Tired of being asked if you’re tired? These experts have the answer
Eye puffiness, sunken eyes, and dark circles can happen to the best of us and make us look tired and lifeless. Some might only get it on occasion, but for others it can be a perennial problem. One thing’s for sure — eye bags are bags that don’t look great with our outfits.
Factors like genetics and ageing are inevitable and can affect how a person develops these conditions. But other causes are manageable, and we help you to spot and fix them.
Check for allergens and irritants
Photo courtesy of L’Oreal
Are food and environmental allergies making your eyes swell up? Or perhaps you’re suffering from irritant eyelid contact dermatitis. “Sensitive skin is more vulnerable to irritation from external factors like allergens and toxins”, says La Roche-Posay dermatologist Sarah Waken. These leave you with dry lids and itchy, swollen eyes. Rubbing them will only make it worse! Over-the-counter medication can help relieve allergic reactions, while identifying and avoiding skin irritants will alleviate your symptoms.
Strengthen your skin’s barrier against the elements with a product that won’t strip it of it’s natural moisture. It’s important to clean your face at night because dust particles and cosmetics can stay in your lashes, irritating your eyes as you sleep. Chanel Lait Confort Creamy Cleansing Milk Comfort + Anti-Pollution Face and Eyes is a milky cleanser that changes to an oil-like texture once applied onto skin. It dissolves dirt and makeup, soothing and moisturising as it goes. Perfect for washing the city slick off your face at the end of a long day.
Get your beauty sleep
Photo courtesy of Illuminage
Dr. Nicholas Perricone, founder of cult beauty brand Perricone MD, says that lack of sleep makes the skin pale, hence dark circles are emphasised. He also recommends elevating the head with pillows, because lying flat on the bed can encourage fluid to pool in the lower eyelids and make them puffy.
Sleeping Beauty was on to something when she slept for a hundred years! But for busy people like us who are not exactly princesses, 7 hours of sleep is sufficient. A stylish way to snooze is with the Skin Rejuvenating Eye Mask from Illuminage. It’s made from silky smooth fibres infused with copper oxide that promotes cell renewal.
Stay hydrated with H20
Photo courtesy of bethestore.com
There are things in life that are so good, they’re hard to keep away from. Wine, coffee, and salt can all cause unwanted fluid retention in the body and make eyelids puffy. Sweating in the Hong Kong heat, in turn, can cause dehydration and make the eyes look sunken and hollow. Strive to follow the 8x8 rule, that is to drink eight 8-oz glasses of water per day.
You can keep track of your intake by measuring how many Bkrs of water you consume. Kate Cutler, co-founder of the luxury glass bottle brand Bkr believes that “Drinking water is the foundation to being healthy and gorgeous.”
The power is in your hands
Photo courtesy of Benefit
The secret to treating eye puffiness is fluid drainage, says La Mer global skincare advisor Joanna Czech. “Puffiness is caused by a buildup of fluid in your undereye area, so diminishing it comes down to (gently!) pushing it out of there.” Cle de Peau Intensive Eye Contour Cream is a dream cream for lymphatic drainage massage. It comes with a platinum-coated beauty wand designed to cool the skin as it glides along the delicate contours.
When dealing with dark circles, a light touch is best. Skin is already very thin around the eyes, making the blood vessels show through as dark shapes on the surface. Benefit Firm It Up is an easily-absorbed serum that plumps up the thin layer by delivering immediate and long-term moisture.
Conceal and highlight
Photo courtesy of Dior
Makeup expert and Real Techniques co-founder Sam Chapman, well-loved on YouTube as Pixiwoo, shares an artist’s secret tricks: use yellow concealer to counter redness, and a peach one to neutralise bluish tones. Highlighters can be used to create a lifted appearance for sunken areas (note: avoid highlighters for puffiness). Perricone MD Pre:Empt Series Brightening Eye Cream contains caffeine to fight puffiness and radiance-promoting antioxidants to brighten the skin. REN Instant Brightening Beauty Shot Eye Lift is a power moisturiser that’s so light, it can be reapplied during the day without ruining makeup.
Dior makes concealing more fun with their Fix It Colour 2-in-1 Prime & Colour Correct range. There are four shades to address common skin discolouration issues, so you can colour your way to a flawless complexion. This formula is gentle enough for the eye area but is meant for the face and lips, too.
Play up your peepers
It might seem counter-intuitive, but using eye makeup will actually take the focus away from your eyebags and unsightly circles. Makeup artist and Lancome Creative Director Lisa Eldridge swears by curling the lashes and using mascara to open up tired-looking eyes. Charlotte Tilbury Life Changing Lashes is a must-have for your makeup bag! These rose-gold curlers elongate the lashes and make you look wide awake.
The new Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme Mascara coats the lashes in the deepest black carbon, making the dark circles seem less prominent. The waterproof formula is a godsend. The last thing you need is more shadows smudged below your eyes.
Use sunscreen and sunglasses
London-based oculoplastic surgeon and aesthetic doctor Maryam Zamani is an advocate of the use of sun protection, and with good reason. Who knew that sun exposure can make dark circles worse? Dr Zamani recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection, and to use sunglasses. For irritated eyes, regular products can prove to be too harsh.
A good one for sensitive eyes is SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50. This ophthalmologist-tested sheer, mineral sunscreen will protect the whole eye area, even your delicate eyelids.