Eye care 101

Eyelid skin is sensitive. Shadows happen and eyes get puffy. Luckily, there are some easy ways to treat this. General care and a topical product may be all you need to keep the skin around your eyes healthy and beautiful. Read this guide to learn what causes under-eye issues and what you can do to prevent them!

Don’t let dark circles drag you down

Because of a hollow area beneath the lower eyelid, dark circles under the eyes sometimes appear when blood vessels in the tissue are visible. This bluish or reddish darkness is the result of tiny capillaries showing through translucent skin. Other times, dark circles show up because of melanin (the dark pigment) in the skin.

How to get rid of those pesky bags

• Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes to reduce irritation

• Get a good night’s sleep — your face needs rest, just like your body

• Keep your head elevated while you sleep: it helps prevent bloated blood vessels appearing in the morning!

• Try topical products with caffeine to reduce swelling (yes, the same stuff in your coffee!) such as ORIGINS GinZing™ Refreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff

• Reduce your salt intake and avoid drinking alcohol to reduce eyelid swelling

• Got allergies? Be sure to treat them to reduce irritation

Sometimes, the sag that comes with aging needs a heavy-hitter. If you need more help than topicals or lifestyle changes can provide, consider procedures such as fillers. Fillers are injections that add temporary volume. Talk to a cosmetic dermatologist about what procedures might work best for you.

Under-eye care treatments

Step 1

Hydration. Try the Curology moisturizer—it’s smooth, gentle, and glides on effortlessly!—or an eye cream. If your under-eye issues are from dryness, an intensely hydrating eye cream might work better. Eye creams can be expensive, so try letting your regular facial moisturizer do the job!

Step 2

Need another boost? Try eye cream with retinol, an over-the-counter vitamin A derivative. This may improve dark coloring and fine lines. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream or RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream are some good options.

Step 3

Add some Vitamin C. Vitamin C stimulates skin tissue to repair fine lines and wrinkles. Try adding a Vitamin C serum, such as Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster or Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum, to your night routine—if you use it in the morning, make sure to apply sunscreen after!

Step 4

If you’ve tried all of the above for a few months and still aren’t satisfied, talk to your Curology provider about adding a stronger anti-aging ingredient to your cream. The skin near the eyes, mouth and creases of the nose can be sensitive, so be careful!

Follow the directions given by your Curology provider, but as a general rule: apply to the under-eye area sparingly, keeping it away from the lashline. We generally recommend applying your Curology cream to your under-eyes every other night or so until your skin adjusts. It’s nice to apply a gentle moisturizer before or after Curology to keep any irritation to a minimum.

Keep your eyes on the prize

Now you know the secrets of how to help keep the skin around your eyes looking youthful and smooth.

Bags, circles, and lines happen — but you don’t have to let them be the boss! Some good beauty sleep, a healthy diet, and simple care will go a long way to helping you shine.