Article Overview
The skin around your under-eye area is significantly thinner than other parts of your face, with less natural fatty tissue to give the skin structural support. This is why, as your skin matures, under-eye wrinkles tend to be one of the first noticeable signs of ageing.
While under-eye wrinkles are a natural part of ageing, these fine lines and wrinkles are often exacerbated by external aggressors. However, with the right skincare and preventative habits, you can help firm and smooth the delicate skin under your eyes.
Read on for our expert advice to diminish the appearance of under-eye wrinkles with lifestyle tips and SkinCeuticals’s key anti-ageing formulas.
What causes under-eye wrinkles?
Under-eye wrinkles stem from a combination of internal and external factors. These include:
• Collagen and elastin decline: Your body’s natural production of key structural proteins like collagen and elastin slows with age, causing wrinkles to form.
• UV damage: Cumulative UV damage causes collagen and elastin to break down.
• Repetitive facial expressions: Since the under-eye skin is so thin, decades’ worth of facial movements contribute to deep-set lines.
• Dehydration: A lack of water in the skin can exaggerate the appearance of under-eye wrinkles.
• Genetics: Your genetic makeup will often dictate where lines form. You can generally get a sense of what your future wrinkles will look like based on your grandparents and parents.
• Lifestyle factors: Smoking, a lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and chronic stress can all cause damage to skin cells and lead to more prominent wrinkles.
Types of under-eye wrinkles
Under-eye wrinkles can be categorised into two types: dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles.
• Dynamic wrinkles: Think of these lines as expression-based wrinkles. They only appear when the face is mid-movement, such as squinting, smiling, and laughing.
• Static wrinkles: These wrinkles are visible even when the facial muscles are relaxed – like permanent smile lines or crow’s feet.
Outside of dynamic and static under-eye wrinkles, it’s common to experience textural skin changes around the eye. Crepey skin is one such textural change, known for its resemblance to ‘crepe’ or tissue paper.
How to prevent and manage under-eye wrinkles
While you can’t entirely stop natural skin ageing, there are plenty of preventative skincare and lifestyle habits you can adopt to avoid deep under-eye wrinkles.
Read on for our expert strategies to help minimise future under-eye wrinkles and smooth the appearance of existing ones.
Apply a targeted eye cream
Since the under-eye skin is so delicate and thin, it needs specific care separate to the rest of the skin on the face. An eye cream will help smooth under-eye wrinkles and promote firmer, plumper skin.
Designed to tackle visible signs of ageing, the A.G.E. Advanced Eye for Dark Circles is formulated to visibly reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness while hydrating the skin.
Use an antioxidant-rich eye serum
In the same way that a facial serum provides a highly concentrated treatment to the skin, an eye serum can also deliver powerful active ingredients to the skin around the eyes.
Formulated with a unique serum-in-a-gel texture, the Antioxidant AOX Vitamin C Eye Gel is enriched with a powerful antioxidant blend of 5% pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid), 1% phloretin, and 0.5% ferulic acid. Together, phloretin, vitamin C and ferulic acid protect the eye area from environmental damage that causes under-eye wrinkles and other premature signs of ageing..
Keep your skin well-hydrated
Dehydrated skin emphasises the appearance of under-eye wrinkles, so it’s important to keep your skin well hydrated overall. This means ensuring you drink enough water each day – at least two litres – and apply moisture-locking skincare to ensure the skin surface is nourished and well-lubricated.
Hydrate and firm skin with the A.G.E Interrupter Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Cream, a moisturiser for ageing skin that helps improve elasticity and support smoother-looking skin.
Add retinol to your skincare routine
A staple in anti-ageing skincare routines for mature skin, retinol helps stimulate collagen synthesis (to support the skin’s structure and firmness) and encourage skin cell turnover (to smooth texture).
You can help minimise the depth of under-eye wrinkles with the Retinol 0.3 Anti-Ageing Night Cream. This formula is designed for first-time retinol users or those returning to retinol after some time. Initial application should be one to two times per week – and only in the evening. You can gradually increase frequency as your skin acclimatises.
Wear SPF daily
Arguably, the best under-eye wrinkle treatment is prevention, which is why sunscreen plays such an integral role in all skincare routines.
We suggest a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect you from both UVB rays and UVA rays (which accelerate premature signs of ageing). Apply SkinCeuticals’s Ultra Facial Defense Sunscreen SPF50 daily at the end of your skincare routine.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
Apply 20 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.
Support with healthy lifestyle habits
Poor lifestyle behaviours can have an adverse effect on skin and exacerbate under-eye wrinkles, so it’s important to support the work of your skincare with protective habits:
• Be sure to get enough sleep – this is when your skin is actively in repair mode.
• Eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants.
• Manage stress where possible – high cortisol levels can break down collagen.
• Try sleeping on your back to prevent eye creases from forming.
• Wear UV-rated sunglasses to avoid sun exposure and minimise squinting.
• Limit your alcohol intake and avoid smoking.
Collagen loss is a major contributing factor in how under-eye wrinkles form. Next, explore our in-depth guide to boosting collagen production in the skin.
