The eyes reveal a lot about ourselves and our emotions, especially now since they're the only part of our face that can be seen when we're wearing a mask.The area around them is particularly vulnerable and exposed, as well as the first to show signs of aging, and can, despite our best efforts, display a weary, sad, or stern expression. Very quickly, wrinkles, as well as bags and dark circles, can set in. Here are a few keys to keeping a dynamic look and minimzing the appearance of wrinkles under the eyes.
What causes under-eye wrinkles?
Collagen and elastin are protein fibers found in skin cells that give the skin its strength and elasticity. However, their production tends to decrease over time, which is why the skin becomes thinner and loses its ability to recover.
Most of these changes are caused by the sun. This is why the area under the eyes is also the most vulnerable to this kind of damage because it is extremely thin and is also the most exposed to the sun throughout the day.
Decreased production of hyaluronic acid is also a major factor contributing to the formation of wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is one of the ingredients that give the skin a smooth and youthful appearance. When the production of this substance decreases as we age, the structure of the skin loses its shape and firmness and becomes more prone to wrinkles.
However, the first fine lines can appear at any age and the years are not always a determining factor. Lifestyle, genetics, skin quality, as well as lack of proper skin care, can also be partly responsible for skin damage around the eyes. For example, dry, thin and/or fair skin is more likely to have early wrinkles under the eye. Regardless of the cause, the result is the same for everyone: wrinkles lead to a tired look and age the entire face by several years.
Prevention is better than cure
Even if they are the result of a natural aging process, whether due to dehydration or expression, wrinkles do not really appear without warning. Here are certain habits and behaviors that can help limit the damage and even buy some time before wrinkles set in.
Treat your eyes gently
As we said, the eyes and the skin around them are very fragile. And yet, we arely give them a break: we rub our eyes, we put on makeup, we remove it more or less, we forget to moisturize... And there you have it, pretty wrinkles under the eyes... unless we learn to treat our eyes gently. Avoid rubbing them, at the risk of damaging the skin.
When it comes to makeup, choose quality products that respect the sensitive skin around the eyes. When applying makeup, use gentle movements that do not rub the skin or move the product. To cleanse the eye area, use the same method: gently wipe your eyes with a cotton ball or wipe. If the makeup doesn't come off at once, leave the cotton pad on your eye for a few seconds before re-wiping.
Protect them from the sun
More sensitive to UV rays, external aggressions, and the environment, the eye area is a sensitive zone that reflects our state of fatigue and our age. As we've discussed earlier, the sun is the first cause of premature skin aging. Wear sunglasses with large lenses and a good sun protection factor of category 2 to 3, to protect both your eyes and your eye area from the sun's rays, and always use a cream with an SPF of at least 30 before heading outside.
Strengthen the eye area with specific exercises
Like the body, the face benefits from developing and working its muscles. This is one of the ways you can avoid wrinkles... Every day for a few minutes, facing the mirror, do some facial exercises to tone up your face. For the eye contour area, close your eyelids energetically, then open your eyes as wide as possible, and repeat!
Apply a special eye contour cream
A good part of fine lines are caused by dehydration. This means that not only do you need to make sure to drink enough water every day; but you also need to moisturize this fragile area externally.
Choose an eye contour cream with an anti-wrinkle action, and apply it religiously every morning and evening. How? By placing a small amount of the product under your eyes and patting it on with your fingertips. Above all, don't spread the cream by rubbing it into your dark circles and eyelids: you'll only speed up the appearance of wrinkles.
Eat healthier
As for your diet, include foods that fight against the appearance of wrinkles under the eyes, such as green vegetables. Rich in water, they contribute to a good level of tissue hydration. You can also add avocados, which are rich in vitamins B and E and help produce collagen and fight against skin aging. Don't forget to include fruits for their vitamin C and E intake.
Make sure to also filll up on Omega-3 with vegetable oils and fatty fish. Lean meats, eggs and fish will help you fill up on the proteins your muscles need. A good muscle tone helps fight against skin aging.
If there is nothing we can do about the effects of time on our skin, it is at least possible to prevent and limit them with these simple tips - the choice is all yours!
