Caring for Aging Skin - How to Keep Your Eyes Looking Young as You Get Older

Keeping your skin looking young can be tough, and the older you get the harder it becomes. The skin around the eyes is often the first place to show the signs of aging, but there are things you can do to maintain your youthful appearance no matter what your age. Here are some tips you can use to keep your eyes, and the rest of your skin, looking great.

Limit Sun Exposure

Exposure to UV rays is bad for your skin, including the skin around your eyes. Limit sun exposure as much as possible, and don't forget to apply sunscreen to your face before you go out.
  
Use a sunscreen designed for facial use, and reapply it at least once an hour. The skin around your eyes is particularly sensitive to sun damage, so taking extra care to protect it is very important.

Get Plenty of Sleep

A lack of sleep will show up on your face and especially around your eyes. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep a night, and use smart sleep hygiene to avoid waking up multiple times during the night.
  
Avoiding caffeine in the evening, investing in blackout curtains and keeping your smartphone and tablet out of the bedroom are all great ways to sleep better and avoid the impact of insomnia on your appearance.
  

Choose Your Cosmetics with Care

Harsh and poor quality cosmetics can really take a toll on your appearance and dry out the skin around your eyes. Look for natural cosmetics designed to be good for your skin.
  
Choosing quality cosmetics is important, but it is also a good idea to limit their use as much as possible. Use the minimum amount necessary to get the look you want, and wash out the makeup thoroughly when you get home.

Drink Lots of Water

Staying hydrated is important, so drink plenty of water to keep your skin looking and feeling its best. 

The skin around the eyes is one of the first spots to show signs of dehydration. If you notice an increase in fine lines and wrinkles, the answer may be as close as your tap.
  
Avoid caffeinated beverages like soft drinks and coffee; the caffeine can actually dehydrate you and make your skin even drier. If you do not want to drink plain water, you can experiment with flavored and sparkling varieties to spice things up.
  

Eat a Healthy Diet

The state of your health will be reflected in the appearance of your skin, so make that reflection a good one with a smart diet. Eating a healthy diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and light on sweets and processed foods is one of the best ways to keep the skin around your eyes as smooth and attractive as possible.

Nothing can make getting older fun, but there are things you can do to keep your skin looking like new as you age. From limiting UV exposure to getting plenty of sleep, there are ways to make aging skin look younger and more vibrant.

Eye Massage Techniques

Your eyes are one of the first things people notice when they look at you and unfortunately they are also where the first signs of aging appear. If you want to maintain a youthful look it is important to provide your eyes with a little tender love and care.

Benefits of Eye Massage

An eye massage is one of the best things you can do for your eyes because it delivers so many benefits:

• If you have problems with sinuses/allergies an eye massage can improve blood circulation and relieves sinus pressure. Relieving these symptoms can also help reduce puffiness and dark circles.

• The lymphatic system is positively affected by eye massage because it will speed up lymph drainage. Lymph is a bodily fluid that gets rid of bacteria by catching and then releasing it fromour bodies. Getting rid of toxins in the body can promote a clearer, brighter, more even skin tone.

• Fine lines and wrinkles can be ceased with a simple eye massage. Targeting certain areas around the eye can help reduce stress, headaches, and tension. Many times when one or more of these things occur we squint our eyes and consistently squinting can eventually cause wrinkles around the eye, relieving these symptoms will cease squinting and reduce wrinkles.

• An eye massage can also improve the way your products perform. Pressing formulas deep into your pores will allow them to drive through layers of the skin they may not have been able to normally.

Performing an Eye Massage

Carrying out an eye massage is simple all you need is two minutes and a product to create a slip, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Begin with your finger at the beginning of the brow, sweep out and around the entire eye socket including the bridge of the nose. Repeat this motion 8-10 times.

•  Find two pressure points, one directly above the eyebrow arch and the other below the   beginning of the brow and push firmly for 3 seconds.

