Eye, Eye!
Sun Herald
Sunday November 3, 1996
LINES, circles, bags ... no beauty concerns are more common that those concerning eyes. The eye area is delicate and easily damaged. The eyelids are covered by some of the thinnest skin on the body - literally half the thickness of the skin on your cheeks. The blood vessels are close to the surface and there is less elastin and collagen.
Eyelids also get a workout, blinking an average of six to 12 times a minute. And then there's the stress they endure when you rub them, impatiently wipe make-up away from them, stare endlessly at computer and television screens and expose them to smoke, UV light and wind.
The need for some form of restorative treatment is paramount. Advances in our understanding of how the skin ages and how the environment affects it have given birth to a new generation of eye creams.
Today's eye creams are often the hardest-working products in your cosmetic arsenal. Here's a guide to some of the best treatments on the market and what they can do for you.
Fine lines and wrinkles
Cause: Age, sun damage, stress, environmental aggressors, smoking and rubbing. Fine lines and wrinkles are inevitable as people age.
Treatment: Today's most sophisticated products contain clever delivery systems that bring nutrients and moisturisers to the deeper levels of the skin. When the upper layers of the skin are plumped with moisture the lines appear less visible. Progres Contour des Yeux, by Lancome ($62), treats the fine lines caused by dehydration and helps prevent the wrinkles caused by facial expressions. Ella Bache's Special Eye Cream ($46) is rich in lanolin, vegetable and mineral oils and leaves a protective film over the skin to trap moisture.
Dark circles
Cause: Medical science is unsure of what really causes the dark rings that can surround the eyes. Some doctors believe that because there is little subcutaneous tissue or fat around the eyes, rubbing and sun exposure can cause a subtle leakage of blood. There is also speculation that the discolouration is simply pigmentation. However, the consensus is that sun, stress, smoking and lack of sleep worsen the condition.
Treatment: Chanel's Eye Lift ($127) contains a firming emulsion and vitamin E and is designed to help diminish the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. Containing a cocktail of natural ingredients including wild rose apricot and butcher's broom, Clarins' Eye Contour Gel ($42) is formulated to help minimise dark circles and tone the eye area.
Puffiness and bags
Cause: Puffiness is the result of a fluid accumulation under the eyes. It usually happens overnight and can exacerbate the look of dark circles by casting shadows. This condition can be also caused by allergies, illness, crying and rubbing. These bags are usually fat deposits that can appear more pronounced with age.
Treatment: Many people find that sleeping face down worsens puffiness. One idea is to sleep with your head slightly elevated and avoid squashing your face into the pillow. It's also prudent to avoid alcohol, salt and processed foods, which can cause fluid retention in the body. Estee Lauder's Resilience Eye Creme ($55) contains marshmallow, cucumber, eyebright and yarrow extracts to calm and soothe the area and help eliminate puffiness. Christian Dior's Capture Eyes ($79) acts as a decongestant and helps tone the fragile skin around the eyes. The company claims that results will be visible in just a few days.
Pinhead bumps
Cause: Milia or white heads are part of the acne cycle and appear as tiny cysts. Sun damage is the major cause of this problem.
Treatment: A dermatologist will usually remove milia with a needle or a chemical peel and once they are removed they mostly disappear for good. Prevention is better than cure, so the best idea is to use a sunscreen that's been specially formulated for use around the eyes. Shiseido's Translucent Sun Block Stick SPF15+ ($27) is a gentle, moisturising sunscreen that contains macadamia nut oil to prevent dryness and vitamin E to protect against free radical damage.
© 1996 Sun Herald