When we first start noticing signs of aging, chances are that we find them in our delicate eye area. Depending on lifestyle and genetic predisposition, this can be as early as in our 20s.
Visible marks include fine lines and wrinkles, dark under eye circles or puffiness.
In the following, we will try to explain what causes these signs of aging to occur and how you can reduce them.
What is so special about our eye area?
The skin in the area around are eyes is particularly thin – sometimes as thin as 0.2mm. The fatty layer between muscle and skin in this area is also much thinner than in other parts of our body and does not have any underlying sebum glands to keep the skin supple. On top of these characteristics, we put constant strain on the 22 muscles in the eye area (by blinking an average of up to 10,000 times a day).
This makes the area around the eyes particularly prone to signs of aging, whether it’s wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or changes in texture. The main trigger for all changes is UV radiation. Other factors include genetic predisposition, nicotine consumption or chronic rubbing due to seasonal allergies, irritations, etc.
When should I start using an eye cream?
Eye cream should become part of your daily skin care routine ideally an age of around 25 year. At this age, hydration is key – a hyaluronic acid serum is a very good solution.
When, a few years later, the body’s own collagen production declines, wrinkles form and the skin’s elasticity decreases, you should expand your care. Natural lipids, such as in shea butter, are particularly important. Rich in different types of fatty acids, they support the skin in its functions and contain important antioxidants. Vitamins A, C and E or peptides can also stimulate cell functions and give a more youthful appearance to the sensitive eye area.
How do I properly apply eye care?
Whether you opt for a serum, a gel or a cream – eye care is applied after cleansing but before day or night cream, otherwise it cannot penetrate the skin optimally. Since the eye area is very sensitive, you should be particularly careful when removing make-up and avoid rubbing. We recommend to soak a cotton pad in makeup remover or cleansing milk, instead, and place it on the closed eye for a few seconds. Afterwards, make-up should always be removed or wiped off with movements from the inside out.
We advise to then gently pat the eye cream in with the tip of your ring finger – from the inside out. For very dry skin, a serum can be used under the eye cream, because the high concentration of active ingredients makes it particularly effective at fighting the signs of time. Hyaluronic acid is a very good solution for this skin condition. Both the serum and the eye cream should absorb for one to two minutes before other products are applied.
What should an eye cream do?
A good eye cream is very skin-friendly, supports the moisture balance of the sensitive eye area and preserves the elasticity in this region. Compared to day or night care, it contains fewer saturated oils and also fewer fragrances, as these can get into the eyes and cause irritation. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin are recommended for plumping up wrinkles, but algae or green tea are also suitable due to their antioxidant and cell-protecting properties. High-quality shea butter even provides both – intense moisture and numerous antioxidants.
Depending on your skin care requirements, you can complement your cream with an additional serum.
Here are a few tips for improving small “flaws” in the eye area.
Undereye shadows
Too little sleep or too much stress reduce the oxygen concentration in our blood. As a result, blood flows more slowly and appears darker. Due to the skin around the eyes being so thin, blood shines through and looks like an undereye shadow. To help regenerate skin overnight, you can apply a hyaluronic acid serum or a serum / eye cream with targeted ingredients. For quick success, a concealer is suitable to cover the shadows.
Swelling
Swellings are mainly caused by lymph fluid that builds up overnight when the body is in a horizontal position. Cosmetics containing caffeine are available to counteract swelling, but green algae can also help here. For a burst of freshness when you wake up in the morning, you can store your eye cream in the refrigerator overnight – because a cooling cream makes puffiness disappear even better. The best solution, however, is getting enough sleep and leading a healthy lifestyle.
Reddened or irritated eye area
Redness and irritation are mainly caused by friction. What can help skin in this case is extra moisture (especially hyaluronic acid). But also cold compresses or creams and lotions with chamomile extract can help.
Fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet
Although the skin becomes thinner with age and the synthesis of collagen decreases, UV radiation is the main cause of wrinkles around our eyes. The first step towards a smoother, suppler eye area is therefore UVA and sun protection through sunglasses and sunscreens, to avoid fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet in the first place.
An eye cream should contain antioxidants, as these act as free radical scavengers and thus help prevent oxidative stress. Peptides as collagen boosters are also helpful and support the skin structure. Hyaluronic acid is the best solution for hydration and suppleness, while the alga porphyra umbilicalis provides protection against light-induced skin aging.
Conclusion: Eye care is an essential part of our daily skin care routine
– and that from a young age. Suitable UV protection should always support the eye area. A fragrance-free hyaluronic acid combined with a rich eye cream is an excellent solution for the first and more advanced signs of skin aging.
We recommend the Pure Hyaluronic Intense Serum, the Yellow Serum and the eye cream from our GREEN series for the best results.