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Eye Cream Review

They say that our eyes are the windows to the soul. While we can't verify this, one thing is quite certain: keeping the eye area youthful and vibrant looking is one of the top priorities of men and women around the world.

Eye creams have long been one of the hottest sellers in skin care. But with such a wide variety available, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. To help you navigate through this maze of products, we've targeted some of the top eye creams in the marketplace, based on extensive customer feedback and the recommendations of our staff dermatologist, Dr. Craig Kraffert.

Below, you'll find information on the most common eye area concerns and reviews of the products most likely to help.

Puffy Eyes

Fluid retention is the main cause of puffy eyes, a common occurrence in the morning as fluid builds up while you sleep. This is especially true if you're plagued with sinus problems or allergies, or you're a pre-menstrual woman. The good news is that 'puffy eyes' is a temporary condition that can be prevented and/or easily corrected. Sleeping on your back with your head elevated can assist with drainage of the eye area overnight. After the fact, you can also encourage drainage by very gently tapping your fingers across the lower orbital of the eyes from the inner corners to the outer corners. Cold compresses, refrigerated gels and cooling masks can also be very effective ways to relieve morning puffiness. Soothing Eye Gel by DDF is highly recommended, and Moisture Silk Eye Gel by Murad is an excellent eye gel that softens, smoothes and de-puffs while providing a silky finish. While Moisture Defense Antioxidant Eye Cream by MD Formulations is designed to reduce puffiness, hydrate the delicate eye area and protect against environmental agents.

Baggy Eyes

While "baggy eyes" and "puffy eyes" are thought to synonymous, they are two entirely different conditions. Baggy eyes are the result of accumulated fat in the eye area. Over time the septum surrounding the eyeball socket weakens, which causes the outer layer of fat within the socket to sink forward - resulting in pouches, or bags. To date, cosmetic surgery is the only way to eliminate baggy eyes syndrome. However, there are number of excellent products on the market that can minimize their appearance. Eye Contour Gel and Eye Contour Cream by Cellex-C has shown to be highly effective for increasing the elasticity of the skin surrounding the eye. Jan Marini's Transformation Eye Cream with TGF Beta-1, and Eye Cream by B. Kamins are two of our top selling products, formulated to achieve noticeable results.

Dark Circles

Hyperpigmentation (a high amount of melanin in your skin) is often the culprit for dark circles under the eyes, as is engorged blood vessels in the thin skin under the eye. This is especially common for the fair-skinned. Also fatigue, excessive sun exposure, dehydration, and medical conditions related to renal, thyroid and even genetics can cause dark circles to appear. A mere five minutes under a cold compress can constrict blood vessels, which may cause dark circles to disappear. Using products containing sunscreen with at least SPF 15 can protect the eye area from future hyperpigmentation. Pigment Shield SPF 18 by BioMedic is an opaque eye cream that provides excellent UVA and UVB sun protection for dark circle areas. Total Eye Care by Dermalogica and Protective Eye Cream SPF 15 by DDF are superior all day moisturizing sunscreens. However, since the perfect remedy for dark circles has yet to be formulated, an immediate solution to de-emphasize dark circles is using natural looking coverage, such as Jane Iredale's Pressed Powders. Available in a multitude of shades, this makeup line is mineral based, and can work wonders on dark circles.

Crow's Feet

The fine lines at the corner of one's eyes are commonly referred to as "crow's feet." This area has fewer oil glands than the rest of the face, and is notorious for extra dryness and forming wrinkles. Smoking, excessive sun exposure and genetics can each play a role in the appearance of crow's feet. Genetics cannot be changed, but avoiding sun exposure and smoke can. The sun causes the skin to lose its elasticity, an important factor in keeping your skin smooth. Over time, permanent wrinkles can also develop in the corners of the eyes as a result of excessive squinting. Shy of never smoking or coming in contact with excessive smoke, squinting, or tanning there are several excellent products that minimize the appearance of crow's feet and will have you looking younger. Kinerase Cream by Kinerase caters to the effects of photo-aging, helping your skin retain moisture and reduce wrinkles. Glytone's Firming Eye Gel contains 2.6% glycolic acid. Glycolic acid with less than 5% strength (for use around the eye area) encourages wrinkled skin to slough off and new skin to emerge. Another hot product for the eye contour area is MD Forte's Skin Rejuvenation Eye Cream. These products are popular with DermStore customers in reducing the appearance of crow's feet. Also, Vit-A-Plus Eye Crème for Men by MD Formulations for Men is a favorite for visibly diminishing fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

Eye Lids

Eye lids perform the highly important function of protecting the eyes from dirt, airborne debris, and environmental elements. With such an important job, there is reasonable potential that some eye lid irritation and/or infection can occur. A common complaint is dry scaly lids (eye lid dermatitis), which can result from anything that comes in contact with the lid, such as makeup, removers, lotions, and even hand products like creams or nail polish. Itchiness can also occur from environmental allergies such as pollen or pet dander, or from using irritating eye products. Inflammation of the oil glands (blepharitis, which resembles dandruff) occurs when they are clogged, and can also occur during menstruation or pregnancy. When eyelash follicles become inflamed, sties (or pimples) can occur. Conjunctivitis is commonly referred to as pinkeye, and occurs when the inner lid develops a bacterial infection. Conjunctivitis is quite serious, highly contagious, and requires medical attention. Most other eye lid symptoms can be easily quelled by soothing the irritation. Cold moist tea bags, due to the presence of tannic acid, wrapped in paper towels is a highly effective cold compress that offers a great deal of soothing relief. Safe products to recommend for the sensitive eye lid areas are scarce, but some favorite choices are Radiance Boost Eye Cream by Neutrogena, which is suitable for contact lens wearers, Evolutive Eye Cream by Pevonia Botanica, and Neutrogena's Visibly Firm Eye Cream. For makeup removers, Hydraphase Hydrating Makeup Remover by La Roche-Posay has received fantastic reviews as a wonderful, non-irritating gentle product. Bare Eyes Makeup Remover by Bare Escentuals is also a customer favorite.

Eye Brows

All gorgeous eye brows have one thing in common - they're flattering to the eye area. If you're unsure about shaping your eye brows, it is best to consult with a professional, as it is much easier to maintain a shape than to create one. Remember that eye brows can be colored (tinted) and styled just like hair. Eye brow gels are growing in popularity as they add shine, condition, and hold eye brows just where you want them. There are some wonderful eye brow products on the market. PureBrow Fix and Mascara by Jane Iredale helps you tweak the brows for the perfect shape, and GloMinerals' colored brow gels will allow you to sculpt your brows to suit any mood.

The eye products in this review are recommended to minimize further damage to the sensitive eye area, to reduce the appearance of existing damage, and to maximize the radiance of the eyes. If they are windows to the soul, then eyes are the ultimate accessories. This review spotlights some of the top products available, to highlight your eyes, accentuate them, and above all else pamper them.

Article posted 8/06/2004.

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Protective Eye Cream SPF 15 by DDF $46.00

Hydraphase Cleansing Milk by La Roche-Posay $22.00

Eye Cream - Pump by B. Kamins $60.00