6 Ways to Make the Skin Around Your Eyes Look Younger
Although facial expressions, genetics, and the inevitable gravity are all factors that come into play with how our eyes age, there are still many efforts that we can take to be proactive to slow down the aging process. Did you know that the skin around your eyes is the thinnest skin on your entire body? It is up to 10% thinner than skin in other areas which means we need to take additional measures to protect it!
# 1 Be Sure You Get Enough SLEEP!
Studies show that just one night of sleep deprivation can cause undereye circles, puffiness, and hanging eyelids. Sleep is the body’s time to repair itself which not only includes the muscles and brain but also the epidermis. The skin’s blood flow increases during sleep which allows it to repair damage from UV exposure and rebuild its collagen which will help to reduce hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
#2 Eat a Diet Rich in Nutrients
Leading a healthy lifestyle with a well-balanced diet and the appropriate amount of exercise is going to be your best defense against aging for your whole body, not just for the eyes. A diet rich in Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K will be highly beneficial to maintain youthful skin around the eyes. Vitamin B helps to retain elastin, Vitamin C will brighten the skin, and Vitamin K, also known as potassium, will create new cell growth and encourage the production of collagen.
#3 Wear Sunscreen on Your Eyelids
Everyone knows that getting sunscreen in your eyes burns like crazy, but that doesn’t mean that you should avoid protecting your eyelids. We have said it before and we will say it again, sunscreen is the best anti-aging product on the market. It is important to use a physical sunscreen(zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) which will block the UV rays compared to a chemical sunscreen that will absorb the UV rays. In addition, physical sunscreens tend to be less greasy than chemical sunscreens so that can be beneficial in the eye area to avoid burning.
#4 Wear Sunglasses
Yes, there is a purpose to sunglasses other than it just completing your outfit! Sunglasses not only protect your eyes, but they also help to reduce or almost eliminate squinting which contributes to wrinkle production. Repetitive facial expressions gradually lead to fine lines and wrinkles, so constant squinting can deepen the wrinkles in the crowsfeet, glabella, and the jelly roll areas. Consider sunglasses a type of eye cream that never runs out!
#5 Use Eye Cream
Applying your everyday moisturizer to your eyes does not count as using an eye cream. Many people say that they can tell your age from your eyes or your neck. This is because the skin in both of these areas are thinner, so they are more sensitive, prone to damage, and require extra TLC. Eye creams that are high in antioxidants and hydroxyacids are going to help slow down the aging process of the eyes. Ingredients you want to look for in an eye cream include: ferulic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and a lower potency of retinol. You want your eye cream to have effective ingredients, but you also want to make sure that they aren’t too harsh for that delicate, thin skin to avoid irritation.
#6 Stop Pulling, Rubbing and Scrubbing Your Eye Area
Removing your make-up every night is must, but scrubbing your eye area is not the way to do it. It is important to be gentle when you remove your mascara, eye liner, and eye shadow, so an oil-based cleanser can be beneficial for the delicate skin around your eyes. Also, how you apply your eye cream does make a difference. Patting your eye cream across your lower and upper lid all the way up to your brow bone is a more preferable application compared to rubbing it across your eyelids.