The under-eye area is very delicate and thinner than any other area on the face. It has fewer oil glands and natural lipids and also less fat tissue and muscle to support, strengthen, and protect the surrounding area.

This is why the eye area is more prone to damage and shows the first signs of ageing quicker than any other area on the body.

What happens to the eye area as we age?

What happens as we age is that skin loses elasticity and becomes even thinner due to a breakdown of collagen. The collagen production in our bodies decreases from the age of 25 by 2% per year! Needless to say, from the age of 25 an eye cream should be a MUST!

This can be further aggravated by sun exposure, smoking, diet, lifestyle, and other environmental aggressions.

Moreover, the skin of the eye area is constantly using the muscle contractions of squinting, blinking, frowning, and smiling, as much as 10,000 movements per day!

The four signs of ageing in the eye area are:

1. Fine lines and wrinkles: overtime of sun exposure, squinting, smiling, and frowning the free radical damage breaks down our collagen and elastin fibres that keep them tight.
2. Dark Circles: Diet, sleep, stress, genes, prominent deoxygenated blood vessels, sluggish lymphatic system: all these aspects can play a role in the appearance of dark circles.
3. Puffiness: Fat deposits, allergies, sleep, diet, genes, stress, and hormonal fluctuations can cause puffiness.
4. Dry appearance: The fragile area is more prone to dehydration because of the difficulty retaining moisture due to fewer oil glands.

Can I just apply my regular moisturiser to the eye area?

The simple answer is no, you can’t.

There has been some confusion about why we can not simply use face cream or serum around the eye area.

The reasons is that a face moisturiser is not targeted as only an anti-ageing treatment and will not prevent the signs of ageing in the eye area.

When it comes to serums, most face serums have strong ingredients that can cause stinging, burning, or irritation if applied to the eye area.

On the other hand, an eye cream is formulated specifically to target certain skin concerns using a particular delivery system that ensures the ingredients are absorbed into the skin around the eyes effectively.

Ingredients to look for in eye creams:

Invest in a good quality eye cream containing ingredients such as Peptides  and Vitamin C which will stimulate collagen synthesis.

Another ingredient to look for is Retinol. Retinol will smooth the skin's surface and minimise the appearance of dark circles.

Hyaluronic Acid is another hero ingredient when it comes to the under eye and eye area. It will retain moisture and avoid the dry wrinkled look.

My top 5 Best Eye Creams:

My name is Sari Pols,

I have been in the skin care industry for over 15 years. My passion lies in ‘Health’. Health for the skin and body. My philosophy is if we have a good well being on the inside, then it shows our vitality on the outside.

I have furthered my knowledge in Skin Anatomy, Skin Concerns and Fitness. I am a true believer in how to make my clients feel their best both inside and out. My emphasis is on guiding my clients through their personal journey of skin concerns and conditions. I do not like to bandaid a concern or condition but want to get down to the root of the cause. I aim to give personalised consultations with treatment and correct prescribed skin products.