6 yrs, 10 mths ago

Cleaning around the eye area dilemma

Hello everyone.

I have a particularly bad case of dried skin, especially around and underneath my left eye. It looks awful and is effecting my confidence. It’s flakey, and comes off as grey stuff under the nails when i scratch it.

I use facepads to clean my face, but they burn under the eye area. Being in the shower makes it worse, and moisturising seems to make it worse also.

What is a lad to do? Not sure how to clean this area of my face effectively.

Was thinking maybe an exfoliator and a soft sponge. But around the eyes? I’m not sure.

7 comments 32 voices

Replies

  • 6 yrs, 10 mths ago

    Face wipes can be harsh on the skin. I don’t use them anymore. I use micellar water or coconut oil to remove makeup. Coconut oil works great! just massage your face well using the oil to ‘melt’ the makeup and wipe off with a wet cotton pad or wet face towel.

  • 6 yrs, 10 mths ago

    I remove all my makeup with oil. Just plain hemp seed oil for me because I’m prone to acne, but there’s heaps of lovely natural oils out there suited to very dry skin (avocado is one I hear a lot of people swear by). Just tip some into you hand and gently massage it all over your face including on your eyes and lashes, then very gently wipe it off in a warm shower with a wet microfibre cloth (there’s special Norwex ones some people swear by but I use the ones from the cleaning isle in Woolies). I then follow up with a proper face wash for my acne prone areas but if you’re not experiencing any other skin issues there’s no need. Rosehip oil around the eye area after cleansing is really hydrating and soothing, just make sure you don’t use it before sun exposure so you don’t fry your skin.

  • 6 yrs, 10 mths ago

    Micellar makeup remover works for both eye and general makeup. I find it generally soothing for sensitive skin.

    I cannot think of any scrub that will work specifically for the eye area, but pick one that doesn’t come with a clay base deep cleansing type. Once a week should be alright.

    I second trying on facial oil as well for extra hydration.

    • 6 yrs, 10 mths ago

      I agree with jillian Micellar cleaners are great.
      But if you are concerned with sensitivity my two cents is that I find the Bioderma one to be the most effective and least irritating one I have tried (ie the Garnier does a great job for the price but if you want something specific for use near your eyes Bioderma one is my recommendation).

      But I have never had the flakiness around my eyes, usually around my nose/forehead and chin…

      Ensure that you moisturise around your eye area and don`t get creams/serums too close to your actual eyes. Reason being is that creams/serums etc often have chemicals which are too harsh for your actual eye and if it seeps into your eye they can cause irritation or a reaction and remember to pat it in and not rub.

  • 6 yrs, 10 mths ago

    No offence to any brands but sometimes the more they invent the more chemicals are played around. So for something simple as a dry patch in a sensitive eye area just use mild cleanser to clean then smooth with a natural oil eg Rosehip or sorbelene cream. After a day or so it should clear unless there is another underlying issue. I now only use baby wipes if I have to wipe my face esp after cleansing makeup with coconut oil or if none baby oil. Thats it.

  • 6 yrs, 10 mths ago

    Hi Jayce01, I am so sorry to hear about your troubles.

    I am particularly concerned to hear that just cleansing will burn your skin, are you sure you are not developing some kind of dermatitis or skin reaction to a new product you are using?

    If you are experiencing burning sensation, i think your skin must be injured somehow and is reacting to the chemicals in your moisturisers. I suggest using petroleum based, non-fragrant product for that specific area. Something like pawpaw ointment. Perhaps try that for a few days, and when the skin heals, use normal face cream around the area again?

    I am interested to see what the others think.

    • 6 yrs, 10 mths ago

      Hi. The burning was a brief few seconds reaction to cleaning my under-eye area with Olay facepads/facewipes. So i stopped using them on this area of my face. I think that has led to the flakey skin problem that i now have.

      If i scratch that part of my face, it comes off as grey stuff under the nails.

      Moisturising doesn`t help, because it sits on top of the dead skin, and i think it is making the problem worse.

      I really want to scrub at it, but it`s the eye area. And i`m a bit hesitant of causing damage to the skin. So not sure how to clean the eye area, and the annoying patch of flakey skin effectively 🙁

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