Let’s face it, under eye wrinkles are probably the first thing that we see when we start to worry about our age. They appear out of nowhere like little ninjas and steal your youth and smooth skin.
In reality, they are a result of our thin skin more so than they are a result of our age. Still, it can be unsightly and make you self-conscious, so what can you do?
There are quite a few treatments available that will help you improve the look and feel of one of the most important features on your face!
What Are Under Eye Wrinkles – Meaning
Whether you call these little nuisances crows feet, smile lines, or just eye wrinkles, you have probably named them more than a few times since you turned 25.
The reason these lines pop up is that your body loses its ability to replace the collagen and elastin proteins that keep your skin vibrant, supple, and elastic.
When a person looks at you, whether it is on a first date or on a selfie you posted to Instagram, that first thing (okay, one of the first things – I’ve seen the type of Instagram shots people post) is your eyes. That is why nature decided to be funny and make it the first place to “fall” as we age.
First we could say it starts with fine lines, then these lines turn into deeper lines which we call wrinkles. Those wrinkles and lines cause creases or ridges that form around your eyes, aging you and making your make up look less attractive.
The skin around your eyes is different from some of your other skin, because it doesn’t create hydration to replace its moisture – and because we are constantly touching or rubbing our eyes, there is a real lack of moisture.
Add into that the fact that we have repetitive facial motions like laughing, squinting, and scrunching, your skin gets worn out. The natural deterioration of your skin will lead to those wrinkles and lines that form, and before long, you start to look like your grand mother.
Instead of stopping any and all touching, you should probably find another cure to the problem.
But the problem doesn’t stop there, of course, because it really isn’t bad enough for Mother Nature. You also get dark circles, puffiness, and even discoloration under your eyes. They don’t affect the same area, but they can make the situation that much worse.
What Causes These Eye Wrinkles and fine lines ?
The first weapon you will need to combat these eye wrinkles is the weapon of knowledge. You absolutely need to know what causes this problem to be order to know how to fight it.
Wrinkles are caused by different things, so you will need to figure that out before you can move on to finding a treatment.
Aging
Of course, the most common cause of eye wrinkling is the general aging process. As we age, it is normal to get wrinkles in all sorts of fun places, and your under eye area is included in that.
The wrinkles start to form slowly as you age, that delicate skin becomes dryer and thinner over the years, and you start to get less elasticity as a result. It doesn’t happen all at once, but occurs over quite a few years before the wrinkles form.
Menopause, with all of its fun moments and pains, is one of the biggest causes of eye wrinkles due to the reduction of estrogen, which affects collagen and elastin in the skin.
- Collagen is the miracle that gives our skin firmness and suppleness that keeps us looking vibrant and young. As we age, the collagen production stops and more wrinkles start to develop and deepen.
- Elastin works with it, allowing your skin to form and mold into expressions before snapping back into your normal, resting face.
But they both can weaken, and the temporary creases that occurred when you laughed now become permanent reminders of that night you had too much wine or the day you spent laughing with your girlfriends. Crow’s feet, as we lovingly call them, are the first set that appears for most women.
However, this part of the skin isn’t always easy to keep young and supple. The skin around your eyes doesn’t produce oil like the rest of your skin does, and the dehydration that results has some disastrous affects for your face.
You get wrinkles easier, your skin is dryer and thinner, and any existing wrinkles look deeper and more numerous.
Smoking
It isn’t anything new for me to tell you that smoking is bad for you, and that is particularly true when you look at your skin health.
In addition to making you ruddy or causing yellow staining on your face, smoking can also make your wrinkles appear deeper and darker. In fact, there is even a name for wrinkles that form around the mouth, “Smoker’s Wrinkles” so that should tell you everything that you really need to know.
Women and scientists have been studying the effects of smoking on facial wrinkling since the 1970s, and have found that smoking may actually be more detrimental than sun exposure! In fact, smoking is so bad that if you smoke 30 cigarette a day, by the time you turn 70, you will have an additional 14 years on your skin! At 70, looking 84 might not seem like a huge problem, but at 50 it might seem like the end of the world.
