Keep your eyes on the prize
It was only a matter of time. After weeks of staring down the Zoom chasm at our own faces – and the faces of our beloved friends and family and indeed the kitchen tables of our workmates – our eyes, and the dark circles beneath them, have suddenly become the focus for our increasingly watchful and critical gazes.
As soon as face masks were dropped into the mix, it was official: our eyes are our new preoccupation.
I did write last week about framing the eyes with lashes, brows and a smoky eye, but I guess it’s high time I gave credence to the products and procedures that help the eye area in terms of skincare.
Of course, it is entirely natural to have eye bags, puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines – they are a part of being a busy human. As we age, we lose volume in the under-eye, commonly called the tear trough region or the eye bag area. This can cause wrinkles, thinning skin, dark circles, and a sunken appearance.
Meanwhile, puffy eyes and sagging skin can show up because of use of heavy textured creams, stress, fatigue, allergies such as hay fever, dehydration, and sun damage. Many beauty experts think that eye creams are a fallacy, but your skin is naturally thinner and more fragile around the eye, and naturally is an area that is not great at keeping itself hydrated as there are fewer oil glands. Retinoids can also be used to rebuild collagen.
Here are some of my favourite eye creams for the eye area. Aesthetic doctors are even labelling eyes as ‘the new lips’. It seems that post-lockdown, women have been replacing their lust for lip fillers with treatments for their eyes instead, but perhaps a good eye cream, will see you through instead. Here are some of my top picks:
If you are disposed to puffiness, look no further than Codex’s cooling eye gel (€72) which contains everything from de-puffing arnica oil to cucumber and aloe vera to hydrate, soothe and plump. The texture of this is a universal winner for me and the fragrance is rose with hints of Immortelle. It is vegan, too, and ideal for keeping in the fridge to help relieve tension or headaches.
Vichy Minéral 89 Eyes Hyaluronic Acid Eye Fortifier (€25) is packed with hyaluronic acid, caffeine and Vichy’s soothing thermal water. This gel-based cream is the ultimate pick-me-up product when eyes need a boost. Even sensitive eyes will adore the gentle formula and it is neither heavy nor sticky and is suitable for all ages - a great addition to your eye skincare arsenal.
Dermalogica Biolumin C Eye Serum (€76) is packed full of hardworking ingredients, but the star is vitamin C, which helps to brighten and even skin tone while defending against pollution and other external aggressors. It is light in texture yet potent. You will notice a big difference after a few weeks of use, and it is a great start for someone that has not used a specific eye cream before.
Target crow’s feet, droopiness, and saggy skin to reveal brighter, younger looking eyes with a clinically developed eye cream, from Exuviance that corrects the visible signs with continuous use.
The Age Reverse eye cream, (€49) contains peptides to help restore skin’s youthful appearance and firm skin around the eye area. There are optical diffusers to brighten and illuminate and botanicals to refresh and soothe. The gel texture is so lovely and soothing as well as gently hydrating.
Image Skincare Illuma Eye Cream (€79) is a super-hydrating and brightening eye crème that works aggressively to break up discoloration under the eyes. A blend of phytonutrients, peptides and botanical brightening agents help to reduce visible signs of aging like dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness, and lax skin to restore a firmer, vibrant, and more youthful appearance to the eyes. It is a pleasure to use and the formula smells great.
Image MD Collagen Recovery Eye Gel (€107). This eye gel helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles. It is the one I am currently using. It improves the appearance of wrinkles and loss of firmness in the eye area. It helps to restore a bright, well-rested appearance to the eyes. It contains marine collagen microspheres that help to plump the appearance of crepey skin which is my main eye concern.
For a 360-degree solution, try Clarins Total Eye Lift (€68). Developed for all women and all ages, this exceptional eye care takes on everything that stands in the way of total eye radiance. Mostly powered by plants, the texture of this is beautiful and the results noticeable. The formula is light and radiant, and I have found the days I use it I can skip the eye concealer completely. Surely there is not a greater advert than that?