Stay Woke (And Look Woke) With Dermalogica’s Stress Positive Eye Lift

Whenever I’m feeling stressed, I remember a little adage I came across that goes, “When you become a diamond, remember why life had to pressure you.” It’s a decidedly cheesy, T-shirt-ready phrase that’s probably on about a thousand Pinterest boards, but I find it oddly comforting on those days when, no matter how laser-focused I am, I question whether I’ll be able to perform whatever feat I’ve set out to accomplish — whether it’s preparing a huge holiday meal before guests actually arrive, penning a six-page magazine feature, preparing for a TV segment, or logging in a certain number of miles on the treadmill. After years of stressing out over seemingly unmeetable deadlines, I began wondering whether all that pressure — on some level — actually had its benefits. I’d never want to feel tense on a daily basis, but maybe, in small doses, a hefty tablespoon of stress is recommended in order to tap into those energy reservoirs, clear the mind, and find the courage to perform and excel. And there is some science to support this stance that some stress can be good for your health (and the key word here is “some”).  In the 1982 article “The Nature of Stress,” published by the International Institute of Stress and the University of Montreal using the research of the late physician/scientist Hans Selye defined stress as “the non-specific response to the body to any demand for change,” noting that its causes could include a variety of stimuli and real or perceived threats. As part of his research, Selye differentiated positive stress from negative stress, and argued that the former (also called eustress, derived from the Greek prefix”eu” meaning “good”) could function as a motivator, helping you to overcome a challenge. If we respond to stress in a positive manner and see it as an opportunity for personal growth — as one might when running a marathon, taking a major exam, preparing a presentation at work, interviewing for a great new job, and so forth — then it can not only improve our performance but also give us a greater feeling of satisfaction when enjoying a positive outcome. The Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift ($65 at Dermalogica.com), then, was inspired by this eustress concept — or, rather, by the idea of revitalizing tired eyes during these make-or-break times. I literally apply this product every morning before filming a TV segment to eliminate any puffiness, and I was constantly reaching for it during the holidays (when I often broke night in order to prepare all the dishes for family dinners and such).

So how is this different from the plethora of eye creams on store shelves? Well, for starters, it’s more of an eye mask and, as such, it’s a pretty intense treatment that delivers instant results, dramatically reducing any puffiness and brightening dark circles. To use as a mask, you leave the product on for 3-5 minutes (as opposed to an eye cream, which you dab around the eye area until it’s fully absorbed), then massage any excess into skin or wipe it off using a tissue. You can, of course, ostensibly use this product as your daily eye cream, but I prefer to reach for it only when necessary, as a complement to my daily anti-aging eye cream. If, for instance, I slept a less-than-ideal number of hours or spent the night tossing and turning while trying to tune out my husband’s snoring (story of my life), and I wake up, look in the mirror, and spot bags so huge I’d have to check them at the airport instead of carrying them on the plane with me, then I put out a skincare SOS and have the Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift come to my rescue. If, however, I wake up looking like my regular self, then I proceed with my ordinary routine. I do, however, keep the Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift handy throughout the day since I do sometimes apply it in the afternoon, around 3 or 4 pm, when my skin starts looking a bit run-down (side note: moisture loss happens at a faster rate in the afternoon, which explains why so many of us notice that our skin starts to look a bit dull around that 3-4 pm time slot). I also travel with this miracle wand since, as we all know, airplane flights tend to suck all the moisture out of skin and leave it looking dull, puffy, and dry.

The eye treatment has a cream-gel texture that’s lightweight and feels like a cool drink on a hot summer day, so that your skin laps it up with gusto. And, it comes with a cooling massage applicator tip, which helps to reduce inflammation and get that circulation going, thereby helping to drain any fluids pooled under the eyes (which cause those pesky bags). In terms of ingredients, it contains wild indigo seed, which contains tephrosin; this substance, in turn, stimulates the body’s production of beta-endorphins and hence reduces any stress-induced redness while producing a feel-good effect. Sounds crazy? Well, here’s some fun info: UV rays also promote the synthesis of these beta-endorphins, which is why many of us feel elated when basking in the sunlight; in that case, however, the euphoria can prove dangerous since, as we all know by now, UV rays can cause skin cancer and lead to premature skin aging. Wild indigo seed, meanwhile, has no negative side effects — just the feel-good element we all crave.

Other ingredients include Arctic algae, which reduces puffiness; fermented yeast, which contains amino acids and peptides that promote collagen synthesis and help to slow down the skin aging process; hyaluronic acid, which attracts moisture and binds it to skin, making it appear lifted and plump; and bioactive diglucosyl gallic acid or DGA, which has been shown to brighten the skin by inhibiting the melanogenesis process, thereby preventing the skin under your eyes from developing a darker tint and making your complexion appear more even.

This is by far one of those game-changing products for me — so much so that I wish it would’ve been around when my son was a baby (and a toddler, for that matter), since the sleep deprivation was out of control during those years. So, if you’ve got young kids, make the investment because this eye treatment will be your skin’s go-go juice, keeping those eyes looking bright and perky.

Unlike those squishy stress balls that allegedly help to relieve tension but really just aggravate my carpal tunnel syndrome and make me waste precious time, the Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift helps to relieve the signs of stress on my skin so that I can rest assured that, no matter how much pressure I feel on the inside, I’m looking calm, collected, and cute on the outside!