7 things to know about eye contour creams and treatments

• The area around the eyes is very fragile, and it’s where the first signs of ageing appear.
• Begin moisturising this area sooner rather than later.
• Lack of sleep has immediate effects around the eyes.
• UV radiation and smoking cause wrinkles around the eyes to appear sooner.
• Cream is effective even when applied sparingly.
• Care must be taken not to damage the skin around the eyes when applying treatments.

A 2015 study showed that, with an average thickness of 0.1 mm, the skin around the eyes is the thinnest and most fragile skin on the face. This has several consequences:

• The skin has fewer capillaries. It is less vascularised, which makes drainage of the area more difficult and can lead to a build-up of pigment in the vessels just under the skin. This accumulation is what causes dark circles.

• There are fewer lymphatic vessels that help to decongest the eye area by removing excess water. This causes bags under the eyes.

• The skin also has fewer sebaceous glands and therefore produces less sebum. Combined with water from within the body, sebum forms the hydrolipidic film on the surface of the epidermis. This film is therefore thinner than on the rest of the face, which makes the eye contour area more vulnerable to damaging environmental factors, dehydration, and therefore to premature ageing of the skin.

As we have just seen, the skin around the eyes is very sensitive to dehydration due to its structure — and dry skin ages faster. The eye contour area is also constantly moving: when you squint because of the sun, when you frown, when you smile, etc. These repeated movements take their toll on your skin. After the age of 25, poorly moisturised skin can lead to the appearance of wrinkles and other fine lines, like crow’s feet.

This is why it is essential to moisturise around the eyes and include this anti-ageing treatment in your routine sooner rather than later.

Lack of sleep can accelerate skin ageing. When we sleep, our bodies produce melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate our circadian rhythm (the internal process that governs our sleep-wake cycle over roughly 24-hour periods). Melatonin is also a natural antioxidant that helps protect our skin from free radicals that can cause cell damage and accelerate ageing.

During sleep, our bodies also regenerate the cells of our skin. This is when the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that help maintain the skin’s elasticity and firmness, is at its peak. Lack of sleep can therefore lead to a reduction in the production of these proteins, which can accelerate the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Finally, lack of sleep can also affect blood circulation, which, as discussed above, has a direct relationship with dark circles and bags under the eyes.

It has long been known that smoking and UV radiation have harmful effects on the skin, causing it to age more rapidly. Smoking and the sun have much the same effect: both disrupt the body’s natural production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, while also accelerating the breakdown of the proteins that give skin tissue its structure. They also encourage oxidative stress by producing large quantities of free radicals.

Lastly, from a purely mechanical perspective, the act of drawing on a cigarette and squinting due to sunlight result in creases forming around the eye. These creases, with repetition, will eventually turn into wrinkles more quickly than on skin that has not suffered exposure to tobacco or has received proper sun protection.

You may think that the more cream you apply, the better the results. Well, think again! By using too much, you overload the skin’s ability to absorb substances you apply to it, which can lead to a build-up of material resulting in unwanted swelling or rough-looking skin.
You can rest assured that our creams work even in small doses. When it comes to our eye care products, a dose roughly the size of a grain of rice is enough to beautify your eyes and ease any signs of tiredness!

How the treatment is applied is of utmost importance and timing is crucial.
As a general rule, you should apply the treatment twice a day — in the morning and in the evening before going to bed — always on clean skin. Applying the treatment in the evening will reduce the signs of fatigue in the morning, while applying in the morning complements the previous application and also prepares the skin to resist damaging environmental factors.

Application methods differ depending on where you’re applying the treatment around the eye. Here are some tips specifically suited to each area:

• Apply with smoothing movements to the upper and lower eye area, from the inside outwards, up to the temples, taking care not to apply the cream too close to the eyes.
• Be careful not to apply too much pressure, so as not to damage the subcutaneous blood and lymph vessels.
• Finally, tap with your fingertips under your dark circles.

Expert advice: to give your eyes a frsh boost in the morning, put the eye contour in the fridge!

Based on your needs, FILORGA experts have formulated different eye care products to combat wrinkles and dark circles. In addition to their individual benefits, all contain FILORGA’s star ingredient: NCEF.

• TIME-FILLER EYES 5XP skincare is the latest product from Laboratoires FILORGA. It targets dark circles and all wrinkles around the eyes.

• OPTIM-EYES cream is a 3-in-1 anti-dark circle and anti-puffiness treatment that also acts on fine lines around the eyes. Its fresh, smooth texture is particularly suitable for sensitive eyes.

• OXYGEN-GLOW EYES skincare is specially formulated to ease any hints of tiredness and boost the radiance of the eyes while reducing dark circles, with immediate results.

• NCEF-REVERSE EYES skincare contains active ingredients inspired by aesthetic medicine. This multi-corrective treatment targets dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles for a firm and radiant eye area.

• Finally, GLOBAL-REPAIR EYES & LIPS skincare has been specially created to treat the delicate areas around the eyes and lips. It moisturises and restores radiance to your eyes while acting on dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, and sagging.

Since 1978, Laboratoires FILORGA has established itself as a leading expert in cosmetics inspired by aesthetic medicine. Our products are renowned for their scientific rigour. To find out more, have a look at our article on the structure of the skin, which will help you understand how to properly look after it.

Sources: 

Mehling, Annette & Fluhr, Joachim. (2006). Chronobiology: Biological Clocks and Rhythms of the Skin. Skin pharmacology and physiology. 19. 182-9. 10.1159/000093113.

Chopra K, Calva D, Sosin M, Tadisina KK, Banda A, De La Cruz C, Chaudhry MR, Legesse T, Drachenberg CB, Manson PN, Christy MR. A comprehensive examination of topographic thickness of skin in the human face. Aesthet Surg J. 2015 Nov;35(8):1007-13. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjv079. PMID: 26508650.

Von Arx T, Tamura K, Yukiya O, Lozanoff S. The Face – A Vascular Perspective. A literature review. Swiss Dent J. 2018 May 14;128(5):382-392. PMID: 29734800.

Morita, A. (2007). Tobacco smoke causes premature skin aging. Journal of dermatological science, 48 3, 169-75 . https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JDERMSCI.2007.06.015.