Eye Cream Review

Eye Cream of the Month: Caudalie 1st Wrinkle Eye Cream

This month’s eye cream review features an antioxidant-rich, paraben-free formulation that helps prevent the first signs of aging. 1st Wrinkle Eye Cream by Caudalie is designed to prevent and reduce wrinkles, lighten and brighten dark circles, diminish puffiness, and shield the skin against free radical damage. The secret to this eye cream product’s efficacy is its long list of natural ingredients. 1st Wrinkle Eye Cream contains grape seed polyphenols, calendula extract, witch hazel extract, licorice extract, ceramide 3, horse chestnut extract and more! For an in-depth look at why this under eye cream is so effective, take a look at the following ingredients and their uses.

• Grape Seed Polyphenols (OPC): an antioxidant that’s 10,000 times more effective than vitamin E when neutralizing free radicals. Extracted from grape seeds, OPC is a rare ingredient indeed. It takes one ton of grape seeds to extract one kilogram of OPC!
• Calendula: anti-inflammatory and anti-irritation, calendula will help reduce puffiness and discomfort, leaving the eye area feeling fresh and calm.
• Witch Hazel: an astringent and soothing ingredient that reduces redness and irritation around the eye area.
• Licorice: lightens and brightens the under eye area, making this cream-gel formula a great eye cream for dark circles.
• Ceramide 3: restores the skin’s natural barrier system while helping to maintain a comfortable level of hydration.
• Horse Chestnut: improves the health and strength of the skin’s veins and capillaries, helps support healthy collagen and works to fight inflammatory conditions, which can lead to premature signs of aging.

User reviews of this anti wrinkle eye cream feature an overall rating of five stars and many stories of success. Some product benefits mentioned by users state that the gel-cream formulation absorbs quickly, supplies long-lasting hydration, is lightweight and non-greasy, and seems to provide both immediate and cumulative results.

Caudalie 1st Wrinkle Eye Cream may also be used around the lips to heal and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. The formulation is free of parabens, synthetic dyes, sulfates and phthalates, making it safe enough for use by those who wear contact lenses or experience sensitive skin issues.

source:flickr by:NickPiggott

Best Hydrating Eye Cream Ingredients

One of the best ways to prevent and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet around the eyes is to keep the eye area well hydrated. In addition to drinking at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day, applying topical hydrating under eye cream can keep the delicate eye area moisturized, supple, radiant and youthful-looking. There are many hydrating eye cream ingredients from which to choose, which can lead to an over-abundance of choices when shopping for your anti aging eye cream. To simplify your search, here’s some information on three of the leading eye area hydrators.

Glycerin
Glycerin is able to hydrate and soften the skin due to its hygroscopic natural. This means that glycerin attracts water from the air and binds it to the area covered by your glycerin-infused anti wrinkle eye cream. Glycerin is a neutral, non-toxic liquid that is often used as a gentle base for skin care products because many ingredients dissolve into glycerin easier than water or alcohol. It is free of side effects and is so soothing that many use it to reduce the discomfort and itching associating with eczema and other easily irritated skin conditions. These properties make glycerin-based eye creams a great choice for those with sensitive eye areas.

Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is an extremely gentle alpha hydroxy acid that’s been used for centuries to beautify the skin. Legend states that Cleopatra would bathe in baths filled with sour goat’s milk to maintain her youthful beauty. Today, we know that sour milk products, such as yogurt, truly do have skin care benefits due to their naturally high levels of lactic acid. This fabulous ingredient is used in eye wrinkle creams and other anti-aging skin care products to slough away dead skin cells and boost the production of new cells while supplying soothing hydration. Lactic acid, like glycerin, is able to work without causing irritation, allowing those with sensitive skin to experience its hydrating and rejuvenative qualities. Users of lactic acid will experience:

• Reduced fine lines and wrinkles
• Reduced age spots
• Reduced hyperpigmentation
• Smoother, softer skin texture
• Increased collagen production

Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid, also called hyaluronan, is the body’s natural moisturizer. It cushions and lubricates the body, including the joints, heart valves and eyes, and helps the skin maintain its youthful elasticity, smoothness, “plumpness” and radiance. As humans age, hyaluronic acid is destroyed by environmental aggressors, poor diet, smoking and other factors, causing visible signs of aging, as well as aging within the body. When used in skin care eye creams, hyaluronic acid works by attracting water up to 1,000 times its own weight and binding it to the skin. It forms a protective barrier that helps keep hydration within the skin, allowing the water to re-plump and soften the skin while diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

As you can see, any one of these three hydrating skin care ingredients would be a great addition to your eye cream products, as well as any of your other skin care regimen formulations.

source:flickr by: The Style PA

Skin Care Eye Cream vs. Skin Care Face Cream

Many people wonder why they can’t use their anti-aging moisturizer as their under eye cream. After all, skin care face creams contain many beneficial ingredients that work to nourish and protect the skin. Using a basic face cream as an eye cream seems like it may save time and money; however, the damage this would cause would end up costing way more time and money to correct than if you had chosen better products to begin with.

