EYE CONTOUR: WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT IS FOR AND HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR EACH AGE

The eye contour is a very delicate part of the face and, for this very reason, requires special care and attention. Here is everything you need to know about how to take care of the eye contour, including choosing the most suitable products for your age.

Eye contour: what it is and why it is a critical area for skincare

Before addressing the topic of how to care for the eye contour, it is useful to know what it is and why it requires specific care. The answer to the question: "what is the eye contour?" is simple: this expression indicates the area surrounding the eyes, also known as the periocular area. It is a very delicate part of the face, due to its characteristics: in this area, in fact, the skin is very thin, the elastic fibers and collagen are reduced, as are the skin appendages, the presence of subcutaneous fat is significantly lower than in other areas of the face and lymphatic and blood circulation is slowed down. For this reason, it is necessary to dedicate specific care to the eye contour; vice versa, if this area is neglected, the signs of aging and tiredness will be immediately visible. Inadequate skincare could in fact predispose to the early appearance of blemishes such as wrinkles, bags, dark circles and dryness.

Read also: How Dark Circles Form and What Causes Them

What is the eye contour for?

Today on the market there is a wide choice of products for the care of the eye contour, which can bring significant benefits, including reducing blemishes - bags and dark circles first and foremost - counteracting the formation of wrinkles, especially expression lines (the so-called "crow's feet"), stimulating the production of elastic fibers and ensuring the skin has the right hydration, keeping it firm and relaxed.

The formulations of products for the eye contour are many: creams, gels, oils, serums and masks, depending on the needs; however, it is advisable to opt for products that are not too greasy, preferring light emulsions enriched with regenerating, antioxidant, anti-aging and nourishing active ingredients. In parallel with the use of specific products, it is also important to pay attention to your lifestyle, taking care to avoid smoking, reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages, sleep at least 7/8 hours a night and adopt a balanced diet and, possibly, low in salt.

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How to apply eye products

Once you understand what it is, it is useful to know how to apply the eye contour. Starting with the frequency of application, which should be twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. The morning application allows you to prepare the skin to face the day, hydrating it and protecting it from external agents, while the evening application helps to regenerate the epidermis during the night's rest. If this is how we answered the question of when to apply the eye contour, we must also delve into the technique. In fact, many people still do not know how to apply the eye contour cream (or serum) correctly. First of all, before applying the eye contour, the face must be cleansed. At this point, you should pat the product without rubbing (this is one of the most common skincare mistakes, which nullifies many of the benefits that eye contour treatments offer, along with not giving the product time to absorb and using the wrong amount); the advice is to apply a small amount of eye contour on the tip of the ring finger, then lightly pressing with the finger along the entire periocular area, from the inside out and vice versa. If the treatment requires it, it is also possible to apply the product to the lower part of the eyebrows and on the eyelid. Although these are the general indications on how to massage the eye contour, it is important to specify that there are products equipped with a sliding or ergonomic applicator, which are a valid help especially for those who have little time or poor manual skills

Read also: How to apply skin serum

But why not face cream?

This is certainly one of the most common questions that those who approach eye contour care products for the first time ask themselves and it is good to clarify this. The classic face cream, in fact, contains substances that, coming into contact with the mucous membrane of the eyes, can inflame them: for this reason, a specific product is needed, free of irritating substances and formulated to effectively respond to the needs of the skin in the periocular area. 

Eye contour and pregnancy

Generally, eye contour products are safe even during pregnancy, although in this delicate phase of life, when the skin is more sensitive, it is necessary to opt for treatments with a particularly delicate formulation, free from ingredients such as retinol (which if taken in excessive doses can be toxic to the fetus1), phthalates and parabens (which can interfere with the endocrine system) or benzophenones2 (which can have neurotoxic effects).

What is the best eye contour and at what age should you start using it?

If, to learn how to care for the eye contour, it is necessary to buy specific products and adopt a healthy lifestyle, it is also necessary to understand how to choose the right eye contour and from what age to start integrating it into your skincare routine. Starting from here, the advice is to start using an eye contour product already around the age of 20: in this case, the main objective will be to hydrate the area and prevent the formation of wrinkles and blemishes. Still regarding what age to use the eye contour, the indications of skincare professionals are: 

• between 25 and 35 years old, you need a product that can counteract the first signs of aging, the action of stress on the skin and the formation of bags and dark circles; 
• between 35 and 50, you need an eye contour that, in addition to the functions mentioned above, also has a relaxing and anti-aging action; 
• after 50 years old, it is good practice to opt for intensive treatments, which ensure deep application.

Final advices on the eye contour

How to hydrate and firm the eye contour? How to eliminate wrinkles and milia in the periocular area? We have answered these important questions by recommending a specific product for the eye contour, formulated with specific ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and collagen. Bottega di LungaVita offers for example, among the many products dedicated to eyes and lips, the exclusive and innovative anti-aging smoothing treatment Contorno occhi Aurum, which combines the aforementioned hyaluronic acid and collagen with other specific ingredients to take care of the periorbital area, such as vitamin E and sea buckthorn, carrying out an anti-wrinkle, revitalizing and hydrating action.

Sources:

1. Soprano DR, Soprano KJ. Retinoids as teratogens. Annu Rev Nutr. 1995;15:111-32. doi: 10.1146/annurev.nu.15.070195.000551. PMID: 8527214.
2. Jones K, Wessel LM, Schäfer KH, Tapia-Laliena MÁ. Use of Cosmetics in Pregnancy and Neurotoxicity: Can It Increase the Risk of Congenital Enteric Neuropathies? Biomolecules. 2024 Aug 10;14(8):984. doi: 10.3390/biom14080984. PMID: 39199372; PMCID: PMC11352589.