Famously the windows to our soul, our eyes tell the world so much about us. They can give away our innermost emotions: tears, laughter, surprise, shock. All register in and around our eyes. In the pandemic age of mask-wearing our eyes have to emote even more than usual, standing in for speech and smiles as we try to project a passing ‘hello’ in the street, or apologies to the person we accidentally get in the way of in the supermarket.
The condition of our eyes also reflects our general health. If we are ill, tired or stressed, our eyes and the skin around them give the game away. They are also one of the first places where we ‘show our age’, which at Willowberry we don’t promote as a bad thing; we like to celebrate our laughter lines rather than be ‘anti-ageing’.
Eyes Wide Open
The skin around our eyes is the thinnest on our whole body and lacks sebaceous glands. Add in all the movement that this part of the face performs, and it’s no wonder that lines are quicker to appear here first. Puffy eyes, eye bags and dark circles can also cause people concern. Sometimes there is a genetic predisposition to such features and there is not much you can do about that (aside perhaps from surgery). Other times these concerns become more pronounced as the years pass or when life gets tough.
Does that mean an eye cream is necessary?
Eye care is important to keep the delicate area hydrated, soothed and smooth, although no cream will take away lines or eradicate dark circles and under eye bags completely. Eye cream application also helps to increase blood flow and aid lymphatic drainage, which can help in de-puffing and reducing eye bags. It’s also an ideal prep for make-up, creating a smooth base ideal for concealer and foundation. Plus, it just feels soooo good. Especially after a long day in front of a screen.
Some people are happy to use their face cream to double up as eye care, while others prefer a dedicated eye cream for the purpose. There are no rules, although we prefer to use an eye cream as it has been specifically created for the needs of the eyes, and should have a lighter formula for the thin, delicate skin on this area, without any scent or irritants.
What to look for in an eye cream
If you decide you do want to use an eye cream as you get older, the key thing to look for is a lightweight formula that isn't scented, as you don’t want anything that is going to irritate eyes. Brightening, hydrating and soothing ingredients to look for include caffeine, peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamins.
Our Willowberry Reviving Eye Cream has been specially formulated for ‘grown-up skin’ and is loved by Vogue, This Morning and The Telegraph. Its gentle 99% natural formula helps to hydrate, smooth and soothe, leaving the eye area revived and radiant. Its nourishing formula contains an active complex of pomegranate extract, green tea, probiotics and caffeine to help even skin tone, reduce puffiness and protect against environmental damage. In addition, hyaluronic acid hydrates and smooths.
Even those with sensitive skin and easily irritated eyes find our eye cream gentle enough to use, whilst still delivering a nourishing boost.
At what point in my skincare routine should I apply eye cream?
Apply your eye product as the first skincare product once you have washed your face, before any serum, moisturiser, face oil or SPF that you are using.
Maximise your technique
To really get the most out of your eye cream, try this simple application technique:
First pat a small amount of the eye cream around the eye. Gently glide the fingertips (which will be lubricated by the eye cream) from the outer corners of the eyes, under the eye socket towards the bridge of the nose and then up to the inner part of your eyebrows and along the top of the eye socket back to where you started. Take care not to drag or pull the skin.
Do this a couple of times and then finish by tapping your fingertips along the same route.
Willowberry is nutritious natural skincare for grown-ups, for your best skin.
A favourite with top make-up artists, Willowberry's luxurious award-winning products protect skin’s natural barrier function, to nourish and revive grown-up skin without telling women to be 'anti-ageing'.
As seen in Vogue, Independent, The Telegraph, This Morning and more.
