Eye creams: We love them, but are they needed?
Both men and women REALLY care about the appearance of our eyes.
In fact, Globally, eye rejuvenation is requested from doctors and aestheticians more often and start at a younger age than other rejuvenation treatments! (1) And by rejuvenation we mean: Less pigmentation, less puffiness, and fewer lines and wrinkles. (2)
WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THE SKIN AROUND THE EYES?
- It’s thinner. The skin of the eyelids is the thinnest of the body (< 1 mm thick).
- The nasal part of the eyelid skin has finer hairs and more sebaceous glands than the temporal aspect, making this skin smoother and oilier.
- Fat is basically non-existent under the eyelid skin making it more prone to injury. (3)
It’s easy to see why the corners of the eyes are especially susceptible to wrinkle formation (crow’s feet): the constant movement of the skin as we blink and squint all day, as well as the thinness of the skin. Any skin damage that happens as a result of aging, sunlight or other environmental factors will be exaggerated around the eyes.
When you think that most of us do a rotten job of putting our sunscreen on the skin around our eye, (4) no wonder that area is even more prone to wrinkles and pigmentation.
But it might concern you even more to know that the eyelids have the highest skin cancer irate “per unit area” in the whole face! (5)
IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT EYE CREAMS?
Actually there is a bit. In one Swedish study, women were randomised to either use a “simple” skin care regimen or one that added in an eye cream.
After 4 weeks, the women using the regime that included an eye cream had improvements in “hydration, skin roughness, mean pore area, melanin heterogeneity, and crow’s feet wrinkle depth.” The authors concluded that giving additional hydration around the eyes was behind the additional improvement. Certainly there were no key anti-aging ingredients in the eye cream the women were using for this study. (6)
Another American study of just 15 men and women found that using an eye cream containing “a blend of naturally derived extracts” resulted in 73% less puffiness and 93% improvement in dark circles as well as less appearance of wrinkles after 12 weeks. (7)
Again given the lack of evidence for the naturally derived extracts, it looks like simply applying a moisturizing eye cream helps significantly with the appearance of the skin around the eyes.
That’s the limit of the evidence. Caffeine in eye creams has never been studied, but anecdotally as a vasoconstrictor (narrowing the blood vessels to reduce blood supply), lots of people report it helps a lot with puffiness.
BOTTOM LINE;
- Use a day cream or sunscreen and don’t forget the areas around the eye.
Zinc Shade
Zinc Shade is a lightweight matte day cream and primer. Its non-greasy, matte finish allows for smooth application and works well under makeup.
We spent countless iterations perfecting this lightweight, non-greasy formula to avoid the typical white cast and thick feel of zinc products. The results? A matte finish that works beautifully under makeup. With well tolerated matte finish, it's also well suited to irritable and blemish and bump prone skin. With SPF 15 it also provides broad-spectrum sun protection against UVA and UVB rays.
Key features:
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Lightweight, matte formula suitable for daily use
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Smooth application with minimal white cast
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Broad-spectrum UV protection
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Tested SPF 15 with enhanced UVA coverage
Usage: Apply evenly to all exposed areas of skin before sun exposure. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
- Good sunglasses will help
- All your usual anti-aging key actives (like Vitamins A, B3 and C) will still work around the eyes
B Calm
B Calm is formulated to support irritable and blemish prone skin while maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Ceramides strengthen resilience, Salicylic Acid exfoliates and calms the skin, and Niacinamide helps regulate oil and reduce the appearance of blemished skin.
Featuring:
- Ingredients to support an improved skin barrier
- Helps manage excess oil production
- Supports a clearer-looking skin
Ultimate A
Ultimate A Night Cream contains 0.06% Retinal, the most gentle and effective form of Vitamin A, paired with Niacinamide to help maintain skin barrier function and support brighter, firmer and more even looking skin tone and texture. Well suited even for the most irritable skin.
Key features:
- 0.06% Retinal to support a brighter, smoother and firmer skin texture
- Niacinamide to support skin barrier function and a more even looking skin tone
- Gentle formulation suitable for nightly use
Usage: Apply at night after cleansing (and serum if being used) as part of your evening skincare routine.
- An eye cream may well help as well, if nothing else to add extra moisture to a particularly thin area of skin. Necessary? NO!
Eye Serum
Our Eye Cream is specially designed to care for the delicate skin around your eyes, where aging signs first appear. The eyelid area has the thinnest skin on the body, with fewer oil glands and less collagen, making it prone to fine lines, dryness, and dullness. Add in constant muscle movement and UV exposure, and you’ve got a recipe for wrinkles and sagging. Our eye cream is packed with gentle peptides, caffeine, and moisturisers to hydrate, firm, and brighten this delicate area. Say goodbye to tired-looking eyes and hello to a refreshed, youthful look that lets your eyes shine!
Featuring;
- Formulation to smooth and brighten skin in the eye area
- Caffeine for eye bag reduction
- Gentle ingredients for the delicate skin around the eyes
A rich blend of organic, peptide and antioxidant ingredients lighten, tighten and brighten the skin under and around the eyes.
- Brighten the eye area
- Tighten skin
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6850077/pdf/JOCD-18-530.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6850077/pdf/JOCD-18-530.pdf
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/834932-overview#a8
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6447356/pdf/pone.0212548.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6447356/pdf/pone.0212548.pdf
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jocd.13252
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6850077/pdf/JOCD-18-530.pdf