Smoking regularly causes your blood vessel to narrow in the outer layer of your skin, which lessens the blood flow and makes it virtually impossible for your skin to stay healthy. Essentially, you are robbing your facial skin of moisture and nutrients that it needs.
This lack of nutrients damages the important connective fibers that we have already talked about: collagen and elastin.
This isn’t something you only have to worry about when you are a grandmother, however.
Studies have shown that if you smoke 10 or more cigarettes per day, your skin is likely to be far more wrinkly and yellow than someone else your age. Part of this is due to the smoke, but it is also caused by the pursing of the lips as you inhale and exhale. Who wants to look like a leather handbag instead of carrying one?
The young aren’t left out – smokers have already done visible damage by the time they turn 20 if they’ve been smoking since 18! [source: howstuffworks].
If that hasn’t scared you enough, the problems don’t stop with your face. Smoking also makes your neck and hands look much more aged than they really are.
Facial movements and expression
Doing the same facial movements day in and day out, especially those that cause creases on the skin, can also cause wrinkles.
As you stretch or mold your face, the elasticity of your skin decreases and one day, it will lose the ability to bounce back, and therefore will become a part of your face unless you intervene.
Squinting, laughing, and frowning are the common movements that lead to eye wrinkles. But instead of living the rest of your life with RBF (Resting Bitch Face), you can do some things to prevent the wrinkling. Limit your sun exposure and use some treatments. (check below )
Over time, that lack of elastin and collagen will catch up to you and you won’t be able to fight it. However, you can fight it off for quite a long time if you really work at it.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure is just one of things that you should avoid at all costs – there is a reason you see celebrities walk around with comically large hats and sunglasses.
When you walk out into the sun, you immediately squint as a reaction, even if it isn’t all that sunny outside!
As you can imagine, that repeated motion leads to some pretty scary lines.
Couple the UV exposure you get with it and the sunburns you more than likely face, and you are looking at disaster.
If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you are obviously more prone to under eye wrinkles.
These harmful UV rays give off something called “free radicals,” which are those hellion molecules that are produced by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
This is what is responsible for turning your skin pink and damages that delicate skin under your eyes. Not only does this lead to wrinkles and fine lines, but it can also increase the depth of those black circles we all try to avoid.
Wear sunglasses when you can, especially when driving or outside for long periods of time.
It’s great that hats are back in style, because those will help even more. Mostly, however, the best thing you can do is limit that exposure and slather on the facial sunscreen.
Poor Facial Skin Care
The skin on your face is precious and should be treated as such.
You should take every effort to keep it nice and moisturized, especially during the summer and winter months.
Notice that if you skip moisturizing for a few days, you will see deeper, darker wrinkles.
That is because these wrinkles have dry skin caught in there, and every emotion and movement will make you look older as the skin shifts.
This is why people who have dry skin see wrinkles much earlier than those who have oily skin.
The best products to combat this unfortunate problem include ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, which exfoliate, stimulate, and plump your skin.
You can also look for patented peptides, which boost collagen and help you to generate new skin cells.
They are by far one of the most effective actives to fight wrinkles.
Check here some great face and eye wrinkle serums that we are currently testing, which have a sweet 60 day money back guarantee ( if you know us, you know we love this guarantee baby haha). Hyaluronic acid is also important to keep skin firmness. When purchasing face washes, serums, toners, and moisturizers, one or more of these ingredients should be primary on the label.
Nutritional Habits
That midnight snack of ice cream and chocolate isn’t doing your face any favors, though you probably already knew that.
You can reduce the appearance of under eye problems by eating healthier. This means filling your plates with heart-healthy fruits, veggies, and fish that are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Combined, these foods will keep you looking nice and young.
Another key is something we have already talked about: staying hydrated.
Throughout the day, drink a variety of beneficial drinks like water, fresh juice, smoothies, and especially green tea.
