If the eye area isn’t your main area of concern when it comes to ageing/anti-ageing, I’m sure it will be high up on your list. The skin around the eyes is much thinner that of the rest of the face and it is subject to much more abuse too- what with looking at computer/phone screens, rubbing, squinting, crying, tiredness, the eye area has a lot to put up with.
It is no surprise that the question I am asked the most when it comes to product recommendations is “which is the best eye cream?”, well “best” is subject to opinion but if I was asked “which eye cream actually works?”, I’ve found the one you’ve been looking for.
Obagi Medical has been well-known in the beauty/aesthetic industry for many years and has earned an incredible reputation for its success in minimising the appearance of premature ageing, pigmentation, acne scarring and sun damage. But this is not a ‘last resort’ range by any means, Obagi has a wonderful range of daily products, designed to support, correct and strengthen your skin. ‘Strengthening’ is particularly important when it comes to the eyes. The Elastiderm eye cream strikes the perfect balance between using gentle, yet potent ingredients to correct but not irritate the delicate eye area (having said that, anyone who is super sensitive should probably try a sample or tester first. I have sensitive eyes and didn’t suffer any irritation at all with this cream).
The main ingredients to note are the Bi-Mineral complex of copper and zinc, and the malonic acid. Copper and zinc together boost peptides and strengthen capillary walls (most of the darkness we see under the eyes is simply blood running through the thin vessels around the eyes- if the vessel walls are strengthened the blood becomes less visible), zinc is also anti-inflammatory and very soothing on contact which will help to reduce puffiness. Malonic acid has been found to have a direct influence on the production of collagen and elastin, while stimulating cell turnover- meaning plumper, smoother and stronger skin. So, in short, Elastiderm corrects visible conditions whilst protecting the eye area for the future.
After 1 month of using this cream, the skin around my eyes looks softer yet feels firmer. The elasticity has improved and, I’d say there is around a 50% reduction in my fine lines already- I can only wonder how good the results would have been going to bed a bit (a lot) earlier!
For me, this eye cream is an absolute winner which I (as a 37-year-old, city living, busy mum) will be using am and pm, for others who are maybe younger, living away from the smog or are only just seeing the first signs of ageing, it would be a good idea to use only once per day am or pm, or even every other day. It’s by no means a budget eye cream but it’s a decent sized pot (15g), a little goes a long way and most importantly- it works. Think of it as an investment for your future self!
OBAGI medical ELASTIderm Eye Treatment Cream, £92, (for nearest stockist) www.obagi.uk.com