Health and Beauty - Brit Buyer

As we get older, our skin loses its elasticity and produces less collagen that can lead to fine lines and wrinkles, especially around our eye area. Despite ageing being a completely natural process, it’s understandably a cosmetic concern for many people and there are certain beauty products on the market that can reduce the signs of ageing and boost your self-confidence. In this article, I won't tell you how old I am exactly, but I’ve put together a list of the best eye creams for those over the age of 50, researched their ingredients, and explained why they work. I hope this gives you a leg-up on research if you’re looking for an effective eye cream! Best Eye Cream for the Over 50s in the UK Elemis Pro-Definition Eye and Lip Contour Cream(Check Amazon's Price) This moisturising and firming eye cream by Elemis is my top pick overall, and the one I use. It's ideal for dry, dehydrated and mature skin types with fine lines around the eyes and lips. I used to work in a tanning salon (behind the desk) and I got very dry skin, so this helped a lot. This particular cream is designed to focus on the advanced signs of ageing, Edelweiss plant stem cells boost cell renewal in the skin, whilst amino acids derived from wheat inhibit the production of collagen destroying enzymes. These active ingredients, along with Vitamin E and Shea Butter contribute to increased moisture retention in the skin leading to a reduction in fine lines and deep wrinkles as well as skin sagging and eye bags. Something that I love about this eye repair cream is that it’s fragrance-free. As someone with sensitive skin, I always look for fragrance-free products as strong perfumes have a higher chance of causing irritation - especially when applying to the delicate skin around the eyes. It’s recommended that you apply this cream in the morning and evening, after serums but before moisturisers. Squirt one pump onto your ring finger and pat around the eye and lip area to feel moisturised and fresh. Pros: Fragrance and paraben-freeSuitable for a range of skin typesActive ingredients that plump skin and help the skin to retain moistureNon-greasyCan be used on expression lines as well as around the eyes and lips Cons: Only 15ml, however a little does go a long way! Best 'Hidden Gem' Over 50s Eye Cream Decleor Orexcellence Energy Concentrate Youth Eye Care(Check Amazon's Price) The French are known worldwide for their dedication to beauty, and it’s clear that natural beauty starts with skincare. With that being said, there’s a reason that this eye cream by Decleor is a firm favourite in France. Despite it rarely being seen over here in the UK, it plumps dehydrated skin so wrinkles appear reduced and the whole eye area looks rejuvenated and more youthful. The cream itself is a lightweight, non-greasy formula that’s extremely hydrating so it’s a great addition to your beauty routine in the winter when your skin needs that extra boost of moisture levels. Peony Lychee, Rhodiola and Cafeina extracts work to firm the under eyes whilst combatting signs of fatigue and dark circles - a concern for many women! It’s recommended to apply this eye cream in both the morning and the evening, but as it’s so rich it can definitely just be used as a night eye cream. Pros: No added perfumeHydratingLightweight formulaPlumps fine lines and combats signs of fatigue Cons: Doesn’t work too well combatting dark under eyesNot suitable for oilier skin types due to its richness Best Value Eye Cream for Age 50+ No7 Lift and Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream(Check Amazon's Price) Despite its lower price point, this eye cream by No7 still packs a punch. When it came out, it caused a bit of a stir for being such good value. It’s suitable for sensitive skin types as it’s gentle enough for the eye area, yet extremely hydrating. I love this cream as the active ingredients work together to not only reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but also to firm the under eyes and combat puffiness and even the skin tone leading to a reduction in dark circles. It contains Retinyl palmitate, which when applied to your skin, converts into retinol - one of the most highly recommended ingredients when it comes to anti-ageing eye cream. Not only does this skin provide all these great anti-ageing qualities, it also works as an illuminator. This is my backup cream when I can't get my preferred brand. One of my tips when using this cream is to pat it not only under the eyes, but up along the cheekbones too - it works great as a subtle liquid highlighter for one of those ‘no makeup’ days where you just want to feel your best! Pros: Multi-functionalLittle goes a long