Olluminate® Intense Eye Repair
If eyes are the windows to the soul, you want to make sure they’re looking their best and brightest regardless of your age. That’s why according to board-certified, Los Angeles-based dermatologist Annie Chiu, it’s vital to apply an eye cream at least every night, if not twice a day, starting in your 20s. “Over time it’s about maintaining the health and thickness of the eyelid skin. Improving the skin quality in this area early on ensures that the eyelid skin does not easily lose laxity and its smooth appearance later on.”
When choosing an eye cream, Dr. Chiu recommends looking for ones with antioxidants to help fight oxidative damage from pollution and UV irradiation. Creams with vitamin C, retinols and growth factors encourage thickening of collagen in an area where the skin is delicate and already thin. If you have puffy skin around your eyes, she also recommends using an eye cream with caffeine, which allows a temporary de-puffing by constricting blood vessels in the area.
But be warned: All these ingredients, though effective in face creams and serums, may do more harm than good if the product is not formulated specifically for the eye area. Dr. Chiu explains: “A lot of great active ingredients, such as retinols and vitamin C, can actually cause irritation, so it has to be specially stabilised or formulated for this delicate skin area.”
For best results, Dr. Chiu says consistency is key. “Regular use of eye cream over time will keep the eyelid skin elastic and can improve or prevent against some fine lines or collagen loss. Remember: Nothing is magic. Results don’t occur overnight,” she says. “You can further protect the delicate skin around your eyes by applying sunscreen every day.” Dr. Chiu also advises people to remember to wear sunglasses when outside to protect against UV-light damage and lines that can creep up around the corners of your eyes from squinting.