Keep a water bottle with you at all times, and in a few days you will see results.
Genetics and Hereditary Factors
Look at your mother and grandmother.
I mean, really get in there and look at those lines on their faces – just like grandma’s tacky jewelry collection, those lines will likely be yours one day.
Heredity is something that many of us will try to avoid for years and years, but it will catch up to us.
DNA passed down on your maternal side (usually if you are a woman) or on your paternal side (usually if you are a man) will influence how bad your under eye wrinkles are (because let’s be honest, there are no “good” under eye wrinkles), but that doesn’t have to be the end all be all discussion.
Women in past generations likely didn’t take care of their skin as well as you are.
Still, you might be lucky if your mom still has the face of someone much younger.
How to get rid of Under Eye Wrinkles with medical /spa treatments
Now that we have sufficiently scared you into believing that you will forever have eye wrinkles, let’s look at different ways to avoid this problem.
Each of them has positives and negatives, and it is up to you to determine which one would be the best for you.
You will have to invest your money, time, and beauty into each method, so make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into.
Some of the best methods for reducing the appearance of wrinkles include:
Laser Treatments
Laser is one of the top choices. It chances the outer layers of your skin, which is where the wrinkles will form.
The technician will apply short pulses of micro-fine laser light that goes deep into your skin’s sub-layers to help provide more support from the inside out.
After the procedure, your body will take over and filter away the older, damaged tissue. In its place, you will find fresh, new collagen and elastin that will make you look younger and smoother.
While there are a lot of choices for which laser treatment is the best, you should talk to an individual doctor to go over the pros and cons. The most common choices will include Fraxel Re:Store and Fractional CO2, so that is a good place to start looking. But keep in mind the recovery time can be a bit long.
Dermal Fillers Treatments
Another option that many will go for is dermal filler.
Dermal fillers are one of the most effective ways to see an immediate result. The fillers replace some of the lost volume that occurs under your eyes, which will then fill out (hence the name) your fine lines and wrinkles.
These aren’t a permanent solution, however. You will have to get a new treatment in about a year.
Botox or Dysport Treatments
Lasers are great to reduce the appearance of fine lines, but other methods work just as well.
Botox and Dysport reduce the appearance of more dynamic wrinkles and actively work to prevent more from forming.
These two products relax your muscles, which immediately helps to eye out eye wrinkling when you laugh or frown.
In a way, it is similar to getting fillers, but the results are a bit different.
When you get the injection of the botulinum toxins (they are inactive, don’t let the name scare you), you are actually paralyzing the muscles around your eyes. This result also lasts for about a year before you have to go and get another injection.
Microdermabrasion
If lasers, fillers or Botox isn’t the way you want to go, microdermabrasion is a classic way to reduce the appearance of under eye wrinkles. This is a more cosmetic way of treating the problem but is very effective ( I am probably the biggest fan ).
It uses small diamond tips to scrub away the imperfections on your skin, leaving you fresher and newer skin almost immediately.
The process removes your dead skin, which is what causes you to look older and your wrinkles to look deeper. This is a whole face treatment as well, so it won’t only help your eyes.
Many people who only suffer from fine lines opt for microdermabrasion because they find surgery to be too invasive and they don’t have the same recovery time as for other methods such as lasers for instance. Lasers could require 7-10 days of recovery while with microdermbrasion, it would probbaly need 1 day.
You can get microdermabrasion done at a spa (the day of my first microdermabrasion session was a real eye opener), or you can actually do it in the comfort of your own home! (this is the reason why I am a big fan.. because there now plenty of microdermabrasion machines for home use, that literally can transform our skin, it is by far the best anti aging tool currently)
We have talked about how impressive the results are before on our website, but seeing them on your own face is a completely different story.
How to get rid of Under Eye Wrinkles with Eye Wrinkle Creams
When you look for an anti-wrinkle eye cream, you are actually looking for a formulated cream that you would use to treat wrinkles all around the eye. The chosen products will reduce your fine lines and wrinkles, but may also help with hyperpigmentation and bags.
