How to Choose Products for Irritated Eyes

Today’s post will focus on how to choose products to soothe irritated eyes. Not just what products to use but also what can you do to avoid this problem.

The wrong products can cause irritation to the eyes and delay healing. Eye irritation is already painful enough. You don’t want to be in a position where you have to fix the wrong product AND the damage that was caused by the original irritation.

PRODUCTS TO IRRITATED EYES: WHAT SHOULD I USE??

The simplest answer is any product should be used AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. It is best to keep irritated skin around your eyes alone. The reason: irritated eyes will be affected by almost everything.

We know that the skin around your eyes can dry out, so it’s important to keep that area moisturized. Moisturizer can be really helpful. If you have a mild rash (meaning it isn’t serious or contagious) it’s fine to put something around your eyes, as long as it does not bother you.

You should stop using a product if it is causing you any discomfort. Itching, burning, stinging or other discomfort is always a warning sign to stop using the product. It’s also important to recognize signs such as skin that becomes redder and more dry, flakier or scaly.

A doctor may recommend using an over-the counter drugstore ointment such as Aquaphor or petroleum jelly such as Vaseline. Both of them are occlusive and have the same purpose: to protect the skin. These are thick ointments which cover the skin and prevent moisture loss. They also provide a favorable environment for faster healing.

A thick occlusive cream is great for repairing damaged skin and wound healing. It does have its disadvantages: It doesn’t feel good. It’s sticky. It’s shiny. It can clog your pores.

All that is unnecessary. Prioritize the important things for now. Take care of yourself first. Health comes before vanity. You don’t need to worry about getting blemishes if you have a barrier issue (which is what happens when skin becomes irritated). There is a much more urgent and important task. Many skin problems can be caused by a damaged barrier. First, fix the barrier. You can always un-clog pores later.

Aquaphor and Vaseline are great ointments that don’t irritate the skin. Yeah, you’re done with searching. A bland emollient cream can be found at a drugstore such as Cerave and Vanicream.

Let’s say that these products irritate or are just not for you. What should you do?

THE IDEAL PRODUCTS FOR IRRITATED EYES

You probably have sensitive skin from birth. It can be difficult to choose products that will soothe irritated eyes if you don’t have sensitive skin. How can you tell if something is safe or harmful to your skin? There is no simple answer. This is why it is important to choose the least risky route.

Just simple moisturizers and eye creams are best for the irritated zone. The consistency (or texture) of these products is also important. Check cream textures when choosing an eye cream or moisturizer. Avoid lotions, gels and loose creams. A thicker cream should have a firm texture. It shouldn’t slide or jiggle when you shake it.

It is important that the cream doesn’t quickly seep into skin or spread on its own. It will take longer for thick creams to absorb. It might even “sit” on top. This is actually a good thing.

You really need an occlusive cream layer that reduces moisture loss and also provides some lubricating relief to dry skin. You don’t want it to be so thick that it is difficult to smoothen over the eyelids and below the eyes. Some moisturizers or face balms can be so thick that it tugs at the skin from the friction when the cream is dragged across it.

To soften the balm-y cream, rub it between your fingers. Next, apply the balm to your skin and keep it there.

THE BEST CREAMY MOISTURIZER

1. GO BASIC
Let’s not forget creams! There are many types of moisturizers. Your task is not to find the best anti-aging moisturizing moisturizer out of all these gazillions (which is your usual challenge right?). .

Your real task is to find the most boring cream possible. This is not easy considering all the hype surrounding it. The most basic moisturizing lotion for your home is the best. If you don’t own one, visit the drugstore.

Look out for VERY BASICS. It means it is completely uninteresting. It could be a cream with a price tag of $10-15. Check Cerave and Cetaphil. Aveeno. Simpler is better, because less often means that no fancy ingredients were used.

2.NO ANTI-AGING PRODUCTS

We don’t advice you to use anti-aging face creams and eye creams around Irritated Eyes. Too many stimulative or aggressive ingredients are found in products that have an action on skin, such as stimulating collagen formation.

It doesn’t require any stimulation. It requires the opposite.

Some moisturizers are advertised as balms, post-procedure creams or barrier repair creams. Some of the creams still irritates. It all comes down to the ingredients in those creams as well as your skin’s chemistry. It is difficult to predict what might be problematic or what will work for you. Every person has a different skin chemistry.

The bad news is that it is difficult to find the right basic cream. This is an individual process and you will have to decide for yourself. Don’t spend too much on expensive products. Don’t try too much at once. Only try one product at a given time.