• Push firmly on the temples for 3 seconds.

• Use the thumbs to activate the pressure point directly above the inner corners of the eyes, press the area cautiously then release, repeat this step 5 times.

• Use your two middle fingers to rub the temples up and down for about 1 minute.

• Place both index finger on the back of the head directly behind the eyes and massage for one minute. This area can be delicate so be sure to use caution when massaging the head.

Product Recommendations for an Eye Massage

Performing an eye massage is always better with a product specifically made for the eyes, as discussed earlier the formula will drive deep and deliver results. Don’t own an eye cream? Here are several products that will have your eyes bright and wrinkles free.

Special recommendation:

1. Lilyth Absorption Age Eye Cream



Infused with active Eyeliss™, Haloxyl™ and Argireline® that work best in treating puffiness, dark circles, wrinkles and fine lines around the eye area.

Under USD50:

2. Clinique Repairwear Anti-Gravity Eye Cream (All Skin Types)


A rich blend of water, Shea Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol and Butylene Glycol targets fine lines and lifts the eye area by defying the gravity.

3. Clarins Special Eye Contour Balm (Dry Skin)

 
A perfect product for dry skin beauties. This creamy rich eye balm smoothes wrinkles, protects the delicate skin on eyelids and eye contours, and helps keep new lines from forming.

4. Exuviance Hydrating Eye Complex

An ophthalmologist-tested product that works great in smoothening and brightening the eye area. It also reinforces the skin's barrier and reduces fine lines. This product works well under makeup too.

Under USD 100:

5. Christian Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Eye Treatment

Intensely corrects all visible signs of aging in the eye contour area: wrinkles and fine lines of the crow's feet, loss of firmness and radiance.

6. Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Firming / Sculpting Eye Crème

Infused with the Photo-Activated and Nocturnal Lift Complexes that lifts your aging skin and makes it look firm, bright and younger than ever.

7. LANCÔME Advanced Genifique Yeux Youth Activating Eye Cream

All-in-one eye cream that works on dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles all together and gives you a radiant, look eliminating all signs of fatigue.

Over USD 100

8. Sisley Supremÿa at Night The Supreme Anti-Aging Eye Serum


Clinically proven to extend cell life and repair cells, this product shows results just applying for one night. You will see it all in your reduced wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles and lifted eye lids.

9. SK-II LXP Ultimate Perfecting Eye Cream

Moisturizes, smoothens wrinkles and reduces dullness for a younger looking skin just in 3 days of application

10. La Prairie Anti-Aging Eye and Lip Contour Cream

The two-in-one eye and lip contour by La Prairie works well in treating age sensitive areas on your eyes and lips. Infused with natural oils and extracts, this cream firms the aging skin and restores the vitality.


An eye massage can be performed for as long as you please but it normally only takes 3-5 minutes. For brighter, smoother, and more youthful eyes try this simple massage technique each time you apply an eye product!

O'slee C-Shape Eye Mask (Video)

Age really leaves traces at the eyes, there's no doubt about it. Wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, eye bags...they are the number one signs of aging. Thus, other than facial masks, eye masks are also very important.

Recently, I have tried out O'slee Clear Spa Complete C-Shape Eye Mask, what I like most about it is the C-Shape, for many eye masks, they only take care of the bottom eye bag area, but the problem is, wrinkles don't just appear underneath, they will also appear on the eye lids! That's why this is a perfect eye mask, it fits so well, and it really replenishes moisture to the skins, and you will see wrinkles becoming more refined after about using 5 pairs.

Have a look at my video using the eye mask:

Just 10-15 mins, you will see the difference.

Eye Care (Part 5): Concerns & Tips

3. Dark Circles:
Dark shadows under the eyes are often caused by excess pigment, which tends to be hereditary and more common in people with olive skin tones. Medical conditions such as renal and thyroid problems can also cause dark circles, as can fatigue. When you’re tired, you become dehydrated more easily, making skin look thinner and circles more prominent.

