Your eyes always give the game away. Late nights, smoky atmospheres, slaving over a computer all take their toll on the skin around your eyes and the older you get the harder it is to disguise the damage. The appearance is swollen eyelids, bags & dark circles and crows feet and puffiness.

Eye Facts

• The skin is this area is very fine and fragile (about 4 times thinner than the rest of the face).
  
• There are no oil glands or fatty tissue to protect the area.
  
• You are 10 times more likely to have reactions and allergies here than anywhere else on the body.
  
• Blinking up to 10,000 times a day, leads to destruction of collagen and elastin fibres.

This fine and delicate area needs extra special attention with specially formulated products that are light in texture and can address the particular concerns associated with the eyes. It is very important to avoid using any moisturiser made for the face as these can be rich and heavy and cause further problems.

Here are a few common eye problems and some suggestions to sort them out.

Problem: Puffy skin around the eyes.

Usually worse in the morning, caused by a pooling of fluid and lipids under the eye as you sleep. This happens as there is a lack of natural toxin drainage system (the lymphatic circulation) The supportive tissue becomes stretched and the contours loosen.
Solution:
An eye gel will constrict the bags, cool and refresh the area. Apply a small amount of eye gel under the eye and pat in with your fingertips. These gels contain stimulants to increase circulation and decongest the area. They also tighten and firm up the skin to strengthen any loosened skin from the bags. Apply with small presses from the bridge of the nose towards your ears. This will help to drain the fluid and improve the appearance. Keep your eye gel in the fridge for an instant wake up fix.

Try a gel eye mask or soothing eye makeup remover straight from the fridge. Placed on the eyes for 10 minutes, it should help to constrict blood vessels in the area, reducing the puffiness and eye bags.

Problem: Dark Circles

Most people believe that this problem occurs after too many late nights, but is actually caused by the blood vessels showing through the fine skin here. When slight trauma occurs, similar to when a bruise appears, there is a slowing of toxin removal and circulation so the blood becomes static and shows through the already thin skin.
Solution:
Try an eye balm or cream to cool and decongest the area. Specialist eye products are designed to decrease the appearance of dark circles under the eyes by strengthening the capillary network under the skin.  Products containing Vitamin K, Cucumber and Caffeine work wonders. If the shadows are very dark you may want to use an under eye concealer to cover them. Chose a shade to match your skin tone or very slightly lighter.

Old wives tales of cucumber slices and tea bags do hold some truth. Cucumber is very soothing and decongesting, whilst the caffeine in tea is an excellent diuretic. Try Green Tea for its antioxidant benefits or Chamomile for its anti-inflammatory effects.

Problem: Fine lines & wrinkles

It’s a common concern, as the eye area is one of the first areas to show signs of ageing. Constant blinking and frowning, loosens the conjunctive tissue (collagen and elastin fibres) and makes it fragile and more prone to crow’s feet. UV rays, stress and looking at computer screens, all play a big role in premature ageing setting in.
Solution:
Choose a lightweight eye cream that will give protection, help to minimise crow’s feet and smooth fine lines and wrinkles by strengthening collagen and elastin fibres. These products also work very well at smoothing fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth.

Take a leaf out of celebrities like Victoria Beckham and keep those sunglasses on when in the sun or driving. Stops the squinting and frowning and gives added protection to this delicate area.

Product solutions for Dark Circles & Puffy Eyes >>

Product solutions for Lines Around the Eyes >>