In our quest for beauty, skin reigns supreme. Skincare products cost a mini fortune (La Mer, anyone?) and compete with each other over which brand provides the longest and most unique-sounding list of benefits. The purpose is to achieve and maintain the best possible skin since the cleaner the canvas the better the paint job looks. We’re mindful of hydration, sun protection and even minute details like refined pores but in our obsession with flawless skin, we often overlook the delicate area around the eyes where skin is most sensitive and susceptible to damage.

Diet, routine and skincare regimen coalesce to reveal either fresh, bright eyes or tired, puffy peepers that are guaranteed to ruin any look. Sure, you can layer on concealer to cover the discolouration but unless you’ve taken a makeup masterclass under Charlotte Tilbury (Kate Moss’s go-to stylist) the cover-up will show, particularly in this sweltering weather. As with skin, the best remedy for dark circles and fatigued eyes is lots of tender loving care. With three basic steps added to your skin care regime (with hardly any cost incurred) that focus attention on the eyes, it is possible to envision an end to your love-hate relationship with the under-eye concealer stick.

Model Meesha Shafi swears by the rejuvenating properties of organic coconut oil, which is an essential part of her nightly make-up removing regimen. Other celebs who use coconut oil for the skin, especially the delicate under-eye area, include Gwyneth Paltrow, Miranda Kerr and Emma Stone.

Step 1

The first, basic step is cleansing. As mentioned before, the area around the eyes is where skin is most delicate. Pulling, rubbing and using harsh cleansers will add to the fatigue, as will not properly removing makeup. A dedicated eye-makeup remover is highly recommended because the formulation is gentler and targeted to remove all traces of makeup without harming skin. There are plenty of drugstore as well as luxury remover variations available but something as simple as almond or coconut oil applied sparingly to a cotton pad also works like a charm. The idea is to be gentle while removing makeup, using a patting or tapping movement instead of swiping it off.

Step 2

Another common mistake is to forego sun protection for the eyes. There aren’t many dedicated products for this purpose so a good quality sunblock suffices. Choose a formulation that is slightly thick and sticky, like Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, so that the skin absorbs it quickly and it doesn’t bleed into the eyes causing discomfort or an adverse reaction. Opting for eye makeup products that list SPF as one of their ingredients is also a good option as any retouching will ensure that the area is constantly protected.

 Step 3

Lastly, but most important is choosing a cream or gel that keeps the eyes hydrated. When looking for an eye cream, products with caffeine and antioxidant ingredients are always a safe bet but the good ones come at prohibitive prices. There’s no need to dish out a crazy sum to combat puffy eye bags though since most of the effective ingredients are already present in the kitchen. You can easily whip up a soothing gel with some green tea, aloe vera, cucumber and a few drops of essential oil. To make this DIY eye gel, brew a cup of green tea and let it cool. Chuck a cucumber in a blender and strain the juice using a muslin cloth or a tight-mesh sieve and combine with cooled green tea. Remove all the clear, gooey flesh from inside a fresh aloe vera stalk and mix into the green tea and cucumber mixture. Add a few drops of Vitamin E or rosehip oil and transfer the concoction into an airtight jar to keep cool and use when necessary.