Aging can be a challenging process as the toll of time begins to show up on your body. Luckily, we have tips and a line of effective eye treatments to help take the secrecy out of looking good.
As we age, fine lines and wrinkles are the most noticeable changes and are the most common visible signs of aging. The eye area, because of its delicate skin, tends to be the first place that develops fine lines and wrinkles. Crow’s feet, the lines that extend out from the corners of the eyes, are initially one of the most noticeable wrinkles and the ones that most people first look to minimize. Dark circles, crepey eye lids and puffiness are other elements that can make eyes look older. Continue reading to learn how to visibly improve under eye wrinkles and discover which products to incorporate into your anti-aging skincare routine!
Many people who want to look younger around the eye area struggle with selecting the right products to prevent wrinkles. There is so much information (and misinformation) surrounding beneficial anti-aging ingredients and even more products that claim to make eyes look younger, that it can be difficult to find the right product for you.To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled the top tips to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area.
Young skin has a thick epidermis (outer layer) that keeps skin hydrated and contains higher levels of elastin and collagen for firmness and elasticity with even skin tone and texture. Unfortunately, due to intrinsic and extrinsic aging, fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles and eye bags, crepey eyelids and puffiness develop over time to make the eye area look older.
Intrinsic aging or chronological aging is the natural aging process that is controlled by genetics and takes place over time. Extrinsic aging is the result of various controllable factors such as sun exposure, climate, pollution, smoking, diet and stress. Each type of aging impacts the formation of fine lines and wrinkles differently, but the result is the same – an increase in visible signs of aging
Intrinsic Aging
As we age, the levels of elastin and collagen, skin’s building blocks, begin to decrease.This leads to moisture loss and thinner skin. The turnover of skin cells slows down and combined with a decrease in melanin production, the result is uneven, dull skin tone, clogged pores and reduced luminosity. Sweat and oil glands functionality slows resulting in decreased skin barrier function and skin’s ability to retain moisture which further thins the skin.When the skin barrier function is out of balance, fine lines and surface wrinkles start to form.
Extrinsic Aging
Exposure to UVA/UVB, pollution, climate, smoking, diet and stress accelerate the aging of the skin.Sun spots, faster loss of collagen and elastin, brown patches, fine lines, deep wrinkles and skin are directly linked to extrinsic aging. Those areas that are most exposed to the sun tend to form wrinkles faster than skin that is not exposed regularly.
The skin of the eye area is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face and thus more susceptible to environmental damage. Other than beach products, most eye creams do not contain SPF, and face creams with SPF are not designed to address the needs of the eye area, so we suggest using both twice a day on clean skin.
If you are in your 20’s or 30’s, preventing deep wrinkles key! Integrating an anti-aging eye cream and a face cream with SPF into your skincare routine will help reduce wrinkles, the formation of fine lines and crow’s feet. To maintain a balanced moisture barrier, we suggest using an eye cream with Hyaluronic Acid
If you are over 40, prevention and correction are the keys to younger looking skin. As with those in their 20’s and 30’s, using a SPF face cream is an important component of prevention. We suggest adding a firming eye cream with Retinol.
Anti-Age Products That Work
⦁ Hyaluronic Acid Based Eye Creams
Hyaluronic Acid is a powerhouse anti-aging ingredient that improves the health of the skin. Produced naturally in the skin, connective tissues and eyes, Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant that helps keep tissue hydrated. More than half of your body’s Hyaluronic Acid is produced in the skin. Like elastin and collagen, Hyaluronic Acid is eroded in the skin when exposed to environmental aggressors like pollution, smoke and UVA/UVB rays.
Eye creams that contain Hyaluronic Acid can help give the eye area a smoother, younger appearance. Hyaluronic Acid draws moisture into the skin which can help plump up the moisture barrier, smoothing out fine lines and crow’s feet and making the eye area significantly less noticeable.
⦁ Retinol Based Eye Cream
Retinoids are a class of anti-aging ingredients that are chemically derived from Vitamin A.Vitamin A in all its forms is one of the hardest working multi-taskers in the anti-aging arsenal. Since 1971, retinoids have been used extensively for the treatment of acne, psoriasis and skin aging.Tretinoin is the prescription strength version of Vitamin A and Retinol is the more widely available version (non-prescription) that is better tolerated by most skin types.
Retinoids are used to help increase collagen in the skin, improve photo-aging, unclog blocked pores, reduce brown patches and sun damage, and normalize skin cell turnover.As a result, retinol eye creams smooth fine lines and crow’s feet, crepey eyelids and reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness under the eyes.
When using a retinol-based eye cream, it is best to follow the usage guide to determine how often you should apply:
⦁ If you are in your 20’s, use two times per week.
⦁ If you are in your 30’s, use three times per week.
⦁ If you are in your 40’s, use four times per week.
Additional Tips to Reduce Eye Wrinkles
⦁ Get a Good Night’s Sleep
After a day of environmental stressors, your body needs sleep to heal.
⦁ Massage Away Puffiness
When you are applying your eye cream, massage the eye cream into the skin, in an outward and downward motion. Massaging your eye area will help to promote lymphatic drainage and reduce the appearance of puffiness around the eyes.
Whether you are trying to prevent wrinkles or improve your skin’s complexion, Kate Somerville has a wide variety of anti-aging skincare products created to help you achieve younger looking skin. Explore our line of eye creams and treatments today.
