The skin around the eyes is ten times thinner than facial skin. With age and lifestyle habits, the skin loses its elasticity and becomes even thinner due in part to collagen breakdown. In addition, there aren’t any sebaceous glands around the outer corners of the eyes. This causes lines and wrinkles to become deeper than on the forehead. And there’s no adipose (fat) tissue around the eye area. It’s the difference between a piece of paper (facial skin) and a tissue (eye area). It’s delicate and sensitive and needs special treatment.
Your clients may be using the same facial products for their eyes as for the face. A moisturizer is a moisturizer, right? Lifestyle, the wrong (or no) skincare, lack of sleep and stress and the eyes show signs of aging quickly - dark circles, puffy eyes, premature lines/wrinkles, dryness, sensitivity, and a fatigued look.
Educate your clients that when it comes to looking revitalized and refreshed, the eyes have it. The following are common areas clients may need to address.
1. Product Problems
Encourage your clients to invest in eye care products. Some facial moisturizers and cleansers can be either too heavy or too light and may not have the correct pH balance which can cause milia and irritation. Show them how to apply eye creams – a lighter touch is always better. If too much product is applied, puffiness and swelling can result.
2. Lack of Sleep
Poor sleep habits show themselves in the eye area right away. Recent research shows the importance of 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night as a vital part of body mind health.
3. Incorrect Application
This is an area where clients often need help. It’s common to apply eye care products directly under the eye. Without oil glands in that area, product travels quickly towards the eye and may cause irritation. This is the most common cause of “client sensitivity” to eye products. Avoid applying products all over the eye. Instead, have clients begin at the top of the zygomatic bone with gentle tapping movements (don’t use pointer finger, which tends to exert more pressure), working gently from the inner to the outside of the eye. Next, gently work around the eye area underneath the brow to the nose. Don’t drag on the skin. This technique helps stimulate lymphatic drainage around the eye.
4. Removing Makeup
Educate your clients on the use of gentle eye makeup removers and cleansers. Never remove eye makeup by rubbing. (Try our gentle Eye Makeup Remover with chamomile extract and coconut fruit extract) Consider the application of hyaluronic acid to hydrate and condition.
5. Blue Light Devices
TV, computers, tablets, phone screens – there’s no shortage of blue light exposure. Blue light has been shown to accelerate the aging process and may cause dryness and sensitivity around the eye area. A good suggestion is for clients to stop using their devices about an hour before bedtime.
6. Dark Circles
Probably the most common client concern for eye care, dark circles are caused by genetics, sleep deprivation, allergies, anemia, frequent rubbing of the eye area, dehydration (not drinking enough water), blue light overload, and diet & lifestyle (too much caffeine, alcohol, smoking) and general aging.