The eyes have it: taking care of your contour area

The eyes are demanding organs that need constant hydration. That's why we blink roughly every 10 seconds; or a whopping 10,000 times a day. The eyelid skin is three times thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, and the delicacy of the eye area makes it vulnerable to damage, dryness and the first signs of ageing. If the skin is low in collagen, elastin and fat cells, wrinkles can appear. 

The skin under the eyes is thin and translucent, so problems are quick to show. Fatigue or dehydration can lead the already slow blood and lymphatic circulation in the contour to diminish further. And the result? Dark circles. The passage of time doesn't help either: with age, the skin can thin and sag, accentuating the appearance of shadows. Dark circles and puffiness are made worse by lack of sleep, stress and lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking and poor diet.  

Sagging in the eye contour is often the first sign of ageing. With time; and the eyelid's constant movement; the production of collagen and elastin decreases. The flesh becomes less firm, resulting in withered skin, particularly under the lower eyelid. And sagging is not the only sign of ageing: fine lines and crow's feet appear in the outer corner of the eye.  

Cleansing is essential, even if you're not wearing make-up. Choose a gentle product such as micellar water, which dissolves slap and has a decongesting, soothing effect. The eye zone can quickly dry out so it needs hydration day and night, but it’s also extremely sensitive so choose products that won’t irritate. Apply a specific eye contour treatment to hydrate and plump up the skin, as well as smooth out fine lines; start doing this in your twenties, but remember, it’s never too late. By applying treatments correctly, you'll boost your skin's circulation, which will in turn counteract puffiness and the appearance of dark circles.