You gotta love the beauty biz. As soon as you think you have your skincare routine figured out, another get-better-skin-trend is thrown at you and you have to reevaluate. That’s why I love masks. They’re easy to add to your existing routine without changing too much else. Now you can extend that same benefit to your eye care as well. It’s called eye masking”and here’s what you need to know.
First off, why do I need a different routine for my eyes?
The skin around the eye is very delicate and much thinner than the skin on other areas of your face, says Holly Carpenter, Shiseido’s expert regional trainer. We need to treat our eyes with due care.” That means investing in eye-area-specific products instead of using the same moisturizer as you use for the rest of your face. The molecular structure of eye care products are specifically designed for that area, and are ophthalmologist-tested, so they are proven to be safe around the delicate eye area, says Carpenter.
What’s my main eye concern?
Moisture. The eye area has fewer pores and oil glands, so less moisture is naturally produced. Which means your eyes need all the hydration they can get. This is also why your eyes are one of the first places to show signs of aging.
But I’m only 25”do I really need to care?
There’s no specific age you should start taking your skincare seriously”but as with most things beauty, sooner is better. Prevention is always your best option when it comes to skin aging. Generally, it is recommended that you begin using an eye cream at some point in your early twenties once the first sings of aging begin with fine lines, dehydration and dark circles due to poor microcirculation,” says Carpenter.
So¦ eye cream and eye masking?
As with face masks, eye masks provide a more targeted treatment to your specific concerns”and adds an extra dose of skin-care to beef up your routine. So yes, it’s a good idea to keep your regular eye cream going while also adding eye masks to your routine. Plus, eye masks provide you with a quick-fix at-home spa treatment, says Carpenter. Shiseido’s Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Retinol Express Soothing Eye Masks are like a steam pressing effect on your eye wrinkles!
Is this like an every day thing?
It doesn’t have to be. Most brands recommend adding an eye mask a couple times a week, but that can be a big time commitment (and pricy) for many people. Instead, think of this as a booster shot. When you’re especially feeling a little rough around the eyes, make sure to mask. Or, if you’re anticipating a rough week, get ahead of any dehydration with a bit of eye masking. Eye masks are great for a quick-fix treatment product when you want fast-acting results for special occasions, says Carpenter.
What ingredients should I be looking for?
You want to look for fast-acting, quick-absorbing, high-performance ingredients, says Carpenter. Think: vitamin A, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. Stay away from anything that will zap the moisture from your skin”clay, charcoal, alcohol.
Check out some of our go-to eye masks below.