Do you need an eye cream?

Your eyes are the windows to your soul. And the area around your eyes is a manifestation of your youthfulness. 

Why do I say that? 

Because the area around your eyes is typically the first to show signs of aging. Long before the rest of your skin catches up, your under eye area starts to develop wrinkles and fine lines. Also, the squinting and constant eye movement causes fatigue and hastens the appearance of wrinkles as well as puffiness. Hence, skincare especially targeted to cater to this area and to keep it looking youthful for long is absolutely indispensable. 

This brings us to what is an absolute must when it comes to under eye care; an eye cream. Especially formulated for the thin and sensitive area around the eyes, they help to get rid of under eye bags, dark circles, and saggy, wrinkly skin. Also, unlike the forehead, chin, nose and cheeks, there are virtually no oil glands in the eye area, making it much more prone to dryness. Hence added hydration becomes a must.

If you’re interested to learn more about eye creams and why despite popular opinion we consider them a must-have in your skincare stash, keep on reading. 

So what exactly is eye cream?

It is a cream that is formulated to be applied to the skin around the eyelid and targets under eye concerns. It differs from a face cream in that it might have similar ingredients but in a lower concentration owing to the delicate, sensitive and fragile skin of the area which might not be able to handle the potency. Eye creams are also thicker in consistency and contain more oils and active ingredients to get the job of rejuvenating and resuscitating the under eye area done well.

Why can’t one just use a regular moisturizer instead?

While you might think that your everyday, holy grail moisturizer can do the job of keeping your under eye area looking fine and dandy, that is often not the case. In fact, using your moisturizer too close to your eyes might cause irritation and inflammation owing to the potency and high concentrations of certain ingredients such as exfoliating acids and retinol. Also, the area is more prone to milia, also known as milk spots which are tiny white bumps consisting of hardened keratin. They are triggered by the use of heavy creams, so your everyday moisturizer might just worsen your under eye situation. 

So who should be using an eye cream?

Anyone can use an eye cream. It instantly uplifts the area, lending it brightness and hydration and giving your entire face a fresh and youthful appearance. It becomes an absolute must after you enter your late 20s as that’s when you should start to incorporate anti-aging products in your skincare. 

So what are the benefits of under eye creams?

• Helps combat wrinkles and fine lines

Fine lines and wrinkles are a natural consequence of aging. With time, our body’s ability to produce collagen decreases, resulting in reduced skin elasticity and sagging skin. Sun exposure can also expedite the aging process. An eye cream consisting of peptides can boost the production of collagen in the skin, giving it a much needed firmness and lift. Hyaluronic acid is another ingredient that works wonders in lifting up and hydrating the area as well as stimulating collagen production. The Leovard Lip Luster, originally formulated to give soft, plump and luscious lips doubles as an under eye cream as it contains all the goodness that the eyes need including aloe vera, vitamin E, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. 

• Reduces the appearance of dark circles

Maybe you’re tired and fatigued after the long work day you had yesterday or you’ve inherited the gene, either way, dark circles can really make you look and feel like crap. Which is why an under eye cream with skin brightening ingredients makes a huge difference. Vitamin C is an absolute favourite of ours and works wonders in brightening up the undereye area, instantly awakening your skin and lending it the freshness to take on the upcoming day. 

• Reduces puffiness and fluid retention

Puffy eyes are not uncommon, but that doesn’t make them any less unsightly. They are due to a buildup of fluid and blood under the eyes. Stimulating the area using a facial roller can help with lymphatic drainage and help the blood to get flowing. Some studies also show that caffeine can help circulation and reduce puffiness. Cooling tools are also great to help subside the puffiness and that is the reason why some people refrigerate their eye creams.

Takeaway 

I think that we’ve now settled the debate of whether one needs eye cream or not and can now benefit from using one on a daily to keep our under-eye looking youthful, lifted and bright!