Beauty Tips for taking care of the eyes

I am sure everyone will agree with me that the eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in the body. They are so delicate yet strong and can withstand a lot of external and internal stress. Both of my parents wear glasses so it was no surprise that I needed to wear prescription glasses when I was about 14 years old. I hated wearing glasses and I never wore them regularly until I got to University. Even then, I was wearing it off and only when I was in lectures. I switched from glasses to contact lenses over five years ago and now I wear them almost everyday (disposable ones). It is quite expensive but it is so essential to me. I just wear my glasses at night or during the weekends when I want to give my eyes a break. You can imagine how important it is for me to take care of my eyes as they are quite sensitive. I always ensure that I read the ingredients of eye makeup products to ensure that they have been ophthalmologically tested for sensitive eyes. Apart from regular/genetic eyesight issues, a good number of people have additional eye problems as a result of spending too much time on computers (at work and at home), mobile phones and various screens including TVs. All these devices add an extra strain to the eye and when you factor in little sleep and stress, the result is quite frustrating. I am going to share some tips on how I take care of my eyes however,  please note that I am no Optometrist, Optician or Ophthalmologist so these tips are just from a regular beauty lover. Right let's dive in...


1. Getting Enough Sleep
I actually feel like quite the hypocrite even typing this up because I am a perpetual late night sleeper. I just come alive at night and that's when I love to read, study, jot down ideas, etc. The funny thing is I sleep so easily that I am literally fighting off sleep. My loved ones always tease me that the entire house can be stripped clean of all valuables while I am asleep because I sleep so easily and deeply. Once my head touches the pillow, I am gone. However, I still find myself trying not to sleep (if that makes any sense) because I want to finish everything on my list which is really silly. This means I end up sleeping late (we are talking around 1am or sometimes later) and I wake up feeling tired the next morning because I am not a morning person at all (no surprises there!!). This whole cycle is very unhealthy and it tells on my eyes and my entire body. My eyes feel tired and I can sometimes see tiny bags forming underneath which is so annoying. If you find yourself in this cycle, my tip will be to be very disciplined with your routine. If you are a list control freak like me, try and do as much as you can during the day and set an alarm for evening tasks. For example, if I am going to study, I will set my alarm for a study time of 2 hours or so. That way, I am in check and I feel like I am effectively managing my time. I also try to have a realistic to-do list because if it is filled with tasks I can't complete, I am definitely going to be sleeping late.


If you are struggling with being disciplined about going to bed early  or you generally struggle with sleeping, you may want to consider some extra help. I've always heard good things about the This Works Deep Sleep range but I thought I won't really need it since I fall asleep easily. Well, I was curious and purchased two products from the range and believe me, they work so well. I use them on nights when I know I won't be disciplined with going to bed early. I have absolutely enjoyed them and they have helped me reset my sleep cycle. They make me so sleepy that I have no will power left to fight off sleep and I am forced to go to bed. I have the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray and the Deep Sleep Roll On and they work so well. They have a really spa-like calming smell and I know the lavender in them helps with this calming effect. If you have not tried them and you struggle with sleeping, I will suggest giving them a try.


2. Break the Computer/Phone/Tablet /iPad Addiction:
If you can be caught lying under your duvet with your phone scrolling through Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest (and any other social media), raise your hands. (*guiltily raises both hands*). That is the story of my life and I know they are all time wasters. The truth is I do them when I am trying to procrastinate from doing an important task which is ridiculous. I don't know about you but my eyesight seems to have worsened in the past 3 years when I was working on a desk job facing my computer for the most part of the day and sometimes continuing at home. One of the changes I have found is that my eyes feel less strained when I reduce the time I spend on screens especially from my laptop. I only use my laptop if I really need to at night and prefer to use it during the day as there is natural daylight to compensate. I still have not found any other tip to break free from my iPad and iPhone apart from being strict with myself and leaving them alone. It's difficult to leave my phone alone but I've started switching off my attention from my phone at least 30 minutes before bed and it really helps. I just pamper myself, my eyes or just do my skincare and any other tasks. That way, I give my eyes a rest and then go to bed in good time. I am looking to increase this to an hour if possible and I know my eyes will thank me for these adjustments now and in the future.


