The skin around the eye is much thinner than the skin on the rest of the face. With less oil glands, environmental factors, blinking and natural facial expressions can have a greater effect on this area of skin. To limit the signs of ageing, Sanctum recommends treating this eye area separately, with specialised products and a focused skincare routine. We explain below.

Firming Eye Balm

On average, we can blink up to 10,000 a day! That’s a lot of movement for such a delicate area. Sanctum’s Firming Eye Balm can minimise wrinkles and keep the eye area well-nourished and cared for. Eyebright Herb Extracts help strengthen, support and reduce inflammation of the eye area. Apply morning and night after cleansing and toning. The light, moisture rich balm helps smooth, firm and nourish the delicate skin area and deliver ultimate hydration for all skin types. At night, slather the stuff all over – even on your lids. In the morning pat cream around the eye only, gently blending upward but stopping short of the lash line.

Strong Brows

Natural brows are back in. Thank goodness. Throw away the tweezers and let those arches grow thick and bushy. If you've overdone it, brow powder is an excellent way to enhance your brow shape and still achieve a natural look. Take a stiff, slanted powder brush and use small, feathery strokes over the length of your brows. If your brows are really sparse, first fill them in with a pencil so the powder has something to grab on to. The powder and pencil should match or be slightly lighter than your brow colour (unless you have very fair blonde hair; then go one shade darker). Brush through your brows afterward with a clean mascara brush to lift away any excess product and seal with a gel. Opt for natural or organic brands, to minimise the clogging of skin pores around the eyes and keep this delicate area toxin free.

Puffy Eyes

Every day stress, lack of sleep and long days in front of the computer screen can lead to puffiness and dark circles round the eyes. Sanctum’s Energising Eye Gel, a light refreshing serum, contains Aloe Vera and Witch Hazel Extract that instantly soothe, cool and hydrate tired skin, inspiring brighter eyes and a clearer complexion. Ideal for oily, sensitive and dehydrated skin, it’s the perfect “wake up” treat for the face. Apply morning and night after cleansing and toning.

The Dos and Don’ts of Eye Cream Application

Tapping, dabbing, massaging. Everyone applies eye cream a little differently. But should we actually be putting the stuff on all willy nilly? Or is there an objectively superior application method? The truth is, there isn’t one right way but basically, you should be gentle. Recommended tips from our skincare specialists:

DoTap And/or Massage

Soft massage and patting are both great. You can press the cream in, you can try light, sweeping strokes, or you can even place the eye cream on cotton wool and leave it on under your eyes for a couple of minutes.

Don’t Pull at Your Skin

You don’t want any stretching. The skin under the eye is a different structure from the rest of the face; it's more delicate. If you're really moving your skin around when you rub cream in, you're probably doing it too hard.

Do Let It Sink In

Give your eye cream about a minute (or longer, if possible) to absorb before you put makeup on top of it. That way, your powder or concealer won't cake up from the extra emollient base in the eye cream. And choose a natural or certified organic make up where possible.

Don’tPut on Too Much

If you pack on the product, it won't make it more effective. It will, however, creep into your eyes and irritate them. Just put a pea-sized dab on your ring finger, then dot it on your brow bone and about a half inch underneath your eye. That's all!