Look After Your Eyes
Reckon you don't need an eye cream and can just use your normal moisturiser instead? Bad idea! At just 0.5mm thick, the skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the body, and so requires specially formulated products that won't irritate or overload it. Sure, eye creams & gels might be a little more pricey than your average moisturiser, but that's because they're potent, highly concentrated & specially formulated products.
The question is which do you choose? Well, roughly speaking both creams and gels are great for wrinkles, dark circles and for reducing the appearance of eye bags, but gels like the Molton Brown Anti-Fatigue Bai Ji Eye Gel are especially good for the latter, because they tend to be lighter and more cooling.
If wrinkles are your main problem try one of the anti-ageing eye creams available likeRecipe For Men Under Eye Gel, or REN Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel. These wrinkle-busters are especially designed to target wrinkles and prevent the formation of future fine lines.
Products like Jack Black Protein Booster Eye Rescue can do wonders for puffiness, dark circles and fine lines, but according to Noella Gabriel, Director of Treatment and Product Development at Elemis HQ, how you apply eye cream is crucial.
Smother the area with too much product and you can cause irritation and puffiness the very things you want to avoid. To prevent this she suggests using a tiny amount (a blob the size of a grain of rice should do both eyes) and applying with your ring finger. This finger has the lightest touch so it's perfect for applying eye products, she says.
Then gently tap the cream or gel around the eye socket. Don't apply too close to the eye itself, and don't rub or you'll pull the delicate skin around the eyes. The tapping motion is beneficial because it also helps drain away toxins from the eye area.
While eye creams and gels are your best friends when it comes to sorting out those annoying 'ocular issues', there are a few other steps you can take to keep your eyes and the skin around them in tip top condition:
- Cut Down on the Beer and Crisps!
According to skincare expert Ole Henriksen, both alcohol and salt are two of the main causes of eye bags. Getting your beauty kip will help too!
- Slip on Some Shades.
One of the simplest ways to reduce crow's feet is to stop squinting, so always wear sunglasses when you're out in the sun even in winter.
- Blink More.
Tests have shown that when we're at computers we tend to blink half as often as we should - and blinking is crucial to eye health, because it keeps our eyes clean and moisturised.
- Get Your 5-a-day!
Vitamin A is crucial to overall eye health, so stock up on veg like red peppers, carrots and spinach. Oh, and don't forget that all-important yearly eye check-up too.
Now you know how to look after the delicate area around your eyes, it’s time for Lesson 12: Uneven Pigmentation.