The eye area is thinner, more delicate and more sensitive than the rest of this complexion. These are the main characteristics that require a separate skin care eye cream. In order to care for the eye area without causing irritation, the products used there must be tested by an ophthalmologist. As you may have guessed, most anti-aging face creams are not ophthalmologist tested, making them more likely to cause unwanted side effects. In addition, skin care products formulated for the face contain higher concentrations of active ingredients, which may be too aggressive for the delicate eye area.

Common eye area concerns, such as puffiness and bags, can be exacerbated by face creams due to the high levels of hydrating ingredients. While the best under eye creams certainly contain hydrators, the levels used are specially measured in order to work without causing excess puffiness in the eye area. Along those same lines, face creams don’t often contain skin care ingredients that help with dark circles and other eye area issues, making them less effective.

Overall, the debate of eye cream vs. face cream for use on the eye area comes down to common sense. The best eye cream is just that — an eye cream! When putting together your skin care regimen, choose a face cream formulated for your skin type, and an eye cream product that’s made to treat your specific eye area concerns. By selecting two separate “made for you” products, you’ll be able to target your unique skin care issues with a decreased risk of side effects and irritation.

source:flickr by:ejhogbin

How to Treat Under Eye Cream Reactions

It’s happened to the best of us: under eye cream irritation or reactions, also known as contact dermatitis. Sometimes when trying a new (or very old) eye cream, the delicate skin around the eye area experiences redness, peeling, inflammation or worse. This occurrence is not only uncomfortable and unattractive, it can be dangerous. Here’s a quick look at the difference between irritation and reactions, and what to do if you experience either one

Irritation Contact Dermatitis
Irritation is more common than a true allergic reaction. Skin care eye cream, or other forms of skin care for that matter, can be irritating to the skin due to ingredient concentration, application frequency or poor skin health. Dry or injured skin is less able to protect against irritation, making it more susceptible to irritation contact dermatitis. Symptoms of this type of irritation are redness, burning, stinging or itching.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis
A true allergic reaction occurs when the eye cream user is allergic to a specific ingredient. Symptoms of a reaction are similar to those of irritation contact dermatitis, though the symptoms will often be more severe and last longer. Symptoms include swelling, fluid-filled blisters, itching and redness. The condition of the skin does not matter when it comes to allergic contact dermatitis; the skin will react no matter what if you are allergic to an ingredient.

Treatment
Whether you are experiencing irritation or allergic contact dermatitis, the course of action is the same. First, discontinue use of the offending eye cream product and gently wash away any product residue from the eye area. To soothe discomfort and inflammation, apply a cold compress to the area. While some may suggest using a calming skin care product such as a witch hazel compress or chamomile lotion, it is best to leave the area alone until you are able to see your dermatologist. This includes makeup, which can make the redness, inflammation and discomfort even worse.

Your dermatologist or doctor may prescribe a steroid cream or oral medication if severe allergic contact dermatitis is diagnosed. Alternatively, he may suggest that you use an over-the-counter antihistamine until the reaction subsides. When you go in to see your dermatologist or doctor, be sure to bring the offending under eye cream with you in case she would like to inspect the ingredient list or application directions.

Eye Cream of the Month: Colorescience My Favorite Eyes Cream Wand

This month’s featured eye cream is from mineral makeup line Colorescience. Colorescience’s My Favorite Eyes Cream Wand is a moisturizing, nourishing and brightening formulation that features the added benefit of a doe foot wand applicator. This unique application tool makes My Favorite Eyes Cream Wand a great choice for on-the-go use.

Colorescience’s skin care eye cream uses beta carotene and vitamin K to reduce and prevent the appearance of dark under eye circles. It also features botanicals such as blue algae, grapefruit extract and green tea extract, and powerful peptides, to help to diminish visible signs of aging and protect against environmental or free radical damage. These actions lead to a younger- and healthier-looking eye area. Plus, the formula moisturizes, conditions and soothes the eye area for a calm and comfortable finish.

