Fact: Skin around the eyes is so thin and delicate, it’s the most susceptible to irritation and showing signs of aging. “Because so many muscles around the eye are used to make an expression, collagen and elastin—the main structural components in skin—break down faster,” says Kristin Cristiano, Director of Education for Glo Beauty Brands. “When skin looses its elasticity, it begins to sag. And this causes expression lines to form earlier around the eyes than in other parts of the face.” But as grim as it sounds, it doesn’t have to be a losing battle. We turn to the best skin experts in the professional beauty world to show how they effectively help care for their clients’ skin around the eyes.
Crow's Feet
Repêchage Opti-Firm Eye Contour Treatment helps to diminish the appearance of crow’s feet. First, Repêchage Opti-Firm Eye Contour Cream is massaged gently around the eye contour area. This exclusive formula of dipeptides, tripeptides and chrysin works to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and boost smoothness and hydration. Next, a sugar-based mask containing a combination of maltodextrin and argilene hexpeptide is applied over
the entire eye contour area—signal peptides are one of the most effective ingredients for stimulating collagen production and preventing its breakdown. After gently removing the mask, the treatment concludes with a massage of Vita Cura Opti-Lift Serum, which features a three-dimensional biopolymer from pure almond protein to help diminish the appearance of crow’s feet and other signs of premature aging.—Lydia Sarfati, Repêchage CEO and founder
Puffiness
Puffiness can occur in the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both, most likely caused by excess fluid retention in the surrounding tissues. In the case of early morning puffiness, fluids can build up from lack of blinking throughout the night. Dermalogica has developed 20-minute MicroZone Treatments like the Eye Rescue or Eye Repair MicroZone Treatment, which are designed for the eye area only. To optimize professional results, suggest an eye serum to clients containing golden chamomile combined with algae like Dermalogica Ultrasmoothing Eye Serum to soothe irritation and reduce overall puffiness.—Tara Damiano, Global Education Developer for The International Dermal Institute (IDI) and Dermalogica
Dark Circles
Dark circles can have different root causes, varying due to lifestyle, genetics and ethnicity. Dark circles triggered by lifestyle may stem from stress, fatigue, caffeine, sun exposure, or consuming spicy and salty foods before bed. The Decléor Revitalizing Eye Treatment is ideal for freshening up the entire eye area. Offered as an individual experience or as part of a facial upgrade, this mask is prepared with a freeze-drying technique using brown algae and phytosqualane to regenerate tired skin and reduce dark circles. Following this with Decléor Aurabsolu Intense Glow for Eyes Dark Circle Corrector—featuring caffeine, vitamin C, vitamin B3 and orange pigments—gives an immediate radiance boost.—Jaklin Idris, Director of Education for Decléor Paris
Dryness
The skin around the eye has fewer oil glands than the rest of the face, making it prone to dehydration and irritation. So, the drier the area, the richer the product should be. A light all-purpose cream like Glo Therapeutics Eye Restore works well for younger skin that's not excessively dry. For dry skin, a richer cream like Glo Therapeutics Vital Eye Cream, with emollients like evening primrose oil and vitamin E, will protect and nourish this delicate area.—Kristin Cristiano, Director of Education for Glo Beauty Brands