A Guide To Taking Care Of The Delicate Skin Around The Eyes
Due to its intricate structure and the sheer act of living, the face is one of the most complex parts of the human body. A combination of genetics, environmental factors, and the ways we pass our days influence its appearance and condition, making each face a unique blend of elements. And, I think we can all agree, that among all facial features, the eyes stand out as the most expressive and telling aspect.
Like it or not, the skin around your eyes is one part of your body that can show the earliest signs of premature ageing. Especially if not cared for properly.
In this article, I want to take a little time to explain why that’s the case, how to care for this part of your face and which products you should choose to make sure you look your best self.
The anatomy of the eye area
With skin that is thinner than the rest of the face, the periorbital region is a site of particular fragility. Because it has fewer sebaceous glands, this area produces less oil, rendering it susceptible to dehydration and dryness. Additionally, the constant movement from blinking and facial expressions can lead to wrinkles and fine lines. Blood vessels are also more visible through this thin skin, which contributes to dark circles and puffiness.
Factors like the continual, natural loss of moisture from the skin, ultraviolet (UV) rays, genetics, lifestyle or seasonal allergies serve as a great reason, why the skin around the eyes requires a heightened degree of care.
Caring for such a sensitive area requires gentle daily cleansing, and the application of replenishing formulations. Eye care products must also accommodate another common attribute of this zone – its greater propensity for skin reactivity and aggravation. Therefore, it’s best to look for formulations that will provide targeted support to the skin around the eyes, without perturbing it.
The No 1 rule – moisturise
Moisturising is one of those underrated steps that often seems like the least important. But imagine our skin as a grape. When it loses water, it starts to shrink and wrinkle. Which is unfortunately inevitable part of life, but it doesn’t have to knock at your door earlier than you’d expect.
By putting that water back in the metaphorical grape, that is our skin, we can help plump up and potentially reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. The same applies for our eye area. Especially, since they lack oil glands, they can be more prone to dryness.
One of the most frequently asked question about moisturising is, whether you can use your face moisturiser for the skin around the eyes. Theoretically, yes, as long as it doesn’t irritate your eyes and provides a sufficient amount of moisture. However, I usually advise selecting a separate moisturiser specifically formulated to care for the skin around the eyes, as it can be more sensitive to the regular face care products.
Check the ingredients
When looking for the right eye cream, you should know which ingredients to look out for based on what you’re trying to treat. Below, I’ve named some ingredients for specific concerns.
For fine lines
Aside from hydrating humectants, you’ll want to look for ingredients that provide an immediate “plump up” effect. Those could be more potent ingredients that have been linked to stimulating collagen production. For example:
retinoid
retinol
vitamin A derivate
peptides
For dark circles
To combat dark circles caused by the sun’s UV rays, you’ll want to look for the following ingredients:
arbutin
kojic acid
vitamin acid
soy
niacinamide
azelaic acid
For puffiness
Often enough, the remedy for puffy eyes can be as simple as getting enough sleep or drinking enough water. However, when it comes to skincare ingredients, you can look for the following:
caffeine
green tea and coffee berry polyphenols
dipeptide-2
willow herb
If your concerns are more general, then you can look for antioxidants – vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea, vitamin B-3 (niacinamide). These will help remove free radicals in the skin that are triggered by UV radiation, smoking, and other pollutants. Furthermore, they will help slow the ageing process.
