With the advancement of eye creams in recent years, a common question people ask is:  "which eye creams are FDA approved?"  

Being the leading eye cream research authority on the web, we will clear up this question once and for all. 

The answer is that cosmetics are not FDA approved, because the FDA does not regulate them.  While wrinkle-treating injections such as Botox are subject to FDA guidelines, most skin care products are not subject to any sort of FDA testing. 

There is one thing eye cream consumers should keep in the back of their minds, however: 

Imported eye creams that are brought across the border can be made anywhere, even mixed in buckets in a garage, or made by people without proper education.  Sometimes, even impoverished children could be the ones deciding if your eye cream will be effective. 

While you can rest assured that is not the case with the reputable skin care companies out there that you see in all of your favorite retail locations, you never know what you are getting when you buy a skin care product that is made outside the USA by a brand you’ve never heard of until now.  The fact is, manufacturing facilities that are outside the USA are not subject to the same rigorous inspections that facilities residing in the USA are subject to.

For this reason, it’s important to know who you are dealing with when you invest in skin care products such as eye creams.  If the company you are investigating makes their products outside of the USA, and they are not reputable or known, we advise you to proceed with caution.  The fact that they may base their operation in the United States may be comforting for customer service issues, but at the end of the day you want your skin to look great and can’t afford any irritation. 

We spoke to one of our advertisers, a representative of a company manufacturing skin care products in the USA.  He had this to say about the whole FDA eye cream topic:

"Companies such as ours who are proud to make products in the USA are quick to point out our manufacturing information.  We show our customers photos of our actual laboratory as well as our FDA number, which can be searched online to show an impeccable record.  The staff operating the machines in our facilities are University educated and hold certifications on the subject of product formulation and even more important, sanitation.  Even one small trace of dirt or another substance can ruin an entire production run."  

We have been forwarded articles from our loyal readers written by some amateur bloggers who have made assumptions that skin care companies are trying to "trick and confuse customers" by using the FDA logo on their website.  There is no trick, folks.  These companies have earned every right to use that logo on their site and show their customers where they make their products.  It would be nice if all companies out there selling products capable of causing long-lasting effects would be so forthcoming.  The real "internet scammers" (as the articles we were sent imply) are the ones out there using fake testimonials and quoting Dermatologists that don’t exist.

Any cream or emulsion mixed in the USA is subject to regular audits by both the FDA and the respective State Health Boards.  It’s best to look for products whose manufacturers are forthcoming with this information and proud to display it on their website.  Our eye cream research team does NOT endorse buying any creams manufactured outside the USA unless you are buying from a well-known company, which in most cases sends over high-paid technicians who can supervise the formulation process.  While multi-national companies are capable of doing this, the small start-ups that are out there looking for the cheapest creams and fattest margins don’t always do their proper due diligence.

The bottom line is that no matter where you live in the world and no matter what your political views are, you need to do your due diligence when buying eye creams online.  Our advice is when in doubt, stick to a country with more laws and regulations than most people care to discuss:  The USA. 

So today we’ll attempt to distinguish the difference in day and night eye creams.

For starters, here are some of the things you can look for in a day eye cream.

• Day eye creams will at times have spf in their formula.  Obviously, the sun shines during the day and the eyes need to be protected. 
• Day eye creams will work to reduce eye puffiness, dark circles, and eye bags.  Some eye creams even treat eye wrinkles.

Night Eye Creams typically have the following characteristics:

• Some night eye creams will contain retinol – a very powerful ingredient that can repair damage and prevent further damage to the skin around the eyes.
• Night eye creams work to moisturize the skin and promote collagen production. 

So, which eye cream is best for my anti aging eye care routine?

That’s a common question – but the answer is mixed depending on your goals. 

An eye cream without any distinction is usually applied twice per day. In fact, many eye creams and serums are used twice daily for 30 days – at that point you can look for results and measure the success.  If you have weakened skin, loose skin, sagging skin, or just basic damage under the eyes, it’s probably best to apply an eye cream formulated with night time properties before going to sleep.  This will work to repair those signs of aging and improve the skin tone around the eyes.

If you are constantly waking up with puffy eyes, bags, and dark circles, then a well-formulated eye serum is probably your best bet. 

If your main goal is to promote collagen growth, supple skin, and healthy, shiny skin, than an eye cream (perhaps with retinol) is probably the product you should apply first thing in the morning. 

