Advice

Say Goodbye to Dark or Puffy Eyes

A FRESH LOOK FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON

(SAY GOODBYE TO PUFFY RACCOON EYES!)

Parties. Packed diaries. Late nights. When you're burning the Christmas candle at both ends, it can show in the delicate eye area, making you look less than your sparkly self.

"Dark circles and puffiness are two of the most common problems that people notice around their eyes, especially when exacerbated by lack of sleep during the holiday party season. These conditions are best treated separately using formulations and treatments designed for specific concerns," says Dr Nick Lowe.

Late nights and sleep deprivation always come back to haunt us by leaving dark circles under the eyes. In reality, these are caused not just from tiredness or being run down, but are in many cases hereditary; the skin around the eye area can be thin, revealing the bluish pigment of the blood vessels beneath. Another cause can be melanin deposits that cause pigmentation in the mid and upper dermis, making them difficult to treat with topical creams.

Lighten Up!

Drawing on his years of research and expertise, Dr Nick Lowe has formulated the ultra-effective Dark Circles Correcting Cream (£15.31/€22.40, 15ml) for milder dark circles. The formula contains Actiflow® - rich in polysaccharides and Niacinamide, proven to treat hyper pigmentation around the eye contour area. Algae based skin tightener Pepha®-Tight delivers instant and long term results by strengthening the skin's connective tissues, while Glycyrrhizin Glabra (liquorice extract) is proven to have lightening properties. What's more, special illuminating, light reflecting particles help to minimise shadows. In an independent 4-week consumer test, 80% of subjects reported a reduction in the appearance of dark circles and 85% reported a tightening effect to the eye area.

Play it Cool!

Dehydration from the dreaded hangover, or simply not drinking enough water, can contribute to puffy eyes, as can fluctuating hormones, illness and fatigue, all which may cause the body to retain fluid. Like dark circles, puffy eyes can also be hereditary.

Dr Lowe's Puffy Eyes Gel (£15.31/€22.40, 15ml) is a light pro-collagen eye gel-cream that cools and tightens the eye area, giving it a hydrated, soothed and firmer appearance. The formulation contains Caffeine and Eye Regener® (rich in oligopeptides and oligosaccharides), which help to counteract excess fluid build up and lack of skin tone, while Alpha-Bisabolol - a chamomile derivative - is soothing and anti-inflammatory. When tested, 96% of subjects reported a noticeable reduction in eye puffiness, and 91% reported a firming effect.

Available from Boots stores nationwide 08450 70 80 90, www.boots.com and www.drnicklowe.com.