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Are eye creams worth the money? Do they actually make a difference?

Depending on where you buy your eye product from, I strongly recommend an eye product from the age of 18, as the breakdown of collagen in our body can start from the age of 18.

Here’s why: the skin around our eyes is thinner, more sensitive, fragile, more prone to dryness, and quicker to show age and fatigue. We are constantly squinting and moving the eye area causing fine lines and wrinkles. For some people fluids collect under the eyes and cause puffiness and dark circles, eye cream can really address this.

But aren’t eye creams just more-expensive moisturizers in a smaller package?

Not necessarily, eye products are formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eye, the active ingredients like muscle relaxing peptides are a lot more concentrated and anti-oxidants (to protect from free radical damage) are the right percentage, not to cause irritation around the eye area.

Because your eye area is so sensitive and the skin is so thin, it’s extremely important to be aware what we are using around that area. Your favourite creams may be too heavy and cause irritation, blocked pores or even yellow lumps(milia) under the skin. Also it can contain synthetic fragrance or perfume, essential oils or plant extracts too strong to use around the eyes.  

Good eye products should contain: anti-oxidants, cell-communicating ingredients such as peptides, fragrance-free formula, hyaluronic acid (for hydration), vitamin c and retinyl palmitate (gentle form of Vitamin A) to boost collagen production.

Dark circles under the eyes come from genes, sun damage, age, blood build-up and/or liver problems. Vitamin A can thicken the skin and help conceal dark circles after about 6 months. Niacinamide vitamin B3, and kojic acid can lighten dark circles. Vitamin K constricts blood so that can be used in eye creams to lighten up darkness.

Puffiness is a build-up of fluid and blood under the eyes. Other studies show that cold temperatures are just as effective to treat puffiness. That’s why some people refrigerate their eye creams.

Where should I buy an eye product from?

Don’t waste your money at a supermarket, chemist or even department store. Anything you can pick off the shelf won’t contain enough active ingredients such as peptides, anti-oxidants and vitamins at strong enough percentages.

Head to your local beauty salon and have a chat to a therapist about your concerns, whether it is puffiness, dark circles, dryness or just prevention of wrinkles and fine lines. They will be able to show you different products and explain how they work.

What is Skin needling? AKA The Vampire facial 

Skin needling is based on the skin’s ability to repair itself whenever it encounters physical damage such as cuts, abrasions and other physical trauma. Immediately after an injury occurs our skin destroys old damaged tissue such as acne scarring and wrinkles and replaces it with new fresh healthy collagen. Skin needling allows for controlled micro “injuries” in the skin, which triggers a whole cascade of events that result in new collagen synthesis. The result is smoother, firmer and younger looking skin. A great treatment for all skin types especially patients with acne scarring, enlarged pores, and darker skin types not suitable for laser and fine lines.

Skin needling procedures are performed in a safe and precise manner with the use of the sterile disposable needle head. The procedure is normally completed within 40 minutes and is relatively comfortable. Skin Needling creates a “mini wound” which stimulates the release of growth factors that trigger the production of collagen and elastin, which is all part of the healing process. This new fresh collagen remodels over time. Sagging skin, stretch marks, pores and acne scars are all improved from skin needling because of this.

Skin needling Vs Ablative Laser?

The term ablative means that skin is ‘vapourised’ by the laser, that is, the skin is removed. Non-ablative implies that the skin is still intact. Examples of ablative fractional lasers include the fractional carbon dioxide or erbium lasers, and an example of a non-ablative fractional laser is the Fraxel laser. Generally speaking, ablative lasers tend to be more aggressive than non-ablative lasers, which usually means greater downtime, and that fewer sessions are required to achieve a certain result, but the risks may be higher as a result. 

Skin needling, as opposed to laser, produces no heat energy. This reduces the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (pigmentation that occurs after treatment or trauma to the skin). With laser the darker skin types are extremely risky, with skin needling any skin type can be treated with no own time. YAY!!

Numbing cream or No numbing cream?

For years Australia and New Zealand have been over using numbing creams. In the latest international dermatology training i have attended, other countries don’t even contemplate using the stuff.  I personally will not use the stuff if im trying to get good results on my clients. Numbing creams lead to constriction of the blood vessels on the face, so less blood from the treatment. More blood = better results for anti-ageing, scarring, pores and skin tightening. For blackheads, congestion and pigmentation you don’t need blood to get a good result, but your therapist also doesn’t need to go as deep so less pain. So NO need for numbing cream. Also patients can get flaking of the skin for up to 3 weeks from the numbing cream. And numbing cream sensitises skin so more pain and sensitivity is usually felt a few hours afterwards. Seems a bit silly now to use numbing cream hey?

Why do prices vary so much from place to place?

You get what you pay for is a saying i heavily believe in. If a treatment is crazy cheap then they have to be cutting costs somewhere. When it comes to skin needling the costs are:

Everything is sterile and disposable (let’s hope they are not cutting costs here).  The needles can only be used once!

The products they are using to needling into your skin (this should be expensive, because it should be hyluronic acid – which is expensive at a high percentage. Think dermal filler they are usually $450 or more per ml – that is hyluronic acid)

The therapist: This one is the biggest one! They need to know their stuff. There is no user manual that comes with a dermapen device. They need to understand the client’s skin and history. What the client uses at home and medications have a big impact on the results and treatments. How deep the therapist goes depends on so many factors and what they are trying to achieve. Are they treating pigmentation? Anti-ageing? Acne scarring?

Have a consult with the therapist performing the treatment (before hand)and ask them a bundle of questions. Ask to see their certificates on skin needling!