Don’t want to look like a panda?

Tips:
1. Enough sleep and plenty of water
Get adequate sleep and drink 8 glasses of water (I know it’s been mentioned in the DOs, but this is the golden rule!)

2. Natural eye masks
Dip a cotton swab into freshly extracted mint juice, rosewater or cold milk. Lie down with your feet raised higher than your head, and then place the wet pads on your closed eyes. Stay that way for 10 minutes. Do this every day and you will start seeing results before long.

Cucumber does for the outside of your body what drinking water does for the inside of the body. Leaving thin slices of cucumber on the dark ring under the eye will make the dark area virtually disappear. Leave on for at least ten minutes.

3. Choose the right cream
Choose a cream with gentle lightening botanicals such as bisabolol and bearberry, plus capillary-strengtheners such as vitamin K and arnica.

4. Stop smoking
Smoking damages the skin and destroys certain vitamins in the body (especially vitamin C, needed to re-build skin cells). De-hydrating the skin, especially when combined with a regular intake of coffee and other high-caffeine drinks will make dark circles worse. To remove dark circles under eyes it is absolutely crucial to take good care of your health and that includes quitting with smoking.

4. Puffiness:
Do you always get puffy eyes in the morning from drinking too much water or crying the night before, but still have to go to work?

Tips:

Kill puffiness in 1 minutes
If you are in a rush (especially in the morning!) but the eyes are puffy, try these easy steps:
1. Take 2 pieces of tissue, fold each into size enough to cover the eye
2. Wet each with cold water
3. Cover them on the eyes for 1 minute
4. Then, there you go! No more puffiness and ready for makeup!

Chilled steel spoon
1. Chill 4 stainless steel spoons in the refrigerator until they are ice cold.
2. Place one over each eye.
3. When the spoons become warm, switch them with the others chilling in the glass of water.
4. Keep switching until you see improvement.

Eye Care (Part 4): Concerns & Tips

1. Wrinkles:
The skin around the eyes is incredibly fragile, with very few oil glands, making it prone to dehydration. Tiny muscles keep the area working constantly as we express ourselves, giving rise to wrinkles. Smoking and sun are also enemies here.

Tips:
Eye cream: Choose an eye cream with sunscreen for daytime use. Every night, apply a quality night eye cream packed with anti-ageing, nourishing and hydrating ingredients. Remember to use your fourth finger to tap the eye cream from outer to inner corner to your under eye area.

Eye mask: Once or twice a week, use eye mask to “pump” skin’s suppleness.

Makeup removal: When removing make-up, drench the cotton pad with remover and dab gently rather than dragging across the eye.

2. Brittle eyelashes:
Are your eyelashes fragile?

Tips:
Lubricate Your Lashes: An easy way to draw attention to your eyes without putting on a pile of makeup is to comb petroleum jelly lightly through the tips of eyelashes to get a sexy, subtle sparkle.

Hope these little tips are helpful to you.

Next time: Tip for battling dark circles and puffiness! Come back soon!

Eye Care (Part 3): DON'Ts - Win a FREE gift here!

Right, have you been practising? It takes time to see results, don't give up! Keep on working!

Here are a few points of DON'Ts, they are important for protecting your eyes, so check them out!

DON’Ts



1. Don’t rub your eyes!
I know this is very hard to comply, I myself am always tempted when it gets itchy. But just remember that rubbing your eyes can cause wrinkles as the skin around them is very delicate. Wrinkles! Scary stuff women don’t want to have, so NO RUBBING starts from today! (P.S. As a side note, rubbing could also damage your cornea if there are dusts or substances on it.)

Just blink your eyes when it feels uncomfortable. Every time you blink your eye, a tiny bit of tear fluid comes out of your upper eyelid. It helps wash away germs, dust, or other particles that don't belong in your eye.