My Favorite Eyes Cream Wand features a light yellow color makes it a great eye cream for dark circles. This color may dissuade those with darker skin tones from trying the product. Keep in mind that this unique cream is meant to be used as a correcting product under your usual concealer. So, those with deeper complexions can still use (and love) My Favorite Eyes Cream Wand.

User reviews state that Colorescience’s under eye cream has a silky-smooth texture that never looks cakey or heavy. It is also mentioned that a little bit of this product goes a long way, maximizing the product’s usability life. Some customers mention using My Favorite Eyes Cream on fine lines around the lips or even on blemishes. While Colorescience does not market their eye cream for such things, the ingredient list features so many beneficial botanicals and pepetides that it seems like common sense to use the formulation wherever possible!

Overall, My Favorite Eyes Cream Wand is a clear winner for those looking for a travel-friendly, multi-tasking eye cream that targets dark circles and protects the delicate eye area from age-accelerating damage.

source: flickr by: sassyradish

How to Massage Puffy Eyes

Many people experience puffiness in the eye area, particularly in the morning. Puffiness can accentuate the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and bags, leading to a mature and fatigued-looking eye area. One of the best ways to combat eye area puffiness is to administer a gentle massage while applying your under eye cream, oil or gel.

While you may massage the eye area using any eye product, eye gels tend to help reduce puffiness more so than oils or skin care eye creams. If you are currently using a heavy anti aging eye cream and experiencing chronic puffiness in the eye area, you may want to consider switching to an eye gel.

Begin by cleansing the complexion with a gentle face wash formulated for your skin type. Be sure to cleanse the eye area as gently as possible to avoid causing premature signs of aging and irritation. After the face is cleansed, delicately apply your eye gel or eye cream using your ring fingers.

Beginning at the inside corners of the eyes, gently press down and hold for for about five seconds. Then, with your fingers still applying pressure, slowly and delicately slide the fingers under the eye toward the temples. Massage the temples in a slow circular motion two or three times, and repeat the entire process between seven and ten times depending on the severity of the puffiness. (You don’t have to re-apply your eye gel or eye cream product each time you repeat the massage steps.)

After this first step is completed, make complete circles around each eye. Be sure to continue using your ring fingers, as these fingers are the weakest and, therefore, the gentlest. Begin at the inside corners of the eyes, sweep up over the eyebrows, down under the lower lash line and back to the inner corners of the eye. Repeat this three to five times. Once you have finished, continue applying your skin care and makeup products as usual.

In addition to these simple and relaxing massage techniques, you may also reduce eye area puffiness by refrigerating your night eye cream or gel products or using a freezable eye mask before you begin your daily beauty regimen.

Bonus: What About Cucumbers?

One of the most well-known beauty spa visions is one of a woman wrapped in a robe, face mask working, while two slices of cucumber lay atop her closed eyelids. Many wonder if those cucumbers actually do anything other than force relaxation. Well, they do! Cucumbers are astringent, which means they’re able to constrict body tissues. Plus, most people store their cucumbers in the refrigerator, which creates a cold compress that will reduce inflammation, also known as puffiness. Cut two thick slices from a cold cuke and apply for 10-15 minutes for the best results.

source:flickr by: TC .

Eye Cream vs. Eye Gel

While trying to find the best eye cream, most people focus on promised benefits and active ingredients. One thing that is rarely considered is the product’s texture. Eye formulations come in both the form of an eye cream and eye gel textures. This added choice sometimes confuses people even further rather than simplifying the search. So, which is better? Read on to learn who should be using a gel, who should be using a cream, and when the choice is simply personal preference.

Creams
Under eye creams offer extra moisture, nourishment and comfort. They also generally contain more anti-aging ingredients, making them better at fighting against visible signs of aging such as fine lines and sagging skin. These attributes make anti aging eye creams a good choice for dry, mature or sensitive eye areas. However, those who may choose an eye gel for daytime use may prefer a night eye cream for aging prevention and extra rejuvenation.

Gels
Eye gels are known for their ability to cool and calm the skin while reducing puffiness. Gels are great for tired, fatigued eye areas, which makes them the perfect choice for daytime use. In addition, eye gels are great for younger eye areas as they don’t exhibit the heaviness associated with more nourishing eye lift creams. Eye gels leave less residue than eye wrinkle creams, making them perfect for use under eye makeup.

At first glance, it may seem like the choice is obvious — use an eye gel in the morning and a night eye cream while you rest. While this would make a great eye regimen for most people, it is important to remember that your comfort and desired regimen results come first. If you believe that an under eye cream will treat your eye area better than an eye gel, go for what you want, even if your eye area may fall under the eye gel category.

