Our eyes age faster than any area on our face, and there’s likely to be a fair few giveaway signs by the time we’re 50. Wrinkles, dark circles, and sagging all become increasingly visible in this thin, delicate area as collagen levels plummet in the menopausal years.
While nobody is claiming you can buy an eye lift in a pot, the right skincare really can make a difference to mature eyes – and it doesn’t need to be pricey, clinic-only formulas either. That’s the verdict of Dr Elizabeth Hawkes, one of the UK’s leading consultant eye surgeons, who specialises in blepharoplasty and facial aesthetics.
‘The skin is different around our eyes, so we need different products here,’ she explains. ‘Eye creams are distinct for a reason. Our eyes are a very special facial feature, the first part of our face to show signs of ageing, so it's really important to care for eye skin.'
‘Under the skin of the eye, we have a muscle that blinks 10,000 to 15,000 times a day, so it's under continuous strain. And when you look at the skin on the eyelid, it's really distinct.’
For that reason, ‘skincare has a really important role for eyes, and is the foundation of treatments, whether you’re going down the surgical blepharoplasty route – which is my area of expertise – or if you’re opting for non-surgical injectables route,’ she says. ‘Either way if you have good quality, healthy skin you’ll get a better result so it can make a real difference.’
Dr Hawkes has just been brought on as a skincare expert at M&S, so we took a moment to find out the products she especially rates for 50-plus eyes across all the brands sold at M&S Beauty Halls. Here are ones to note.
For fine lines and wrinkles
Dr Hawkes says: Beauty of Joseon is the K beauty brand on everyone’s lips and for good reason. It’s super affordable and contains high quality ingredients. I love the Revive Eye Serum Ginseng Retinal, as it contains ginseng root extract to brighten and boost micro-circulation - it essentially breathes life into the skin! This will work well if eyes are looking dull. The retinal in the formula then works to promote cell turnover in the area which is essential for improving skin elasticity and improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng Retinal
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng Retinal
For fatigue and puffiness
Dr Hawkes says: Origins Ginzing eye cream works to brighten the eye whilst actively de-puffing at the same time. It contains a real powerhouse of caffeine, ginseng, vitamin c, niacinamide, and orange peel extract and really makes the eyes (especially tired ones) feel revived.
For dark circles
Dr Hawkes says: Estée Lauder’s advanced night range has decades of research and science behind it, and the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Lift + Sculpt is super-hydrating, and is peptide-rich to help repair skin at cellular level overnight. This is specifically created for delicate eyelid skin so if you love Advanced Night Repair this is a great one to add into your routine. It's a great all-rounder to brighten and hydrate tired-looking, dark eyes.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Lift + Sculpt Eye Cream
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Lift + Sculpt Eye Cream
For SPF that won’t sting eyes
Dr Hawkes says: Mineral-based SPF shields from the sun but doesn’t interfere with the eye as much as chemical filters tend to do, so I recommend opting for a mineral or hybrid formulation if you can. One of my favourites is the Ultrasun Eye Protection SPF30 - this is a dedicated eye option that’s fragrance-free, suitable for sensitive skin and designed specifically for the delicate skin around the eyes.
For rejuvenating sensitive eyes
Dr Hawkes says: The M&S Sensitive Eye Cream from the Skin Kind range is a great, simple but effective all-rounder. It’s formulated with niacinamide and oat extract so is really soothing and supports a healthy skin barrier, whilst working to brighten and hydrate the eye area without overloading it.
Skinkind Sensitive Brightening Eye Cream
Skinkind Sensitive Brightening Eye Cream
For cleansing without dragging
Dr Hawkes says: The M&S’s Skinkind Transforming Gel-to-Milk Facial Cleanser is a great option to remove makeup and impurities without stripping the skin of moisture. It’s super gentle, fragrance free (great for eyes!) and contains an oat complex which replenishes skin so it won’t further dehydrate it whilst cleansing thoroughly.
Skinkind Transforming Gel-to-Milk Facial Cleanser
Skinkind Transforming Gel-to-Milk Facial Cleanser
For instant brightening
Dr Hawkes says: Eye patches are brilliant to help hydrate and immediately depuff, giving instant gratification - Pixi create my favourites, they have a large selection and are really cost effective. In particular, I love the DetoxifEye Depuffing Eye Patches. The puffiness you can see in the lower lid is commonly fat that has come forward, however it can be exaggerated by water retention. The caffeine and cucumber in these patches are great to reduce that extra puffiness and water retention, and I keep mine in the fridge for an extra cooling, soothing effect and wear for 20 minutes in the morning.
For strengthening lashes
Dr Hawkes says: For a mascara that is conditioning for lashes, my pick would be Clinique, in particular the High Impact mascara! The brand goes through rigorous safety testing called the ‘eye safety promise’, so it doesn’t affect the health of the eye, which is especially great if you have dry eyes or sensitive eyes.
For concealing signs of ageing
Dr Hawkes says: I love the Bare Minerals Original Mineral Liquid Concealer - it’s not only great at covering any discolouration, redness or darkness but is lightweight enough that it won’t settle in lines. I also love that it isn’t irritating to the eyelid area as it’s free of irritants such as talc, synthetic fragrances and silicone.
bareminerals Original Mineral Liquid Concealer
