How to take the best care of your eye contour
The right moves to pamper the eye contour area
The eye contour is an area more prone to showing signs of fatigue and ageing than the rest of our face. While genetics play a role in the development of dark circles, under-eye bags and wrinkles, environmental and behavioural factors may worsen their appearance as well.
Although those fine lines on the eye contour area tell a lot about our emotions and reflect on a life well lived, we can still minimise the signs of tiredness, stress, poor sleep and lifestyle choices to enhance the “window of the soul”.
Read ahead to explore the causes of premature ageing of the eye contour and learn more on how to prevent and reduce it. Here is all you need to know to embrace the unique beauty of your eye contour and let your inner beauty shine through.
Why is our eye contour vulnerable?
To understand why the skin of the eye contour is particularly vulnerable to the external aggressors it is constantly exposed to (UV rays, pollution, weather, and lifestyle factors - lack of sleep, alcohol, smoking, diet, too much time staring at screens, etc.), let’s delve deeper into the biological characteristics of this fragile zone:
- Very thin skin: the skin of the eye contour is 3 to 5 times finer than on the entire face.
- Low sebum production: The eye contour area is lacking in sebaceous glands, resulting in a weaker hydrolipidic film that protects the skin.
- Poor in collagen and elastin fibres: These fibres that ensure the tone and elasticity of skin tissue are less abundant, making this area more susceptible to sagging and wrinkles.
- Microcirculation disorders: Over time, blood and lymphatic microcirculation slow down, making the blood vessels more visible while pigments accumulate, resulting in dark circles and puffiness.
- Very mobile: the eye contour area is under a large number of constantly moving muscles (over 20,000 blinks per day!), which further contributes to fine lines and wrinkles.
It is no wonder that such a delicate area is the first to show signs of ageing. But worry no more! With the right attention and care we can keep our eyes looking their best for years to come. From the most iconic home remedies to skincare products, let us introduce you to the ultimate eye contour routine to pamper your eye contour and reduce the appearance of under-eye circles.
The truth about home remedies for the eye contour area
Cucumber, tea bags, coffee… homemade remedies abound for taking care of the eye contour area! But do these age-old tricks truly hold water? Let's separate the wheat from the chaff, shall we?
Cucumber: that’s right, cucumber is not for sandwiches only; it can really help the skin of the eye contour area look and feel better. It's all down to its anti-inflammatory properties and its high concentration of water, giving the skin an instant hydration hit and restoring its natural elasticity.
You can apply them for about 15 minutes at a time, every morning and night.
Cold tea bags: Now, who doesn't love a good cuppa? Turns out, "tea time" can be a treat for your eye contour too! As long as you are using tea bags once they've cooled down, of course. Packed with tannins that soothe and calm, as well as caffeine that help decongesting, tea has the power to reduce dark circles and puffiness. Apply the tea bags to closed eyes for 10 to 15 minutes.
Coffee Grounds: Sounds like a recipe for wide-awake eyes, right? Well, not quite. While coffee grounds share tea's decongestant and anti-inflammatory powers, they can be fairly harsh on the delicate skin of the eye contour. Best to steer clear!
Cold Spoons: This trick can work its magic to reduce your eye contour swelling, as long as your spoons are kept in your refrigerator before use (never in the freezer - intense cold can actually do more harm than good!). Fancy giving it a go? Apply them against your under eye area for a few minutes before using your eye cream (pop your eye cream in the fridge to give your skin an extra cool treat :) ).
Eborian’s top tips for treating the eye contour area
Just like the rest of our face, our eye contour needs to be taken care of. However, don’t rely on your regular facial products that can be too heavy or harsh for the fine skin under the eyes. That’s right, you’ll need a desiccated beauty routine with specific cosmetics, ophthalmologist-tested, designed for this fragile area.
With these simple steps your eyes won’t be a giveaway for late nights and stress anymore. Here is the way to brighter, more youthful eyes. :)
1.Cleanse
Whether we wear makeup or not, the eye contour makes no exception to the cleansing ritual. Morning and night, remove all impurities (pollution, dust, sweat, dead cells, makeup traces, etc.) that clog pores and can worsen the appearance of dark circles. In order to cleanse effectively while preserving the natural hydration of this delicate area, use a gentle product, without an exfoliating action, such as Centella Cleansing Oil.
