The Secrets of Eye Cream and Age: Demystified

Eye creams have the power to moisturize and not only reduce problems like dark circles and under-eye bags but also improve wrinkles and fine lines. But should you start using eye cream as early as in your 20s? Well, it depends. Let's delve deeper into this topic.

Skin can be divided into four stages according to age:

Infancy to Young Adulthood - Youth - Middle Age - Old Age

It's quite evident that skin starts to lose moisture, elasticity, becomes loose, and develops wrinkles from the middle age stage. So ideally, you should start using eye cream in your late youth to early middle age stage.

Various international organizations and government departments define middle age differently. From a skincare perspective, 35 years old is considered the beginning of middle age for your skin. That means, even if you're not very keen on skincare, you should start using eye cream no later than age 35.

So, no matter your age, when you notice dryness and the beginning of wrinkles around your eyes, it's time to use eye cream.

But why should you use eye cream? Can't regular face cream do the job?

Reasons for Using Eye Cream

If you haven't started using eye cream yet, here are some eye care basics you should consider:

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on your body, and it lacks sebaceous and sweat glands, making it naturally less moisturized. Furthermore, your eyes blink at least 24,000 to 28,000 times a day, making the skin around them prone to puffiness, wrinkles, dark circles, and under-eye bags. So, using an eye cream to improve these conditions is essential.

The microbial standards for eye products are stricter than for other skincare products. Eye skin is sensitive, and just because a face cream doesn't cause irritation doesn't mean it won't affect the eyes, especially if it contains fragrance. Additionally, the skin around the eyes doesn't absorb oil well, so eye creams use different, lighter oils compared to face creams. Creams with penetration enhancers are also not suitable for the eyes. That's why you can't substitute regular face cream for eye cream.

Now that you want to use eye cream, let's understand more about it.

Decoding Eye Cream

Wrinkle Reduction

It's essential to understand that existing wrinkles can't be completely eliminated. The main function of an eye cream is to slow down and delay the formation of wrinkles. If you already have deep wrinkles, eye cream may not remove them. Don't blame the cream for this.

Milia Problem

Many users report getting milia (small white cysts) after using eye cream. If an eye cream has high occlusive oil content and your skin is naturally oily, it can lead to pore blockages, preventing natural exfoliation. In such cases, you should stop using eye cream, and the milia will resolve itself. Other common skin issues around the eyes include syringomas and papules. These small bumps can easily be confused with milia, but a dermatologist can diagnose and treat them.

So, how should you use eye cream to make it a scientifically sound practice?

First, apply eye cream gently around your eyes, starting from the outer corners. The outer corners are more prone to wrinkles, while the inner corners have thinner skin and are more likely to develop milia. So, it's better to start from the outer corners.

Secondly, it's advisable to apply eye cream by gently patting from the inner corner to the outer corner. This method helps prevent the eyes from drooping. However, patting from the outer corner to the inner corner can stretch the skin and potentially lead to sagging and fine lines.

In addition, while pressing the eye cream, use the following rhythm: press down firmly and then lift gently. This classic lymphatic drainage technique is also applicable to the face.