The skin around and under the eyes is especially sensitive and delicate. As we age, the skin can sag and form fine lines. Several outside elements can contribute to sagging and fine lines around the eyes, including pollution and tanning beds. Frequent and overuse of eye makeup can also dehydrate the skin around the eye, leading to wrinkles. Because the skin around the eye is so thin, it is very important to take appropriate measures to care for it. It is best to start a moisturizing regime early on so that you can continue to nourish the under-eye area as you age.
Be sure to never use a regular body moisturizer for your eyes. They are designed for the rest of the body but not for your sensitive eye area. Eye moisturizers are designed often with fewer ingredients, since the skin under the eye is so sensitive and thin. They also have special ingredients that directly benefit the skin under the eyes. These ingredients target problems that could arise: like crows feet, dark circles and puffiness.
When you are searching for an under-eye moisturizer, look for these ingredients below.
• Caffeine: reduces puffiness and redness around the eyes
• Vitamin K: reduces dark circles
There are also generally three different type of eye moisturizer products: night time moisturizer, day time moisturizer and a basic eye moisturizer. This doesn't necessarily mean that you need to use all three. But you should understand the difference between the three. A night time eye moisturizer actually has active ingredients that are designed to be worn only at night. If you use a night time moisturizer during the day, the ingredients could cause harmful chemical reactions when exposed to sunlight. These ingredients are alpha hydroxy acid and retinol. Day time eye moisturizers, on the other hand, are specially formulated to be worn during the day. They coat the under-eye area and protect it from outside elements. A day-time moisturizer may contain ingredients like caffeine, cucumber and chamomile. The latter is a very soothing herb that helps to reduce puffiness.
A basic moisturizer does not contain any of the active ingredients that would be in night time eye moisturizing creams. Instead, a basic under-eye moisturizer contains simple ingredients. The goal of a basic eye moisturizer is simply to keep moisture in the skin and help it to look supple and minimize puffiness. If you are having a hard time locating an under-eye cream that you like, try going to a speciality store so that you can ask for some recommendations. When looking for an under-eye moisturizer, remember to look for simple and natural ingredients. When you purchase a natural under-eye moisturizer, you can be sure that the ingredients are safe and will not irritate your skin.
Regardless of which eye cream product you choose, there are a few things to keep in mind so that you know how to use under-eye moisturizers. Using your ring finger, a cotton swab or an eye makeup applicator, take only a small dab of moisturizing cream. Dab the cream gently on the eye area. It is best to start from the bottom near the tear duct and continue to lightly dab around the eye. Be sure to cover a generous area, often crows feet extend outwards away from the eye slightly. The idea is to gently pat and not forcefully rub the cream into your skin. If you use only a basic under-eye cream instead of both day and night cream, just be sure to apply it several times a day to continue to moisturize and support your under-eye area.
Here are a few recommendations for under-eye cream to get you started:
