Self-Care: Eye Skin Care

I remember the exact moment I knew I needed to buy some eye cream. I was at the museum with my dad 5 months after I was diagnosed with thyroid eye disease (TED). I stood in front of an exhibit of polar bears in the arctic. There was a reflective glass in-between me and the fake animals. I could see my reflection. My puffy eyes were swollen from the ups and downs of this disease. The skin under my eyes was purplish from days of no sleep. I look like a zombie, I thought. This needs to change.

Skin care routine

For the last few years, leading up to that moment at the museum, I developed a daily skincare routine when I developed adult acne. I did not think much about buying eye cream. I would just lather the moisturizer I use on my face under my eyes and over my lids. Even after being diagnosed with TED, I did not give much thought or love to the skin around my eyes. It was the last thing on my mind.

Begin with the basics

I did a lot of research on different eye creams before picking out one that I wanted to try. Different formulas of cream are marketed to help with different concerns one might have with their eyes. I chose a cream under $20 that had a cooling metal tip applicator that would supposedly depuff my eyes. I wanted to know how the skin around my eyes would react to an eye cream before I invested in something a little more pricey.

Importance of eye cream with thyroid eye disease

The skin around our eyes is extra delicate and it deserves love too, especially when it is put through the wringer with this disease. I found when I delicately use eye cream around my eyes, it makes a huge difference. The skin around my eyes wakes up a little bit. The bags are not as significant. The skin is more even, and soft.

My eye cream routine today

Recently, I started using an eye serum along with my cream. I had been reluctant to try any eye products with caffeine in them. Honestly, I thought it was a marketing ploy companies would use trying to sell products to depuff your eyes. I regret not trying it sooner. The difference the eye serum and eye cream combination has made around my eyes, especially with my upper eyelids has been amazing. I highly recommend it.

As far as eye creams go, I have tried a few at different price points. The one I have found that works incredibly well for me is more than I would usually pay at around $50. There are only 2 reasons I allow myself to invest that much money in an eye cream. One, it lasts forever. A little bit of the product goes such a long way and I do not have to use a lot of it. Two, my eyes deserve it. After everything my eyes have gone through with this disease, they more than deserve a little extra love and care.

Do you have a thyroid eye disease (TED) story? Click the button below to share with our community!