Cosmopolitan USA – September 2019

why they happen

“If yours are a bluish-

purple color, it’s because

the blood vessels under

your skin are showing

through,” says Dr.

Marchbein. Tons of

factors can cause this,

including naturally thin

skin, allergies, or lack of

s l e e p. I f y o u r s h a d o w s a r e

a brownish color, blame

genetics (womp, womp).

your eye-cream fix
The best brighteners in the
game diffuse shadows in
two ways: They contain
mica (light-reflecting
particles that instantly
mask under-eye darkness)
as well as caffeine and
antioxidants. “Caffeine
can help constrict blood
vessels, which minimizes
their appearance, while
antioxidants like vitamins
C and B3 suppress pigment
production to brighten the
skin,” says Dr. Marchbein.

why it happens

Fatigue, dehydration,

tears—they all cause fluid

to build up around your

eyes, says Dr. Marchbein.

Not dealing with any of

these but still see

puffiness, especially in

the a.m.? “It’s because

when you’re lying down,

fluids don’t drain properly

from around your eyes,”

says Dr. Marchbein.

your eye-cream fix

In this case, your product’s

applicator is just as

important as the formula

itself. Look for a tool with a

cooling metal tip (this

L’Oréal Paris gel has one)

and use it to really

massage your eye area.

It’ll increase circulation to

help reduce swelling, says

dermatologist Arash

A k h a v a n, M D. “A n d a s a

rule, lightweight formulas

(gels and serums) with

antioxidants are better

than heavy creams.”

why they happen

Kim K. once said she doesn’t

laugh for fear of aging.

Extreme, yes, but there’s a

kernel of truth to it: Every time

you blink, squint, or smile, the

skin around your eyes

creases. Couple that with UV

exposure and pollution,

which deplete collagen (the

protein that keeps skin plump

and firm) and bam—lines

become a very real thing.

your eye-cream fix

It’s retinol. The ingredient

can smooth lines thanks

to its ability to generate

fresh, new skin cells and

increase collagen and

elastin production, says

Dr. Marchbein. It’s

powerful, though, so you

should start out using it

sparingly. Apply it twice

a week at night,

gradually upping the

frequency as your skin

builds tolerance.

why it happens

Because of the lack of oil

g l a n d s a ro u n d y o u r e y e s,

this area is very prone to

dryness and conditions like

redness, sensitivity, and

even eczema, explains Dr.

Marchbein. Also, harsh

cleansers and makeup

removers can deplete your

skin’s protective barrier,

m a k i n g t hi n g s w o r s e. U g h,

so not what you need rn.

your eye-cream fix

Your thirsty-ass skin is

begging for all the

moisture it can get. Look

for a super-gentle eye

cream with hydrating

ingredients like glycerin

and hyaluronic acid.

(Skinfix’s nonirritating

one, below, contains

both.) “They’re

humectants, which means

t h e y d ra w m o is t u r e f ro m

the air, pulling it into your

skin to keep it looking

plump and dewy,”

explains Dr. Akhavan.

PUFFINESS

FINE

LINES

DARK^

CIRCLES

Neutrogena

Rapid Wrinkle

Repair Eye

Cream, $22,

drugstores

TRY

Skinfix

Barrier+ Lipid

Boost 360º

Eye, $40,

sephora.com

TRY

L’Oréal Paris

Age Perfect

Hydra-Nutrition

De-Puffing

Honey Eye Gel,

$25, drugstores

TRY

Olay Eyes

Brightening

Eye Cream,

$25,

drugstores

TRY

DRYNESS

Hello, yes,

this could be

you.

4 options

that’ll fix every

eye issue ASAP

September 2019 Cosmopolitan 69