Beauty Clinic: Eye product overload?

Q. I am using three eye products together – an intensive wrinkle reducer, a wrinkle filler which also claims to reduce wrinkles and a serum for the eye area and lashes. Will they all work well together or is this too much? And is there any danger to my eyes? A. Tempting as it is to think that using three products means three times the efficacy, it doesn't quite work like that. You don't specify why you are using the products but from the types you mention it seems pretty certain your aim is to reduce wrinkles.

In a nutshell, the answer to your first question is yes, you may be veering into product overload. The skin around your eyes is very fragile and needs treating with TLC. Also powerful topicals can have the potential for causing sensitivity in the eye area.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe (www.drnicklowe.com) recommends using a single product of those you list. One of those you mention contains glycolic acid (an AHA or alpha-hydroxy acid) as the third ingredient in the list: Dr Lowe cautions against using glycolic acid near the eye due to possible irritation and also disrupting the skin barrier.

You could combine the use of one targeted wrinkle-reducing product with a soothing eye product such as Dr Nick Lowe Puffy Eyes Gel.

You don't say if you are already experiencing any sensitivity in your eyes but there are precautions we can all take in the way we apply eye products:

• If you have contact lenses, always remove them before applying night cream or eye products.

• Apply eye products by tapping a small amount on top of the orbital bone, ie the socket around the eye. They will be effective there but any closer and you risk them travelling into the eye and causing irritation.

• Remove eye make up with a gentle cream cleanser on a cotton ball, and apply products at least 30 minutes before you expect to go to sleep so that you won’t rub them into your eyes.

• If you have any sensitivity, try Systane Ultra Lubricant Eye Drops.

Finally, coming back to your original ‘problem’ of wrinkles around the eye: do protect them against all environmental pollution (UV light, fumes, particles in the air, and chilly winter winds) by wearing big sunglasses and also get your vision checked regularly: a key factor in lines around the eyes and on your forehead is screwing up your eyes to see better.

And remember, if crow's feet are due to smiling and laughing: they are just gorgeous!

• Dr Lowe’s Puffy Eyes Gel/£17 for 15 ml at www.feelunique.com - buy here

• Systane Ultra Lubricant Eye Drops/£7.50 for 10 ml at www.amazon.co.uk - buy here