I’ve been locked in a lifelong battle with my dark under-eye circles since childhood, making me something of a concealer connoisseur. They’ve only gotten worse since I’ve become a parent, just when I have less time than ever to devote to a daily makeup routine to cover them up. But there’s one skin care item that has not only transformed my appearance, but my entire morning routine: the Catrice Instant Awake under-eye brightener. It can be used in place of or alongside traditional concealer, but it’s so effective that I primarily use it on its own. Lourdes Avila Uribe/HuffPostLeft: the author sans makeup. Right: the author wearing only Catrice under-eye brightener.Formulated with hyaluronic acid and shea butter, this under-eye brightener has a creamy, nourishing texture that melts into the skin, leaving behind a hydrated, radiant glow that truly makes you look “instantly awake.” Each of the four shades is designed to adapt to your skin tone and leave your skin looking fresh. The pink color balances out the bluish hues of shadows and dark circles, giving the skin a revived, youthful appearance. It has a smooth consistency that is easy to blend and leaves behind a skin-like finish. It wears more like a skin care product than makeup.I don’t know what sorcery is contained within this product, but it somehow has the ability to make me look like I am wearing a full face of makeup. I apply it in the morning after my skin care routine on my entire eye area, including my lids, which tend to be a bit dark as well. The brightening effect is swiftly apparent. I keep it with my skin care products instead of my makeup so that I can swipe it on and not worry about having to do a whole makeup routine.It comes in especially handy during Zoom meetings on work-from-home days when I like to give my skin a break from makeup but don’t want to look like a total zombie in front of my colleagues. I slap it on before running out to the grocery store with only SPF on my skin, and have used it as a primer before adding foundation and concealer on days that I need extra help and know I’ll be out all day long. I haven’t found that the Catrice brightener settles into my fine lines, but on occasion, I’ll set it with the brand’s powder to ensure that it stays put. I don’t generally like using powder, but much like the creamy brightener, it remains light and barely detectable. These two items are a great duo, and I’d recommend adding the Catrice setting powder to your cart if you have oily skin or are worried about creasing.The older I get, the less I want to slather my skin with tons of makeup. So even though I’m still contending with myriad issues — from perimenopausal dry skin and acne, sleep deprivation-induced dark circles, hyperpigmentation and more — having a product on hand that doesn’t weigh down my skin or contribute to these problems has been a game-changer. It’s a must in every midlife person’s skin care drawer.Reviewers agree it’s a great option for sleep-deprived moms, those of us over 40, and people who have chronically struggled with dark circles. Keep reading to see what other happy shoppers have to say then pick one of these cuties up for yourself. It costs less than a latte and since a little goes a long way, it’s got great value. AmazonPromising reviews: “I typically do not write reviews but I am genuinely so shocked at how well this works when paired with the under eye brightening powder. I have childhood photos with purple bags under my eyes so I know the struggle and this stuff immediately erased them. I am shocked at the quality for the price... About to stock up on 10 pots of this stuff.” — kcdly“After trying expensive and inexpensive brands for my dark undereyes, I always come back to Catrice! It is a creamy but light, non-drying bright light pink formulation which is great for mature eyes as well. I just dab a little on around undereye, follow with a little concealer that is 1-2 shades lighter than my foundation and then set with super fine setting powder but only where the darkness was. For $6, its one of my staples!” — Steve C“Ok, wow...I dont think I’ve ever used a concealer that worked as well as this does and looks natural, too. I will still use my eye brightened that is a little lighter than my natural skin color, just as a kind of highlight. But this goes on so smooth and is practically invisible. Really works well. Totally worth the price. You also need so little of it...this will last a long time.” — Mom in NJ“This concealer is excellent. I have dark circles around my eyes, and this concealer does a great job at hiding the bags but also brightening around my eyes, I feel like I don’t look as tired. I have spent countless dollars on eye concealers. Having bought MANY super expensive brands, this concealer is a great price and works better than the expensive department store brands. I am in my late 60′s, so I appreciate the product is make with hyaluronic acid and shea butter for my mature skin. If you are looking for a concealer that WORKS, stays on all day, and is good for your skin, give this one a try. It really brightens your face, I use it below and above the eye for well rested look.” — Cathy Corcoran“I saw someone use this on you tube. I’ve never tried a product used in a video, but this was insanely cheap, and if it didnt work I’d return it. To my surprise it works!! I have dark circles under my eyes - and this completely covers them. It seriously doesn’t take much at all!! I have an olive tone skin with blue/dark grey circles. I didn’t think the rosey color would work, but it did!!! I also have puffiness, it didn’t do anything for that, I mean, hey its not a miracle worker! But it covers the circles!” — KC“Based on the positive reviews I figured for the price it was worth trying. And I like it! Does a good job helping to brighten under the eyes as part of a makeup routine. And it really lasts, a little goes a long way. Keep this one on your wishlist and pick it up during Prime day sales if you really want to wait and save a little, but even at full price it’s a decent value compared to other makeup products out there.” — Rachael“I bought this for my under eyes. I am 51 years old and I just felt like I had darker circles a little bit under my eyes in the morning. I saw this advertised on Instagram page, so I thought I would try it. It is fantastic! It does not crease in my under eyes. It covers my circles in a natural way. My family has actually noticed that it makes me look more alert. I actually think it makes me feel younger because of the coverage it gives under the eye. Now I should say this, it does start to wear off a little bit through the day so I reapply, but it’s very easy to apply. I have very sensitive skin. It doesn’t bother me in anyway.” — RockNeed more help perking up your peepers? Take a look at these effective eye creams from previous HuffPost coverage.AmazonCeraVe eye repair creamThis dermatologist-recommended eye cream is a HuffPost reader favorite. Yummy, nourishing and potent anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and ceramides can help to increase hydration while smoothing and brightening the under-eye area. It's a great affordable option for someone who wants to add a bit of oomph to their routine without breaking the bank. This cream is also fragrance-free so it's ideal for people with extra sensitivities. DermstoreiS Clinical Youth eye complexI ride hard for iS Clinical skin care products, and this eye complex is no different. This best-selling formula uses powerful proteins, peptides, growth factors and vitamin K to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, firm and strengthen skin health, heal cellular damage and reduce under-eye darkness. It might sound too good to be true, but it does a lot of heavy lifting and is definitely worth every penny.SephoraPaula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C eye creamPaula's Choice products are great, mid-priced options for people who want genuinely effective skin care with potent anti-aging ingredients. This vitamin C-rich eye cream is also formulated with hyaluronic acid and polypeptides that can help to firm up, brighten and smooth out the tender eye area. It's great for all skin types and those who want to address dark circles, skin texture, sagginess and more. It's a favorite among HuffPost readers, beauty writers and editors (like myself), who keep turning to the brand for high-quality, reasonably-priced products. Like the CeraVe eye cream, this one is also free of added fragrance.