How to ditch your eye bags (once and for all)
Eyes look like you’ve had a night on the pornstar martinis when you were in bed by 9pm with a hot cocoa? You might want to read this…
Under - eyes explained Not-so-fun fact:
The skin under your eyes is 10 times thinner than the rest of the skin on your face, making it more prone to swelling (caused by excess fluids) and discolouration (blood vessels visible through transparent skin). Other factors can play a part too – such as allergies, stress, fatigue, genetics and good old ageing. “As you age, your skin thins and your face loses fat, not to mention elastin and collagen, which give skin its support and fullness,” explains Dr Daniel Ezra, a specialist ophthalmic and oculoplastic consultant. It could just be that your folks passed on the gift of deep-set eyes (cheers, guys), something even an industrial-strength concealer won’t fix. “Pigmentation problems can also run in families of colour due to extra melanin in the skin,” adds Dr Ezra.
early bird bags Riddle us this:
If sleep is so important for well-rested eyes, then why are our peepers puffier in the morning? “A good night’s sleep will stop congestion from building up in the veins and making the under-eyes appear darker,” says Dr Thivi Maruthappu, a consultant dermatologist for the Skin Health Alliance and Olay. But when we sleep, we lie flat and don’t blink, which allows fluids to gather and settle temporarily. Try raising your head up with an extra pillow to encourage drainage, and apply your eye cream using sweeping outward motions from the inside corner to help speed up lymph drainage. Fluid retention can also be nixed by staying hydrated, avoiding too much salt and eating potassium-rich foods.
The eye-cream myth Question:
Can applying a topical product for a few weeks completely blitz under-eye bags and make you forget they were ever there? In a word, no. But they often contain ingredients that help to reduce inflammation, tighten skin and support the delicate under-eye area, housed in light formulations that won’t exacerbate puffiness. “Look for active ingredients such as peptides to stimulate collagen production,” advises Dr Maruthappu. “It’s the skin’s natural cushion.”
Doctor’s orders Want noticeable results now?
Tear trough filler is a non-surgical treatment that involves injecting hyaluronic acid into specific areas around the eyes to replace lost volume. “Not everyone is a good candidate,” explains Dr Ezra, who administered my treatment. “For example, people with excess skin beneath the eyes, genetic hyperpigmentation, or a medical condition that increases their risk of complications.” There are flashes of pain as the needle is inserted, but it’s over fairly quickly, and after a few days of mild bruising, the results are pretty breathtaking. Dr Ezra charges £725 for the treatment – pricey, yes, but the results can last anything from nine months to a couple of years.