With the news of our new Eye Work launch brightening up our year, we thought it was high time to talk to the eye-xperts about why exactly the skin around our lids needs a little extra love...

The eyes may be the windows to our soul, but over the last 12 months they've been our main focus of attention when it comes to our appearance. At a time when 90 per cent of our faces are covered and we've stared down the lens at our tired peepers on countless Zoom calls, it’s no surprise that we’ve decided to take matters into our own hands.

As we've all clasped on to social interaction, albeit virtually, navigated working from home and lost hours to online shopping, it's hardly surprising that our eyes have bared the brunt of our surge in screen time over the last year. Throw in some sleepless nights and a seasonal weather shift and you'll find that your eyes may look darker, puffier and a little more tired. “Quite often around the eye area is where the first signs of ageing appear, due to the loss of collagen,” says Dr Ross Perry, Medical Director of Cosmedics skin clinics. “These are the protein fibres that give your skin support and density. It's this lack of collagen around the eye area that leads to fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. But, lifestyle factors (such as smoking and an unhealthy diet) and genetics also play a part.”

While our own personal skincare arsenals may be bulging out of bathroom cupboards, many of us neglect our delicate eye area, opting for regular face moisturisers rather than specific eye-perking products. However, as the skin around the eye is 40 per cent thinner than the rest of our face, Dr Ross stresses that we need to differentiate between the two. “The skin around the eyes is much more delicate and prone to UV damage, pigmentation and lines caused by expression and rubbing, therefore a simple natural moisturiser isn’t going to soften those lines and a harsh anti-ageing cream may cause irritation. An eye cream that’s formulated with specific ingredients for this area – such as vitamin C to brighten, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and vitamin E to tone – will make a big difference.” Adopting a gentler approach in method but an ingredient list tough on eye ailments is a win-win in our eyes.

Packed full of Dr Ross's favourite eye-loving ingredients – as well as natural antioxidants such as turmeric for protection and coffee cherry extract to reduce puffiness – Tropic's Eye Work Rejuvenating Serum is like a breath of fresh air for your eyes. With new patented cooling technology in the form of a tip made from ZAMAC (an alloy formed from zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper) to help soothe and massage the serum onto the delicate eye area, your eyes will be back to their sparkling best in no time.