Eye care!!

Eye Care

 

It's been said that "Eyes are the window to the soul."  This may be true but it's also true that the area around your eyes can show if you are getting enough sleep, dehydrated, getting sick or have allergies, the list goes on and on.  The skin around the eye is so thin and delicate and needs to be treated with tender loving care.

Dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines and wrinkles are common plagues and though many associate these  annoyances with being overtired or just getting older, this is not always the case. Many people can have or develop dark circles, puffy eyes, and have wrinkles due to  heredity, lifestyle factors such as smoking or drinking in excess, over exposure to the sun (tanning), even nasal congestion from allergies!  There are options when trying to repair the under eye area.  You may want to visit your doctor if you have tried different home remedies and nothing has worked. He or she may recommend prescription creams, laser treatments, chemical peels, and in extreme cases, surgery.

Luckily there are other solutions to try before heading to your doctor:

Concealer is always a quick fix to highlight the under eye area but often times people give up using concealer because they can't find the shade right for them.  It may take several tries to come up with your perfect color and it may be best to mix two different concealer shades to come up with your perfect match. A good rule of thumb to follow is to find a concealer closest to your natural skin color and mix that with a second concealer that is a shade or two lighter than that of your skin.  Steer clear of any concealers with ingredients like salicylic or glycolic acid because this will not only dry out the under eye area but can also cause severe redness or irritation to the delicate skin.

Eye Cream is an essential product that every man and woman should use from age 16 and older.  The skin under the eye is so thin and delicate and needs extra hydration than that of just an ordinary moisturizer.  Many eye creams also incorporate natural ingredients that include light diffusers, brightening the area in addition to hydrating, preventing premature aging, and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.  Look for ingredients containing plant-based ingredients like root extracts and Brazilian suma, to dramatically decrease the appearance of dark circles.  Caffeine is known to help reduce puffy eyes. Vitamin K, over time, will help to lessen dark circles and brighten the overall eye area.  For filling in fine lines and wrinkles, look for silicone.  To stimulate collagen growth, alpha hydroxyl acids or retinol will do the trick.

Always make sure to discuss any concerns or questions you may have with your dermatologist and ask for another recommendation if you are allergic to something mentioned above. If you would like to use more than one eye cream to receive maximum benefits, discuss mixing of products or ingredients with your pharmacist or dermatologist.

Extra pillows (1 or 2 more) while sleeping can prevent puffiness when fluid settles in your lower eyelids.

Extra sleep seems to be a thing of the past for most.  It's unheard of to sleep at least 8 hours a night and people wonder why they look and are quite tired during the day.  8 hours of sleep a night is essential and for those who have difficulty falling asleep at night, make sure you turn off your computer, tv, or any techy distraction an hour before you go to sleep.  Allow your brain to go into a "zen" state-of-mind and you'll be amazed at how much more soundly you sleep!

If you suffer from allergies or sinus problems, try a saline  wash or spray solution to clear your nasal passages.  In doing so, you may see a significant decrease in the dark coloring and/or puffiness under your eyes. You can either purchase a saline spray over-the-counter at your local pharmacy or you can make your own (combine ¼ teaspoon sea salt with 2 cups of warm water) and feel the relief!

Drink more water! 8-10 glasses a day is recommended. Enough said.

At-home treatments for dark circles:

-For dark circles, bags, or puffy eyes, place slightly warm, steeped chamomile or green tea bags over your eyelids for 10-15 minutes

-Apply 2 small raw potato slices over your eyelids for 20 minutes

-Apply fresh figs on your eyelids for 10-15 minutes

At-home treatments for puffy eyes:

-Apply cold cucumber slices over your eyelids for ten minutes while you are resting

-Take a glass of ice water and four stainless steel spoons and chill the spoons in the freezing ice water and place one spoon over each eyelid. When the spoons become warm, switch them with the second set of chilled spoons.

For preventing or minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, it's important for everyone to wear an eye cream and moisturizer with SPF protection to reduce further damage and to protect against skin cancer.  Do not pull or tug at your skin when applying skin care products or makeup.  Doing so will cause the skin collagen to break down, causing wrinkles and fine lines to appear.  Using a Retin-A cream on your face and around the crow's feet area will help exfoliate the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Avoid using this product directly under your eyes though.

Remember, if you take care of your skin and health, you'll have us at Naomi Makeover to thank for it
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