Generational Eye Cream Road Map
The oft quoted “The eyes are the window to the soul” is a well-known proverb dating back to the mid-1500s that articulates the concept of looking into a person’s eyes in order to discern their true character or intensions. Now in the era of “virtual stardom” – think Zoom and Facetime – and in the era of wearing facemasks where your eyes are center stage – the eyes are articulating even more as your window to connection and your window to the age on your driver’s license – that is unless you are adhering to a smart under eye skin care regime!
So, you get it. You need to take care of the delicate skin that helps to frame those important communicators to the world. You think that makes sense, but you are young, and you can wait. Or you waited too long, and it’s too late. You would be wrong on both accounts. It’s never too soon to begin pre-juvenation, and never too late to adopt rejuvenating, anti-aging, youth-defying, and ageless under eye skin care practices.
The skin under the eyes is extremely thin, making it more susceptible to moisture loss, which can produce dry skin that exaggerates imperfections. Time for eye cream to the rescue to ward off fine lines and wrinkles, send undereye bags packing, keep dark circles from circling, and capture radiance and luminosity back where you need it most – keep the frames to those windows to the soul –looking their best.
Here’s a fast-track approach to undereye and surrounding eye care. And, no, you can’t use your regular moisturizer. You need an eye cream specifically formulated for the extremely delicate undereye area, often with lower concentrations of ingredients and different ingredients to effectively treat the area without causing irritation.
Your 2021 Eye Care Generational Timeline
Generation Z: Born 1997-2012 (9-24 years old)
Younger Gen Z-ers probably do not need an eye cream, but like mom always told you, you need to wash your face day and night, and use sunscreen as UV rays break down collagen and age your skin.
(A hat, sunglasses – these are helpful at any age!) Hitting the mid-teens through early 20s? Then yes, consider a light moisturizer that can double as an eye cream. At the upper edge of Gen Z – go ahead and see what is recommended for millennials.
Millennials: Born 1981-1996 (25-40 years old)
It’s time to take the plunge and add an eye cream to your daily skin care regime. In fact, you may choose a lighter formulation for day, a slightly heavier choice for night. What will an eye cream do for you? It will help to brighten the eye area and speed collagen production. After the age of 20, a person produces about 1 percent less collagen in the skin each year.
Look for products with green tea, and vitamin “cocktails” that include vitamin A and E. They protect the skin’s surface from oxidative damage caused by free radicals and environmental aggressors like UV and pollution. Consider products that contain hyaluronic acid (HA) – a humectant that draws moisture to the skin. It’s known for its ability to hold as much as 1,000 times its weight in water. Hyaluronic acid affords intense hydration to the delicate eye area eases the look of fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s-feet.
Generation X: Born 1965-1980 (41-56 years old)
Okay, you may be thinking – I am starting to look like my mother, oh no! Or, oh yes – if mom has been taking consistently good care of her skin’s health! Don’t delay. Super charge your skincare ingredient research sleuthing skills to know what you want and need and then go for it.
Now is the time to brighten your under eye skin, boost hydration, and protect your skin against harmful free radicals, especially if you are using computers and mobile electronic devices.
Look for ingredients that are a bit more elevated. For day, look for an eye cream with ingredients that include squalane (derived from olives), hyaluronic acid and botanicals to hydrate and seal in moisture. Products that include cucumber extract, an effective antioxidant, will cool, soothe, and depuff unsightly eye bags. Consider using an eye cream with retinoid Vitamin A at night but watch the concentration percentage as it may be drying. If you are at the upper end of Generation X, consider a cream with Peptides — short chains of amino acids, naturally occurring in our body that serve as building blocks of certain proteins needed by the skin, like collagen and elastin. They stimulate collagen production and smooth away the unwanted look of fine lines and wrinkles. Look for products with peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Octapeptide-3).
Baby Boomers: Born 1946-1964 (57-75 years old)
If you weren’t serious before about adopting a smart approach to under eye care maintenance, take a tip from Snow White and take a good long look in the mirror to jumpstart your regime.
Look for products that contain mega-peptides called epidermal growth factors. These stimulate the growth of healthy skin cells and help repair damaged skin. They increase hydration, help with skin firmness and elasticity. They may be plant-based or synthetically produced. You want them because they help advance skin regeneration, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and help you look rejuvenated. You may want to look for products that contain caffeine to address dark circle concerns.
The Silent Generation: Born 1928-1945 (76-93 years old)
Yes! You can and must stay as young as you feel and the reflection in the mirror says it all. The delicate area under your eyes is sensitive to stretching and sagging, so it matures faster than other parts of your face.
So, adopt an under-eye care regime from the Baby Boomers list. It’s never too late to fight the signs of aging and brighten the skin around the eyes.
Beyond eye cream – the Eyes have it!
If bags and sags are your concern — limit your alcohol intake, salt intake, and get enough sleep. For everyone, consider that sunscreen is an essential daily ritual. If you eye cream does not contain sunscreen be sure to add an under-eye concealer with sunscreen or a sunscreen, being careful to avoid the eye. And accessories matter, too. Sunglasses are a must, and don’t forget a hat. Working on your favorite digital device – yep, consider sunscreen the essential accessory you need to protect your delicate eye area, too. And finally remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so embrace your beauty and love what you see with help from a consistent skincare regime that includes an eye cream that’s right for your generational needs.