Should I use eye cream?

All About You online 06.03.2008

If your idea of eyecare is slapping on the occasional tea bag or cucumber slice, it's probably time to review your skincare routine. By Eve Cameron.

Woman in bathroom applying eye cream to eye area Is a specialised eye product really necessary? Most experts would agree that a simple moisturiser does the trick, however some ingredients in face creams are too rich for the eye area or indeed simply too harsh - Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) for example, which increase the rate at which dead surface cells are shed.

Additionally, as Karyn Grossman, Prescriptives' guiding dermatologist points out, the eye area does have special needs that are not addressed in facial moisturisers. As well as hydrating the delicate skin around the eyes, eye products can specifically target puffiness, shadows and lines - which is a lot more than a tea bag can offer.

Tricks to try

Puffiness around the eyes certainly seems to increase with age. While it can be associated with kidney and thyroid conditions, it's more likely to do with lack of sleep, excess alcohol or water retention. If puffiness is your problem, try keeping an eye gel in the fridge to apply over the area, and chill a couple of spoons in the freezer and place them over your eyelids for a couple of minutes in the morning. As well as hydrating the delicate skin around the eyes, eye products can specifically target puffiness, shadows and lines - which is a lot more than a tea bag can offer!

You could also try these simple pressure point movements suggested by Clarins treatment specialists, which help increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the area.

Step 1: Place the middle fingers of both hands side by side in the dip above the bridge of the nose between the brows. Apply gentle pressure for four to five seconds.

Step 2: Place the ring or middle fingers on the ocular bone (at the inner corner of the eyes just before the brow starts) and apply gentle pressure for four to five seconds. Release and slide your fingers outwards just below the brows, repeating the pressure at four regular intervals until you reach the end of the brows.

Step 3: Repeat the movement incorporating a fingertip rotation (tiny circles) as you work outwards.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 working outwards on the ocular bone underneath each eye.

Lifestyle tips

Got dark under-eye shadows? They can be hereditary, but you should also look to your lifestyle. The skin around the eyes is thin, which makes it vulnerable to external irritants such as smoke and other factors such as lack of sleep. Irritation in the area leads to dilation and leakage of red blood cells, which can then accumulate and stagnate, swell and appear darker through this thin skin. Drinking too much alcohol makes things worse as it dehydrates your body, including your eyes and skin, while drinking plenty of water helps to eliminate waste material. Adequate sleep is essential as your skin repairs itself at night. As well as regular use of an anti dark circle eye product, your best friend is concealer.

And finally, wrinkles. There's nothing funny about laughter lines, which are the result of your genes and also your lifestyle. The former you can't do much about but lifestyle factors, especially sun exposure, can be controlled. Your first line of defence is big wraparound sunglasses. These will slow the appearance of lines and can also stop them getting worse. Cosmetic technology is also producing ever more effective wrinkle-busting creams. While none will permanently erase your crow's feet they will definitely improve the skin's texture and soften the appearance of lines, and are definitely a worthwhile investment.