It’s important you ask yourself what you are trying to treat around your eyes and then take the above information into account to find the best eye cream.

First, let’s understand what causes dark eye circles.

If you are looking for a scientific explanation of dark circles causes, it goes like this….

Red blood cells get lost and make their way into the skin.  This starts in the capillaries, and basically the red blood cells line up to get through a tiny passage.  Some of the cells get lost and make their way into the surrounding areas.  As these cells get "cleaned up" naturally, the result is a red color that is visible outside the skin.

Here is an explanation of why this happens, in Layman’s terms…..

• Heredity.  Believe it or not, your roots and genetic makeup have an effect on dark circle formation.
• Nutrition.  Your diet has a BIG effect on dark circles.
• Age.  As you age, your skin around your eyes is weakened as you lose collagen.  This makes dark circles much more visible.
• Sleep.  This is debated among many people, but the short answer is that sleep does have an impact on dark circles, mainly because a lack of sleep creates a lighter skin tone resulting in a greater appearance in dark circles.
• Drugs and Alcohol.  Toxins are terrible for your skin.  Stay away from drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.  These all contribute to dehydration which in the end causes dark circles to be much more visible.

So how can dark eye circles be treated?

• Drink plenty of water.  Water will keep you hydrated and even your skin tone on your entire body, especially around the eyes.
• Maintain normal sleep patterns.
• Keep away from toxins such as drugs and alcohol.
• Moisturize your skin with a daily moisturizer. 

BUT, the number one way to treat dark eye circles is to use a dark circle eye serum.  Eye serums that are formulated especially for dark circles work wonders on the pesky signs of aging.  An advertiser on our website, Wrinkle System, has one of the best-selling dark circle serums.  If you read this site frequently, you have certainly heard of the Dark Circle Serum by Wrinkle System.  It’s used by Danica Jardien, who is a makeup artist to the stars who knows a thing or two about concealing dark circles and puffy eyes.  Best of all, this product is clinically tested – it’s shown to reduce dark circles by 35% in appearance in only 30 days.  Visit Wrinkle System for more information. 

Whether you are a scratch golfer, or just an average player who enjoys spending time with friends in a relaxed environment, you must understand that each and every time you take the course, you open yourself up to some potential damage to your skin.  Especially in the Southern Hemisphere, where the sun emits some serious ultraviolet rays that can do extensive damage to the skin, it’s important you always protect your skin.  First and foremost, it’s highly recommended that you wear the best sunscreen possible.  This will not only protect your skin from sunburn, but it will also help you prevent wrinkles.  The sun is the number one element that contributes to skin damage, and if you aren’t careful, it can also increase your risk of facial wrinkles by leaps and bounds.

Golf is not a quick game!  Often times, rounds of golf can last much longer than 3 or 4 hours.  Keep in mind that golf is normally played in the height of the sun’s brightness, between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.  It’s important that you protect your skin while you play.  It’s suggested that you wear a hat or visor, not just to prevent sweat from dripping in your eyes, but to protect your eyes from sun damage.  If you are highly concerned with this delicate area of skin, you can also wear eye protection, such as sunglasses, in order to keep the sun from damaging this very important area of skin. 

To really protect yourself, it’s suggested that you use the best eye cream possible before a round of golf.  Your skin loses collagen as you age, and in this delicate area of skin, can you afford to lose more by allowing the sun to beat down on the under-eye skin as you frolic up and down the fairway?  Collagen loss is accelerated when the sun and other damaging factors come into play, and it’s important that you protect this area each and every way possible. 

Here are a few tips you can incorporate into your golf game that will allow you to keep your skin looking healthy and smooth well after your round of golf.

• Apply an eye cream first thing in the morning.  This way the nutrients will remain in your skin the entire day and you can rest assured you are protecting this delicate patch of skin.
• Use a sunblock with an spf (sun protection factor) of 25 or higher.  This ensures the skin will not burn, and it will also prevent wrinkles.
• Drink plenty of water. This will keep you AND your skin hydrated.  When you are hydrated, you have a lot less chance of suffering heat exhaustion and sunburn. 
• Wear protecting clothing to ensure your eyes remain fresh and alert.  This can be done by wearing a hat or visor, and wearing sun glasses or other protective eye wear.

Golf is a fun sport that can be very rewarding.  However, the sun can really do some long-term skin damage if you don’t protect yourself.  Be sure to always use sunblock and eye creams when you play this magnificent sport.