this shade will actually enhance your circles because it'll only match the skin around the eye and not the shade of the actual darkness. So go up a shade - it'll be light enough for your skin tone but corrective enough for the level of purple under the eye.

Once you find a good concealer, apply it with a small brush for the most precise coverage, says Klein. "The key is to only apply the concealer only over the rings, nowhere else." Use a tapping motion instead of wiping the brush

It makes a tasty pie, but the rotund gourd is also a great pick for your skin. "Pumpkin contains antioxidants such as vitamins A and C, as well as phytonutrients that help keep you looking young," says Michelle Schlekewey, spa director at Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego. Harness the veggie's revitalizing properties with this face and body mask, an adaptation of a treatment offered at the inn. It's as easy as pie!

Pumpkin Face and Body Mask

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup bentonite clay (available at health food stores)
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp almond oil
• 2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together and apply evenly to your face or anywhere else you'd like to smooth. Leave on 10 minutes before rinsing. Almond oil moisturizes, clay draws out impurities, honey replenishes collagen and cinnamon improves circulation.

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• 12 winter skin myths busted--what you

Sadly, subtle signs of aging can show up as early as your late 20s, but there are easy ways to keep your skin soft, radiant, and wrinkle free (no needles required). Me? I like to add skin-boosting foods to my diet because a) it's cheaper than loading up on a zillion products, b) there are loads of other health benefits, and c) you gotta eat anyway, why not give your skin a boost in the process? Here's what to do:

1. Eat Colorful Produce Every 4 to 5 Hours

As you age, your skin's natural antioxidant protection drops; eating a diet rich in colorful fruits and veggies can help protect against wrinkles. There are hundreds of antioxidant nutrients, but the most important include vitamins C (found in tomatoes, citrus fruits, and bell peppers) and E (nuts and avocado), polyphenols (natural cocoa powder and berries), quercetin (onions and broccoli), and carotenoids (leafy greens, sweet potatoes, and other bright orange vegetables).

See the 6 foods that can make you look

This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox.

I find that a lot of cleansers leave me feeling dried out, but not washing my face at least two times a day makes my skin feel grimy. Is there a certain kind of soap or scrub that's less harsh?

I have been known to stupefy friends with my "Don't wash your face with soap" dictum. Soap totally degrades the precious, silky, trace lipids that seal your skin barrier. If you know any science jargon about your skin, it should be two words: stratum corneum. This is the top layer of the skin, the one you touch, the one you wash, the one you scrub, exfoliate, pick, scratch, massage, and kiss. It also repels environmental assaults, and soap destroys it. How does this happen? Imagine red, tightly overlapping shingled roofs in China, Spain, or Mexico, where layered tiles are sealed together with mortar or glue as a simple waterproofing

Reveal a healthy, gorgeous glow with our easy fixes for sun spots, stretch marks, scars and other nagging nuisances.

Taking care of your skin is a little like playing a pop-up arcade game. The minute you squelch one eruption, a sun spot appears. And when that splotch fades, another mark shows up-uninvited. Yes, 84 percent of women have at least one complexion complaint, indicates a survey by Obagi Medical Products in Long Beach, California. Ready to take control of the action? These at-home tips, pro treatments and camouflaging how-tos will arm you with strategies to outsmart unwanted guests and get the smooth skin you deserve.

Skin saboteur: scars
Fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after injury

Conceal! Wait until your scar has done some initial healing, which typically takes about a month. To camouflage a mark that is red, your best bet is to mix two concealers-one that matches your skin tone and one that's a few shades darker-and use a foundation brush to tap

This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox.

I'm beginning to notice signs of colder weather on my face and can't seem to combat the dry patches and overriding dullness. What can I do now to prep for winter's real onslaught in the next few months?

The leaves are falling, the barometer is on the descent, and your summer skin is officially in shock. But as odd as it sounds, this is the perfect time for a chemical peel. Like most people, you probably helped yourself to a little tanning when it was warmer. Tanning is trauma to the skin, though, and like a brushfire is to a forest, it can take clearing away this "debris" to accelerate the healing process. Something mild to moderate, like a Jessner's peel, will remove the retained, dull skin and make way for new healthy skin to grow.

The second key step is to focus on moisturizers that are creamier. These products have

It's that time of year: Candy corn, chocolate kisses, and other sweet stuff starts cropping up around my office like mushrooms. If the promise of a slimmer waistline doesn't keep me from grabbing a handful, my desire for smooth skin will.

Experts now believe that a lifetime of overeating sugar can make skin dull and wrinkled. Blame a natural process that's known as glycation, in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules (called advanced glycation end products or, appropriately, AGEs for short). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop. Most vulnerable to damage are collagen and elastin, the protein fibers that keep skin firm and elastic. Prevent those pesky AGEs from forming by following these 4 steps:

1. Cut Back on Sugar

Obvious, but it's not easy to eliminate it completely. Even whole grains, fruits, and vegetables turn to glucose-the type of sugar that fuels glycation-when digested. But limiting sugar can help.

This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox.

Do any firming skincare lotions really work and if so, are there specific ingredients I should be looking for that will actually tighten my skin and minimize my pores?

When it comes to firming and improving the overall tone and elasticity of the skin, there are many botanical ingredients that provide these benefits while healing and enhancing vibrancy. Chamomile, helichrysum, neroli, and vitamins A, E, and C, can work to tighten the connective tissue, increase the production and formation of collagen and elastin fibers, and offer vasoconstricting properties to your skin. As the skin is a transdermal organ, meaning all that is applied externally quickly absorbs to feed and nourish the body at a cellular level, you can also double the effects of these ingredients by consuming nutrient-rich foods that contain similar vitamins