Pulverize That Eye Puffiness!

When it comes to beauty maintenance, we often tend to overlook our eyes. Puffy eyes are one eye problem that nobody enjoys, and it can be caused by a number of factors, including stress, lack of sleep and poor diet. If you’re tired of seeing your eyes in such a sorry state, here are 10 easy tips that you can do at home to reduce eye puffiness and irritation!

1)     Increase intake of Vitamin E, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids to maintain eye health. These nutrients help to improve the function of eye muscles, blood vessels and nerves, protect retina cells and prevent macular degeneration and dry eyes.

Image Source: http://m5.i.pbase.com/o2/89/475089/1/52234765.BeginNoSaltAreaMontagueMA.jpg

      2)     Conversely, reduce your salt intake to avoid getting puffy eyes. Avoid salt-laden foods like greasy fries, instant ramen and pretzels. Your eyes won’t thank you for that midnight McDonald’s run in the morning!

      3)     For puffy eyes, lay cool cucumber slices over your eyelids for 10 to 15 minutes. Cucumber contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and helps soothe strained eyes. You can eat the leftover slices! 

      4)     If you’ve got no time to put cucumber slices over your eyes, a splash of cold water is an excellent and quick alternative. Rinse your face with several splashes of cold water for around ten seconds after you wake up and throughout the day if need be. The coldness will constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling and keep you energized. No need for that shot of caffeine!

Image Source: http://www.juztoday.com/deal/1941/img/2.jpg

      5)     Giving yourself a light eye-massage also helps to relieve puffiness. Close your eyes and gently move your ring finger underneath your eye in an arc shape from the inside corner to the outside corner. Massage 10 to 15 times before you repeat on the other eye. This can be a great follow-up to your morning splash of cold water!

Image Source: http://www.randeye.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ColdCompress.jpg

      6)     Whether or not you have a black eye, a bag of ice wrapped in a compress and pressed gently to your eyes can also help reduce swelling and puffiness. Keep it on for 10 to 15 minutes and remove. Follow up with a light message if necessary.

      7)     Use a collagen mask! Collagen is the main structural protein found in connective body tissue and gives young skin its firm, supple appearance. Collagen can now be found in several forms, such as eye masks like the Acymer Collagen Eye Mask that are designed to concentrate only on the tender skin around the eyes, hydrating and nourishing the eyes and slowing down aging.

Image Source: http://www.lovepotatoes.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/recipe_image/public/recipes/Mash%20Forked.jpg?itok=GyRYUax4

      8)     Potatoes can be used for eye problems involving irritation or inflammation. Grate a potato, wrap the pulp in a cloth and press over your eyes to treat. The starch in potatoes has anti-inflammatory properties that ease irritated eyes.

Image Source: https://brownponytail.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/32465566.jpg

      9)     Avoid allergens by washing your pillows and bedsheets regularly with hot water and keeping dusty things out of your bedroom, including furry pets! Allergens like pollen and dust mites irritate the eye and can cause puffiness and swelling.

     10)  Get some shut-eye! Although this one may seem obvious, getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night helps regenerate and repair facial tissue and prevents puffiness from occurring.

Kill That Crow’s Feet!

Starting around the age of 25, signs of our skin beginning to age become noticeable on our bodies, and the eye area is one of the earliest and most noticeable signs. Crow’s feet, creases, wrinkles and fine lines start to appear, and early prevention is key to maintaining a firm, healthy and rejuvenated face as you get older. Here are a few tips on how to prevent and attack eye aging and keep your eyes looking young and radiant!

      1)     Egg whites contain skin-tightening properties and can help reduce the appearance of crow’s feet. Beat an eye white into a foamy substance and apply all along your cheekbones and eye area, focusing on the area of your crow’s feet. Leave it on for 10 minutes and wipe it off with a cotton pad dipped in water.

Image source: http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID35945/images/Sophia-Loren-001(1).jpg

      2)     Extra-virgin olive oil is a naturally hydrating substance and has been used by celebrities such as Sophia Loren and Miranda Kerr to keep their skin hydrated and rejuvenated. Apply liberally all over the face, wait for 10-15 minutes and wash off with cotton pads or a wet cloth for silky-smooth skin. Doing this twice a week will make your skin glow!

