How To Get Rid Of Eye Lines, Creases & Wrinkles
Picture this: It’s Wednesday morning and it’s already been a long week. You didn’t get enough sleep last night and a big project is due by Friday. Needless to say, you feel run-down, and under-eye wrinkles are an unwelcome sight when you look in the mirror.
Luckily, you don’t have to settle for these pesky fine lines. There are methods for reducing wrinkles under your eyes without resorting to expensive, harsh, or painful medical procedures. (Expert tip: SiO Beauty's Super EyeLift patches visibly smooth out under-eye wrinkles while you sleep so that you can say goodbye to tired-looking eyes for good!)
To best combat under-eye wrinkles and fine lines, you need to know your enemy before charging in. So, let’s get right to it.
Main Causes Of Under-Eye Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Several factors can cause under-eye wrinkles, fine lines, and dark circles, the most common of which include:
Aging
As we get older, our skin naturally loses moisture and elasticity. Unfortunately, this makes for a wrinkles’ paradise. To make matters worse, we also tend to lose fat and volume in our faces with age, resulting in a hollowing effect that emphasizes wrinkles below the eyes.
Facial Movement
Frowning, smiling, squinting, and furrowing your brow, to name just a few common facial movements, can all cause the area below the eyes to contract, forming creases. Over time, these creases can stick, even when your face is at rest.
Ultraviolet Radiation
The sun’s UV rays weaken the connective tissues that provide flexibility and strength to the skin. Over time, this can result in loose, wrinkle-prone skin.
Dehydration
When the body lacks water, the skin can take on a crepey appearance. Hydration is crucial for smooth, plump skin and an even skin tone.
Lack Of Sleep
Beauty rest is essential for whole-body rejuvenation, and sleep deprivation over time is associated with wrinkle formation. Heightened levels of the stress hormone cortisol may be a contributing factor in the effect of poor sleep on your skin.
Smoking
Tobacco constricts blood vessels and eats away at the skin’s collagen and elastin reserves. This creates a perfect environment for fine lines and dark circles to develop beneath the eyes.
Effective Treatments For Getting Rid Of Wrinkles and Fine Lines Under Your Eyes
If you’re wondering how to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles underneath the eyes, look no further. Here are some of the most effective solutions out there:
Add Peptides To Your Skincare Routine
Peptides have made a name for themselves in the skincare world. So, you might know that they have some clout, but chances are you don’t exactly know what they are. Peptides occur naturally in every cell of the body – they are strings of amino acids that bind together to form proteins, such as collagen and elastin.
Applying SiO Cryo Fill that contains skin-plumping peptides stimulates the skin’s healing process. Over time, this has a plumping, smoothing effect on the skin. So, while the under-eye area is prone to hollowness and wrinkles, peptides can volumize the area and fend off fine lines.
Make The Most of Overnight Solutions
Who has time for every mask, spa treatment, and resurfacing procedure on the market? If you’re like most of us (read: BUSY), you’re looking for the best treatment for under-eye wrinkles that won’t waste your precious time. Luckily, you can supercharge your skincare while fast asleep in the comfort of your own, cushy bed.
Here’s the deal: sleeping on your back is the best way to prevent wrinkles from a smushed face, but it’s not for everybody. At the very least, try using an extra pillow (silk pillowcase for bonus points!) to give your head a little lift against the force of gravity. This added elevation will prevent fluid buildup around your eyes while you sleep, effectively fighting early-morning puffiness.
After adding elevation, step it up with overnight eye patches like SiO Super Eye Lift, which deeply hydrate and press out wrinkles all before your alarm goes off. These patches are comfortable and highly effective, targeting the under-eyes along with the entire area from the crow’s feet to the brow bone. Talk about an overnight sensation!
Opt For Plumping Beauty Products
When it comes to wrinkles, there are two standard modes of attack: slough it off or plump it up. Exfoliation is great, but when we’re talking about the delicate and naturally dry skin around the eyes, hydration is the real winner.
Unlike thick moisturizing ingredients that can weigh heavily on thin skin, water-binding ingredients known as humectants act like sponges, absorbing water and gently filling out wrinkles. This has a pretty immediate impact on fine lines under the eyes. Humectants to look for in your next eye cream, lotion, or moisturizer include hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene or butylene glycol.
