As autumn begins to bite, take action to protect the delicate skin around your eyes
Thinner and more sensitive than other areas of skin on the face and body, the area around your eyes is often the first place you’ll see the signs of seasonal stress.
Less exposure to light, harsher weather, spending more time staring at screens (often in darker environments) and sleeping issues that might arise if you’re out and about less – using up less energy – mean that autumn has a tendency to bring out unwanted ‘bags’ and dark circles under the eyes.
If you notice dark circles appearing, it’s wise to do more than simply reach for your concealer: fatigue and dry skin can speed-up the loss of skin tone and the onset of wrinkles. Rather than just covering eye bags and dark circles up, it’s best to tackle the causes and choose a suitable treatment to care, moisturise and help prevent the problem getting any worse.
Get eye bags under control
Under eye bags and dark circles are tough to eradicate completely, but taking these simple steps can help to alleviate the problem.
Sleep well: eye bags often indicate a lack of sleep. A good night’s rest should help to ease the symptoms. Take some time to wind down before bed, avoiding screens and other forms of stimulation (loud music or intense conversation, for example). Avoid caffeine after lunch and try herbal tea that encourages sleep at bedtime. A nighttime sleep treatment, like Dermalogica’s Sound Sleep Cocoon, can also encourage a peaceful night.
Position matters: when you’re in bed, try to sleep with a good pillow, so your head is elevated to aid circulation. Sleeping on your front can cause fluid to ‘pool’ under your eyes, exacerbating eye bags, so sleep on your back or side if you can.
Ice cold: a cool pack applied under the eyes can provide an instant boost to your circulation as well as reducing any swelling and discolouration. A few ice cubes wrapped in a clean, soft flannel or hand towel will do the trick. You can also try cool cucumber slices and used teabags (chilled in the fridge) for an under-eye treat.
Year-round shade: even when it’s cold outside, shielding your eyes from sunlight can improve the appearance of bags and dark circles (just ask Anna Wintour!) Keep your shades handy throughout autumn and winter and apply a sensitive SPF regularly.
Moisturise from within: making sure you have enough water can help to nourish your skin from within. Aim to drink plenty throughout the day, but avoid drinking too much in the evening or your sleep might be disturbed.
Choose your treatment
As well as trying these simple tips, choose a treatment that suits your skin type and can support the recovery of this most delicate part of the face.
Here are some of our picks….
Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift – use as needed for a quick boost – or daily to address the signs of chronic eye fatigue.
Medik8 Advanced Day Eye Protect – an all-encompassing anti-ageing eye cream designed to nourish and hydrate while combatting environmental causes of skin ageing.
Dermalogica Intense Eye Repair – an ultra-rich cream of skin replenishing phytonutrients, antioxidant vitamins and soothing botanicals to help diminish dry lines and repair damage around the delicate eye area.
Decleor Cornflower Eye Gel – a 98% natural-origin eye gel with hydrating, anti-puffiness and anti-dark circles power for brighter and rested eyes.
Dermalogica Age Smart Age Reversal Eye Complex – reverse multiple signs of ageing with this breakthrough treatment specifically formulated for the delicate eye area.
Decleor Jasmine Eye Cream – new from Decleor, this is an anti-fatigue, illuminating and anti-ageing eye cream to leave the skin luminous and radiant: with Jasmin Absolute, it fights against wrinkles and lack of radiance all day long.
