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Are you still not using eye cream? Then we come to you – with detailed explanations why the delicate and vulnerable skin around the eyes simply needs special cosmetics. Unless, of course, you dream of crow’s feet, dark circles and swelling.
What is an eye cream and what is it for?
It is about 6 times thinner than the skin on other parts of the face, so it is more prone to irritation and dehydration.
The abundance of facial muscles in this area provokes the rapid appearance of wrinkles.
Loose and thin subcutaneous fatty tissue accumulates water well, which means it provokes swelling.
The skin around the eyes is thin and prone to mimic wrinkles.
Considering the proximity of the mucous membrane, it is necessary to use products that have passed ophthalmological control. For the same reason – to say “no” to cosmetics with fragrances and dyes.
These features once again confirm the recommendations of dermatologists to use specially designed products for the skin around the eyes.
How it works
Taking into account the peculiarities of the structure of the skin around the eyes – thin, vulnerable, dependent on the high activity of mimic muscles, with fewer sebaceous glands – an eye cream should solve at least four tasks.
humidification. Formulas with hydrating agents fix water to skin cells and prevent its loss.
Improved blood and lymph flow.
Охлаждение. This task is performed by remedies for bags under the eyes. The active ingredients stimulate the cold receptors of the skin and mucous membranes, the skin reacts to the feeling of coolness by constricting blood vessels and reducing swelling.
Food. Lipid-replenishing components improve the protective properties of the skin of the eyelids, reduced due to a lack of their own lipids.
Answer our quiz to find out what kind of eye care you need.
How to choose
The main requirements for cosmetics for the eyelids are the passage of ophthalmological control and the hypoallergenicity of the formula. The texture also plays a significant role, because the cream should be evenly distributed, well absorbed, and not cause discomfort.
If the skin of the eyelids needs drainage, suitable light cream or gel.
Best choice for young skin sorbet fluid or texture.
A pronounced lifting effect will provide more thick cream.
Oils and balms Suitable for dehydrated and aging skin.
After 20 years
It is commonly believed that eye cream is not needed at a young age, but this is a mistake. Moisturizer will come in handy already in your 20-22 years, especially if you do eye makeup every day. And do not forget: high-quality hydration is the basis of aging prevention.
After 25 years
You will be surprised, but you can use anti-aging products as early as 25-27 years old if you notice a hint of mimic wrinkles. The basis of such formulas are most often vitamins, antioxidants, plant extracts.
After 30 years
The loss of skin elasticity due to a decrease in the synthesis of its own collagen is already noticeable, it is the turn of more serious remedies, for example, with peptides, rhamnose, vitamin C.
After 40 years
If wrinkles on the skin of the eyelids and loss of tone are already noticeable, then creams with a lifting effect are used, and formulas with retinol are used to correct wrinkles.
Eye cream can be moisturizing, anti-aging or all-purpose
Types of eye creams
The area around the eyes though requires serious care. For this reason, it makes sense to keep several creams with different functionality on hand.
Moisturizing
Most eyelid products have a moisturizing effect. Due to the lack of sebaceous glands in the skin around the eyes and less lipid production, it often becomes dehydrated and sensitive. Therefore, the composition should include moisturizing ingredients:
hyaluronic acid (it is considered one of the best hydrating ingredients);
glycerol;
aloe extract.
Against puffiness and dark circles under the eyes
The main causes of congestion on the skin around the eyes are insufficient blood and lymph flow. To improve it to solve the problem of edema and dark circles, formulas are capable of containing:
cooling components – derivatives of mint, menthol (racementhol, mentoxypropanediol) or aloe vera for sensitive skin;
substances to improve microcirculation — caffeine, escin, dextran or cornflower extract;
drainage ingredients – extracts of chestnut and algae. They help to “disperse” the blood flow.
Multifunctional
Perhaps the most popular category of eye creams are universal, they can perform several tasks at once:
moisturize;
reduce mimic wrinkles and prevent their appearance;
relieve puffiness.
Anti-aging eye cream may contain peptides and hyaluronic acid
From mimic wrinkles
The skin around the eyes is especially prone to wrinkles. On average, a person blinks 15-20 times per minute, and this mobility plus the activity of facial muscles around the eyes lead to the formation of “crow’s feet”, which become more noticeable during the day. So much so that by the evening the look seems tired and adds age.
It is impossible to stop blinking, frowning, squinting and smiling. But it’s quite possible to do gymnastics (the simplest relaxation exercise is to roll your eyes with your eyelids closed) and use anti-wrinkle creams.”
Anti-Aging
This tool is aimed at correcting the signs of aging (wrinkles, loss of tone, increased pigmentation). Formulas with powerful anti-aging components will come to the rescue.
Sugars (rhamnose, xylose) improve the production of collagen and elastin, which are responsible for skin elasticity.
Oils (apricot kernels, grapes) nourish the skin.
