How to Reduce Wrinkles Around Eyes – A Close Up Look

They say that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. Our eyes show so much about us…our emotions and even the amount of sleep we get…or don’t get. They also show that we are aging. We actually start noticing fine lines early on, so you probably didn’t wake up in your 50s and ask yourself, “When did this happen?”

Whether you call them laugh lines, crows feet, or just a part of getting older, they’re hard to ignore. We want them gone and we want them gone now! We’ll take a close up look…you get it?…look? (I know, I crack myself up)…at where these worrisome fine lines and wrinkles come from. Next we’ll dive into how to reduce wrinkles around eyes, then what products I use.

What Are Fine Lines and Wrinkles?

Actually, the depth of the crease is what determines the difference in fine lines and wrinkles. Fine lines are very light and usually the first sign of aging, sometimes in our 20’s. Wrinkles are deeper and more noticeable. We usually start paying more attention to our skin when the wrinkles start moving in like an unwanted guest who won’t leave.

Where Do They Come From?

There are many factors that contribute to fine lines and wrinkles. The skin around our eyes is thinner than the rest of our face, so they’re more susceptible to these influencers and usually the first place wrinkles show.

Aging. It’s a normal process. And getting older is better than the alternative, right? As we age our skin becomes dryer and we start to lose the elasticity in our skin.

And if menopause isn’t bad enough…it plays a big part in causing eye wrinkles because of the reduction of estrogen, which helps with collagen production. If you remember, collagen is what gives our skin that beautiful firmness in our youth.

Genetics. As I mentioned in a previous post, our genetics play a part in how we age. But don’t get discouraged if you look at your mom or grandmother and knit pick at their wrinkles. There is so much more awareness that we can do things to prevent and/or correct our wrinkles…not to mention how much more improved products are now.

Sun Exposure. We can’t hear this enough.

Over exposure to the sun (including tanning beds) and not using sunscreen actually accelerates the aging process. Harmful UV rays damage the collagen production in our skin.

Repetitive Facial Expression. You remember making faces when you were little and your mom telling you your face is going to get stuck like that? Well…there is some truth to that. Repeatedly making expressions – such as smiling, frowning, furrowing our brows, and making funny faces – creates fine lines. But please keep on smiling anyway! 🙂

Sleeping Habits. Yes, the lack of sleep does take a toll on your eyes. Not enough sleep can create bags and dark circles under your eyes, which just highlights wrinkles and brings more attention to your under eye area.

On the flip side…sleeping on your side for all those hours pushes your face against your pillow, causing your skin to fold up. As we get older and lose the elasticity in our face it’s harder for our face to go back to its original shape, causing wrinkles.

Smoking. Last, but certainly not least…actually one of the biggest factors…is smoking. We always think of smoking affecting the lip area, but it also works against the eye area. Smoking can make our wrinkles look deeper and darker due to the exposure to the chemicals in the smoke. Smoking also blocks the circulation of our blood, constricting the blood vessels in our face, which denies our skin of vitamin A.

How To Fight Those Pesky Wrinkles

While we can never get rid of wrinkles completely, we can temporarily minimize the wrinkles we have and prevent the acceleration of future wrinkles. There are other techniques that you can receive through a dermatologist, but here are some things you can do on your own and at a lot lower cost.

Avoid Sun Exposure. The best way to avoid sun exposure is to wear a brimmed hat and sunglasses when out in the sun. Wearing sunglasses also helps to not squint…remember those repetitive facial expressions?

Wearing sunscreen also helps to stave off those harmful rays. While some moisturizers and most foundations have sunscreen in them, you can also wear an additional sunscreen designed for your face.

Eat Healthy. This should not be a surprise. Eating healthy is good for the inside of our bodies, so why not the outside? In particular, foods and supplements rich in vitamin A, Vitamin C, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids are all beneficial to making our skin healthy.  And don’t forget to drink your water.  Water is the best thing we can consume for hydrating our skin.

Apply the Right Ingredients. We need certain ingredients in our skin care products as we age. They help restore and produce what our skin needs to look younger. Keep in mind that we should use cream that is designed for eyes. Since the skin is thinner, so too is our eye cream. You don’t want to use a cream designed for another part of your body for your eyes.

Vitamin C works to brighten and smooth skin by assisting with collagen production.

Retinol increases collagen production and also helps to reduce dark spots. Beware though…retinol can cause irritation, so always start with it slowly and build up over time. This product should not be used every night, so you should be good once you’ve built up to every other night.

Hyaluronic Acid helps our products soak into our skin. It pulls moisture into the skin, helping to create plumb, smooth skin.

Other beneficial applications include gel eye patches and a facial oil over your eye cream. The eye patches help to take irritation out of the under eye area and add moisture. An oil over your moisturizer helps to seal in the moisturizer. I will use a small drop of oil under my eyes to freshen up my under eyes when I’ve had my makeup on all day and still have hours to go. Just remember not to put it too close to your eyes since it will spread on its own (because the skin is so thin).

What Products Work

Listed below are the products I recommend.

• Concentrated Eye Cream by DHC
• Vitamin C 20 E & Hyaluronic Acid Serum by TruSkin
• Citrus Glow Drops by Admire My Skin
• Restoring Night Eye Gel Patches by Patchology
• Sun Protector SPF 30 by Maelove
• Fish Oil (Omega-3) by Nature’s Bounty

The Bottom Line

Just keep in mind that you won’t see results for a few months. It didn’t happen overnight, so they won’t go away overnight. It takes time and consistency, but I believe that you will think it’s worth it once you start seeing results.

I would love it if you’d take the time to read my other posts. They all tie in together to complete an overall productive program for the best skin care over 50. As always, I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or ask a question and I’ll be happy to get back with you.

Happy skin caring!

Karen