Cosmetics experts now know that the extremely delicate tissue around the eyes simply cannot absorb thick emollients without being stretched and potentially damaged.
This is especially true if you’ve been out in the sun or stayed up too late. If the viscosity of the product you use is too thick or if it contains too much oil, your eye area will end up looking worse than it did before the treatment.
Other mistakes made in caring for the eye area — apart from using too much moisturizer — are failing to get enough deep sleep and not wearing decent sunglasses or a sunblock designed specifically for the eye area.
With a bit of patience, the crop of eye gels available today can radically change the way your eyes look. Many women pass up eye gels mistakenly thinking that they don’t give the delicate skin enough moisture. The first few eye gels on the market were alcohol-based, made for use during facials and worked best when applied with steam, but if used on a regular basis they could cause drying.
With the antioxidant revolution in cosmetics and the ability manufactures have to micronize ingredients into liposomes which release ingredients gradually throughout the day, eye gels are a girl’s best friend.
Sunscreen is essential in protecting the eye area but it absolutely must be formulated for the eye area.
The Benefits of Eye Gels
Look for a base with cucumber and vitamin C, K or A added in. There was a reason why all those old-school salons put cucumber slices around the eyes. It not only reduces swelling but it appears to heal the broken blood vessels that cause dark circles in the first place. The vitamins help further by lightening the pigment and reducing lines.
Apply the gel before applying makeup, just before bed and at least once more throughout the day to stave off dryness. Awake Hydro Plus Eye Gel is thicker than some other products, but melts right in. They also include micronized crystals to offset any dark circles. Awake has the most elite and stringent processing codes of virtually any cosmetics company in the world.
Get Rid of Dark Circles & Under Eye Bags
Dark circles and bags are also more effectively treated by gels. Heavier darker circles may require a bleaching procedure done at a dermatologist’s office, and permanent under-eye bags need to be addressed by a plastic surgeon. However, with more sleep and a great eye gel, you can make a dramatic change at home in any case.
Kojic acid, licorice extract and vitamin K help to brighten the eye area and reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness and fine lines (from such things as rubbing, surgery, allergies, etc.)
Vitamin K is the next big skincare ingredient for repairing the eye area’s dark circles and has already successfully been used to heal spider veins on the legs. Peter Thomas Roth Power K Eye Rescue contains antioxidants and bioflavinoids such as vitamin K in liposomes, co-enzyme Q-10 encapsulated in caviar, kojic acid and vitamin C. Drugstore brand Sudden Change has Vitamin K and is effective as well.
Protect Your Eyes: Sunscreen
Sunscreen is essential in protecting the eye area but it absolutely must be formulated for the eye area; even using sensitive sunblock designed for the face is too much and can irritate the skin.
For the sunniest climates and adventures use eye care products by Lancôme or Shiseido as they have had eye sunblocks on the market longer than any other cosmetic name and make superior sun care products. Titanium dioxide, which physically blocks the sun as opposed to just absorbing it, is a key ingredient to look for.
New processing techniques have taken titanium dioxide light years away from the white stuff that sat on your local life guard’s nose and made it nearly imperceptible. Dermalogica’s Total Eye Care SPF 15 contains titanium dioxide as well as lactic acid to soften fine lines and a tint for a bit of coverage.
