Zero Waste Vegan Eye Creams (the best brands)

The beauty industry is renowned for trying to sell people everything under the sun, causing mass confusion and over-spending. So do we need eye creams, or are they just an add-on to make extra profit? Or if needed, which are the best natural brands?

Avoid beauty products with essential oils if pregnant/nursing. Many skincare items contain cocoa butter and/or zinc oxide (also found in sunscreens, cosmetics and deodorants). So if you live with pets, wash your skin before letting pets kiss you, or avoid items containing them.

Most kerbsides recycle plastic packaging. You can also recycle (including pipettes and hard-to-recycle items) at any Boots store (look for the recycling box).

Eye cream is not needed for most people. But because the skin is thin and delicate, specialist creams can offer targeted ingredients to help combat ageing skin, puffiness and dark circles.

Tips s to reduce crow’s feet!

Skin around the eyes is very thin, so be gentle (dry your face by tapping with a towel, not scrubbing). Also tap eye creams and serums gently onto your skin, using your ring finger (uses less pressure).

• Try to get enough sleep. Rest lets your skin repair itself. Aim for regular sleep at the same times each night. Eating fruit and drinking water can also help your skin stay healthy.
• Give up smoking. This also helps to prevent cigarette litter!
• Protect your skin from the sun, and wear sustainable sunglasses (they block out light, and keep you from squinting).

Tips to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles

Again, good nutrition and good sleep are the main answers. You can use cold compresses to temporarily dilate blood vessels (slices of cucumber are the obvious remedy).

Green People organic eye creams and serums

Green People Rejuvenating Eye Cream (also in a scent-free version) hydrates the delicate skin around your eyes using over 89% certified organic ingredients. The ingredients (including soothing seaweed) help to smooth fine lines, and lighten dark circles. It sinks in quickly, never feeling greasy or heavy. Use morning and night for skin that looks rested and bright.

The firming eye serum plumps up skin by 26% in just 1 hour, and increases radiance after a month of use. Made to tone (not tingle!) this includes a calming chamomile aroma.

Eye cream (with upcycled coffee grounds)

Upcircle Eye Cream has amazing reviews, and is designed to help firm and protect the delicate eye area, reduce puffiness and brighten dark circles. It’s made with caffeine-rich coffee oil, extracted from repurposed grounds collected daily from local coffee shops.

It also contains anti-inflammatory maple bark extract (a by-product of the wood industry). Hyaluronic acid is also added to aid hydration, and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Apply a small amount around eye contours, morning and night.

How to prevent eye boogles!

Eye boogles? What are they? This is the scientific name for yellow sleep, that some people find at the corners of their eyes, especially in the morning.

It can be caused by allergies or sometimes conjunctivitis (see your GP). But most of the time, it’s simply due to dry eyes, caused by lack of water (or even spending too much time on the laptop). Often people who’ve been drinking alcohol or eating junk food the night before may find them, due to the body dehydrating.

Also if you wear them, don’t sleep in your contact lenses, as this can also cause them. And discard contaminated and out-of-date eye-makeup and keep make-up brushes clean.

How to help ‘eye bags’

This is when people get very obvious bags under the eyes, and eye creams and serums are unlikely to help. Some are inherited, other times it’s due to losing collage and elastin, causing muscles and tissues that support the eyelids to weak, and the fat shifts forward.

Others have bags filled with fluid, often due to high salt intake, hormonal changes or even sleeping in the wrong position.

Like anything, best prevention methods are good sleep and nutrition, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes and keeping out of strong sun. Drinking plenty of water (and eat less salt) helps, as does sleeping with an extra pillow if you find it comfortable, as this can prevent fluid from settling around your eyes overnight.