Eye Cream Review

Milia: An Overview

What It Is
Milia is the word for those pesky, white, non-acne bumps that usually appear on the cheeks, lips or under eye area; though, they can technically appear anywhere. Milia bumps form when dead skin cells and keratin becomes trapped under the skin instead of exfoliating naturally. Milia looks like little cysts, beads or pearls below the skin’s surface.

Milia doesn’t pop easily. In fact, it is not recommended to try to pop milia bumps as doing so can lead to discomfort, redness and even scarring. The only way to effectively treat milia at home is to boost exfoliation using specially formulated skin care or eye cream products.

Who’s At Risk
The number one cause of milia is the use of heavy, comedogenic skin care products. Face and eye creams that contain oil can inhibit the skin’s natural exfoliation process, resulting in white milia bumps. Hair care products, such as mousse or hairspray, can also contribute to milia if the formulation comes into contact with the complexion. Other causes of milia include:

• Genetic disposition
• Cumulative sun exposure
• Blistering disorders such as Porphyria Cutanea Tarda can make milia more likely to occur
• Young skin, such as that of a newborn baby

What To Do About It
Most cases of milia will clear up on their own in a couple days to a couple weeks. However, if you’re experiencing long-term or chronic milia, there are a few ways to treat it.

The first thing to do is read the labels of all your beauty care products. Replace anything that contains comedogenic ingredients, especially if you notice them having a heavy or greasy texture when applied. Common comedogenic ingredients include cocoa butter, coconut oil, sodium chloride and wheat germ oil. If your skin care formulation is labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic, it’s probably safe to continue using that product.

Formulations that often lead to milia include eye makeup remover, under eye cream, heavy moisturizers, products for chapped lips, and cream makeup for the eyes, cheeks or lips. If you often use these types of products and suffer from prolonged milia, a thorough overhaul of your daily beauty routine is highly suggested.

In addition to taking a look at your skin and eye cream products, try adding an exfoliation step to your daily regimen. Exfoliation does not necessarily mean scrubbing — many exfoliation products contain natural acids that gently yet thoroughly slough away dead skin cells. This action helps prevent milia by removing the dead skin cells that would otherwise become trapped under the skin. Plus, exfoliation helps reduce the appearance of acne, sun damage, visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and rough skin.

If you have taken the above steps and see little or no improvement in your case of milia, visit your dermatologist. He or she may be able to administer a more extreme exfoliation treatment, such as a glycolic acid peel, or physically remove the milia bumps.

Please note: never, ever try to exfoliate your baby’s skin. If you feel as if your newborn, baby or toddler is experiencing chronic milia, take your little one to the pediatrician. A baby’s skin is much too sensitive for adult skin care or exfoliation products.

source:flickr by:Lakshmi Arvind

Eye Cream of the Month: Rodial Glamtox Eye Light SPF 15

Rodial’s Glamtox Eye Light SPF 15 is a true multi-tasking under eye cream that’s made to diminish puffiness and dark circles. The instantly illuminating formulation uses oligopeptides and pomegranate ellagic tannin to repair and smooth the delicate eye area, restoring a healthier and more youthful appearance.

Clinically proven to help shift dark under eye circles, Glamtox Eye Light will promote a bright, even skin tone. Plus, with an SPF of 15, this skin care eye cream protects the fragile skin of the eye area from UV damage. Rodial‘s pomegranate ellagic tannin promises to boost collagen production in order to minimize fine lines, crow’s feet and wrinkles, reduce sagging, and restore a younger look and feel to the skin. These actions are great for those experiencing premature signs of aging caused by environmental or skin care product-induced damages.

Upon application, Glamtox Eye Light feels silky, cooling and nourishing. The lightweight yet moisturizing texture sinks in quickly and completely, allowing you to get on with your daily beauty routine in mere moments. After the eye cream is fully absorbed, the resulting texture is smooth and soft, but not greasy, making it an ideal surface for concealer and eye makeup application.

Glamtox Eye Light is the perfect anti-aging eye cream for night owls, party animals and new moms due to its light-reflecting particles. These special brighteners immediately banish signs of fatigue while the formula’s nourishing ingredients get to work on your eye area’s deeper problems, such as dark circles and puffiness. As you recount your sleepless night to friends and co-workers, they’re sure to exclaim, “But, you look so rested!” — a compliment anyone would enjoy.

The cherry on top is the eye wrinkle cream’s antioxidant properties, which will help neutralize free radicals, one of the leading causes of skin damage and premature signs of aging. Coupled with the product’s SPF, these pomegranate-provided antioxidants will protect the delicate eye area, allowing it to remain healthy, comfortable and youthful-looking.

source:flickr by:Maschinenraum

Under Eye Cream Packaging Tips

Sometimes our favorite eye cream products are available in pot, pump, tube or wand packaging. While double-packaging may seem silly, it’s actually a great way for skin care companies to cater to the wants of their consumers. Each under eye cream package type offers unique pros and cons that are designed to help simplify your daily beauty care regimen.