You can find barrier repair creams and balms for sensitive skin lines if you aren’t sure what to do first. Avene is a product we advice. It is easier to find in Europe but it is also available online in the U.S.

3. ORGANIC DOES NOT MATTER

What is organic and what is not? It doesn’t really matter. Organic might seem safer or healthier. But it doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t contain irritating ingredients. It doesn’t address the issue that plant-based ingredients can pose for people with sensitivities to certain plant compounds.

Also, organic products shouldn’t be treated as if they were cheap. Don’t dismiss non-organic products from drugstores because they are cheaper or less quality.

Here, simplicity is key. Look for a simple cream that does one thing and only that – moisturize.

EYE CREAMS-BASIC ONLY

Eye creams can be tricky. This type of skincare is primarily concerned with treating wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness. All of these concerns are likely to aggravate irritated eyes. A small percentage of eye creams are able to moisturize. Avoid eye creams that are designed to age-fight. This is especially true if an eye cream is used in place of a facial cream.

Avoid retinol and peptides as well as all acids. Vitamin C can be found in the form of Ascorbic Acid. Even antioxidants, many of which are plant-based, can be difficult to use.

Simple, just creams may be better than eye creams. It’s also generally less expensive.

FACE OILS – TRICKY OPTION

Oils can be used as an alternative to creams or eye creams. This is where oils can be tricky. They are incredibly lipid-rich, extremely moisturizing, and can even be reparative to the skin. However, they can cause irritation to an existing rash, especially near the eyes.

You may have the same problem with an oil as people who have very sensitive skin – it can be difficult to find plant-derived oils that won’t irritate your skin.

Allergens can be caused by chemical compounds found in plants. Although oil is mostly composed of lipids but all parts of the plant were used to produce the oil can release chemical compounds that can cause irritation. Oils can also be spread quickly. Oils can easily get in your eyes and cause irritation around the eyeball.

If applying oil to your skin does not cause irritation, use PRESS METHOD to apply:

• Do not apply oil to your skin with your fingertip.
• Instead, put oil in your palm and quickly dip your finger into it. Let any oil drip off before applying the oil to your skin.
• You can also apply oil to your cheeks, rub it in, and then press your fingertip, which should still contain oil residue, to the area around your eyes. This will ensure that you only apply a small amount of oil to your skin and prevent any spreading.

SERUMS AND TONERS?

Do not use any SERUMS or TONERS ABOVE THE EYES. These liquid products penetrate too quickly and can cause skin irritations. Itching, burning, stinging or tingling is a sign to stop using these liquid products. It’s a sign to stop even if you feel it later.

These treatments only make you more uncomfortable and delay your healing.  This is the lesson: An impaired barrier should be closed and allowed to heal.

SUNSCREENS – ONLY MINERAL

You can skip sunscreen if you work from home or spend the day indoors. If you are outside and feel guilty about not protecting your skin, or if it has been too long without any protection, you can apply a little of sunscreen.

A mineral-based sunscreen is the best for sensitive skin (the active ingredient being Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide). Mineral sunscreens (also known by the name physical sunscreens) are chemically inert. They don’t react with skin and other products. This is why they’re best suited for sensitive skin.

A sunscreen that contains Avobenzone or other benzone active components is a chemical sunscreen that can be more irritating to the eyes. Choose a thick cream formula when searching for a mineral sunblock.

Some mineral sunscreens can dry out the skin. You might consider removing the sunscreen if you feel that the mineral sunscreen is actually drying. This is your personal decision. Both are possible. You need to decide how urgently you require sunscreen and how much dryness can you bear.

SPF foundations, tinted moisturizers, BB/CC creams, and cushion compacts can be used to protect your eyes. But it’s too much for sensitive skin and should be removed at night.

NO RUSH, BE PATIENT!

Healing takes time. Give yourself at most a few weeks to heal.

You should pay close attention to the condition of your skin, especially if it is getting worse. You should see a doctor if you don’t notice any improvement in your skin after one month or if it has become worse.

Keep a journal every day. Keep track of the products that you used each day, as well as the order in which you applied them. These notes will be useful later (if you have the same problem again) and can also help professionals who help you. You can use the journal to identify triggers and determine the outcome.

It’s easy to forget what products you used when we have multiple skincare products in our daily lives. This information is not important and doesn’t stay in our brain’s long term memory. After a week, your recollection is lost.

If you have a rash, good luck! Your skin is an organ designed to heal itself.