Using Cell Defence Saffron Eye Firming Serum & Fenugreek Eye Cream: How to treat Dry Eyes & Dry Eye Skin

The first signs of facial ageing tend to appear around the eyes due to the fragile nature of eye skin which is not as effective in absorbing and retaining moisture. This delicate skin lacks the oil glands and collagen that exist in our other face and body skin. Studies have shown that in areas where collagen and sebaceous glands are less dense, the skin is more vulnerable to dryness, sagging and wrinkling.

Introducing the Ideal Eye Care Duo by Cell Defence

Saffron Eye Firming Plant Stem Cell Serum + Fenugreek and Hops Eye Moisturiser.

Soften fine lines and wrinkles + improve hydration and increase elasticity.

The skin around the eyes reacts more strongly to external, environmental influences due to the lack of sebaceous glands or supporting tissue. Exposure to sunlight, dust, and/or dry air, insufficient sleep and inadequate diet are some of these influences which could easily lead to dry, crepey eye skin.

This eye skin is a unique type and requires different and extra special care with the support of both a serum, to essentially repair and rejuvenate whilst softening fine lines and wrinkles, and a moisturiser to essentially improve hydration and increase elasticity. It is suggested to use products that are made specifically for the eye skin and to avoid the use of products that lack the ability to absorb and moisturise effectively. Cell Defence dedicated eye serum and eye moisturiser are potentially the ideal pigeon pair for every day eye skin nourishment and protection.

Ingredients to Avoid

Unseemly eye skin care practices and products may lead to fine lines, wrinkles, dryness and lack of effective protection. Thin eye skin is less resistant to harsh chemicals and we need to use the correct products so as to avoid irritation or allergic reactions. It is important to check product ingredients, ensuring they do not include chemicals such as topical steroids, alcohol, salicylic acid or synthetic fragrance.

Note: Formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, sometimes found in eyelash glue and makeup, should also be avoided as they can cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

Eye Skin Cleansing

It is important to very gently cleanse the skin around the eyes every morning and evening to remove any mascara, makeup and grime. Failure to do so may lead to dry skin and irritation. The gentle, natural ingredients in Cell Defence Wild Chamomile Cleansing Milk will softly and effectively lift and remove eye make-up and impurities whilst maintaining a natural moisture balance. Firstly, wash your hands then moisten an eye remover pad with the cleansing milk and ever so gently wipe your eyelashes, eyelids and under the eye. Rinse using warm water. With a clean eye remove pad, repeat the same process for the other eye.

Applying the Serum

Gently add a light dab of Saffron Eye Serum to the skin surrounding the eyes each morning and evening. This eye serum is synergistically formulated with natural, active ingredients that will softly and deeply penetrate the delicate skin in the eye region to essentially help with skin regeneration and repair. Consequently, softened lines and wrinkles will become less apparent and skin will become less sagging. Also, the saffron in this eye serum is loaded with antioxidants and Vitamin C to help protect the eye skin against free radicals thus keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

Applying the Moisturiser

Gently dab a little of the Fenugreek and Hops Eye Moisturiser over the Saffron Eye Serum morning and evening. This non-oily, ultra-fine elixir will then melt on contact with the skin, disperse evenly, and absorb quickly and deeply into the delicate layers.

It has been created with a synergy of natural ingredients including Lavender Water, Fenugreek Seed Extracts, Hops, Cupuacu Seed Butter, Beta-Glucan and Hydrolysed Jojoba Esters to ultimately provide the eye skin with superior, long-lasting hydration and moisturisation and protect against infection and environmental stresses.

“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau, essayist, poet and philosopher.

Eye Conditions

The heart controls the blood which nourishes our eyes pigeon paired

The heart also harbours our spirit and energetics and, as such, the eyes command the heart

Dry eye is an inflammatory condition whereby the surface of the eye is affected. Tear film is the layer of tears that cover and protect the ocular surface of the eye. Dry eye occurs when this tear film does not function correctly as a result of tear depletion or excessive tear evaporation and results in symptoms of ocular discomfort.

Although dry eyes can be the consequence of numerous situations and conditions, often acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can help with the management of the dry eye problem, resulting in reduced symptoms.

The middle layer that makes most of the tears is produced by the lacrimal glands and smaller glands located in the conjunctiva. Here, salts, proteins and antibodies are also present, all of which are crucial for corneal wound repair and fighting against infection.

The layer of the eye responsible for enabling tears – mucous layer – is also the layer that removes any unwanted fatty compounds from the surface of the corneal.
The aqueous layer determines the quantity of tears while the mucous layers determines the quality of the tears. Therefore, dry eye can be caused by one of two
things; evaporative dry eye wherein there is a low level of tear quality, or aqueous insufficiency which is a result of a low quantity of tears. Aqueous insufficiency occurs when the watery component of the tear is not being produced sufficiently by the lacrimal gland. This creates what’s known as hyperosmolarity wherein the salts and proteins of the tears are too highly concentrated. These high concentrations can irritate the eye, resulting in inflammation.