Try Out an Acu-Face Lift
This one might be new to you, but it’s actually been around for thousands of years. A standard procedure in Chinese Medicine, acupuncture has shown promising scientific results on skin elasticity in recent years.
Here’s how it works: Tiny, hair-like needles are placed strategically at pressure points on the face, which signals minor trauma to the brain. The brain then responds by prompting the healing mechanisms that repair cells and stimulate regrowth.
The results? Firmer, more resilient skin around the eyes without chemicals, pain, or downtime. But, know that acupuncture takes its time to show results. Most acupuncturists recommend upwards of 20 sessions, although you’ll begin to see a noticeable improvement in texture and fine lines around session number ten.
Fight Fine Lines with Microneedling
Another option for the non-needle-averse is microneedling, also known as derma rolling. This just might be the most buzzworthy minimally-invasive wrinkle treatment available today.
Microneedling involves rolling a small device covered in tiny needles over the skin’s surface. The process inflicts micro-injuries that trigger the skin’s natural repair process, which increases cell turnover, boosts elasticity, and brightens the skin. As a bonus, it can also enhance the absorption of anti-aging skincare products, like retinol.
Luckily, microneedling is gentle enough to use on the under-eye region, and studies report significant improvement on fine lines and loose skin. You can make an appointment with a dermatologist or aesthetician for a professional session, or you can buy your own at-home device (experts recommend starting with 0.3mm needles or smaller if it’s your first time).
Consider Botox and Dermal Fillers For Eye Treatment
Dermal fillers and Botox™ are cosmetic treatments that involve needles, doctor visits, and significant risks when compared to other under-eye wrinkle treatment options.
Fillers smooth skin by “filling in” the space left after collagen and elastin break down. These fillers, like the water in a water balloon, provide support for your skin on top, making it taut and smooth. Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero are the injectables of choice for under-eye wrinkles.
Botox™ produces the same result—smooth skin—but in a different way. This procedure relaxes the muscle at the site of the injection, which smoothes out the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
Though injections may be the first treatment you think of for under-eye wrinkles, they should be the last. They’re costly (ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars), invasive, and rife with possible side effects, including small bumps, bluish skin, and even nerve damage and paralysis. Plus, results from injectables last for only a few months before it’s time to get a top-up.
Natural Remedies For Under-Eye Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Sometimes, the best under-eye wrinkle treatments are low-cost, low-effort, and don’t even require you to leave the house. Here are some of our faves:
Turmeric
This is one miracle ingredient found in nature that you don’t want to miss out on. You’ve probably heard of turmeric being used in just about every health context: cholesterol, arthritis, liver issues, depression, and even cancer. But, turmeric is also a potent anti-aging skincare ingredient, thanks to its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Turmeric is proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines, particularly when it comes to sun-damaged skin. But, turmeric’s real superpower is its ability to block the enzyme elastase, which is responsible for depleting elastin as we age. Elastin gives the skin its bouncy, firm structure.
To treat yourself to a turmeric eye mask, mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a tablespoon of aloe vera gel or coconut oil. Brush the mixture under the eyes and allow it to absorb for about 15 minutes before washing it off with a washcloth and cool water.
Honey and Ginger
Honey is a natural humectant that can benefit the often-parched eye area. It’s also chock full of skin-saving antioxidants that fight free radical damage and protect the skin barrier, which is why it’s long been praised by science as an effective anti-aging treatment.
Ginger has long been known to increase circulation. When it’s applied directly to the skin, it brings nutrient-rich blood directly to the area when it can do the most good. Used together, honey and ginger make a great wrinkle-fighting solution for all skin types.
Combine 1 teaspoon of ginger extract and 1 teaspoon of honey in a small bowl. Gently massage this mixture into the skin under your eyes and let it work its magic for about one hour before rinsing off with lukewarm water. Then, say hello to the glow!
Yogurt
It’s not just a healthy breakfast; yogurt is also a nourishing, sensitive skin-friendly treat. Research suggests that plain yogurt is an excellent topical treatment for brightening, locking in moisture, and maintaining elasticity in the skin. Below the surface, studies show that the probiotics in yogurt work reversing signs of aging. For the icing on the cake, plain yogurt is also rich in lactic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which exfoliate dead skin cells and fade fine lines and wrinkles.
