8 Anti-Aging Tips for Your Eye Area

The eyes are the windows to the soul—and they’re also surrounded by the most delicate skin on your entire face. Because the skin around your eyes is so thin, it’s often one of the first areas on the complexion to display early signs of skin aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, crow’s feet, and puffiness. Dry skin around the eyes, typical facial expressions, UV and free radical damage, and even the way you sleep can all contribute to these visible signs of aging. Of course, these are all things you can do something about. Consider implementing a few key anti-aging tips into your regular routine to help deal with dry skin around the eyes and start fending off those wrinkles ASAP. Below, find our seven anti-aging eye tips to revamp your routine with.

Anti-aging eye tip #1: Fight dry skin around eyes with eye cream

Do you ever experience dry skin around your eyes? Enter: eye cream. If you’re not already using a quality eye cream twice a day—every morning and evening—we’re here to change that. Eye creams can help bring moisture to the dry, delicate skin around your eyes, keeping the area hydrated and reducing the appearance of visible signs of aging. This is because when skin is dry it becomes more likely to show lines and wrinkles. Not sure what type of eye cream to use? Here are some of our best anti-aging eye creams:

L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey Eye Gel: This ultra-gentle eye gel is formulated with manuka honey, plus calcium and antioxidants, to cool and hydrate the eye area. The rollerball wand applicator and gel formula will not only feel great but will also help to reduce puffy under-eye bags and brighten dark circles. Use the wand to apply the eye gel, then pat excess product with your finger to help it absorb.

L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Eye Renewal Eye Cream: This powerful yet gentle eye treatment targets five signs of aging at once: Diminishing dark circles, reducing the appearance of puffiness and under-eye bags, staving off crow’s feet, and smoothing crepiness. To use it, apply a small amount on the entire area, then pat gently until absorbed.

L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment: Formulated with Pro-Xylane, LHA, and hyaluronic acid, this powerful eye serum works to repair wrinkles and hydrate mature, dry skin. Apply the treatment in small dots around your eye, then smooth gently until absorbed.

Anti-aging eye tip #2: Wear sunglasses with UV protection

Wearing a broad-spectrum SPF every day is important—essential, actually—but it isn’t your only line of defense against the sun. Wearing sunglasses that offer UV protection will also help give the delicate skin around your eyes an extra layer of defense against the sun’s harmful rays. This is a must because UV rays can wear down the thin skin around your eyes and make it more prone to developing crow’s feet and sagging skin. Consider wearing your sunglasses every day, even if it’s looking overcast outside, as the sun’s rays can pass through clouds.

Anti-aging eye tip #3: Sleep on a silk pillowcase

Help encourage smooth skin around your eyes by using a silk pillowcase while you sleep. Some fabrics may be a little rough and unnecessarily pull and tug on your skin—including your eye area. A silk pillowcase will be more gentle thanks to its super soft texture, not to mention it will feel super luxe!

Anti-aging eye tip #4: Stop sleeping on your side

Noticing visible signs of aging more on one side than the other? According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, sleep can influence the formation of wrinkles including crow’s feet, which means sleeping on your side could be leading to those wrinkles around your eye. So, while you’re switching up your sleep routine (since you’re already swapping your cotton pillowcase for a silk one), try to sleep on your back instead of your side!

Anti-aging eye tip #5: Sleep propped up 

Another bedtime precaution you can take to help keep your eyes looking their best is to prop yourself up a bit and sleep on two pillows. This is because fluids can collect under your eyes when you’re lying flat, causing an increase in fluid pressure behind your eyes, according to research published by the National Institutes of Health. In turn, this fluid pressure can cause puffiness, under-eye bags, and dark circles. It may be a bit of an adjustment, but sleeping propped up could be just the trick you need.

Anti-aging eye tip #6: Get more shut-eye

We know, we know—this is so much easier said than done! However, sneaking in just a bit more sleep every evening can help keep skin looking its best, including the skin around your eyes. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), sleep gives your body and your skin time to refresh and renew itself. After all, it is called beauty sleep for a reason!

Editor’s note: For more on the power of sleep, read our article, Will More Sleep Mean Less Noticeable Dark Circles?

Anti-aging eye tip #7: Use an eye mask

Just as your complexion sometimes needs a little extra TLC in the form of a face mask, the same goes for your under-eye area. That’s right, there are masks just for your eye area! These cushioned gel masks can be used to help with dry skin around the eyes and may even offer anti-aging benefits, depending on the masks you use. Try them the next time you’re traveling as a way to perk up your under-eye area on the go!

Anti-aging eye tip #8: Avoid certain facial expressions

In order to help prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming around the eye area, the AAD recommends trying to avoid making repeated facial expressions that contract the underlying eye muscles. This is because when the same muscles contract repeatedly over time the lines that are made can become permanent. That means if you’re always squinting your eyes or raising your eyebrows, you’ll want to do your best to limit how often you make those expressions. Just don’t take it too far and never move your face!

And there you have it: Eight anti-aging eye tips to keep your eye area looking youthful. Next, let’s talk about another area you may notice visible signs of aging—around your mouth. Here’s our article answering Can You Get Rid of Smile and Laugh Lines?