2. Don’t cover your eyes with your hair
Otherwise you won’t be able to see things! It would also affect your eye sight as you are constantly not seeing things clearly (through the “hair curtain”), your eyes would send wrong messages to your brain that the eyes have problems. And eventually, you might end up with glasses covering the beautiful eyes.

3. Don’t read under strong lighting or with light shining directly into your eyes.

4. Don’t read in moving vehicles
It’s always shaky on vehicles and your eyes need extra concentration to focus and cause eye strain, which will dry your eyes and make them tired.

Remember not to do any of the above.

Do you have any personal DON'Ts when it comes to eye care? Share with us and gain a pair of FREE Clinique Moisture Surge Eyemask! The BEST shared tips will get them. Make sure you leave your email address for the redemption email. Leave your comments and SHARE with us!

Eye Care: DOs (Part 2) - Win a FREE gift here!

So, did you find the DOs in Part 1 helpful? Here is the Part 2 in which I will show you how to massage your eyes.

4. Massage your eyes & Palming

Massage:
To help blood circulation around the eye area, use your fourth finger to tap around the eyes for 3 minutes every morning. This can reduce puffiness and dark circle in the long run. It would be best if accompanied by soft music to enhance relaxation.

Palming:
1. Rub your hands together vigorously to make them warm.
2. Cup the hands slightly and cover your closed eyes with your hands.
3. Rest your hands on the tissue surrounding the eyes rather than the eyes themselves.
4. Now breathe deeply into your abdomen, then let the breath out completely. Relax.
5. Meditation is a good accompaniment to palming and will help you relax. Use pillows to support your arms when you palm while meditating.

Palm for 5-minute periods during the work day but try for one 20 minute period each day during the weekend.

(Adapted from cyberparent.com)

5. Rest your eyes
Take 5-10 minutes rest after using the computer for 30-40 minutes.

6. Regular exercise
Regular exercise can improve blood circulation, so that your eyes can receive enough oxygen for good performance.

7. Sufficient sleep
Take adequate rest. It will refresh the eyes and help them work more efficiently.

What are your personal eye care tips? Share with us and gain a pair of FREE Clinique Moisture Surge Eyemask! The BEST shared tips will get them. Make sure you leave your email address for the redemption email. Leave your comments and SHARE with us!

The best remedy is all about resting after all. Try your best to have 8 hours sleep every night.

Coming up in this Eye Care series:
Tackle the most concerned eye problems: wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles

Check back soon for the tricks and quick fix!

Eye Care: DOs (Part 1) - Win a FREE gift here!

Eye Care, I Care

We see things through our eyes: pretty, ugly, happy, sad, clean, dirty...etc. Without eyes, our lives would be colourless, so it makes sense for us to take good care of them. That's why I am launching this Eye Care Series with Eye Care DOs & DON'Ts and Concerns & Tips. Now, let's start off with DOs (Part 1).


1. Blink often Blinking is a good massage and exercise to the eyes.

2. Vitamin A for brighter eyes!
Vitamin A is especially important for night vision. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to further eye disorders with symptoms such as dryness of the conjunctiva, swollen lids and ulcers that can form on the cornea.

So keep a balanced diet, including food that are rich in Vitamin A, e.g. water melon, tomato, papaya, carrot, coloured vegetables. (I love carrots!)


3. 8 glasses of water a day, gets the puffiness away!

When you are dehydrated, the body will start storing up water and that's when the puffiness appear. So stay hydrated to prevent that. Plus, water can flush out the waste inside your body and thus avoid puffiness in the eyes.

What are your personal eye care tips? Share with us and gain a pair of FREE Clinique Moisture Surge Eyemask! The BEST shared tips will get them. Make sure you leave your email address for the redemption email. Leave your comments and SHARE with us!

Stay tune for the DOs (Part 2) with more practical step by step eye care tips! And useful tricks for banishing the most concerned problems of the eye area: wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness! Don't miss them!