Under Eye Aging: How to Fix Common Eye Area Concerns

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. However, insight into your thoughts or feelings may not be the only thing your eyes are giving away. Some of the first signs of aging appear around the eyes. Years of facial expressions, laughing and squinting in the sun can cause fine lines and wrinkles to appear in the form of crow’s feet or laugh lines. Or maybe it’s the puffy eyes or dark circles or even bags and saggy skin that are the telltale signs. While we can’t stop the aging process, we can take some action to plump up the thin skin of our under eye area and refresh those tired eyes.

We’ve listed the most common eye area complaints, the reasons for them and easy remedies below:


Problem: Puffy Eyes, Under Eye Bags, or Sagging Skin

Cause:

An accumulation of fluids that pool in the under-eye area can create swelling. And as you age, the tissue around your eyes, including some of the muscles supporting your eyelids, begins to weaken. When this occurs, normal fat that helps to support the eyes can move into the lower eyelids causing the lids to appear puffy and the eyes to sag.


Solution:

  • Reduce your salt intake, as this generally causes fluid retention.
  • Get plenty of sleep. The lack of sleep tends to increase the retention of blood and fluid around the eyes.
  • Sleep on your back with an extra pillow under your head. Sleeping on your side or stomach can cause fluid to pool around your eyes.
  • Remove your eye makeup before heading to bed. Wearing eye makeup at bedtime can cause your eyes to water and lead to morning eye puffiness.
  • Use a firming eye cream. The best anti-aging eye cream is one formulated with a combination of ingredients that include high quality aloe vera, peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and other antioxidants. These ingredients work together to hydrate skin, reduce inflammation, neutralize free radicals and reduce puffiness. For extra relief, keep your eye cream in the refrigerator.


Problem: Fine Lines and Wrinkles or “Crow’s Feet”

Cause:

The skin around the eyes is delicate. In fact, it is among the thinnest skin found on the body and becomes more so as we age and collagen production starts to slow, which makes any wrinkling, swelling or discoloration more pronounced. Because of its thin nature and lack of oil glands, this area is prone to dryness, which only furthers the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.


Solution:

  • A daily dose of antioxidants (vitamins E and C) found in foods like berries, avocados, almonds and dark green vegetables, along with omega 3 fatty acids found in foods like walnuts, soybeans, and salmon will boost your collagen production.

Extra Resource: Get Your Daily Dose of Antioxidants for Skin Health

  • Get plenty of sleep and sleep with a silk pillow case. It forms a moisture barrier against the skin to naturally hydrate and reduce wrinkles.

Extra Resource: Optimize Your Night Skincare Routine: Start with Sleep, Follow with Products

  • Protect your eyes from the sun. Wearing sunglasses when out in the sun will not only block out the harmful effects of UV rays but it will also keep you from squinting.
  • Use a hydrating eye cream daily. Hydration plumps up the thin skin and fills in wrinkles. Eye cream like Lexli Revital-Eyes aloe vera eye cream is formulated with ingredients that encourage skin’s natural collagen production and hydrate and smooth the eye area.
  • Be gentle when applying eye cream and makeup around the eyes. Use your ring finger to gently pat as it naturally has the lightest touch. Applying too much pressure can stretch and pull the delicate skin.
  • Limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol dehydrates your skin.


Problem: Dark Circles

Cause:

Dark circles form when the dark tissues and dilated blood vessels show through the thin skin under the eyes. Keep in mind, also, that what may appear to be dark circles might just be shadows cast from puffy eyelids or the hollows under your eyes that develop as you age.


Solution:

  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Apply a cold compress to skin to shrink dilated blood vessels.
  • Eat a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and antioxidants.

Extra Resource: Best Vitamin Supplements for Skin

  • Limit your sun exposure.

Extra Resource: What is Photoaging? Understanding the Main Cause of Premature Skin Aging