Simple Tips for Taking Care of Your Eyes

1  Moisturize your eye contour day and night

Twice a day, apply a moisturising eye cream made from natural ingredients, especially if you have mature or dry skin. Using an eye cream/gel that contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid helps boost hydration, which will brighten the eye contour.

Unless instructed otherwise, apply your eye cream/gel before your face cream or serum.  This allows your skin to better absorb the nutrients from the eye cream which are targeted on this area.

It is a good idea to use a small jade roller to massage your eyebrows and your under-eye area after you have applied eye cream.  Sweep a gua sha tool over the under-eye area and out to the temple, all the way to the hairline.

2  Tapping eye cream around the eye contour to reduce puffiness

Tap the eye cream with your finger into the skin in the under-eye area. The tapping movement works as a gentle message which helps to reduce puffiness and increase lymphatic drainage.  Make sure your hands and nails are clean when you apply your eye cream.

To avoid appearance of darkness in the under-eye area, drinking plenty water each day and having good night sleep can really help.  Avoid taking in a large quantity of liquid (water, fizzy drinks, soup, alcohol, coffee) two hours before your normal bed time.  Drinking is another form of eating, a full stomach will not help your digestion system nor your nerve system while your body and mind is supposed to rest and restore during sleep.

3  Wear sunscreen to protect from sunburn and premature skin ageing

The depletion of the ozone layer in our planet has further increased our risk of sun damage from harmful UV radiation (both UVA and UVB ray).  Your skin type is a major risk factor for developing skin cancer.  The research findings show that people with fair skin tones and blue eyes are more at risk for sunburn, skin ageing and skin cancer.  However, this does not mean people with dark skin will not develop skin cancer.

Sunscreens (at least 30 SPF) that blocks UVA and UVB rays are best, as they reduce the risk of sunburn and premature skin ageing.  According to the Skin Cancer Foundation in the USA, by applying sunscreen every day can cut your risk of developing skin cancer (melanoma) in half.

4  Wearing UV blocking sunglasses to reduce the risk of cataract

It is estimated that at least 10% of cataract cases are attributed to UV exposure.  To minimize risk of this common eye disease, it is recommended to wear a sun hat and UV blocking sunglasses to give your eyes extra protection.

My brother-in-law developed cataract and needed a surgery in his 40s.  I was surprised at first but soon I realized that he has been living in a hot sunny city for many years, and his job requires long hours of driving and travelling.  There is probably a strong link between the environmental factor and his illness.

Costa del Sol in Andalucia is renown for its long sunny days through out the year.  It is a good idea to keep a spare pair of sunglasses and a sun hat in your car or handbag, so when the sun is dazzling and there is no shade to be found, you will be armed with the right protection!