UV exposure, ageing and blood vessels: Why your dark circles won't fade with sleep
What can cause dark circles?
On average the skin around the eyes is x3 thinner than that of the face. It is under considerable strain due to the action of 22 muscles and the fact that we blink around 10 000 times a day. With a poor barrier function due to lower lipid production, the eye contour is a fragile area which needs specific care.
It can dehydrate very easily, and also ages faster and earlier. Signs of ageing such as fine lines and later, wrinkles, appear first on the eye contour, starting in the twenties for some of us. As a result, changes in the eye contour increase our perceived age; we appear more tired, less radiant and less youthful.
On average the skin around the eyes is x3 thinner than that of the face. It is under considerable strain due to the action of 22 muscles and the fact that we blink around 10 000 times a day. With a poor barrier function due to lower lipid production, the eye contour is a fragile area which needs specific care.
It can dehydrate very easily, and also ages faster and earlier. Signs of ageing such as fine lines and later, wrinkles, appear first on the eye contour, starting in the twenties for some of us. As a result, changes in the eye contour increase our perceived age; we appear more tired, less radiant and less youthful.
On average the skin around the eyes is x3 thinner than that of the face. It is under considerable strain due to the action of 22 muscles and the fact that we blink around 10 000 times a day. With a poor barrier function due to lower lipid production, the eye contour is a fragile area which needs specific care.
It can dehydrate very easily, and also ages faster and earlier. Signs of ageing such as fine lines and later, wrinkles, appear first on the eye contour, starting in the twenties for some of us. As a result, changes in the eye contour increase our perceived age; we appear more tired, less radiant and less youthful.
Not only is this area prone to ageing, but also to dark circles, which aren’t just caused by lack of sleep. The cause of dark circles is far more complex and multi-faceted:
As you get older, your skin becomes thinner, and a loss in fat and collagen also occurs creating hollows in the inner corner of the eye. In addition, because of lack of firmness and elasticity, a dropping of the lower eyelids can appear. These irregularities of volumes can create a shadowing effect.
The skin of the lower eyelid is very thin and translucent. This raises the visibility of the prominent underlying blood vessels giving a violaceous colour to the entire area.
UV light exposure, pregnancy and genetic predisposition may also lead to brown patches around the eyes.
When Lancôme’s Advanced Génifique Serum was unveiled in 2019, it was instantly clear that they had pioneered a new era in effective skincare with the astonishing breakthrough that was microbiome science. With the launch of new Advanced Génifique Yeux – the result of more than 60 trials, Lancôme has once again pushed the boundaries of possibility in skincare. Their latest research reveals that the skin of the eye contour has a specific microbiome.
New Advanced Génifique Yeux is now enriched with a unique complex of 7 pre-probiotic fractions chosen for their complementary action on both the skin microbiome and its environment, combined with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C derivative (vitamin CG) and a blend of active ingredients dedicated to the eye contour. This youth-activating and light-infusing cream is designed with microbiome science to target the specific needs of this area: to strengthen the fragile eye barrier, safeguard skin against pollution and tackle dark circles.
After just one jar, the appearance of dark circles is diminished, and eyes appear re-plumped and more youthful.
But what is a microbiome?
We are a physical and functional ecosystem consisting of 50% human cells and 50% bacterial cells. Within this, our microbiome is a beneficial living ecosystem of microorganisms, which is an integral part of our skin’s surface. The balance of these microorganisms is essential to our skin’s health and beauty.
Acting as an essential ally, your microbiome contributes to 3 important functions:
Protect: Part of your body’s first line of defence against aggressions from the environment, the microbiome helps protect and defend the skin.
Regulate: Constantly communicating with skin cells, the microbiome helps regulate some key skin reactions.
Repair: It helps repair the skin through barrier function strengthening and recovery.
The microbiome of our skin varies according to the location on the body. Lancôme’s research analysed the microbiome of the eye contour in order to understand this area better, comparing the microbiome of the brow bone arch and lower eyelid with that of the cheek.
Lancôme revealed the presence of 3 main key bacteria on both the eye contour and cheek: Staphylococcus spp, Cutibacterium spp and Corynebacterium spp.
Internal and external factors such as medication (antibacterial eye drops), contact lenses, harsh makeup removal products, ageing, and genetics, pollution, UV light and the changing seasons can disturb the balance of the microbiome. When it is unbalanced, the microbiome may not be able to fully play its role in helping the skin of the eye contour defend itself and recover.
Harnessing this ground-breaking research into the specifics of the eye contour microbiome, Lancôme formulated new Advanced Génifique Yeux: a powerful youth-activating and light- infusing cream enriched with a unique complex of 7 pre- and probiotic fractions chosen for their complementary action on both the skin microbiome and its environment. With new Advanced Génifique Yeux, skin can recover faster and looks visibly younger.
A unique formulation, new Advanced Génifique Yeux harnesses the power of microbiome science and concentrate millions of pre- and probiotic fractions in its patented formula. They have chosen four powerful ingredients for their ability to target the different causes of dark circles:
Buckwheat Seed Extract: this ingredient of natural origin is extracted using superficial CO 2 extraction process. It helps to reduce puffiness and decrease volume of the lower eyelid.
Hyaluronic Acid: known to absorb 1000x its own weight in water, it helps smooth and plump the skin with moisture.
Chlorella Vulgaris: To help tackle vascular component and violaceous colour: Helps reduce the appearance of vascular disorders and enhance skin luminosity.
Vitamin C derivative CG: To tackle hyperpigmentation and brown colour. It is produced from plant materials such as corn or potato, with a process that uses minimum energy and water, generates minimum waste and complies with the principles of green chemistry. It helps reduce melanin synthesis, brightens and evens out the skin to minimise the appearance of dark circles around the eye.
Iridescent pearly white, it comes in a decadent yet silky gel cream texture that feels velvety to the touch, bouncing onto the skin and absorbing rapidly. Melting instantly, it envelops the skin with a weightless film that protects and hydrates, without ever feeling sticky. Thanks to the blurring, mattifying texture formulated with a unique combination of mica, alumina pearls and a white mineral pigment, the skin is instantly sublimated. It is immediately luminous, more even in tone and feels soft and smoother. From the first application, Advanced Génifique Yeux brightens eye contour and smooths fine lines.
Women are seeing the difference for themselves. After using Advanced Génifique Yeux, 80% agreed that the eye contour appears firmer, 91% said the eye contour felt bounced and 93% said their eye contour felt re-plumped. Their eye contour appeared lifted, stronger and their gaze felt more open. That’s definitely worth checking out in our books! See more here on www.lancome.co.uk