      3)     Take some Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant essential for regeneration of new skin cells, which help keeps the skin supple and moisturized. It can also tighten the skin around the eyes to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet as well as creases and fine lines.

      4)     Use nourishing eye products! Nutrient rich eye creams and eye lotions such as the Acymer Refreshing Eye Lotion contain anti-aging and moisturizing properties and are specifically designed to combat crow’s feet, creases, wrinkles and fine lines. Don’t wait until your forties to start using them, early prevention goes a long way!

Image source: http://www.aloeverahq.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Aloe-Vera-Gel-Benefits.jpg

      5)     Aloe vera gel is renowned for its hydrating antioxidant properties, which help to moisturize the skin and combat free radicals that may cause wrinkling. It contains essential vitamins and minerals that help brighten and tone the skin and is excellent for removing crow’s feet, wrinkles and fine lines. It is commonly used in its plant form, which is split open to obtain its gel, but it can be also consumed in a juice, so get some aloe vera and start sipping!

      6)     Drink plenty of water! Hydration is key to maintaining glowing, supple skin and it’s important to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to cleanse your skin and detox your body. Substitute your soda for some aqua and you’ll see the results!

Image source: http://www.motherearthnews.com/~/media/Images/MEN/Editorial/Blogs/Natural%20Health/Will%20You%20Change%20Your%20Sunscreen%20Habits%20Because%20of%20Recent%20Reports/SunscreenWeb.jpg

      7)     Don’t skimp on sunscreen! Exposure to the sun is one of the quickest contributors of skin aging and it’s vital to use a sunscreen with an SPF level of at least 30 on sunny days. Wearing sunscreen is one of the easiest and most important ways to protect the skin from aging and skin cancer, so apply it liberally throughout your body, including your face, and don’t forget to reapply every two hours! It’s a worthy investment for your skin.

Hydrated Skin = Happy Skin!

With the emergence of various different brands of sodas, pop, bubble tea, etc., it can be hard nowadays to remember to drink water and keep your skin happy and hydrated. Here are a few tips on how to keep your skin looking supple and glowing!

     1)     Exfoliate!

Image source: http://natyourordinarygirl.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/exfoliate.jpg

Exfoliating, especially during the summer, is an important part of your beauty routine and helps to scrub away all of the excess dirt and impurities on your face, including dried, dead skin cells. This reveals a new layer of vitalized skin cells and leaves room for your face to breathe.

      2)    Take shorter baths and use warm water instead of hot to shower or bathe. Hot water and soap causes your skin to dry up by stripping away your body’s oils and letting moisture in your skin escape. The longer and hotter the shower, the faster this process takes place and the more moisture you can lose, and so it’s better to stick to 15-minute showers with warm or cool water.

      3)     Use a hydrating mask. If your skin’s badly in need of hydration, this will give it a boost. Look for masks that are not oil-based, as they may clog your pores and give you acne Masks with 'non-comedogenic' (will not clog pores) on the label are ideal, and masks with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or plant extracts, such as the Acymer Hydrating & Brightening Silk Mask, will provide added nutrients.

      4)     Eat foods that moisturize the skin. Foods such as spinach and berries are packed full of antioxidants that help nourish and protect the skin, and any food that contains omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and flax seeds, helps maintain the skin retain moisture. Remember, “you are what you eat”!

Image source: http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/moisturizer-include-sunscreen-1.jpg

      5)    Moisturize! This may seem obvious, but moisturizing is the way to go when hydrating the skin. Try to moisturize twice a day, preferably after showering when the skin has opened up, and rotate moisturizers based on the seasons (e.g. a heavier lotion is needed for the winter while a summer lotion should have a lighter consistency). Avoid moisturizers that contain fragrances or additives, as they can irritate sensitive skin. Natural oils such as extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil can be excellent alternatives to storebought moisturizers and can also be applied to the hair for hydrating purposes.

      6)    If you have spots as well as dry patches, focus on moisturizing and eliminating the dry patches first, even if the moisturiser worsens the spots. Moisturise your entire face, including your acne, and then apply cream directly onto your spots to treat them after. Dry patches are much harder to conceal than spots because they can visibly turn flaky and shed.

      7)    Keep a humidifier in the winter if you live in a dry climate. If you have dry skin or skin problems like eczema, maintaining a humid atmosphere in your home makes a huge difference in the way your skin will look and feel!