This column first ran in Valerie Monroe’s newsletter, How Not to F*ck Up Your Face, which you can subscribe to on Substack.
Q: I hate to pile on to the never-ending search for under-eye fixes, but I have a question about moisturizing. I’m 66 with dry skin, particularly around my eyes. The inside corners of my baby blues appear the most dry — and the most sensitive. (I’ve always had darkish shadows, along with inherited under-eye circles.)
I wonder if there is an under-eye concealer that includes a moisturizing component or if it’s better to stick to a multi-process routine? Currently, I dab a tiny amount of moisturizer into the deep corner area and wait for it to absorb before adding concealer. It’s better than nuthin’ but never looks “natural.” No matter what concealer I try, the inside corners look dry or flaky.
I’ve tried an embarrassing number of products over the years. I’ve gone through phases where I just use SPF moisturizer and call it a day. But that results in being told I look “tired,” which I think is a more politic way of saying “old.” Am I reading too much into it?
A: As for reading too much into people’s comments that you look “tired,” are you tired? Even the most benign observations about my appearance can make me feel defeated when I feel tired. If you’re not tired, you might respond with an inquiry like, “Nope, not tired! Why do you ask?” Then watch serenely as the commenter tries to wriggle their way unscratched out of a prickly situation.
As for your concealer issue, it occurs to me that addressing the dryness around your eyes should help resolve it. Since I have a similar problem, I wondered if it might be a collective one.
Guess what?
“This [dryness around the eye area] is a very common question from patients,” said optometrist Inna Lazar. “Partly because the skin around our eyes is the thinnest on our bodies.” Thinner and with a higher concentration of blood vessels, which can make the periocular area more sensitive to irritants.
“There are a few conditions that can cause dryness around the eyes,” said Lazar, “one being periocular dermatitis and another being ocular allergies.” Not to mention atopic dermatitis, eyelid psoriasis, and anterior blepharitis (inflammation on the outer lash line). Also, cold weather, hot weather, low humidity, pollution, irritating products, and, never forget, aging. What, not the tides?
If you have dry eyes — another condition common during menopause and the rich, audacious life thereafter — studies show you’re more likely to have dry skin. And you’re more likely to notice dry skin around your eyes than on other areas of the body, because it can feel more irritating (though I don’t need to tell you that). To be clear: Dry eyes don’t cause dry eyelids (but constantly rubbing your eyes can irritate them).
So, what to do about your parched skin, Dear Reader? Lazar has a few suggestions.
“I recommend hydrating with LUMIFY Eye Illuminations Hydra-Gel Brightening Eye Cream, which has many effective ingredients and has been formulated for eye safety,” she said. Lazar also recommends Haus Labs by Lady Gaga concealer, which contains niacinamide, and Drmtlgy Luminous Eye Corrector, which she says is a fantastic formula with SPF.
I have another recommendation: a consultation with your local optometrist or ophthalmologist. Having had cataract surgery last year — which spun my world from sad khaki to vibrant Technicolor — I recommend staying on top of your eye health. Because our eyes, like consciousness (and so much else!), are effing magic.
Originally published on April 30.