Caffeine, cornflower and licorice extracts have a drainage effect.
Peptides have restorative properties.
retinol Helps correct signs of skin aging.
Vitamin C struggles with the influence of negative environmental factors.
Antioxidants (citrus or tea polyphenols, vitamin E, eperulin, resveratrol) fight free radicals.
For men’s skin
Whatever they say, men’s skin differs from women’s due to physiological and hormonal characteristics. So her cosmetics are supposed to be special. Differences of men’s eye creams:
a higher concentration of components, due to the fact that the skin of men is denser;
more pronounced effect with a single application;
primary tasks are the removal of fatigue and puffiness, moisturizing.
Eye creams come in different uses
Composition
The main working components of eye creams have already been listed above, it remains to summarize.
Moisturize: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, mannose.
Fight wrinkles: peptides, vitamins A and C, collagen.
Prevent signs of aging: vitamin E, resveratrol, polyphenols.
Reduce puffiness and dark circles: caffeine, chestnut extract and algae.
Applying eye cream
Universal application algorithm.
When applying, do not rub or stretch the skin, distribute the texture with light massaging movements.
Do not apply the product close to the mucous membrane, otherwise redness of the eyes can be provoked.
Spread the cream with the ring finger, lightly patting on the orbital bone and, as it were, drawing a circle from the inner corner of the eye to the outer one along the upper eyelid, and from the outer corner of the eye to the nose along the lower eyelid.
The skin around the eyes is prone to early wrinkles.
Depending on the type of product, application tips may vary.
Cream for dark circles and puffiness
Apply in the morning. Apply from the inner corner of the eye to the outer, gently tapping the skin with your fingertips, this will increase lymphatic drainage. Be careful – powerful refreshing ingredients, even near the mucous membrane, can cause a reaction.
Anti-aging agent
Distribute from the outer corner of the eyes to the inner, along the lines of least stretching of the skin, with light pressure.
Night cream
Apply an hour and a half before going to bed. This is especially true for night formulas with a high concentration of active ingredients.
If you use the product right before bedtime, then the morning result will most likely not be a fresh look, but puffiness in the eyelid area. Therefore, after applying the cream, it is important to maintain the vertical position of the body for at least an hour – along with mimic activity, this will prevent swelling.
Review of products for the skin around the eyes
Moisturizers
| Name | Action | Composition |
| Skin care around the eyes Hydra Collagenist, Helena Rubinstein | Deeply moisturizes the skin, relieves fatigue, slows down the aging process and smoothes wrinkles that appeared as a result of skin drying. | collagen microspheres, Derm-Hydrafix complex |
| Hydraphase Intense Eyes, La Roche-Posay | Intensively saturates skin cells with moisture, has a decongestant effect. Suitable for sensitive skin around the eyes. | low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, caffeine, thermal water; without parabens and fragrances |
Anti-aging
| Name | Action | Composition |
| Cream for the skin around the eyes “Anti-aging care, Anti-wrinkle protection 35+”, Garnier | Stimulates cell renewal, intensively moisturizes and smoothes the skin. | plant cells, tea polyphenols |
| anti-aging anti-wrinkle cream for the eye area “Revitalift Filler [HA]”, L’Oréal Paris | Reduces sagging of the upper eyelid, evens out the relief of the nasolacrimal grooves, fills in wrinkles. | highly concentrated hyaluronic acid |
Against dark circles and puffiness
| Name | Action | Composition |
| Awakening balm for the eye contour Aqualia Thermal, Vichy | Helps to redistribute moisture in the skin around the eyes, has a drainage effect. | hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aquabioryl, caffeine, thermal water |
| Means against signs of fatigue of the skin around the eyes Total Recharge Eye, Biotherm Homme | Effectively fights puffiness and tones the skin, removing signs of fatigue. | caffeine, cericoside, manganese |
Universal
| Name | Action | Composition |
| Moisturizer for lips and eye area Armani Prima Eye & Lip Perfector, Giorgio Armani | Adds radiance and hides dark circles. Can be used as a base for concealer. | reflective particles |
| Anti-glycation cream for the skin around the eyes against wrinkles, dark circles and swelling AGE Eye Complex, SkinCeuticals | Reduces the consequences of the glycation process, prevents the appearance of new wrinkles and corrects existing ones, improves blood and lymph circulation. | proxylan 5%, blueberry extract 4%, vitamin C |
For men’s skin
| Name | Action | Composition |
| Gel for the skin around the eyes Aquapower Eye De-puffer, Biotherm Homme | Refreshes, moisturizes and cools the skin, reduces swelling of the eyelids. | caffeine, plankton extract, menthol |
| Cream for the skin around the eyes against wrinkles and for elasticity with a lifting effect Rénergy 3D Yeux, Lancôme Men | Activates microcirculation, stimulates the synthesis of elastin and collagen, tones. | rice peptides, microparticles of colloidal silicon and soy proteins |