All About Eyes

A question came through about finding a good eye cream for lines around the eyes and also combatting dry flaky skin around the eye area. Let me start off by saying that sometimes what we may think are "wrinkles" are actually dehydration lines or actual expression lines and it's important to know what it is that you have before you try to treat. If you smile and get little lines around your eyes from the movement your face is making, then those are expression lines. Using eye treatments and exfoliators will help keep them from getting deeper in the long run but as long as you're smiling you'll always have them (at least you're actually smiling, no?!)

Dehydration is a little harder for one to self-diagnose but you can take a look at your skin as a whole to know if you're suffering from dehydration. Is your skin tight or more irritated than usual? Does it not have a plump appearance? Maybe you're noticing little striations on your skin and even some flakiness building up. A lot of people confuse dehydration for dry skin because it manifests itself similarly. I always say the face is like a grape and when it's dehydrated it turns into a prune, which I know none of us want to look like. Make sure you're drinking a minimum of 64oz of water daily, exfoliating regularly, and hydrating your skin with oils, serums, moisturizers and masks (especially in this weather!).

Now onto the eye area! I'm gonna give tips that work across the board that if you don't have fine lines will help keep them at bay and if you do can help smooth the area a bit. Like I said before, exfoliation is important, but you're probably wondering how the heck could you exfoliate the delicate eye area?! Now don't go on using scrub around your eyes, I may have to pound on you a bit..
My personal solution is the Naseberry Eye Exfoliant by Eminence Organics. It's a super gentle exfoliator specifically meant for the eye area to keep the area smooth, wrinkle-free and it also helps to prepare the delicate skin for your eye treatment. It also helps to get rid of any dry, flaky skin around the eyes that can pop up during this winter weather. You can smooth it around your orbital bone, leave it on for 5mins to work its magic and just wipe it off, super simple! For my natural and organic people, they also have a Naseberry Eye Treatment to use after the exfoliator which is very lovely and hydrating for the eye area and prevents that pesky dehydration.

Another great product for exfoliation is the Actifirm Z-peel. The beauty about this product is that it can be used not only around the eye area, but all over the face and lips to offer a gentle enzyme exfoliation, so it's like a triple whammy! Apply a thin layer over your desired area and use a warm towel over your face to activate. It's okay if your skin turns red or flushes, it's just the product boosting circulation to the area. Wipe off after 7-10mins and moisturize! Both the Eminence and Actifirm products can be used once a week to exfoliate the eye area and are available for purchase at www.dermstore.com.**

As far as eye creams are concerned I always leave that up to personal preference. Many people are partial to certain types of consistencies so I always like to let them be the judge. They may want some super antioxidants that I may recommend in an eye balm but if they don't like the consistency, then they won't use it. Here are some of my recommendations:

Eye gel: Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Eye Gel- Great for puffiness, hydration and relieving tired eyes. You can keep this one in the fridge to speed up the de-puffing action in the mornings! www.blissworld.com

Eye cream: Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream- This is a great, simple eye cream to moisturize the eye area and keep fine lines at bay. www.mariobadescu.com

Eye balm: Skinceuticals Eye Balm- This one is for drier or mature skin, it helps with existing damage around the eye area and replaces lost moisture. www.skinceuticals.com

Natural/Organic Options: Along with the Eminence products, a few other options are the eye cream by Acure Organics (this is what I'm currently using and I'm in love!) It has a cream/balmy consistency and the ingredients help to promote collagen production and keep wrinkles away. Another great option for super serious eye people is the eye serum by Kahina Giving Beauty. Serums penetrate the skin at a deeper level since the molecules are smaller than creams and balms, so you get more benefits out of them. It's rich in antioxidants (they help fight wrinkles!) and it also gives a boost for collagen production with a nice silky finish. You can find these two options at www.spiritbeautylounge.com

Finding an eye cream that you absolutely love can take a little trial and error, but be patient, I know you're going to find something you love! Be sure to give your eyes a little tlc by gently massaging your eye area when you put your eye treatment on. Another tip I give clients is to be mindful how they sleep, side sleeping and belly sleeping cause fluids to go straight to your face, resulting in puffiness. So if you suffer from puffy eyes, sleep on your back! for the record, cold tea bags and cucumber slices do work to reduce puffiness, so when you have some time just lay back and treat yourself! Hope these tips were helpful, leave your questions and comments below!

**Please be mindful when using anything to exfoliate your skin if you're on any dermatological treatments, such as Retinol, Tazorac or Accutane. We don't need you looking like Samantha from Sex and the City in that one episode we all know. Consult with your doctor or esthetician before using a new exfoliating treatment!