THE EYES HAVE IT - LDP Beauty

Since a protective mask is and will continue to be part of our every day wardrobe, much more focus will be on the eyes. Accentuating your eye shape and color with shadow, lashes, and liner can make your eyes pop, but before all that it’s super important to treat and maintain the skin around the eyes. This tissue is delicate, thinner than in any other area, and doesn’t have the advantage of lots of tiny oil reservoirs to keep it supple. On top of that, the area around your eyes never gets a rest! Your eyes are in constant motion, even while you’re in the deepest sleep. For these reasons, the periorbital area is the first to show signs of premature aging. Nobody wants that! Some very basic advice to you is to drink more water… water truly is your body’s best friend! Eat foods rich in essential fatty acids, or use a fish oil supplement (if it’s safe for you). Don’t smoke! Use sunscreen. Don’t rub or tug on your eye area. This is all common sense, but bears repeating.

Then, consider exfoliating the delicate eye area. Why? Regular exfoliating can soften lines, brighten skin and boost the efficacy of eye creams/serums. It could also help eliminate milia, and allow for smoother application of make up. What to use? Rarely is a scrub gentle enough for the eye area. Most granular products can cause microscopic tears in the fragile skin. Instead, use specific products that include chemical exfoliants such as glycolic, lactic, or mandelic acid. Vitamins A and C are effective, and also have antioxidant properties. Remember, always use a gentle patting motion and never apply products directly onto lid or up to lower lash line- instead, tap along the surrounding bone. Products can be used daily, depending on intensity. Always read instructions! Keep a check on your skin’s reaction, and take it slower if you see signs of irritation or flaking. Use sunscreen daily.

On the subject of targeted ingredients: When you’re choosing an eye serum or cream, consider your main concerns. What follows is a list of ingredients you’ll often see, and it will help you navigate when you feel like you’re drowning in options. My clients’ most common complaint is lines/wrinkles, so let’s start with smoothing and plumping those. Many of the following ingredients do double duty, which makes them common to lots of eye products: hyaluronic acid; vitamins A, C and E; peptides; oils such as Marula or jojoba. They soften, moisturize, and protect. For reducing puffiness, look for caffeine and green tea along with vitamins C and E to help reduce the dreaded “bags“. Dark circles can make you look tired, so to brighten the under eye area you’ll want your serum/cream to contain ceramides, cojic acid, vitamins A, C & K. in addition, retinol is a potent ingredient for brightening, smoothing, and stimulating collagen production; it can however be irritating, so use it sparingly at first, then build up to more frequent use.

Nothing can replace a good night’s sleep, so do your best to get ample zzzzzs. Again, drink plenty of water and limit your consumption of caffeine and alcohol. Try your best not to rub your eyes, even if itchy allergy eyes are driving you crazy. Use your products. Be kind to the delicate eye area, then open up your make up kit and have some fun!