wayContains Retinyl PalmitateSuitable for sensitive skin Cons: Contains Hibiscus abelmoschus extract as a fragranceContains alcohol denat which may irritate some skin types Best Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream for Over 50s YEOUTH 2.5% Retinol Eye Cream(Check Amazon's Price) Packed full of anti-ageing ingredients, this eye cream makes a difference after just one use. Retinol encourages cell turnover deep below the skin’s surface to encourage a more even skin tone, whilst Hyaluronic Acid absorbs moisture from the atmosphere to hydrate your skin. Antioxidants found in Green Tea, Caffeine and Ginseng fight damage from free radicals and boost the production of collagen all of which aid in the prevention of wrinkles and help to soften ones that have already formed. This product is sulphate, paraben, phthalate, triclosan, GMO and fragrance-free as well as being vegan. It’s best to apply this eye cream at night, whilst your skin is damp due to the Hyaluronic Acid. If you don’t already have a retinoid in your skincare routine, I’d recommend using this eye cream every other night to begin with to avoid irritation whilst your skin builds up tolerance, then gradually increase use to every night. Pros: Full of anti-ageing ingredients that help fight crow’s feet, under-eye wrinkles, puffiness and dark circlesCruelty freeWorks quicklyFights free radicals Cons: Bright yellow colour that lasts on skin until absorbedCan cause irritation if used incorrectly Best Eye Cream For Men over 50 in the UK Brickell Men’s Restoring Eye Cream(Check Amazon's Price) With most anti-ageing skincare marketed towards women, it can be difficult to find a product right for you as a man. However, there’s no need to feel unsure - if you want brighter, more youthful-looking eyes then this cream is a good starting point. Unscented and organic, it contains Hyaluronic Acid to boost hydration, Caffeine to reduce puffiness and dark circles. It also has a blend of protein peptides that increase the skin’s collagen production, leaving your complexion looking naturally younger and more refreshed. Apply this eye cream both morning and night, using your ring finger to tap a small amount of product into the skin and join those people who reported seeing visible results in just a few days. Pros: All-natural ingredientsUnscented so it’s suitable for sensitive skinLittle goes a long wayHydrating so reduces dryness around the eyes tooTightens the undereyes as well as reduces wrinkles Cons: Can cause irritation on sensitive skinNot vegan - contains beeswax Do Eye Creams Actually Work? There has always been debate as to whether eye creams really work when it comes to reducing the signs of ageing, but finding eye creams with certain ingredients definitely will help. The eye area generally has less elastin and collagen levels compared to the rest of the face, and using any old product that isn’t specially formulated for this area can actually lead to increased puffiness due to the build up of product that isn’t absorbed properly. So, in order for an eye cream to work for you, it’s best to find one that is suited to your particular skin type and contains ingredients such as Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Neuropeptides and Green Tea in order to reduce puffiness, wrinkles and eye bags It’s also important to note that ageing of the skin is completely natural and a lot of factors go into it, such as genetics, UV rays and smoking, so although eye creams can definitely reduce certain concerns it’s unlikely that they will ever rid you of them completely. Should I Use A Retinol Eye Cream? Retinoids are one of the most raved about ingredients when it comes to anti-ageing skincare and it’s no wonder (source: Harvard). Not only do they increase cell turnover in the skin, reducing hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tones, but they also increase the production of collagen - which is something that we stop making as much as we get older leading to those fine lines. When it comes to using a retinol cream, it’s important to note that retinoids take at least 6 months to really start working and you will also have to build up your skin’s tolerance when you begin to use it. You absolutely must wear a daily sunscreen on your face as retinoids increase sensitivity to the sun’s rays, so your skin can burn which will lead to ageing of the skin - the opposite of what you want! If you have extra sensitive skin, you may want to be wary of using retinol on delicate eye skin, there are lots of alternatives with the same effects, such as bakuchiol. When used correctly, an eye cream containing retinol is definitely a must if you want noticeable results that last a long time.