How to care for the delicate skin around the eyes

Lessons from the lab

In this information-saturated age, it is often difficult to discern which assertions are—and are not—worthy of our attention.

The broader realm of skin care abounds with declarations that can leave even the steadiest mind whirring. Home in on claims around the matter of eye care, and prepare to raise an eyebrow or two.

But there can be no doubt about one statement: scepticism is a virtue. In the face of any uncertainty, adopting an attitude of enquiry is a practice that rarely leads the practitioner astray.

And so with enquiry as its lodestar, this article speaks to questions around the necessity of using an eye serum or an eye cream to care for the skin around the eyes. While outlining the anatomical composition of this area—the periorbital region—it also details the purpose of vitamin and anti-oxidant-rich formulations that have been developed to hydrate and support this delicate zone of the face—sans sensationalism.

A medley of elements

Speech. Laughter. A nose-scrunch. A kiss. A look. So much life inhabits the human face, a prime focal point of our identity and communication. So much life, and so much nuance. As a result of both anatomical contrivance and the sheer act of living, the face is one of the most complex parts of the human body. Genetics, environment and the ways we pass our days collude to affect its composition and condition—rendering each individual’s face a medley of elements that are as singular as they are expressive. And no aspect of the face could stake a greater claim on expression than the eyes.

The delicate anatomy of the eye area

With skin that is thinner than that of the rest of the face, the periorbital region is a site of particular fragility. Because it is furnished with fewer sebaceous glands, this zone produces less oil, rendering it susceptible to dehydration and dryness. Add to this the continual, natural loss of moisture from the skin, the genetic potential—for some—for dark under-eye circles, alongside the tendency to display the visible effects of fatigue and seasonal allergies, and there is little wonder that the periorbital region requires a heightened degree of care.

Caring for an area so subject to depletion requires gentle daily cleansing, and the application of replenishing formulations. Eye care products must also accommodate another common attribute of this zone: its greater propensity for skin reactivity and aggravation.

A very specific kind of formulation is required—one that will provide targeted support to the skin around the eyes, without perturbing it. Since 2003, Aesop has dedicated meticulous research, development and testing towards the creation of a range of potent eye care products.

Exalted Eye Serum

To be exalted is to be ‘elevated in rank, power or character’—a fitting description for the newest addition to Aesop’s Skin Care+ range.

An intensely hydrating, vitamin-rich formulation designed to replenish and fortify the skin of the delicate eye area, Exalted Eye Serum is a lightweight, rapidly absorbed preparation that imparts a soft, non-greasy finish. Tailored to the fragile periorbital region, the skin feel of this low-to-medium viscosity serum is refreshing on application, leaving the skin feeling smooth and supple.

Potent ingredients

Evening the appearance of the skin around the eyes as it supports and hydrates, Exalted Eye Serum is suited to most skin types, including sensitive, mature, dehydrated, dull or patchy. Those with sensitive skin are encouraged to conduct a patch test prior to use on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure compatibility.

A key feature of the formulation is the inclusion of Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract—a polysaccharide-rich extract of Brown Seaweed—that boosts moisture within the skin while improving skin suppleness and resilience. Sodium Carrageenan—an extract from the red algae Furcellaria lumbrilicalis—is a superbly hydrating and humectant ingredient that helps address dehydration in addition to supporting the skin’s barrier properties and reducing moisture loss. Frankincense—a resin-extracted essential oil renowned for its soothing, anti-oxidant and hydrating properties—supports this delicate area of skin and confers a warm, resinous aroma.

Rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants

Exalted Eye Serum also provides the delicate eye area with a host of replenishing vitamins. Vitamin B3, or Niacinamide, is an excellent moisturiser with barrier-supportive and calming properties. Provitamin B5, or Panthenol, is a humectant that binds and holds moisture within the skin, therefore conferring hydrating benefits. Anti-oxidant Vitamin C is included in the form of Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate—a stabilised derivative of Vitamin C—which lends suppleness and resilience to the skin while helping to balance its appearance. Vitamin E is present as Tocopherol, a superb emollient and anti-oxidant that nourishes and softens the skin, while helping to fortify it against the effects of oxidative stress.

When to use Exalted Eye Serum

Exalted Eye Serum can be used in the morning and evening, or as often as desired throughout the day. Though suitable for use in any climate, Exalted Eye Serum may find particular favour with those seeking a lightweight hydrator in warmer, humid conditions.

How to use Exalted Eye Serum

To use Exalted Eye Serum, dispense a few drops into one hand and dab the tip of the ring finger of your other hand into the aqueous formulation. Using this finger—because it has the lightest touch—ensures that the least pressure is applied to the delicate periorbital region. Gently massage the serum into your skin, and savour the sensation.

Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream

Suited to most skin types—particularly dry—Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream is a rich, buttery formulation that leaves the skin nourished and hydrated. Ideal for use in winter, or in cooler, drier climates.

Targeted, anti-oxidant-rich hydration

From Aesop’s Parsley Seed Skin Care range, Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream is replete with fortifying and skin-nourishing anti-oxidants, vitamins, emollients and humectants. A skin-supportive, bolstering cream that delivers targeted hydration and helps assuage the effect oxidative stress may have upon the fragile skin surrounding the eyes. Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream features the anti-oxidant-rich ingredients Parsley Seed Oil and Green Tea Extract, as well as Vitamins C and E. The humectants Sodium Lactate and Glycerin boost moisture and help confer sustained, skin-softening hydration, while emollients such as Tocopherol, Shea Butter and Jojoba Seed Extract nourish and bolster the skin’s barrier properties.

How to use Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream

Though Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Cream can certainly be applied twice a day—both morning and evening—its rich, buttery texture renders it ideal for overnight use, particularly in cooler climates. Regardless of when this nourishing cream is used, the same gentle method of application as Exalted Eye Serum is recommended: using the light pressure of the ring finger, dab a fingertip onto the freshly cleansed skin around the eyes, massaging gently until the cream is absorbed.

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