It can be a bit overwhelming to look for the best cream. When you are walking the aisles at your nearest retailer, it can sometimes feel like every cream is offering something different, yet they are all the same. Many of these, to put it bluntly, aren’t even worth the packaging because they basically sell you only water with a hint of actives. Sorry, but if I spend my hard earned money, I want to get something that delivers…
The current technology used by eye creams is more effective than it has been in years. While the first generations only contained things like vitamin E and vitamin K we have come a long, long time. Now, the creams or serums you purchase should contain some proven actives ( retinol, vitamin C, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, patented peptides) that will improve your eye wrinkles quickly.
The best thing you can do is go online and do your research. Check different places and read many reviews.
We are currently testing some nice serums and creams for wrinkles. We really like the first results so far after a few days.
We came accross them only because we did a review of their acne skincare treatment which is a hit and found out they launched an impressive line of antiaging and antiwrinkle serums and creams.
They are way better formulated than most “famous” and more expensive brands who use celebrities to endorse their products and the big plus is they offer a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee that enables you to test them risk free. If you decide to test them, please let us know so we can add your results to ours.
Check here the antiwrinkle serums for face and eye
We also really like this eye serum below that we tested a few months ago, and that we find very effective. The only downside is the regular price that we find a bit high ( $90) and they don’t offer any money back guarantee. But it is pretty worth to try.
Check here the other eye product
Natural Home Remedies for Wrinkles Under Eyes
Of course there is a trade off, and that is that most of these take a little longer to work. These methods include natural products, massages, lifestyle changes, and diets to help ease the appearance of under eye wrinkles.
How to Get Rid of lines under eyes with eye massage
An eye massage is one of the best ways to stimulate blood circulation, boosting nutrients and oxygen to help eliminate those wrinkles. You won’t only see a reduction in wrinkles, however, but you will also see a reduction in puffiness and dark circles.
If a massage sounds good, maybe you should suggest it to your hubby as a way to have a spa night at home.
Mini Eye Massage:
The ideal is a cream that has a little bit of oil or “slip” to it so that you don’t pull or drag your skin, which can actually do more damage.
If you want to go even more natural, consider using coconut oil around your under eye area. you can use any other oil but if you if you have read some of my posts you know that I am a big fan of coconut oil (my favorite brand is here in case you are looking for one, cheap and good quality 🙂
Instructions:
Take your ring finger (which naturally applies just the right pressure) and lightly put pressure on the area around your eye in a circular motion. Gently rub or tap the area, starting at the inner corner of your eye. Work in a large circle out toward your eyebrow and then down toward the top of your cheekbone and back to your eye inner corner.
Repeat this process 10-20 times before switching to your other eye. This is also a great way to relax yourself at night!
Microdermabrasion for home
We mentionned this technique in the medical/spa treatments, but this is a wonderful home treatment to try as well. No chemicals or too agressive peelings…
We are big fan of those machines as you can guess.
I used to spend hundreds of dollars to get these magic sessions to get a younger and smoother skin. ( $ 150-200 a session….) after a year with 20 sessions, I’ll let you do the math. (it still hurts me….)
So when manufacturers started launching machines for home use, I was over the moon because I could finally do it myself and save tons of money ( to spend on cosmetics haha). The great thing is that you can use it for your under-eye wrinkles, your face and your body as well as there are different suction powers and different levels of exfoliation (with the diamond tips) to choose from.
in a nutshell, if I had to pick only one product as a beauty must have, that would be hands down my microdermabrasion machine. ( We (my super team and me) wrote a complete guide about the at home microdermbrasion machines, so feel free to check it. )
Eye Masks to remove Under Eye Wrinkles
Another natural remedy that will have you feeling like you’re in a spa at home (at least, for a few seconds before something distracts you) is the use of an eye mask.
