SoSara

Winter skin tips: What happened to my eyes?

CLIFTON PARK (Jan. 29) — Whenever the temperature drops, like clockwork, I have women (and men) come through my door telling me that their skin has just changed. What I hear is: “Oh my goodness … my eyes! I feel like they are looking so old, and this happened overnight!”

The majority of the time they come in looking for a quick fix or Band-Aid for the problem. As many of my loyal customers know, one of the first things I always ask is: “What are you doing to take care of your skin on a daily basis?” I ask this because it gives us a starting point to identify how we can best address their concern. I believe it would be fair to say that 40% of the time I learn that the person has not been using an eye cream at all. They perhaps are using their facial moisturizer around their eyes and proclaim this has worked for them in the past.

As the thinnest skin on the body, the eye area is the first to show signs of aging. In being such, eye-specific moisturizers are created with a different set of needs in mind.

Eye creams might contain antioxidants such as vitamins A and E to protect against free radicals. Other ingredients include hydrating compounds like wheat-germ oil, specific ingredients such as Vitamin K for conditions such as dark undereye circles, esculin (horse-chestnut extract) for puffiness, zinc oligopeptide for wrinkles and soy sterol for irritation.

Eye creams are typically applied under they eye closer to the orbital bone than the actual eyeball since the warmth around the eye tends to cause the product to bleed inward towards the eye. Unless specified, eye creams should not be applied to the eye lids.

For those who have been using eye creams and are still noticing a change, perhaps it is time to change the product or formula you have been using. From season to season the needs of our skin change; therefore the ingredients within your current product might not be suited for the changes in the environment or the age of your skin. Check with your skincare professional for suggestions, try a sample of a new product and perhaps consider an eye treatment or mask to give this delicate area a boost of hydration.

If you have questions about skincare or makeup, feel free to respond to this column with your questions, call us at 373.9500 or visit us at Bella Rouge Cosmetic and Skincare Boutique in Clifton Park Center.