If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then most of us have got very dark and puffy windowsills. When it comes to anti-ageing wellness, dark circles and bags under your eyes are a dead giveaway, and one that affects many-a-person’s wellbeing. According to dermatologist Valerie Goldburt, MD, PhD, of NYU Langone Medical Centre, ‘I hear patients voice complaints several times a day.’ However, the good news is, once you work out what your particular eye-problem is, there are some effective, wellness fixes you can try.
1. Morning-after puffy eyes: Water building up under your eyes could be due to a cold, seasonal allergy or sinus infection. Goldburt explains, ‘We have the thinnest skin around our eyes, so it’s the area that’s most influenced by the in-and-out flow of fluids.’ Another reason for puffy eyes might be that you ate too much salty food last night, or cried a lot. Goldburt clarifies, ‘Water always travels from areas in the body where there’s low salt concentration to tissues where there’s more salt.’ If your puffy eyes are due to hay fever or colds, over-the-counter medications, such as neti pots, will probably sort your eyes out. Sleeping on your back with an extra pillow under your head also encourages the water not to collect in your eyes. Goldburt says, ‘The earlier you start changing your sleep position, the better, because after a few years under-eye bags can became permanent.’
2. Dark Circles: Unlike puffy eyes, dark circles are often not temporary or caused by something in your life. Rather, pigmentary issues are often inherited, and the natural ageing process also contribute to dark circles as the skin around your eye becomes thinner and exposes the tiny blood vessels that lie just below. That said, New York makeup artist Kimara Ahnert asserts that you can still do something about it. Choose a concealer than matches your skin tone and, if you have mild discoloration, make sure you pick a liquid formula. For more prominent shadows, coverage with a cream or cake concealer is best, just pat the concealer on lightly from the inner corner of your eye to just past the outer corner. Joseph Eviatar, MD, a New York ophthalmic plastic surgeon, notes that dark circles caused by extremely thin skin are ‘really difficult to treat, [but] eye creams that contain caffeine may help a bit because they constrict the underlying blood vessels.’
3. General quick fixes: If you just generally want more youthful-looking eyes, start by quitting smoking and applying sun cream to your eye area on a daily basis. Both smoking and exposure to UV rays weaken your collagen production, which causes premature wrinkling and sagging. Another top tip from Goldburt is to apply a moisturiser to your eye area every night. ‘You don’t need to spend a lot,’ Goldburt assures. ‘Almost any drugstore moisturiser will provide the hydration you need.’ However, Goldburt’s number one tip is to use a prescription retinoic acid – the vitamin A cream that goes by the generic name tretinoin – as part of your daily skin care regimen. According to Goldburt, ‘It’s the single best thing you can use to prevent wrinkles and improve existing lines.’ Brent Moelleken, MD, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, adds ‘We have patients who swear by’ using a haemorrhoid cream on puffy eyes. ‘But we suggest a retinol eye cream instead.’ If all else fails, why not try the classic, cheap options of placing cold spoons, slices of cucumbers, chilled tea bags, or even a package of frozen peas under your eyes. The cool temperatures – rather than any special properties of cucumbers or peas – reduce swelling.
