BEAUTY CLINIC: Eyelid pigmentation | Daily Mail Online

 Jo and Sarah answer real questions from readers: to put your query, go to beautybible.com  

Q The skin on my eyelids is turning brown and has been getting worse over the last year. Some relations have the same problem so it may be hereditary to some degree. Is there anything I can do to lighten my eyelids?

A According to dermatologist Dr Daniel Glass (thedermatologyclinic.london), pigmentation affects the eyelids to different degrees, primarily due to your family background. ‘If you and other family members have particularly dark eyelid pigmentation it is likely due to genetics. However, the skin may become darker due to a range of external factors, most commonly after the skin has become inflamed for any reason, such as eczema.’ This can happen to anyone, but is more common in people with darker skin.

Certain medications and over the counter products may stimulate the problem. For example, some drugs for glaucoma contain an active ingredient (called a prostaglandin) with a hormone-like effect, which may cause increased pigmentation in the skin around the eyes. An eyelash enhancer (Latisse) that contains a close chemical relation may cause a change in eye colour and may also affect pigmentation in the eyelid, according to the brand’s consumer information.

Additionally, Dr Glass points out that some cosmetics include chemicals that make the skin more likely to react in the sun. So one thing that you really should do is to make sure you apply a high SPF (30 plus) to your face and don’t forget your eyelids. (Apparently eyelids are one of the most common sites people forget when applying sun preps.) Also wear big sunglasses with wide arms.

Sometimes, pigmentation fades with time but it doesn’t sound as if this is happening in your case. Dr Glass says there are a number of prescribed treatments that may help to lighten pigmentation once the cause is determined. But he adds that it can be difficult to treat and prescription creams are only likely to help some people. As far as over the counter products are concerned, we haven’t come across anything that we could recommend. We suggest starting with your GP to get their advice.

Our suggestion is to use a good concealer. London-based make-up artist Jenny Jordan (jennyjordan.com) offers three different options for you to try. Firstly, a nifty way to convert your pigmentation into make-up! Smooth on a little eye cream, let it sink in then apply A La Carte Matte Eye Velvet Matte Cream Eyeshadow in Blonde, a wand that dispenses liquid shadow which becomes matte, is long-lasting, line-smoothing and non-crease. £26. 

Secondly, try Mii Cosmetics Conceal and Contour Duo, a double-ended chubby eye pencil, in Perfect Peach, or, for Asian skin, Perfect Cream, both £11.50. It’s very easy to apply and covers brilliantly.  

A third option is Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, £27.50, a duo palette with a colour corrector and a concealer. It comes in eight options for different skin tones so you can custom blend your own perfect shade. However, do ask for a demo from a consultant at a department store, eg Selfridges, or specialist retailer such as Space NK; the product is fab but it helps to know the tricks of the trade. 

Beauty Bible loves… Wildsmith Skin

Earlier this year, in a hush-hush way, Wildsmith Skin – a new natural skincare brand – asked us if we could put this collection through its paces with our Beauty Bible testers, pre-launch.

‘Sure,’ we replied. ‘But of course we can’t GUARANTEE that it’ll get good scores.’ We thought it had potential – we’d tried the products ourselves, and the performance and natural fragrances were fantastic – but what the Beauty Bible testers might say is another matter. (After 22 years of putting products out there for real women to try, one thing we know is that we certainly have no control over that!)

Earlier this year, in a hush-hush way, Wildsmith Skin – a new natural skincare brand – asked us if we could put this collection through its paces with our Beauty Bible testers, pre-launch

We duly sent the Wildsmith skincare collection out to testers recruited especially for the project via Facebook – and were completely blown away by the feedback. Several of the products truly incredibly high scores after a lengthy period of testing for their anti-ageing properties.

Wildsmith Skin has now launched. For background, this (admittedly) very luxuriously-priced range has grown out of the hotel project at Heckfield Place (and you’re going to be hearing a lot more about THAT, trust us). It’s had has had some very clever cosmetic scientists and botanists working on it, to turn ingredients (which in some cases are harvested from the grounds of this Hampshire hotel) into luxurious natural products that you can read much more about at wildsmithskin.com.

We thought it was time we shared some of our testers’ feedback on these very special products – three of their faves, which happens to be three of ours, too.

Wildsmith Nourishing Cleansing Balm, £95 for 200 ml. A giant hefty jar of deliciously gloopy, fabulously fragrant cleanser that really pushed testers’ buttons. ‘Would I buy this product? Yes, 1000%! If I could rate this product it would be off-the-scale the best cleanser I have ever used. The texture was just wonderful; gave me a fresh and younger-looking face. Brilliant – absolutely amazing; compared to my usual cleanser this was the best I’ve ever used.’

Wildsmith Active Repair Copper Peptide Cream, £125 for 50 ml. This actually beat all the other creams we trialled in the most recent Beauty Bible Awards! As one tester commented: ‘I can’t get enough of this cream – it is completely addictive. Loved the smell which to me is quite important as I will eventually not use something if I don’t like the smell of it. The results on my skin were outstanding and something I will struggle to live without; my skin has never felt so healthy and smooth and glass like. The texture is lovely and creamy with a boost of hydration on first application which keeps getting better the more you use it.’

Wildsmith Active Repair Copper Peptide Serum, £130 for 30 ml. A real hero from the range which delivered impressive results on fine lines and wrinkles, skin brightness and in particular crêpiness – all of which are extremely tough challenges. ‘This would certainly be called my “Miracle in a Bottle” – it’s a must-try product with visible results. With my skin being more hydrated – plumper and taut – I have greatly benefited from using this serum. Despite being 67 years of age, there is a definite improvement in fine lines/wrinkles. Would I buy it? Yes, yes, yes!’

Bottom line? Beauty Bible testers are just WILD about Wildsmith.

£65-165 – buy here 

 

 



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