Homemade masks are all over, and that is because they are super effective at getting rid of your under eye wrinkles and they also work on fine lines. Most eye masks suggest using them about 2-3 times a week to see the best results.
Generally, this can fit into your nightly ritual.
All you have to do is wash your face with a gentle cleanser and then apply the mask, letting it sit for about half an hour. Once you remove it, you have to rinse your face again and apply eye cream. With some masks, the steps will vary, but that is the general method.
EGG EYE MASK
Eye masks have been around for a long time, and with good reason! The whites of eggs have many beauty benefits because they are chock full of proteins and vitamins that nourish and protect the skin, making it appear and feel tighter.
Eggs aren’t all that expensive, and you will still have the yolk to cook with! The best part is that you really only need a little so you can share with other members of your family (this is a great way to hint to your hubby that he needs some help!).
Ingredients needed:
- One egg white
- milk
- honey
Directions:
Separate the egg white and put the white into a bowl. Mix in a teaspoon of milk and a few drops of honey. Apply it under your eyes with your finger (messy) or a small make up brush. Let the mask dry for 20-25 minutes or until it feels tight. If you feel uncomfortable, you can remove it, but try to work toward that 25 minutes.
After it is over, gently wash away with lukewarm water. You should notice that your wrinkles and fine lines are less noticeable.
CUCUMBER, MINT AND ROSE WATER EYE PADS
Another good recipe that I like includes cucumber and rose water to both hydrate and give your eyes an energy boost. This one is a bit less effective on wrinkles than the egg mask but it great for fine lines due to dehydration.
While it does feel luxurious, it doesn’t cost nearly as much as some other methods.
Ingredients needed:
- Half of a cucumber
- 30 mL of rose water (organic if possible) Our favorite rose water brand is here on Amazon
- mint leaves
- cotton pads
- sandwich bags (ziplock bags for example).
Directions:
Blend the mint, cucumber, and rose water together with a blender or use a mortar and pestle for the best results.
You can chop and press everything together, but that takes quite a bit of time. Soak the cotton pads into the juice and squeeze out any excess. Repeat until you don’t have any juice left.
You should then put these into a sandwich bag (don’t overlap them) and store in the freezer. Before using, thaw for about 10 minutes. Apply for 20-25 minutes, the perfect time for a nap!
After you are done with the mask, you won’t have to rinse anything off! It will smell great and forms a great base for your eye gel or eye cream.
You might have noticed that this is similar to the cucumber slices that you always see in fancy spas or movies. The cotton pads do the same things, but they fit better to the contours of your face, allowing for maximum contact and absorption. It also allows for a more concentrated approach than you would get from a regular slice.
At the end of the day, all of the ingredients work together (better than just cucumber) to reduce your wrinkles and fine lines AND puffiness and dark circles.
MY VIT C YOGURT EYE MASK
Another mask that uses ingredients found in your kitchen – who knew you had all of this there to begin with?
Ingredients Needed:
- 4 teaspoons yogurt,
- 2 tsp Vitamin C powder (Ascorbic acid 100% pure ),
- 1 tsp of Aloe vera gel ( 100% pure)
Yogurt is a great way to reduce wrinkles because it contains a lot of lactic acid, which helps to exfoliate, hydrate, and stimulate your skin. Make sure that you purchase unflavored or plain, because the sugar is bad for your skin and can cause irritation. Look for full fat yogurt for the best results.
I usually add vitamin C powder in my daily smoothie to boost my immunity and energy level (I am a bit lazy and find the powder much more convenient as I sometimes don’t have any oranges or kiwis to get the Vitamin C), and so I thought of doing so for my under eye mask. The results are brilliant :).
So adding Vitamin C powder will energize your skin and give you the boost you need. Remember to use 100 pure vitamin C powder, no fillers. Our favorite brand of vitamin C here on Amazon.
