The skin around your eyes is incredibly delicate, and can be easily damaged by things like rubbing your eyes, not moisturizing, or not getting enough sleep. Wrinkling in the eye area can also be caused by natural collagen loss due to aging. As with any other part of the body, keeping the skin around the eyes healthy involves following a regimen that reduces or eliminates possible causes of skin damage. Below are a few things you can do to protect and rejuvenate the skin around the eyes.
Use an Eye Cream
The best way to keep the skin around your eyes looking youthful and healthy is to start moisturizing at a young age. Use lighter moisturizers in your teens and twenties, and progress to thicker moisturizers as you age. Boosting collagen production is the key to younger looking eyes. As your skin begins to lose collagen, look for moisturizers with natural ingredients that help improve your skin’s ability to produce collagen and elastin. If you live in a dry climate, consider using a humidifier at night to prevent the skin around your eyes from becoming too dry while you sleep.
Apply Eye Cream Properly
Whatever moisturizer or anti-aging product you use, make sure you’re applying it correctly. Apply a pea-sized amount of product to the skin around both eyes using the tip of your ring finger. Gently pat on the product, starting at the corner of the eye and moving out toward the crow’s feet area. Apply any leftover product to the brow bone. Be sure not to moisturizers above this point – the product can Tavel up to the face and cause the skin there to appear puffy.
Use an Eye Mask
Need a quick fix for a special night out? Eye masks are a great way to instantly minimize the appearance of under-eye bags and dark circles.
Protect Your Eyes From the Sun
Use sunglasses when outside to protect your eyes from UV rays, can damage the skin around your eyes. Wearing sunglasses will also keep you from squinting – another cause of fine lines and crow’s feet.
Reduce Your Salt Intake
Ingesting too much sodium encourages your body to retain water which can make under-eye bags even more visible. Pass on the salt, and you should see a big difference in the appearance of your under-eye area. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a guide on their website to help you determine your recommended daily intake of sodium.
Consider Surgery
If the skin around your eyes is very wrinkled, consider surgery to address sagging or droopy eyelids. Blepharoplasty – also known as double-eyelid surgery – was the third most popular cosmetic procedure performed in the US in 2014, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Consult with a professional about the best surgical options for you.
Go to Bed Earlier
Getting sufficient rest is important to keeping the skin around your eyes looking vibrant and healthy. Too few hours o sleep can result in dark circles and bags under the eyes, which will leave you looking tired and drawn. Getting a few extra hours of sleep will take years off the appearance of the skin around your eyes.
Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
Try not to rub the skin around your eyes either when you are tired or when you apply product. The skin around your eyes is very thin, and rubbing this area can result in burst capillaries, dark circles, and bags under the eyes due to fluid buildup.
Be Careful When Cleansing
Avoid pulling the skin in the eye area when removing makeup. Don’t use face wipes around the eyes – these disposable towels can damage the thinner skin in the eye area. Instead, use a product specifically formulated to clean the eye area. These products contain gentle, hydrating, and non-damaging ingredients. Apply the cleansing product with a damp cotton ball, which is more gentle on the skin.
Committing to a regimen that incorporates healthy lifestyle habits, protection from harmful sun rays, and using natural eye moisturizers is the key to keeping the skin around the eyes looking healthy and young. Follow the above steps to restore a more youthful appearance to your eyes.
Jemma Anderson works at a beauty treatment salon. She loves her job and especially enjoys doing makeovers for the more mature woman. Her beauty articles appear on several women’s lifestyle sites.
