They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. But they are also what those around us gaze into, and if the skin around them is puffy, tired-looking, or riddled with fine lines, no amount of poetic homage to our peepers will fix that first impression.
Luckily, there are natural ingredients that can help restore a bright and youthful appearance.
Wrinkles in Time
Unfortunately, fine lines appear around the eyes before they do anywhere else on the face. This area tends to have thinner skin and fewer oil glands. Not to mention the workout it gets through the many facial expressions we make.
Fine lines also become more noticeable when skin is dry. During this time of year, when heating systems are being turned on, keep hydrated to prevent further moisture loss. Drinking lots of water helps keep skin cells and the spaces between them plumped up, so fine lines appear less obvious.
Moisturizing the delicate skin around the eyes helps minimize fine lines by retaining moisture in the skin’s outer layers. Try moisturizers containing antioxidant ingredients. Vitamin C can help protect against ultraviolet damage and increase collagen production. Look for products containing stabilized vitamin C derivatives (L-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and ascorbyl palmitate), as this vitamin can oxidize easily.
Another helpful ingredient is vitamin E. It helps skin retain moisture and protects against oxidative damage and UV rays. Vitamin A works at fighting wrinkles too, and rosehip seed oil contains lots of this vitamin. With consistent use, rosehip seed oil can help minimize wrinkles and fine lines. Two other great antioxidant ingredients for the skin are alpha lipoic acid and coenzyme Q10.