Protecting Skin around Your Eye

As noted at the beginning of this section, the part surrounding the eyes is different from all the other areas of the skin. As such, it requires special attention. If you are sick and tired of looking sick and tired around the eye area, then it's about time you give your eyes a little more TLC. Taking better care of this area can help end the frustration of waking up with raccoon eyes- big puffy eyes surrounded by dark circles, for example. The good news is that it's not hopeless. We'll start with a list of all-natural remedies that you can try and then move on to other problems and therapies:

1. Get Enough Sleep
   It seems like a no-brainer, but you would be amazed at the number of people who burn their candles at both ends and then walk around with tired, puffy, or weary eyes. Experts suggest 8-9 hours a night of sleep will strengthen overall health and help out those tired-looking eyes.


2. Eat Right- a Well Balanced Diet
   We all know that eating a well-balanced diet will keep us healthy and provide our bodies with the necessary vitamins and minerals it needs. But many of us are unaware of how diet affects our skin. A healthy diet can play a significant role in becoming more efficient in eliminating toxins and wastes that make you look tired and wasted. Another thing you should be aware of in relation to diet is salt. Salt makes your body retain water which shows up mostly in your abdomen and your eyes. Therefore, severely reducing your salt intake can help immensely.


3. Eat More Fresh Fruits
   Although you might think that should be under a "well-balanced diet," there is a reason for singling fruit out in our skincare regimen. Increasing your fresh fruit intake will increase the amounts of copper and Vitamin C in your body. These nutrients help restore cells that have been damaged by free radicals, thereby helping you to delay signs of aging such as fine lines, bags, and skin discoloration in your eye area. So eat more fresh fruits.


4. Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day
   Water cleanses toxins and other unwanted materials that ruin your skin and make you look old and tired. No matter how "balanced" your diet is or how much fruit you eat, it will show up on your skin if you lack water in your body. Doctors say that we must drink at least eight glasses of water every day.


5. Stop Squinting
   Many people squint without being aware of it. Squinting causes wrinkles known as "crow's feet. This particular motion wrinkle tends to be prevalent in nearsighted people; that is, they tend to squint to see objects or read signs in the distance. If you are squinting a lot, it may mean that you need glasses- have your vision checked.

Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays

It's a well-known fact that the sun contains high levels of UV-rays and should be avoided. UV-rays cause wrinkles, skin aging and can increase the risk of skin cancer. For the eyes, you must wear UVA and UVB blocking sunglasses. Sun damage is partly irreversible, so you need to check with your physician or dermatologist to make sure that you are using the right sunscreen for your skin. For the right sunglasses, you may want to consult an optometrist.
 

Watch out for skin irritation

The skin surrounding our eyes is thin and highly delicate and therefore must be indulged a bit more than the more robust areas of our skin. As a result, it is much more prone to skin irritation and inflammation- which often go hand in hand. For this reason, you must pay attention to the ingredients in any agent you employ around the eye area. Tretinoin (also known as Retin A or Renova) can dry out the skin and irritate it, for example. Additionally, hydroxyl acids in concentrations of a PH less than 3.5 have been known to irritate the skin around the eyes.

If your doctor or beautician recommends a product that contains knows irritants, it's best to:

• Begin treatment with the least powerful concentration of the active ingredient that you can. If you have no irritation after a couple of weeks, you may want to consider upping the dosage slightly.
• First, apply the product on the inside of your arm- an area almost as sensitive as your eye area. If you experience no irritation, using the product in your eye area should be ok.
• Check to see if the product you are using has a unique formula specifically for the eye area. While it's true that some companies are just trying to increase their profits by offering more products, specially crafted eye creams generally have less concentration of irritants and are generally more hydrating.
• As with any product, if irritation develops from product usage- discontinue it!

Delicate eye care products

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Go Light on the Makeup

While makeup can look great, these products usually contain potential skin irritants. Long-lasting makeup especially tends to be made up of harsher chemicals and requires chemical solvents to remove it. The best thing you can do to help reduce the aging of your skin is to go light on the makeup; that is, use makeup in moderation.
 

Puffiness

The most common causes of puffy eyes come from lifestyle factors: lack of sleep and alcohol consumption rank at the top. But, of course, persistent puffiness could signify the presence of a more serious health problem such as an allergy or kidney/liver disease. Puffy eyes can usually be cured relatively quickly, but if the condition persists, make sure to see a doctor.

According to some experts, sodium is one trigger to puffy eyes. If you want to keep those eyes beautiful, make sure that you think twice before you add too much salt to your diet. Another contribution to puffiness, say the experts, is the lack of water intake. You should drink as much water as you can per day (up to a gallon) for overall general health.

Cytobiol Lumin-Eye products against puffiness

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