“You are looking so good!”

“Have you been on vacation? I wish I could look as rested as you do right now.”

“Wow, you look even younger than the last time I saw you!”

Have you ever listened to people when they see each other after any type of absence? The compliments seem to center on how the other person appears overall. Healthy, rested, and younger are the words that make the top of my unofficial survey. (By unofficial, I mean listening to others greet each other as I wait for my coffee to be prepared). When I think about it, the most specific area I receive or give a compliment about is the eyes. The eye area can age us and doesn’t always reflect how we really feel, inside and out. Our opinion about the condition of our eyes can also make a big impact on our confidence.

When you think about it, there are many separate components to what makes this area garner so much attention. A few of the different things that comprise the area are eye color, eye shape, dimensions and placement, and condition of the skin around the eyes, to name a few. Then there is that quality reflected through our eyes, that has more to do with how we are feeling – a spark of joy, a reflective cast, a questioning glance There are numerous emotions that are expressed through our eyes. It is not surprising then that eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) was the fourth most popular plastic surgery in the U.S. in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The most common injectable in 2018 was BOTOX® cosmetic. This popular service addresses crow’s feet, forehead lining, and frown lines between the eyes. For makeup, concealer, eyebrow products, and false lashes led the way in the second half of 2018 for the entire makeup category.

All signs continue to point towards the eye area as the attention-getter for many of us. Here are some quick tips on addressing some common eye concerns:

Rebekah, clara Team Lead, shares this advice for makeup, “Look for peach undertones in your corrective makeup products for the eye area. This color correction helps with blues and browns that can show through the fragile skin on the eyelids and under the eyes that give the eyes a tired appearance.” Rebekah’s go-to for brightening the eyes is a peach-based concealer by glo Skin Beauty, Liquid Bright Concealer in the Bright shade. Here is a picture of Rebekah showing this technique on her right area in comparison to her left eye.

If you are interested in learning more makeup tips for brightening your eyes, give us a call at clara, 719-579-5555 to schedule a complimentary eye makeup consultation.

Treatments delivered by injection, such as BOTOX® cosmetic and Dysport, work by helping the nerves that transmit to muscles around our eyes to relax that transmission. This results in a more youthful and rested expression around the eye area. Lasting 3-4 months, this vacation for these muscles results in less deep lining and a more youthful appearance – overall brighter eyes. Here is a an example of a before and after for crow’s feet lining treated with BOTOX® cosmetic:

To discuss risks and to personalize a treatment plan that addresses your goals for the eye area, give clara a call and schedule an eye area treatment consultation. These complimentary consultations allow us to determine a plan that works best for your needs and budget, including product recommendations. With over 10 years of experience with injectable treatments and an eye for results that look natural, our aesthetic nurse Mandy, really can create magic!

When the skin around the eye area loses tautness, we can be left with droopy lids and saggy skin and under eye bags. This is where eyelid surgery comes in. Some people can experience impaired vision when the upper eyelids become too lax, making this surgery corrective as well as cosmetic. (A procedure that can be done in-office at Vanguard Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery by board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jim Banich). If you are considering a surgical solution eyelids or lower eyes, a consultation with a plastic surgeon is worth consideration. If you are not sure where to start, or would like to discuss your options in more detail, clara’s skin consultant and the author of this blog, Lisa, is a great resource too.

I have a challenge for all of us; let’s take a look at our own eyes with the same positive and gentle kindness we show those we care about, instead of finding the faults we perceive. If a little makeup, a treatment, or surgical procedures are things that make you feel even better about your own eyes, then enjoy the enhanced results! Au naturel or not, each one of us have unique and special reasons to appreciate our own eyes and what they tell the world about who we are and where we have been.