Question: I have wrinkles around my eyes but cannot afford an eye cream. Can I use the anti-wrinkle products that I use on my face around my eye area too?
Mimi: The skin around your eyes is thin and delicate. Eye creams are made especially for the eye area.
You MUST use some kind of treatment around your eyes. If you have a good skin product that has given you good results on the rest of your face, yes, go ahead and try it around your eyes. If it makes your eye area sting, stop using it. You can dilute it with a little moisturizing cream. Dab eye cream on the BONE around your eyes. Do NOT smear it all over your lids. The heat in your skin will liquefy the cream and it will creep in closer. If you apply it closer, then it will run into your eyes.
At night, clean your face twice (once to remove the grudge of the day and your makeup, the second to clean the pores). Use toner if you like. Hydrogen peroxide is a good toner if you have acne. Witch Hazel is good for normal to oily skin. Apply your treatment cream or serum. Bring it up around the eye bone, down onto your neck and chest. Then apply your night cream. These are two different products. The treatment actually treats your skin to make it healthier. The moisturizer seals in the treatment and moisturizes to prevent trans-dermal water loss. If you have oily skin, apply an oil-free moisturizer. If you have dry skin, use an emollient cream. Then, dab A&D Baby Diaper Rash ointment (or a generic brand) on around your eyes. It is an occlusive ointment, meaning water won’t penetrate. The ointment will prevent water loss. This will help plump up wrinkles. If you get the ointment in your eyes, don’t worry. It is just a petroleum base (more commonly known as Vaseline). If you read the ingredients on itchy eye ointment in the drug store, the base is petroleum. However, you will have greasy eyes and won’t be able to read your nighttime mystery novel.
Rub some diaper rash ointment on your lips also. The best way to use any lip balm is to hold a warm, wet washcloth on your lips, then apply the lip balm.
In the shower, scrub your knees, heels and elbows with a brush. After you blot dry, apply diaper rash ointment to your knees, heels and elbows. If your knuckles are dry or discolored, scrub and slather them also. It’s best to do this just before bed so you don’t go around greasy. I wear old tube socks over my gooped up feet at night and stretchy moisture gloves on my hands. Also, anytime that you apply lotion, cream or ointment your hands, rub the product into your cuticles.
Nagging warning: Now that we are enjoying being outdoors, remember to smear sunblock on your kids, spouses, friends, even your enemies. If you will be spending much time outside, put it on rather thickly. Reapply often. Remember bald heads, backs of necks and tops of ears. These are often where skin cancer likes to attack.
Wear a hat. I nag YOU. YOU nag your family. Better yet, just grab ’em and apply amidst all their complaining. Show your love.
Mimi Barre is the owner of International Day Spa, 325 Cajon St., Redlands. Send your skin care questions to her at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com. She and her estheticians are available for personal consultations. Call 909-793-9080. Past columns of Ask Mimi are on the web at www.INTERNATIONALdayspa.com.