3. Hydration
Our bodies are essentially made up of at least 70% of water so water is very important to us. I actually enjoy drinking water and I definitely consume more than 2 litres of water in a day. I never leave the house without my water bottle; that's how essential it is to me. Our eyes require a lot of water to keep them moist and in the best condition. When I work in an air conditioned office, my eyes get dry so I always increase my water intake. The same goes for when I am working on my screen for a long time. I personally prefer drinking water to using eye drops for dry eyes however, I still use some eye drops for dry eyes mainly because I wear contact lenses. My contact lenses are actually really good and rarely get dry so whenever they do, I know that I need to increase my water intake. If you invest in a nice water bottle, you will find it easier to increase your water intake. If you struggle with drinking plain water, you can always add fruits or anything you fancy to improve the taste. I don't mind drinking plain water in fact, that's my preference. I personally feel it does not matter however way like your water, the important thing is keeping hydrated.



4. Invest in Opthalmologically tested Eye Makeup Products
I try to ensure that any eye makeup which will be going close to my eyes are non-irritant ones.  I've had quite a few bad experiences in the past. However, I have come across so many incredible brands that make amazing products for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Some of these brands include Nude by Nature, La Roche Posay and YSL Beauty. There are many more brands out there but these are my favourite ones. The Nude by Nature Eye Natural Wonder Eye Palette* (review)  and Alluring Eye Liner/Mascara* (review) are amazing and they are suitable for people with sensitive eyes. The YSL Couture Brow* (review) range is also suitable for sensitive eyes and I believe the Eyebrow Pencil (Dessin Des Sourcils)* is also ophthalmologically tested. My all time favourite will have to the La Roche Posay Respectissime*(review) range which is one of the best eye makeup removers I have ever tried. The Respectissime Mascara* and Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover* are what dreams are made of and they never irritate my eyes. If you have sensitive eyes and/or wear glasses or contact lenses, I will highly recommend trying them out.


I also have some other favourite eye makeup removers which do not irritate my eyes at all. One of them is the Liz Earle Eye Bright Eye Makeup Remover which is so gentle and helps my eyes feel soothed and relaxed. I also love the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover, L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover and the Lancome BiFacil Eye Makeup Remover. I think it is really important to invest in a good eye makeup remover especially if you wear eyeshadows or eye makeup.


5. Beauty Products for the Eyes
It goes without saying that investing in good quality eye creams or serums will go a long way in helping the skin around the eye. I am not sure of anything that can permanently erase dark circles because I believe genetics sometimes play a large role in dark circles. However, I have tried and enjoyed some products that have reduced the appearances of some under eye issues like fine lines. I think I have only tried 3 Eye Creams and/or Serums that have completely wowed me and the Vichy Slow Age for Eyes*//Link  is one of them. I have been using it for a really long while now and I have thoroughly enjoyed using it. It is part of the Vichy Slow Age range which was launched earlier this year and I love that range. If you fancy a review of the Vichy Slow Age Lotion*, head on over to this post. I will be sharing a mini review of it in another post. I just love how hydrating it is and I have definitely noticed a difference in my fine lines. I know this because I get less creasing when I use my concealer and set it with a powder so I am very impressed with it. I am also currently using the CULT 51 Immediate Effect Serum*//Link which can be used under the eyes and I am absolutely loving it. I will be sharing all my thoughts on the range in another post.


6. Treat yourself to an Eye Beauty Device (FOREO IRIS Eye Massager* //Link //£119)
Now I have to put it out there and say this is not a must but it is an amazing treat that keeps giving. It is none other than the FOREO IRIS Eye Massager* which I have been using for almost two years now. I was incredibly lucky to be gifted the FOREO IRIS and it has been a game changer for me. I have a full review here of the device so I won't go too much into the specs. It is definitely better than using my fingers to massage my under eye area and it helps all my eye creams or serums absorb better results.  The finger-like motion is very soothing and gentle so it does not irritate my eye area. It glides on so smoothly and I sometimes use it on my forehead when I have a headache. I cannot even tell you how useful it has been to me; I absolutely love it.


Overall Thoughts
That's pretty much all my tips and I hope they have been useful. I will be more than delighted to read about any other tips you may have/ It's been a moment since I blogged and I will address that in a separate post so please bear with me. I have missed my blog so much and I am glad I am able to blog again. Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far. What's your favourite tip for taking care of your eyes?
*PR Samples + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here.