|
|
Special Skin Care for Eye Zone and Under Eye Skin
The skin around the eyes is extra sensitive and the first to register signs of
ageing. It can react badly to heavy
handling and heavy creams, and
requires special care.
The skin around the eyes develops lines faster than the rest of the
face because continual facial movement - smiling, squinting, and frowning - stresses the thin, delicate skin.
Bright, ultraviolet light worsens the
problem and is a prime hastener of
crow's feet. (Nothing looks more
starkly ageing than white furrows contrasting with a leathery, tanned skin
texture.)
Under-eye "bags" result from
decreased muscle tone in the lower
lid, and herniation of the underlying fatty layer. Dark circles
appear when stress, fatigue, chronic UV exposure, and persistent swelling weaken delicate blood capillaries to breaking
point. Exhaustion and illness hamper circulation in the surrounding facial skin, causing a washed-out complexion that
highlights dark circles under the eyes. Puffiness, or oedema,
results from poor lymphatic circulation. Excess fluid floods
the spaces between subcutaneous fatty tissue, particularly
after long periods lying down, hence the occurrence of early
morning puffy eyes.
Can creams cope with all this? Creams for Eye Zone and Under Eye Skin
Creams containing suncreens and temporary firming agents like squalene can improve the quality of the skin's surface, but beware rich, oily-textured creams, which supersaturate thin skin, making puffiness worse. Look for light, rapidly absorbed creams that won't stray into the eye itself - crucial for contact lens wearers. Some beauty experts recommend avoiding applying cream to the upper lids completely. The most effective way of minimizing puffy, tired-looking eyes is to sleep with your pillow raised, and to get more exercise. With a healthy blood and lymph circulation, skin is less likely to become fluid logged and glowing skin cancels out dark shadows. A cool eye mask (or chilled camomile tea bags) allowed to rest on closed lids for around 10 minutes may help reduce any swelling.
|
|
|
