Posted by Perri G
Above all, we believe in healthy skin. If that means you can accomplish your skincare goals with just a handful of pure and natural products, even better! The “less is more” approach is optimal in most areas of life, and skincare is no different. However, when members of our community need help building a natural skincare routine and ask us, “Do I really need an eye cream?,” the answer is always a resounding yes!
If you’re wondering whether or not you need to add one more step to your regimen, we have a bit of information that should help you make an informed decision when it comes to what feels right for you and your skin.
Eyes crave moisture.
The reason your eyes look dull and tired throughout the day has everything to do with your water intake, the amount of sleep you get at night, and the amount of moisture the thin skin around your eyes is retaining.
To be honest with you, there is no eye cream that “erases crow’s feet,” “removes dark circles,” or “lifts bags”—so we won’t claim that ours does. What Valentia Eye Cream can do is help your skin retain moisture with the help of hyaluronic acid; create a hydration barrier with bakuchiol, shea butter, and stearic acid; and reduce the appearance of skin puffiness with phytic acid.
To put it simply, skin differs.
There’s a reason why dermatologists and skin experts don’t recommend using body lotion for your face or hand soap to remove makeup. Our body is host to a delicate community of cells and microflora that make up the skin we’re in, and determine how we should take care of it.
As you inch your way up your body, from your toenails to your scalp, you’ll notice that every single section requires special attention. Our hands that touch, hold, lift, and grip require different care than the skin on our back, breasts, neck, or feet.
The eye contour has the thinnest skin on our entire face and arguably deserves just as much special attention as any other part of the body. Because this skin is so thin, it needs to be treated with care—and that starts with your cleansing routine and ends with your eye cream.
When removing makeup and grime from your day, never pull or rub the skin around your eyes. Instead, gently massage your favorite oil-based cleanser in small circles to break-up any stubborn dirt. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Immediately follow-up with your lightweight Valentia Eye Cream to add much-needed hydration to the skin barrier. Lightweight is key here! Avoid using heavy moisturizers, which will just sit right on top of the skin around the eyes, or oils, which pose the risk of sliding into the eye.
Active ingredients might be too active.
A potent punch of active ingredients is what we’re all vying for when it comes to building our routine. These targeted ingredients seem to hone right in on the areas where we need them the most, whether it be blackheads, puffiness, or even temperamental skin.
But, when it comes to the eyes, we need a different approach. High concentrations of vitamin C, niacinamide, or retinol can often be too abrasive for the precious skin around the eyes (and can irritate the eyes, themselves!). That’s why we lean on the revolutionary retinol alternative, bakuchiol.
Unlike retinol, bakuchiol is gentle enough for day and nighttime use, does not require an acclimation period, is safe for pregnant moms, and does not irritate or dry out skin. Extracted from the seeds and leaves of the Psoralea corylifolia plant, bakuchiol has long been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to calm and soothe the skin.
And while we know there are many skeptics when it comes to alternatives to much-loved skincare essentials, even non-natural skincare enthusiasts have regarded this botanical for its hydrating and brightening properties.
Our skin is our body’s largest organ, and just because it can endure a lot doesn’t mean it should. If you have questions about how to build a bespoke skincare routine, one that takes every aspect of your lifestyle into account, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly.
At Valentia HQ, the best part of our day is getting to interact with our community. Whether it’s through the comment section on Instagram or one-on-one skin consultations through email, we feel most empowered when we get to speak directly to those who are tuning into the products they use each day.
