Article by Sheetal Rawal, scientist & founder of www.apsarskincare.com
It is all in the Eyes
The delicate eye area often remains inadequately cared for, the possible assumption being that a face care routine covers the eye area too. This is only partially true. Our eye area is structurally quite different from the rest of our skin, and due to this fact it needs to be treated with extra care and caution.
Eyes are a very important indicator of our overall health. While dark circles can indicate tiredness or lack of adequate sleep, swollen eyes can mean fluid retention. Fine lines and wrinkles are first seen around the eyes; this is because the skin surrounding the eyes is very thin and prone to showing signs of inadequate care.
Here are some tips to get your eyes to look healthy and radiant
1. No more raccoon eyes!
Dark circles under and over the eyes is a ubiquitous issue faced by people of all ethnicities. However, in the South East Asian population, dark eyes are more pronounced. A readily available ingredient that shows promising results is cucumber. You could apply cucumber juice around your eyes before bedtime as often as possible, or better yet get an eye serum with cucumber extract to do the trick. Cucumber is high in vitamin C, and has been associated with lightening of those stubborn dark circles. Do not underestimate the value of adequate sleep. Sleep deprivation and stress can cause dark circles in some, and make them worse in others.
2. Crow's Feet be Gone!
Fine lines and wrinkles are the first to be seen around your eyes. The best and most reliable natural solution is sweet almond oil. Due to its high protein and essential fatty acid content, this miracle ingredient has been in use for thousands of years to reduce the appearance of existing fine lines and wrinkles, and delay the onset of new ones. An eye serum with sweet almond oil (or plain sweet almond oil if you have access to it) can be applied AM and PM with your ring fingers to do the trick.
3. Get Clear Now!
Clear eyes are a sign of vibrant health and definitely add a sparkle to your face. However, long hours in front of the computer, bad habits like smoking or staying up too late can dilate the fine capillaries in the whites of your eyes making them look red and unhealthy. While quitting those unhealthy habits is a must, a quick fix (all natural) solution is to squeeze a few drops of 100% pure rosewater into your eyes a few times a day. Rosewater is a natural astringent and constricts dilated capillaries. This reduces redness and brings a clean sparkle back into your eyes.
4. Got Puffy Eyes?
Puffy eyes are the worst early in the morning. Insufficient sleep can contribute to puffy eyes, and so can a bout of crying. More often than not, puffy eyes could be an indication of water retention. Be sure to see your doctor to rule out any medical concerns (like kidney or sinus issues) if you experience consistent puffy eyes. A quick tip: Drink a glass or two of warm water first thing after waking in the morning. This jump starts your kidneys and helps flush out fluids and toxins. Additionally, you could soak two cotton balls in a saline solution (1 tsp salt in a cup of warm water) and place them over your closed eyes. Rest with these saline compresses for 5 minutes or so to help drain out any excess fluid that might be contributing to the puffiness. Don't get the salt water into your eyes.
5. Stop Staring!
Staring into the computer screen all day long is only slightly better than straining your eyes to read the small script. Truth be told, both these habits are the worst enemies of your eyes. Same is true for going out into a bright day without your sunglasses on. Premature wrinkles, dark circles, and forehead furrows can all be linked to these habits. So get an anti-glare screen cover to reduce the brightness and glare from your computer screen. At the very least, dim the brightness button on your keyboard. While you are at it, be sure to increase the text font too so you don't have to scrunch your forehead and strain your eyes just to read! And yes, don't leave your house without a pair of good quality sunglasses!
