Dark circles and eye bags and wrinkles affect everyone at some point, regardless of lifestyle, gender, and genetics. But premature aging in the eye area doesn’t have to be part of your skin’s narrative.
Take a look at our 4 simple tips for keeping your eye area alive and kicking for as long as possible.
Exercise the stress away
Stress shows on our skin. When we’re stressed, the hormone cortisol is created, which has been clinically proven to break down collagen, giving way to under-eye wrinkles and volume loss. Not only does exercise increase blood flow to the skin (reducing dullness and brightening your complexion), but it also increases endorphin production, keeping cortisol at bay.
Use a serum for nourishment and barrier protection
You should be using both an eye cream and a serum in the eye region, as each delivers different benefits for the eye area.
Let’s start with serums. An eye serum is vital for hitting the eyes with a beneficial cocktail of active ingredients. Serums are lightweight in texture, making them perfect for easy absorption into the skin.
A vitamin C-rich serum such as SkinCeuticals AOX Eye Gel is effective for firming up the skin barrier in the eye area, and if you’re an acne-prone skin type, it’s great for getting oil production under control. This powerful antioxidant gel can also be a protective force against the free radicals responsible for breaking down collagen underneath the eyes and causing dark circles.
If your main concern is reducing under-eye puffiness, you might want to consider a serum that contains caffeine, such as Obagi Elastiderm Eye Serum.
Skinceuticals AOX+ Eye Gel
Obagi Elastiderm Eye Serum
Hydration
So, you’ve got your serum sorted – now it’s time to hydrate with a moisturiser.
The primary purpose of your eye cream is to give your eyes a strong defense against moisture loss, acting as a preventive asset in your skincare routine. The eyes are the first area of the face where collagen and moisture loss will first be noticeable, so using a moisturiser (which has a thicker and therefore more hydrating viscosity than a serum), is key from around your mid-20s.
A retinol-based eye moisturiser will help to exfoliate your skin, boost collagen production, and prevent the loss of pre-existing collagen in your skin, by slowing down the enzyme responsible for breaking it down. We love ZO Skin Health’s targeted Eye Repair with Retinol, which does everything you’ve just read!
ZO Eye Repair with Retinol
Go easy on the alcohol (even just 1 drink affects your skin!)
We all know that alcohol dehydrates your skin, and the first place this evidence manifests is in the eye area. But did you also know that too much alcohol also starts to deprive your skin of vitamins (such as Vitamin A responsible for cell renewal) and minerals? This is where hangover effects can turn into permanent signs of aging.
Broken capillaries, red spots, and chronic under-eye puffiness are all tell-tale signs of alcohol-related skin damage. Try not to exceed the recommended weekly alcohol limit of 14 units, and when you do have a tipple, drink plenty of water and make sure you use your eye cream (ZO Skin Health’s Targeted Retinol Eye Treatment) before bedtime!