Aloe vera gel is awesome to give a boost of hydration, it is a must have for sunburn. Last time my boyfriend had a sunburn, I applied a thick layer on it to sooth the pain. After a few hours his skin was baby smooth and back to normal. There are plenty of brands, make sure it is 100% pure. My favorite brand of pure Aloe vera is here on Amazon.
Directions: Mix all of the ingredients together and let it sit for about 10 minutes to make sure that everything dissolves. You can also pre-dissolve the Vitamin C powder if you are in a hurry. Apply under the eyes for a great boost.
Tips:
- You can add 1-2 drops of rosewood oil OR 1-2 drops of chamomile essential oil. Rosewood oil will ease any dry skin you have and reduce your wrinkles. It’s great for sensitive skin as well. You can also use chamomile oil to get a nice sotthing action.
- You can also increase the quantity to get some eye mask handy, and ready to use. I recommend you to simply use what you need today and freeze the rest. How? Simple! my tip is to use an ICE CUBE TRAYS, pour some eye mask in each cube to get perfectly proptioned applications. So each time, you need an eye mask, simply unfreeze one cube only (I use a silicone ice cube trays such as this one here on Amazon , so you can easily remove the cube from the tray. That is super convenient)
- I am the pad queen 🙂 because I like to use cotton pads for my eye masks so that I can keep working (yeah can’t stay still for 5 minutes 🙂 ). I cut my cotton circle pads in 2 to fit the under eye area. When I need to use the mask I simply apply some on the cotton pads, and because they stick to your skin, you can easily work or walk around with them without having to lay down (clever, isn’t it?)
If you look around the Internet, there are many other home remedies to get rid of the under eye wrinkles. Let us know if you are interested and we will write an entire post about natural remedies.
How to Prevent Under Eye Wrinkles
We saw how to get rid of under eye wrinkles, but now Instead of working this hard to remove them, preventing eye wrinkles might be the best option. Many ways to prevent wrinkles have already been mentioned in the “causes” section, but here is a refresher of the best ways to prevent wrinkling:
Wear Sunglasses
Stylish and mysterious, sunglasses are not only a fashion DO, but they also help you to stay beautiful and young. Sunglasses will stop you from squinting and wrinkling up your face, which will help immensely with preventing wrinkles.
Use sunglasses every time you are outside, and especially when you are driving. Those few minutes will add up over time, and the result will be written on your face. Make sure you spend a little extra to get polarized lenses or lenses coated in a layer of UV protection, which will be the most beneficial.
Use SPF Protection Cream
Keeping your eyes protected with SPF cream is another great way to avoid under eye wrinkles. Combined with your sunglasses, this will prevent most sun damage. Choose creams instead of sprays for safety and a burst of hydration.
You will want to wear AT LEAST SPF 15-30 for the best results.
Hydrate, hydrate
Your under eye skin does not porduce oil that’s why you need to supply this skin area with hydration and moisture. Keep applying day and night a good eye cream, which will keep your skin supple and plump.
Use a Nighttime Eye Cream
Nighttime is a great time to make your creams work, because they are relaxing and you are effectively using your time. Plus, the night is when your body restores, so you will be getting double duty there as well. Use a hydrating cream that includes antioxidants, patented petides and retinol for the best results.
Keep a Healthy Diet
Finally, a healthy diet will help with any and all beauty problems. You need to nourish your skin from the inside out, so that means eating foods that come in a variety of colors. These colors include fresh fruits and vegetables that have a lot of fiber and water.
Speaking of water, you should still be drinking at least eight glasses a day!
Another important ingredient to your healthy under eye diet is sleep! You need to get at least 8 hours a night on a consistent basis to have a smooth, supple under eye.
Finally, as always, smoking not only makes you smell gross, but it can also make you look gross as well.
Well that was a super long post for sure…. but we hope it helped you. While there is no fool-proof method for everyone, try out some of these steps to see what will work for you! In no time, you will be looking and feeling younger and healthier.
Once your eyes look younger, you will be surprised what it will do with the rest of your face!
Get your selfies ready.
Leave a Reply