Bright Eyes
The eyes are often said to be the doorway to the soul. Present your innermost secrets in the best fashion by keeping up with the latest beauty buzz.
Kelly England explains the causes of the three most common troublesome conditions and gives tips on how to improve the appearance of the precious eye area.
Dressed perfectly on trend in a floral Spring/Summer 08 dress, with heels clattering beneath feet revealing perfectly manicured toes, your aim is to make an impact.
However, there is one thing spoiling your coiffed illusion, quietly but forcefully revealing that you are not quite as groomed as you might be, or as 'together' as you profess.
We all know that eyes give people away when they least expect it, unlike any other part of the body. Whether you spent the early hours in front of a computer preparing for a demanding client, or in fact treading the tiles at the recently refurbished Drop night club - the world officially knows you are tired. This has the opposite effect of radiating the message of being healthy, full of energy and ready for action.
Your eyes tell a story; of your life, of your mood, of your small baby white lies, and there simply is no hiding behind them. Here is your guide to beautifying the most delicate area of them all.
Bothersome Eye Condition: 1
Puffy eyes
Volume is meant for hair - not for the under eyes area. Puffiness and mild swelling can make you look like you spent the night crying. Most certainly not a good look when attending a job interview or perhaps worse still, going on a hot date! There are many causes, the leading culprit being water retention caused by eating excessive salt. Fast foods are especially prone to this. Also dehydration causes the body to expertly cling onto all the water it can find - hence hanging onto it around on your face and eyes. In addition, the dreaded smoking also severely exacerbates the appearance of eye bags. Finally, allergies to dust mites, pollution and even perfume can also cause puffy eyes.
There are a number of treatments that can help to reduce the swelling and unpleasant puffiness. Miss Davia Chiu, Manager at the newly launched branch of Sense of touch in Lan Qui Fong recommends the Aromatherapy Associate treatment which is $480 and takes thirty minutes. "The treatment contains evening primrose and rosehip oil which help to stimulate collagen production. Clients experience instant calming results and often come back every ten days to look picture perfect." The salon often do this following a facial for the best overall face effect.
For a similar effect at home, apply thin slices of cucumbers straight from the fridge which can temporarily do the trick at reducing eye bag volume, as with using can squeezed out cold teabags (although, mind the tea stain dribbles on your cheeks if you are heading for a big night out). Drink a bottle of water, lie down flat with your eyes closed and wait for the volume to subside.
Miss Justine Grier, manager at The Beautiful Skin Centre Pacific Place says that "All Elemis facials include lymphatic massage which has a direct and dramatic effect on draining the face. The complexion and especially the eye area become refreshed and clearer". Grier also suggests "not applying eye creme too close to the eye duct as otherwise the eye will flush it, especially during the night as the body rightfully considers it to be a foreign object. This is why despite applying eye gels and creams at bedtime the puffiness is often still present in the morning when it should have reduced. Instead focus on the bone area where eye cream can help you to fight smile lines."
|
|
Bothersome Eye Condition:
Dark Circles
Dark circles make you look tired, drawn and generally down on life. Unconcealed you will most likely be the recipient of increasingly annoying and uninvited comments such as "oh you look tired" and "you look like you need a holiday" which can dampen your mood and confidence.
There are a variety of causes to this condition and they can be summarised as the Four S's - Sleep, Stress, Sun and Sustenance.
Lack of sleep is the most obvious reason for dark circles, so remember that a full eight hours per night is the ultimate goal. However, as many sufferers of dark circles know, sometimes no amount of excessive slumber kills shadows. Stress is closely connected to tiredness and often is linked to poor quality sleep. The Sun is known for its ability to damage beauty, and it also worsens the appearance of dark circles. Ultraviolet (UV) light exacerbates pigment development leading to an often pronounced darkening of the under eye skin. Sustenance wise, an insufficient amount of iron, which is most successfully consumed from eating meat especially found in kidneys and liver, also can cause dark circles. Those that lead a vegetarian diet are more likely to have unwanted eye shades than meat eaters, despite their taking of supplements. Finally, dark circles can also be hereditary and observed throughout generations of families.
Grier at The Beautiful Skin Centre regularly see's "wonderful results from clients that use Murad's Lighten and Brighten Eye Cream containing 1.5% Hydroquinone Cream." This is a skin lightener which inhibits the chemical that stimulates pigment development. "For best results, don't be afraid to layer products and finish with Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15 for protection from further discoloration from the harsh light."
The use of haemoid cream for the under eye area is a 'beauty secret' that resurfaces every few months as the answer to reduce darkening. However, this is not a recommended product as it was not formulated for this usage. In fact, it can lead to damage and bruising to the thin facial skin. Exercise caution when reading about unusual makeup fads and instead consult the professionals.
Makeup today is developed to be more natural looking than ever before, so take advantage of the wonders of the best maquillage on the market. Angus Lee at the Sogo branch of MAC suggests, "Select a moisture rich concealer formula that is primarily liquid based so as not to stick into lines and wrinkles." This will cover the darkness and give a more consistent colour across your face. Lee also solves the dilemma of whether to use a green base which many makeup companies offer today. This is designed for blemishes on other parts of the complexion and not the under eye area. "Green based concealers are a big no-no for dark circles, they do not look natural to cover this problem. Instead you should go for red based colours that cancels out the blue colour. A bit like with painting!"
Bothersome Eye Condition:
Saggy under eye skin
Saggy skin is caused by the normal aging process due to the decreased production of collagen and the reduction of elasticity. The skin under the eye is very thin and is therefore often the first part of the face to loose its natural strength. Any veins in this area will affect the development of any sagging. Sun damage also weakens the skin and making it further susceptible. Dragging when applying makeup, or rubbing generally also do not help. Our bodies and faces are unable to defy gravity at the present time.
The good news is that the scientific developments for this beauty complaint have been considerable in the recent years. Dr Kong Kwok Leung says "Botox can be used by an experienced doctor using a special technique to give an 'eye brow' lift effect. This in turn reduces the appearance of sagging and is much appreciated by patients." Botox can also be used in association with the none invasive Thermage system which was granted FDA approval back in 2002. "This procedure helps to tighten skin and decrease wrinkles and hooding in the eye area without surgery or injections with little to no downtime." It works by increasing the production of collagen by the use of radio frequency technology.
For further impact eye bag removal or a Blepharoplasty is the very last option and can cost around $40,000. Dr. Gordan Ma is a specialist in eyelid surgery in Hong Kong. Four days following the operation the stitches are removed and there is presently a ten day recovery time.
Jo Sargent, Hong Kong resident TV Producer of the documentary "Thighs, Lies and Beauty", conducted extensive research into the cosmetic surgery industry. She interviewed and observed numerous top plastic surgeons across the world and saw hundreds of women
who wanted to improve their looks. "The patients that I interviewed that had received eye bag removal most definitely did look younger and fresher and it did indeed make people feel better about themselves. However, I really do feel that this is really a last resort as imperfections do make people unique and that is actually what makes us all beautiful in our own way."
|
