5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EYE CARE
If the eyes are truly the windows to our souls, then let’s make a good impression! Whether you have been using specialized eye cream for years, or you haven’t even started yet, it always helps to be informed. Here are 6 things you need to know about caring for the delicate skin around your eyes, as well as some suggestions for some great k-beauty eye care products!
- Yes, You Need An Eye Cream
Some people get along fine using the rest of their facial products up to their eye area, but for best results, look for a targeted eye product. Eye creams and serums are designed to be safe to use around your eyes - both for the delicate skin, as well as for the health of your eyes themselves.
The skin around your eyes is unique, and especially vulnerable, as it is super thin. Thinner skin means a thinner moisture barrier. In short, your eye area is more susceptible to everything: moisture loss, environmental pollution, sun damage, aging, and irritants. Your eyes deserve special care, and need particularly formulated products to look and feel healthy.
- Eyes Show Aging Fastest
While we’re all for embracing our age, who among us doesn’t want our eyes to look a little smoother and a little brighter? Exposure to UV rays and frequent movement (when we squint, smile, etc.) causes the skin to crease, and the muscles weaken with age.
Luckily, eye care products can help you treat many issues.
- Look for brightening ingredients like niacinamide, as it inhibits melanin production (which causes dark spots) and helps keep your skin barrier in tip-top shape.
- Ginseng is an all-around great ingredient, but is especially prized for its ability to fight pigmentation and improve circulation.
- Adding vitamin C to your routine will also help reduce hyperpigmentation and protect against sun damage.
- Retinol (vitamin A), peptides, and fermented yeast (bifida ferment lysate) plump fine lines and boost the skin’s collagen production, resulting in smoother, more elastic skin.
- Caffeine is great for reducing puffiness and darkness under the eyes, and can help firm skin, making it smoother and more youthful looking.
Top it off with sunscreen and sunglasses to keep harmful UV rays away!
- Remove Eye Makeup Gently
When using anything so close to your eyes, you’re going to want to make sure it doesn’t irritate. (Make sure you wash your hands first!) Don’t stretch the skin around your eyes or rub them roughly in order to cleanse off stubborn makeup. Start with a soft cotton pad soaked in eye makeup remover or cleansing oil, and place it on your closed eye for a minute or two. Wipe gently (and without stretching the skin). Try to wipe off the makeup in one motion - don’t scrub back and forth over your eye. If you need to go over an area again, use a clean section of your cotton pad (or fold it over). You can finish by running a Q-tip dipped in makeup remover along your lashline to remove residue from eyeliner or mascara. Makeup left on the eyes can cause infections and accelerate signs of aging, so don’t skip this step!
- Tap, Don’t Rub
There is, in fact, an optimal technique for applying an eye product. It ensures you are being gentle, the skin isn’t being stretched, and that all the product gets well absorbed. Using your fourth finger, dot a small amount of eye cream under each eye, starting near the nose, towards the outer corner of the eye. “Tap” the cream in with your fourth finger, very gently! The tapping action should be enough to help the skin absorb the cream - you shouldn’t need to rub or apply much pressure.
Remember, more is not necessarily better. Applying too much can cause irritation and clog pores. You can also use eye cream on other areas of your face that are prone to fine lines, like around the corners of your mouth.
- Try Eye Masks and Massage Tools
If you’re looking to get pampered before a special event or are feeling especially fatigued, try an eye patch or mask. Eye patches are great for plumping up the skin and smoothing out fine lines. Hydrogel patches feel like jelly and absorb slowly over the course of 15-30 minutes with minimal evaporation. After removing them, tap any remaining essence into the skin until absorbed.
Try using a Jade roller or other massage tool to gently massage after applying eye cream - this is especially effective for decreasing puffiness and enhancing circulation. Many rollers are dual-ended and come with a smaller roller that is the perfect size for the undereye area. As an added bonus, rollers massage areas of your face that hold tension and tend to wrinkle first. They also feel really nice!