Application tip: if you suffer from excessively puffy eyes each morning, try refrigerating your eye gel. The extra cold texture will help reduce puffiness even faster, allowing you to get on with your day in less time and with less work!

source: flickr by:jomak14

While searching for the best eye cream, it’s easy to forget about the eyelashes. Most people don’t realize that eyelashes need to be cared for just like our bodies, faces and hair. While there aren’t too many eyelash creams or conditioners on the market, it is possible to find a suitable formulation for enhancing the health and beauty of the eyelashes.

Eyelash creams, like under eye creams, are used to restore youthful appearance and function. They use ingredients like nettle, horse chestnut, witch hazel, milk protein, sodium hyaluronate and apple extract to hydrate, soften and heal the lashes while encouraging follicle growth for naturally longer lashes. Everyone can benefit from eyelash creams and conditioners, but they are especially beneficial for those who use harsh eyelash products like mascara.

Each time one applies mascara or removes their eye makeup, the eyelashes are damaged. This damage is what leads to brittle, short and lackluster lashes, which leaves the user in the midst of a catch-22. They want to apply more mascara to create the illusion of beautiful lashes, but the application and removal of mascara is what caused the damage to begin with! Some believe that their eye cream ingredients are enough to restore their eyelashes, but this simply isn’t the case. Eyelashes need the nutrients from certain ingredients, like those listed above, to successfully replenish the lash line.

Eyelash creams are made to be gentle enough for the delicate eye area, yet powerful enough to provide thorough rejuvenation. Many eyelash formulations contain natural ingredients that work synergistically to improve the health and appearance of each lash. In addition to reviving the eyelashes, eyelash cream and conditioners may also be used on the eyebrows. They’re perfect for those who use brow gels or coloring tools, or those who have naturally short, sparse or dull-looking brows.

Next time you apply your eye wrinkle cream, think about your lashes! Eyelash conditioners generally run from $30-$160 or more, depending on its benefits and ingredients. They are available in many different application deigns, including creams, mascara-like tubes and liquid eyeliner-like tubes.

Eye Cream of the Month: Juara Sweet Black Tea Eye Creme

In order to bring you the latest and greatest news of new or newly rediscovered eye cream products, we’ll be featuring a different eye cream each month with an in-depth eye cream review. Find new favorites or learn more about old standbys every month at eyecreamreview.com.

Juara‘s Sweet Black Tea Eye Creme is a fragrance-free under eye cream that’s both hydrating and refreshing. Its lightweight yet soothing texture sinks into the skin to provide immediate comfort, leaving the skin with a supple and smooth feel that’s perfectly prepped for makeup application. It also softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to supply the eye area with a more youthful appearance.

Sweet Black Tea Eye Creme is formulated with a slew of botanicals, including nourishing and moisturizing avocado oil and illipe butter. Fermented sweet black tea, also known as Kombucha, tightens and smoothes the skin while rice bran oil and vitamin E improve elasticity and condition the skin. These fabulous ingredients make Sweet Black Tea Eye Creme a perfect choice for those who prefer a more natural skin care eye cream.

This silky cream also helps to protect the skin against environmental damage, including age-accelerating free radicals. These anti-aging actions make Sweet Black Tea Eye Creme suitable for both mature and younger complexions, as it can heal and prevent visible signs of aging.

The delicate eye area is prone to many conditions, including broken capillaries, also known as “spider veins”. Capillaries are part of microcirculation and enable the exchange of water, oxygen, waste chemicals and more. Capillaries break by narrowing and widening too quickly. When they break, blood is allowed to seep out, creating a slim, red line visible on the skin’s surface. Some broken capillaries must be treated by a dermatologist; however, most broken capillaries can be reduced using a specially formulated body cream, face cream or eye cream.

Broken capillaries tend to appear on the cheeks, nose and under eye area, as well as other areas of the body. Because the skin under and around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of our skin, it provides the least protection against capillary damage. Many under eye creams contain ingredients that help heal or prevent broken capillaries, including vitamin K, vitamin C and chamomile extract. These ingredients also treat other common eye area concerns, including dark circles, signs of fatigue, visible signs of aging and puffiness. For this reason, eye creams for dark circles or anti aging eye creams often make great treatments for broken capillaries.

In addition to topical treatment, broken capillaries can be helped by drinking chamomile tea or taking vitamin C and Lysine internally. As always, be sure to consult your doctor before adding new supplements to your diet to ensure safe and healthy use.