• Our eyes reflect the function of the liver. Lack of blood in the liver may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. In Chinese Traditional Medicine liver Qi (energy) is connected to the eye and when emotional, and/or fight or flight, stress is in play it may affect our liver. Consequently, this may cause imbalance in our vision and eye focus. The liver governs the tears. Liver-Yin (fluid, substance) deficiency may cause dryness of the eyes and Liver Yang (energy, movement) excess may cause watery eyes. An equal balance of Liver Yin and Liver Yang is ideal for our vision and eye focus.
• Lungs dominate our Qi, which in turn gives our eyes brightness.
• The spleen Qi controls the circulation of blood in the eye’s blood vessels.
• The kidneys govern fluids. The Kidney meridian nourishes the blood to the eyes which in turn assists with the internal water metabolism which is frequently linked to dry eye syndrome, whereby it moistens the eyes.
• The yin and yang supports a lot of eye function, including the aqueous (the clear liquid inside the front part of the eye).
• It is thought that people who are thinkers exhibit dark blue-black circles around the eyes – their eyes may be deep set and hypersensitive to light.
• Transient discomfort may be stimulated by environmental conditions, inflammation and ocular surface damage.
• Blepharitis is one of the most frequently observed conditions among eye care practitioners, yet remains largely misunderstood. It is a common eyelid inflammation that is sometimes associated with a bacterial eye infection, symptoms of dry eyes or certain types of skin conditions such as acne rosacea. It is more likely that people with Blepharitis will suffer from certain inflammatory diseases, psychological issues, cardiovascular diseases and more.
• Migraine sufferers have significantly worse dry eye scores.
• Other eye conditions include Ocular Allergy and Allergic Conjunctivitis.

Diet, Vitamins, Eye Care Hints and Exercise

• Slash sugar and load up on leafy greens.
• Vitamin A is crucial for the health of the eye’s cornea and conjunctiva. It is also necessary to make mucin which comprises the mucous (innermost) layer of the eye.
• Potassium is considered the most important mineral for dry eye symptoms because it is one of the principle components that comprise tear film. Patients with dry eyes are usually linked to low intake of folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin B6 along with high sugar consumption. Increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables (one banana, for example, contains 400 mg) easily enables you to consume at least 500 mg of potassium per day.
• The B vitamins are of importance in treating dry eyes. However, Vitamin B6 is extra special because it aids in the proper absorption of magnesium which can help our bodies to make a hormone called prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) which is essential for the formation of tears.
• Vitamin C is found in greater concentrations in the tear film than in the blood.
• Vitamin D (vitamin D3 recommended). 2,000 IU–5,000 IU per day. Not only is dry eye syndrome associated with low levels of vitamin D, but the evaporative type of dry eye syndrome is linked to changes in cornea structure (which may be linked to vitamin D deficiency).
• Consume foods rich in antioxidants as they are known to enhance vision bystrengthening retinal tissue and improving circulation. Take a break and have a green tea; a beverage ever so rich in antioxidants.
• Evening primrose or black currant oil. This produces the fatty compound that stimulates aqueous tear secretion as well as reduces another fatty compound which can often cause inflammation.
• Green tea extract. Showed in a case study, patients who’s meibomian glands were malfunctioning improved dramatically.
• Kidney yin tonic. assists with water metabolism throughout the body.
• Castor oil eyedrops Using this before bedtime can help keep the eyes lubricated as well as providing natural anti-inflammatory properties.
• Limit or avoid sugar and artificial sweeteners. If our diet consists of too much sugar then our bodies have too much glucose which can then make its way to the eyes. In addition to this, excess sugar can also increase the chances of diabetes. And over 50% of people suffering from diabetes also suffer from dry eye syndrome. “Consumption of 11 teaspoons of sugar a day has been linked to dry eye syndrome, “It’s thought that excess sugar in the diet results in too much unusable glucose in the eyes, and more than half of all diabetics suffer from dry eye syndrome.”
• Toxic fats in commercial red meats, dairy products, fried foods, and hydrogenated oils (such as margarine and shortening) should be avoided. These fats interfere with the essential fatty acids our bodies need, therefore causing dry eye syndrome.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. It is essential to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day to promote the production of tears and alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes.
• Gut issues may contribute to dry eye. If inflammation is a contributing factor in your dry eye, then it is imperative to look at the possibility that your gut (leaky gut) may be the source of the inflammation, as well as imbalances in gut flora. Chronic inflammatory conditions have been tied to dry eye syndrome. Firstly, a high quality probiotic may be the answer for replenishment of the healthy flora in your gut, especially if you have been on long-term antibiotics. Secondly, try moving to probiotics in pill form once your symptoms are under control. Thirdly, switch to real food ferments, such as sauerkraut, pickles, miso, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, etc. These foods provide a greater variety of beneficial bacteria plus they contain many vitamins and minerals. Available in pill form.
• Invest in amber glasses. Amber-hued glasses can be effective in filtering the blue light from computer and phone screens. This blue light can cause dry eye as well as disrupt our hormones.
• An active lifestyle is essential for preventing depletion of the vital essence and the build-up of toxic wastes in the body. I recommend a program that includes cardiovascular exercise every other day and tai chi or qi gong exercises for 30 minutes every day. The exercise called ‘Warming Up the Eyes’ works directly on the eyes to improve circulation and reduce symptoms, and you can do it every day, to help preserve good vision.
• Do a twice-a-day warm compress. A warm compress is a quick and easy way to help with the symptoms of dry eye. Apply a warm, wet cloth over your eyes for ten minutes twice a day to help open the oil glands of the eyelids allowing natural oils to flow and relieve the discomfort of dry eyes.
• Crying is the human act of releasing emotions in order to decrease stress chemicals. With this theory in mind, crying may also help to prevent stress-related diseases.

“The eyes are the windows to your soul.” – William Shakespeare poet, playwright and actor

Charmaine D, our naturopath, is here for you and is committed to helping you move through your ailments and forward into the rest of your life. 

Book in for a free 30 minute skincare consult and see how she can help you!