As a working mom of three kids and running a start-up beauty brand, sleep is a foreign concept to me as is to many other women. Working all the time with minimal rest becomes evident on the eyes. So I rely on eye creams to transform my tired looking eyes into looking more restful and brighter.
Eye creams have come a long way. Previously eye creams were simply moisturizers in a tiny jar marketed as eye creams. Welcome to 2021 where eye creams have evolved to include various ingredients to target specific eye concerns. I’m going to breakdown each concern and what ingredients you should look for in an eye cream for your specific concern.
WRINKLES and FINE LINES:
Sorry to burst your bubble but there is no way around this. We all age and part of the aging process is formation of wrinkles and fine lines. The good news is that with use of proper skincare you can delay and to a certain extent prevent their appearance and even diminish the appearance of the fine lines and wrinkles.
Wrinkles and fine lines are caused by couple of factors. Older skin has more trouble retaining moisture and as you age the elasticity and collagen within the skin weakens. Both lend to the skin loosening and creation of lines. Sun damage, UV light and pollution also cause premature formation of fine lines.
To prevent fine lines and wrinkles and/or to minimize the appearance of existing lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet look for products with ingredients that prevent collagen loss or rebuild the collagen structure lost, provide moisture, and protect from UV damage. Also look for products that contain vitamins A,C,E and/or K
UNDER EYE BAGS AND PUFFYNESS:
The most common cause of under-eye bags or puffiness is weakening of the muscles that come with aging. in the eye area. The muscles and tissues around the eye weaken causing the skin to become too lax. The skin will tend to fall or wrinkle creating loose skin pockets or bags under the eyes. The weakening underlying muscles also allows the fat surrounding the eye to bulge out, creating that bubble-like puffy appearance. Puffiness around the eyes can also be caused by poor lymphatic circulation or dietary factors—like high sodium—which draws water into your skin’s tissue leading to puffiness.
To target under eye bags and puffiness look for products with caffeine as caffeine works to constrict your blood vessels under the skin, which means less fluid builds up and settles around your eyes. Ingredients such as green tea and aloe provide cooling effects and can help to depuff the under-eye area. Retinol helps to reduce puffiness and smooth out retinol to reduce puffiness and smooth out the skin. Finally, silicates pull the skin leading to immediate but temporary elimination of under eye bags.
DARK CIRCLES:
There are couple of causes of undereye circles. Increased pigmentation or hyperpigmentation can lead to darker coloring of the under-eye area. Excessive sun exposure sun exposure can lead to excess melanin production, thus darkening the pigment of the skin under the eyes. Eye strain is also a common cause of dark under-eye circles, as staring at blue light (from a computer, TV, or phone) can cause and exaggerate under eye circles. Another reason for the darker appearance under the eyes is that the skin in the under-eye area is thinner. The thinner the skin, the more translucent it is, and this causes the underlying muscles and blood vessels to show through, resulting in a dark purplish appearance. Poor circulation and overactive circulation around the eye area also create a darkening effect. Your bone structure also contributes to the appearance of dark under eye circles. A depression near the inner side of the lower bony eye socket can cause a shadowing effect on the under-eye area making it appear darker. Lastly, Loss of underlying fat and thinning of skin over the eye socket creates a hollowness and emphasizes the appearance of a dark line under the eye.
Products that help restore collagen can reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles by stimulating collagen production and rejuvenating the skin. Also look for products with ingredients such as Kojic acid and Hydroquinones which have a brightening effect on the skin and help reduce the appearance of pigmentation. Finally, one of the best ways to reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes is to protect the eyes from sun exposure. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher should be used daily to prevent unwanted discoloration and other skin damage from UV rays.
Happy Eye Cream Shopping!