Eye Creams-My Obsession
Sometimes life just happens to you -- one day you may look in the
mirror and see an older person staring back at you. What are these
crow's feet and fine lines around your eyes? How did they suddenly
appear, and more importantly, can you get rid of them?
Taking a walk through any beauty products department can leave you more confused about what sort of eye care you might need. Cosmetics companies have flooded the market with moisturizers, creams, gels and rejuvenating serums, all promising younger-looking skin around your eyes. With prices ranging anywhere from $15 to more than $100, you can feel like you need to spend a fortune to take care of your eyes, but eye cream often is just glorified moisturizer packaged in a tiny bottle. Do you really need a specialized moisturizer for your eyes?
Cosmetics companies claim the reason you need a separate eye cream is because the skin around your eyes is a little different from the rest of your face. First of all, this skin is indeed thinner and shows signs of aging more quickly than other areas of the face do. This thinness makes it more delicate and vulnerable, and it's more prone to allergic reactions than other facial skin. The skin around the eyes also gets a much greater workout; every time you move your eyes, whether you squint, smile or widen them in surprise, you're working out the tiny muscles around your eyes. Over time, this skin dries out and forms small wrinkles, sometimes called crow's feet. Smoking and exposure to the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays can also encourage wrinkles to form.
Skin under the eyes can be prone to puffiness if fluid builds up there -- allergies and sinus problems can also cause the eyes to puff. When the epidermis becomes thinner and the underlying veins become more prominent, dark circles can form. Heredity, lack of sleep, too much sun exposure and aging can all cause dark circles.
Unlike skin on the rest of your face, the eye area does not contain oil glands that can help keep this skin moist. This is part of the reason why beauty companies and experts recommend using a separate eye cream.
Next, we'll discuss what eye creams can and can't do as we examine whether you really do need a separate product just for your eyes.
Taking a walk through any beauty products department can leave you more confused about what sort of eye care you might need. Cosmetics companies have flooded the market with moisturizers, creams, gels and rejuvenating serums, all promising younger-looking skin around your eyes. With prices ranging anywhere from $15 to more than $100, you can feel like you need to spend a fortune to take care of your eyes, but eye cream often is just glorified moisturizer packaged in a tiny bottle. Do you really need a specialized moisturizer for your eyes?
Cosmetics companies claim the reason you need a separate eye cream is because the skin around your eyes is a little different from the rest of your face. First of all, this skin is indeed thinner and shows signs of aging more quickly than other areas of the face do. This thinness makes it more delicate and vulnerable, and it's more prone to allergic reactions than other facial skin. The skin around the eyes also gets a much greater workout; every time you move your eyes, whether you squint, smile or widen them in surprise, you're working out the tiny muscles around your eyes. Over time, this skin dries out and forms small wrinkles, sometimes called crow's feet. Smoking and exposure to the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays can also encourage wrinkles to form.
Skin under the eyes can be prone to puffiness if fluid builds up there -- allergies and sinus problems can also cause the eyes to puff. When the epidermis becomes thinner and the underlying veins become more prominent, dark circles can form. Heredity, lack of sleep, too much sun exposure and aging can all cause dark circles.
Unlike skin on the rest of your face, the eye area does not contain oil glands that can help keep this skin moist. This is part of the reason why beauty companies and experts recommend using a separate eye cream.
Next, we'll discuss what eye creams can and can't do as we examine whether you really do need a separate product just for your eyes.
What Eye Creams Can and Can't Do
Why do beauty experts promote eye cream usage? Eye creams usually contain emollients, or moisturizers, that can help hydrate the drier eye skin and help it to look smoother. To combat the appearance of wrinkles, eye creams can also contain ingredients that help boost collagen. Collagen is a major protein that's found in the fibers of connective tissue, cartilage and bone. It keeps skin strong and helps smooth out wrinkles, but your skin produces less of it as you get older. Eye creams with retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, are marketed to increase collagen production. Antioxidant ingredients, such as vitamin C, and peptides also assist in retaining collagen in the skin [source: Almasi].Ingredients such as calendula are used to fight under-eye puffiness. Some creams can even contain caffeine, which can help reduce the appearance of bags under the eyes. Eye creams fight dark circles by temporarily puffing up skin so the blood vessels underneath aren't as prevalent. If you have oily skin, you may want to consider using an eye gel because it doesn't contain the same moisturizers, which could increase the oil production in your skin.
Many experts recommend using separate eye creams rather than just facial creams because eye creams are formulated to have more emollients, which cause the skin to swell enough to lessen the appearance of wrinkles. Eye creams also tend to be thicker than facial lotions, and the thicker product will stay on the thin, mobile skin a little better [source: Almasi]. Be sure to apply the cream before you put on your makeup so that your skin absorbs the active ingredients.
If you opt for using an eye cream, don't expect it to be a cure-all. A recent study of 107 people who tried 16 different eye creams found that none of them eliminated wrinkles outright. In fact, several of the changes noted were extremely subtle, and cheaper eye creams performed just as well, if not better, than more expensive products [source: Consumer Reports].
These findings match other expert beliefs that a separate eye cream isn't always absolutely necessary. Because facial moisturizers and eye creams have basically the same ingredients, those who have normal to oily facial skin and don't need a ton of moisturizer to begin with can probably get away with using an emollient-rich facial moisturizer around their eyes [source: Begoun]. However, some experts warn that a separate eye cream is necessary because ingredients in a facial cream, such as certain added sunscreens, can be too powerful for the delicate eye area and cause problems such as stinging or burning [source: Crean]. If you are prone to eye irritation and have very sensitive skin, you may want to consider using a separate eye cream just because it can be gentler.