Yogurt makes for a gentle and soothing under-eye mask that can deliver real results. Spread a thin layer of yogurt around the eye area, and allow it to work its magic for about 20 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
Massage With Rosemary or Olive Oil
Massaging wrinkled skin can help stimulate blood flow, which aids in removing dirt and free radicals from the skin. But, you shouldn’t massage the skin without some type of lubricant. An excellent choice for a quick under-eye massage is rosemary oil or olive oil. These oils can help tone and hydrate the skin while reducing friction during a massage.
To reap the benefits of this DIY treatment, dip your pointer and middle finger in a bowl of rosemary or olive oil. Gently rub the oil from the inside corner of your eye near your nose to the outside of your eye near your temple, then back toward your nose. Rub the skin of that same eye in an upward motion from near your nose to your temple and back again. That’s one repetition.
Dip your fingers in the oil again and repeat four more times. Then switch sides and massage the other eye in the same manner.
Brightening Cucumber Puree
Cucumber, when applied topically, is an excellent way to restore moisture in the skin. This helps treat existing wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles from forming.
You can get the healing powers of cucumber at home, without a pricey spa facial. Plus, our cucumber treatment gets more of the cucumber in contact with your skin than simply placing a slice over your eye.
Cut off ¼ of a cucumber and blend it until slightly chunky. If you don’t have a blender, you can mash the cucumber with a fork. Apply the mash directly to the skin under your eyes and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, remove the cucumber puree with lukewarm water and pat yourself dry with a soft towel. For an added pore-shrinking benefit, cool the cucumber in the refrigerator first.
Avocado
Avocados are chock full of wrinkle-fighting ingredients. This fruit contains carotenoids, which act as an antioxidant to rid the skin of damaging free radicals, as well as vitamin C and vitamin E. Avocados also contain monounsaturated fatty acids that moisturize, soften, and hydrate damaged skin.
To harness the healing power of this fruit, cut two small slices of avocado and press them gently into the under-eye area for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, dispose of the slices and rinse the residue from under your eyes with lukewarm water.
To release even more of the oils and nutrients, mash two slices of avocado into a paste and apply to the skin under your eyes. Let it sit for 15 minutes before washing it away with lukewarm water.
Lifestyle Tips For Younger-Looking Eyes
You can help prevent the dreaded onset of eye wrinkles and dark circles with a few lifestyle tips:
Reduce Salt Intake
When you consume too much salt, fluid buildup results. This is because your body is programmed to maintain a sodium-to-water concentration that’s roughly the same as seawater (35 parts per thousand for those who want to know the numbers).
So, the salt in unhealthy foods, such as pizza, contributes to wrinkle formation on the thin skin of your eyes, chest, and neck.
But, how much salt is too much? Let’s put it this way: consuming just 400 milligrams of sodium makes your body retain four cups of water. That four cups is roughly equivalent to two pounds of weight on the scale.
Your body needs a minimum of 180 milligrams of sodium per day, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the average American gets more than 3,400 milligrams per day.
Based on these numbers, it’s easy to see how reducing your salt intake can prevent fluid retention and simplify your quest to eliminate under-eye wrinkles.
We recommend avoiding foods that already have a high sodium content by checking the label before digging in. Whenever possible, also avoid fast food and processed foods, as they’re almost guaranteed to be chock-full of sodium. But, make sure to check with your doctor or a nutritionist before making any major changes to your diet – a professional can determine the right salt intake for you.
Wear Sunglasses And Sunscreen
Sunglasses don’t just make a fashion statement — they also provide much-needed protection for the delicate skin around your eyes.
Getting in the habit of wearing sunglasses will physically protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays and keep you from squinting in the sunshine, both of which can seriously contribute to wrinkles under the eyes.
Over time, sun exposure can cause eye lines, creases, and wrinkles. So, sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should also be included in your daily regimen for maximum protection against sun damage.
Wrapping Up
Under-eye wrinkles, like most signs of aging, are largely unavoidable. Even if you choose a life without sunshine or smiles (and please don’t!), the odds are that time and gravity will eventually do the unfinished work.
But, that’s not to say that you can’t smooth out under-eye wrinkles and prevent them from deepening. Whether you’re hitting up the professionals, sticking to DIY solutions, or opting for at-home treatments like SiO’s hydrating silicone patches, there’s no shortage of effective under-eye wrinkle treatments around today. With a few adjustments to your beauty regimen, gorgeous, youthful eyes will soon be yours!
Original article by AARON GULDAGER