If you’re a night owl, then the skin underneath your eyes may need some extra love. A few extra Zzz’s or a dab of your favorite face cream may help, but more often than not, they’re just a temporary fix. Well, my trademark formula for LOOK OLÉOACTIF® uses the goodness of the following ingredients, to help you say goodbye to your dark circles!

‍1. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
‍Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice or aloe vera as it’s more commonly known has wide applications in skin care for its cell-regenerative and soothing properties. It also contains campesterol and bradykinin, which impart anti-inflammatory properties and improve microcirculation, respectively. One of the best properties of Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice that makes it a key active ingredient in my product is that it can penetrate deep into the skin. It, therefore, provides deep hydration that keeps your skin radiant and healthy! This star ingredient facilitates the removal of dead skin cells from your skin’s epidermal layer and promotes skin rejuvenation. This is all thanks to proteolytic enzymes that give it an astringent power, which in turn activates cell renewal.

‍2. Terminalia Arjuna Extract‍This ingredient is extracted from the Terminalia Arjuna or Arjuna tree which is recognized in Ayurvedic Science for its medical properties. Native to the Indian subcontinent, the extract has four active mechanisms. Terminalia Arjuna extract is used to improve the skin’s suppleness and combat the red- blue pigmentation of dark circles underneath the eyes. Another benefit is that it helps reduce visible blood vessels and puffiness in your eye contour area, making it the perfect ingredient in an under-eye mask.
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3. Xanthan Gum
‍Xanthan gum in skin care is utilized as an emulsifier, binder, texture enhancer, or thickening agent. This ingredient is a polysaccharide carbohydrate that consists of several bonded sugar molecules. It is created when simple sugars ferment, due to the Xanthomonas Campestris bacteria, from which it gets its name. Since it has binding properties, xanthan gum in skin care is used to prevent the splitting or separating of other ingredients in the formulation. Another common role of xanthan gum in skin care is as a thickening agent.In products like an under-eye mask, the thickness is a sensory aspect and makes it feel great against your skin. Even in small concentrations of less than a percent, this ingredient can make formulations thicker and improve their texture significantly.

‍4. Oleic Acid
‍The term “acid” must’ve put you on high alert - a potent chemical that may burn your skin? No thanks! But in the right amounts, they have some great benefits! Oleic acid belongs to the category of omega-3 fatty acids, and the human body produces it too! Plant-based oils like grapeseed and olive oil are excellent sources of this colorless, odorless acid.The benefits of oleic acid for skin are several! While in its pure form, it disrupts the skin’s barrier. But, when used with other fats or lipids, oleic acid can reduce dryness and sensitivity, while keeping skin nourished from deep within. Oleic acid for skin care products improves their texture. It also shields some other delicate ingredients like antioxidants from getting spoilt due to excessive sun or air exposure. It, therefore, improves the product’s durability.
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5. Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
‍You may have already got a hint from its name! This ingredient is extracted from the German Chamomile or Chamomilla Recutita plant which has several favorable applications in skin care. It contains a significant amount of α-bisabolol, which imparts anti-inflammatory properties to it, and therefore, reduces redness or inflammation. It is also believed to be a natural moisturizer, nourishing the skin from deep within.
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6. Sodium Hyaluronate
‍Sodium hyaluronate is derived from hyaluronic acid or HA, a natural acid that is found in our bodies. While both HA and sodium hyaluronate can be used in skin care products, the latter has smaller molecules and is water-soluble. This enables it to reach the deepest layers of the skin, and improve its water retention.Sodium hyaluronate in skin care has several benefits. When it’s applied, it moisturizes the skin cells, which minimizes dry and flaky skin. Fine lines or wrinkles are more noticeable when your skin is dry. Since sodium hyaluronate nourishes the skin and hydrates it, it slowly fades away fine lines and wrinkles. Other benefits of sodium hyaluronate in skin care products are that it naturally plumps up the skin, leaving it soft and supple. It also aids in fighting the signs of aging and gives the skin a healthy glow.

‍7. Citric Acid

‍Citric acid may sound like something to enhance the flavor of food, but it has some great properties that are beneficial in skin care. It belongs to a class of acids called AHAs or alpha-hydroxy acids. Utilizing citric acid in skin care has several benefits, mainly because it is an excellent antioxidant and exfoliant. Its antioxidant properties help fight against external aggressors in the skin’s hydrating matrix, therefore, fading fine lines and wrinkles. The exfoliating properties of citric acid in skin care remove the dead skin cells, and this leaves your skin smoother, softer, and more radiant than ever before. It can also be used as a pH adjuster, to ensure that the skin care product is mild and non-irritating for sensitive skin.

‍Final Words
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‍In addition to these amazing organic ingredients like Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, xanthan gum, citric acid, sodium hyaluronate, Terminalia Arjuna, and Matricaria flower extract, I can also say that my skin care product is free from sulfates and parabens! The ingredients of my skin care product keep the skin under your eyes soft, radiant, and youthful while reducing fine lines, wrinkles, redness, and puffiness. So, bid adieu to those pesky dark circles and embrace the new you!