2. Moisturise
Then apply an eye cream that specifically targets your concern: dark circles, puffiness, dehydration, signs of ageing. This is an essential step to strengthening your skin barrier and restoring the hydrolipidic film of the eye contour area. One of the main goals here is to prevent the appearance of wrinkles linked to lack of hydration.
If you want to visibly reduce signs of ageing and fatigue, choose Ginseng Infusion Total Eye. Loaded with Centella Asiatica extract and Ginseng, it is the ideal formula for younger-looking eyes. For intense hydration and a healthy glow, Bamboo Eye Gel will be a good match. Need a boost of radiance? Yuza Sorbet Eye Serum helps to awaken the eyes while helping to hydrate the delicate skin of the eye contour.
To boost the effects of your eye cream, don’t forget to apply your usual serum beforehand (unless it contains exfoliating ingredients).
Finally, once a week, pimp your routine by pampering yourself with some extra TLC: in the evening, just after cleansing, apply an eye mask, such as Ginseng Eye Patch. With its formula enriched with Ginseng root extract, it reinforces hydration, helps to smooth the appearance of fine lines and reduces signs of fatigue, giving a boost of youthfulness to the eyes!
3. Protect
Sun exposure accelerates the skin ageing process, leading to dryness, a gradual loss of the skin's elasticity and wrinkles. Do commit to protecting the eye contour from further damage by using sunscreen. If your eye cream or makeup doesn’t contain SPF, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen, even on cloudy days. And don't forget your sunglasses when the sun is out!
4. Massage
When it comes to perking up those tired eyes, a simple massage of the eye contour can do wonders: it improves the blood circulation and lymph drainage, reducing puffiness and under-eye circles effectively.
To get the best result, incorporate this spa-like experience into your daily routine when cleansing with Centella Cleansing Oil for example. Remember, gentle moves only!
Using tapping motions with your index finger, tap out small circles around the eyes, starting from the inner corner of your lower eyelid towards the temples.
We then move on to brow pinching: place your thumb and index finger at the corner of your eye brow and slowly pinch the area going all over the orbital bone without pulling the skin. Repeat as many times as you want.
Finish your massage by sweeping with your fingertips all around the eye contour: start from the brow bone and go towards the temples, from the inside to the outside (circle motion).
5. Sleep
The quality of sleep influences the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. Getting enough sleep is therefore essential to having a rested eye contour. And to avoid eye swelling, sleep in a cool room.
Eye contour makeup
Eye contour makeup is a great option to temporarily and instantly reduce the appearance of bags and dark circles. But be careful: the delicate skin around your eyes needs lightweight products to avoid looking cakey. To set this area with a natural finish, you need the right concealer. :)
In that regard, we recommend the use of a hybrid concealer. Combining coverage, care, and SPF protection, it boosts the benefits of the eye cream all day long.
At this stage, the most important thing is to choose a concealer that meets your needs, in terms of coverage and care:
- If you're looking for a medium-to-full coverage concealer, Super BB Concealer is the one for you. It perfectly conceals dark circles without compromising on the natural finish while also reducing their size and colour day after day. A visible action on bare skin, possible thanks to a formula that is as concentrated as a serum*.
- Use our BB Eye concealer for a lighter coverage and a “BB skin” effect. The eye contour seems velvety, soft and spotless and all signs of ageing are diminished, for a more radiant look. It is the ideal complement to our BB Cream.
- For light coverage, opt for CC Eye. With its encapsulated pigments that melt into the skin it adjusts perfectly to the delicate skin of the eye contour. It illuminates the eyes in no time while moisturising and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
Read more about how to choose the concealer that best suits your needs here.
Ready to embrace your natural radiance, and let your eyes shine? Always remember: it's all about enhancing what you already possess! :)
*A high concentration of active ingredients, as with Erborian serums.
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