Pot
The traditional pot packaging allows you to access your anti-aging eye cream with ease. With a simple dip of your finger or a cotton swab, you’re able to get the perfect amount of product and apply it to the eye area without missing a beat. However, if you do use your fingers to remove product from the pot, the bacteria from your hands will be transferred to the eye lift cream, which increases your risk of irritation and disease.

Pump
Airless or traditional pumps keep your skin care eye cream fresh and bacteria-free. The downside to pumps is that it’s difficult to control the amount of product removed from the package, which leaves you wasting excess product. Plus, if you apply too much product to the delicate eye area, it can cause puffiness and even irritation. Pumps are very travel-friendly, and are great for those who don’t like messing with lids.

Tube
Tubes, like pumps, keep your eye cream product from becoming infested with bacteria. However, they are not as efficient at this as pumps, simply due to the fact that the fingertips come into contact with the tip of the tube, and may even transfer bacteria to unwanted product before it’s “sucked” back into the tube. Pumps are also superior when it comes to releasing the eye anti aging cream, as tubes have to be rolled, squeezed and re-rolled, while pumps simply push the product out with built-in mechanisms.

Wand
The eye cream wand is the ultimate in convenient eye cream packaging. Sadly, not many under eye creams are offered in wand applicators. The wand houses the eye cream formulation, and generally features a brush or doe foot applicator tip that allows you to apply directly to the eye area. While the application tip should be washed often to avoid bacterial transference, the wand is still great for on-the-go use, making it ideal for travelers or those who like to reapply their anti wrinkle eye cream while out and about.

source:flickr by:~dezz~

Best Anti-Aging Eye Cream Ingredients

People have been trying to turn back the hands of time for thousands of years. From Herodotus’ Fountain of Youth to today’s injections, cosmetic surgeries and anti-aging skin care products, everyone wishes to restore a youthful quality to their appearance.

One of the first areas of the body to show visible signs of aging is the eye area. Because the skin of the eye area is so thin and delicate, it is especially prone to the damage that causes fine lines, wrinkles, sagging and other undesired signs of wear and tear. To help reduce these signs of aging, many choose to apply an anti-aging eye cream as part of their skin care regimen.

Unsurprisingly, there are many, many under eye creams that all claim to be the best at restoring youthfulness to the eye area. How do you know which is truly the best? Turn the jar (or pump) around and take a peek at the ingredients. If you find any combination of the following ingredients listed on your eye cream‘s package, you’re holding a quality formulation in your hands!

Neuropeptides
Neuropeptides are strings of amino acids that occur naturally in the human body. Neuropeptides are one of the more expensive anti-aging ingredients due to their exceptional ability to reduce visible signs of aging. Dr. Perricone, a leading dermatologist and product formulator, says that neuropeptide benefits are “the most impressive I have seen in twenty years of research.”  Neuropeptides are able to improve radiance, reduce inflammation, boost collagen and elastin, improve skin resilience, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the appearance of capillaries, encourage maximum hydration, and improve firmness, tone, texture and blood circulation. Plus, neuropeptides are gentle on the dermis, making them a great choice for more sensitive skin types.

Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a favorite ingredient in all types of skin care and eye lift creams, from moisturizing formulations to anti-aging designs. Hyaluronic acid, or hyaluronan, is actually the body’s own moisturizer. It lubricates everything from your joints to your eyes, and is the main hydrator of your skin. This incredible ingredient is able to attract and bind water up to 1,000 times its own weight. This action plumps the skin to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles while creating a youthful suppleness and radiance.

Ceramides
Ceramides are lipid molecules comprised of sphingosine and a fatty acid. Ceramides are one of the main components of the skin’s barrier layer, the stratum corneum. Ceramides are used in skin care to seal in hydration and prevent water loss, thereby optimizing your formulation’s function and reaping long-term benefits from your skin care regimen products. The combination of hyaluronic acid and ceramides is especially beneficial, as the hyaluronic acid will draw moisture in from the environment while the ceramides lock the moisture in for lasting results.

Retinol
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that is widely used in anti-aging products. It strengthens the skin, boosts cell turnover and encourages collagen production while diminishing the appearance of fine lines, sun spots and other visible signs of aging. Eye cream products formulated with retinol provide exceptional anti-aging results, making them a favorite of those with intense visible signs of aging in the eye area. Retinol is a particularly aggressive ingredient that isn’t for everyone. Before using a retinol product, consult your dermatologist or doctor, and remember to always follow your skin care product’s directions carefully. If your skin is too sensitive for a retinoic formulation, or if you have to stop using your retinol product during pregnancy, breastfeeding or medication use, try a peptide formulation instead.