If you're like many adults, the combination of the words "crow's" and
"feet" likely makes you cringe. With signs such as this, your eyes can
reveal wrongs in your routine: sleep deprivation, overexposure to sun,
and habits such as smoking or drinking too much alcohol or coffee. When
wrinkles make an unwanted appearance, you might rush out to purchase
products to stop lines in their tracks. Eye creams are one of the most
common -- and the least invasive -- option for attempting to reverse
signs of aging.
The quest to quell wrinkles around the eyes feeds an entire industry dedicated to developing new and more effective moisturizing products that try to reduce the appearance of fine lines and prevent new ones from forming. Other creams also claim to treat puffiness or dark circles. Because there are so many options available, talking to specialists can be the first place to start when you're considering eye creams. A dermatologist can prescribe a product that might give you some visible results quickly, such as a retin-A cream, which has been shown to reduce the appearance of lines in skin.
The good news is that price tags don't always matter in the effort to reverse aging signs, and a less expensive eye cream bought at the drugstore might work just as well as something prescribed by a dermatologist. Consistent use of a product that works combined with a simple cleansing routine is really all you'll need to get started [source: Dover].
If the realities of growing older are interfering with your best skin care intentions, a moisturizing eye cream might be able to help. Which ingredients should you look for?
As your skin ages, it tends to become more dried out because the sebaceous glands begin to produce less sebum, or oil. Using an eye cream with moisturizing ingredients may help to prevent that dryness in the eye area. Also, since dry skin can cause fine lines to appear more prominently, the emollients in the eye cream will fill the spaces between skin cells and help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on your skin, at least for a while. [source: Bruno]. Beyond wrinkles and fine lines, bagginess and puffiness also can be combated with the right combination of ingredients in your eye moisturizer at any age.
Dry skin may play a big role in the aging process, but ultraviolet rays from sun exposure is likely your biggest skin threat, and sunscreen will help you the most. Choosing an eye cream that includes a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 will help protect your skin from those damaging rays.
As for risk factors, remember that the skin around the eyes is very delicate, so you should avoid using harsh or irritating ingredients in that area. Always be sure to read the ingredients list in case the cream includes any fragrance or other chemicals you may be allergic to. And even though many products may temporarily mask wrinkles, you probably shouldn't expect very drastic results from a moisturizing eye cream, especially one of nonprescription strength.
When fine lines begin to develop, no matter what age you are, moisturizing eye creams will give you an option to plump, soften and refresh the area around your eyes and, at least temporarily, help hide those signs of aging.
The quest to quell wrinkles around the eyes feeds an entire industry dedicated to developing new and more effective moisturizing products that try to reduce the appearance of fine lines and prevent new ones from forming. Other creams also claim to treat puffiness or dark circles. Because there are so many options available, talking to specialists can be the first place to start when you're considering eye creams. A dermatologist can prescribe a product that might give you some visible results quickly, such as a retin-A cream, which has been shown to reduce the appearance of lines in skin.
The good news is that price tags don't always matter in the effort to reverse aging signs, and a less expensive eye cream bought at the drugstore might work just as well as something prescribed by a dermatologist. Consistent use of a product that works combined with a simple cleansing routine is really all you'll need to get started [source: Dover].
If the realities of growing older are interfering with your best skin care intentions, a moisturizing eye cream might be able to help. Which ingredients should you look for?
Benefits of Moisturizing Eye Creams
Many factors contribute to how gracefully skin ages. Genetics, for example, can determine whether you are naturally fortunate enough to have minimal lines or are the unfortunate bearer of excessive wrinkles around your eyes. Regardless of what internal or external factors may be affecting the skin around your eyes, moisturizing eye creams might be able to help to delay the signs of aging -- or at least temporarily hide them.As your skin ages, it tends to become more dried out because the sebaceous glands begin to produce less sebum, or oil. Using an eye cream with moisturizing ingredients may help to prevent that dryness in the eye area. Also, since dry skin can cause fine lines to appear more prominently, the emollients in the eye cream will fill the spaces between skin cells and help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on your skin, at least for a while. [source: Bruno]. Beyond wrinkles and fine lines, bagginess and puffiness also can be combated with the right combination of ingredients in your eye moisturizer at any age.
Dry skin may play a big role in the aging process, but ultraviolet rays from sun exposure is likely your biggest skin threat, and sunscreen will help you the most. Choosing an eye cream that includes a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 will help protect your skin from those damaging rays.
As for risk factors, remember that the skin around the eyes is very delicate, so you should avoid using harsh or irritating ingredients in that area. Always be sure to read the ingredients list in case the cream includes any fragrance or other chemicals you may be allergic to. And even though many products may temporarily mask wrinkles, you probably shouldn't expect very drastic results from a moisturizing eye cream, especially one of nonprescription strength.
When fine lines begin to develop, no matter what age you are, moisturizing eye creams will give you an option to plump, soften and refresh the area around your eyes and, at least temporarily, help hide those signs of aging.
My note,I will be reviewing some of my favorites expensive and not.And I have found some drugstore really just as good as department store.So save your money.
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