latest trends in eye colour and eye care

A critical area around the eye, is the under eye. without doubt, the eye area forms a focus of the face and on the periphery is the under eye. It is an area which reflects not just the night before, but a lifestyle.

The eye area has particularly sensitive skin and requires far more sensitive treatment than most areas, the susceptibility to age and lifestyle, makes it an section of the face, which requires its own specific treatment.

Skin pigmentation is influenced by several factors, including haemoglobin in the blood vessels, carotenoids in the dermis and, particularly, the dark pigment, melanin in the epidermis, caused by melanin synthesis.

Skin lightening products form a major segment of cosmetic products worldwide and carry with them the promise of flawless skin free from age spots, blemishes and scars, it is important to know what is relevant. Whatever the color of the skin, it is susceptible to damage due to environmental agents, physiological changes and psychological factors.

Melanin biosynthesis (melanogenesis) is influenced by genetics, environmental factors, diet and medication. The production of melanin by specialized cells occurs through the action of the enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase inhibitors, are beneficial in controlling melanin synthesis.

Kojic acid (a bacterial carbohydrate metabolite), inhibits tyrosinase directy and is a natural botanical, produced by several species of fungi. Kojic acid is also a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice.

Green tea is also reported to be a tyrosinase inhibitor.

A 14-month clinical trial revealed that a cream containing kojic acid produced significant improvement in various types of pigmentary disorders.

DDF Erase Eye Gel not only contains kojic acid, but also green tea.

Lutein in eye care products: does it help with age related macular Degeneration (AMD)?

Oxidative stress is often cited as a leading mechanism of ageing and degenerative disease including age-related ocular disorders.

Research suggests that antioxidants, such as vitamins: E, C and carotenoids, can help to combat the harmful effects of free radicals. Lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids found in the lens and retina of the eye.

Whilst not yet proven, there is a growing body of evidence which points to a protective effect for the lutein/zeaxanthin-formed macular pigment, both through its absorption characteristics and its antioxidant properties.

Macular pigment density declines as people get older was reported in many, although not all, studies on that subject. The lower levels observed in AMD patients can be ‘normalized’ to levels found in the eyes of healthy people of the same age by increasing the lutein intake.

The role of carotenoids, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin, in maintaining healthy vision is a fast developing area of antioxidant research. (source nutrainingredients usa)

The question as to whether eye care products containing lutein are effective in treatment still needs further research, however, it would appear the correlation is more than fanciful.

There are not many eye care products on the market which contain lutein (which is commonly an ester of marigold) and they tend to be the more science based brands. As research into cataracts and age related blindness increases, it may become a more common eye care ingredient. One such product available on the market now is DDF Protective Eye Cream SPF 15.

For a further update see Lutein as a cosmeceutical