How To Prevent Under Eye Wrinkles – Simple Habits for A Youthful Look

Changes in our skin as we age are inevitable, including loss of moisture, changes in hair growth, and wrinkles. These changes are totally natural, but not always welcome.

Under-eye wrinkles are some of the most noticeable facial wrinkles and some of the earliest to show up as we get older. Lines and wrinkles show up so easily in this area of our faces because the skin under our eyes is extremely thin and fragile. Luckily, there are ways to slow down the appearance of these wrinkles, and in some cases, even prevent them! 

Doing things to look fresh and youthful doesn’t have to be a process that takes hours out of your day. Skip the skincare routine with dozens of steps and hundreds of dollars of products, and instead, check out our list of 5 simple habits for youthful looks.

First, let’s look at what factors can cause under-eye wrinkles to pop up prematurely. We’ll go over things like how hydration affects your skin, how to avoid sun damage and many other ways to banish under-eye wrinkles.

 

What Causes Under Eye Wrinkles?

Besides natural ageing, there are a few factors in our day-to-day lives that can cause under-eye wrinkles to appear before we expect them. Most of these elements are preventable and are also good things to avoid for all your skin, not just the skin under your eyes.

Collagen and elastin are proteins in your skin that help to keep it smooth. These wrinkle-causing factors often damage the collagen and elastin in your skin, making it more difficult for your skin to keep its smooth appearance and maintain a healthy skin barrier, especially under the eyes.

 

What Are the Most Common Causes Of Under Eye Wrinkles?

The delicate skin under your eyes is often one of the first areas to show signs of ageing. Several lifestyle habits and environmental factors can contribute to wrinkles, from sun exposure to dehydration, and even the way you sleep. Understanding these common causes can help you take proactive steps to keep your under-eye area smooth:

UV Radiation and sun exposure

Damage to your skin from UV radiation, which comes from sun exposure, is the most prevalent and detrimental factor that can cause under-eye wrinkles. It’s impossible to avoid the sun altogether. But always wear a sunscreen that protects your delicate under-eye skin from UV radiation to help with your anti-ageing routine.

 

Dehydration

“Drink more water” is the first line of defence for so many health issues, and that includes wrinkles under your eyes. When you are well hydrated, your skin is plumper and less likely to look creased or wrinkled.

 

Smoking

Smoking not only damages your skin, but it also negatively affects your whole body. Nicotine restricts blood flow to the skin. And all the smoke in your face and chemicals being inhaled don’t help your skin stay tight, either.

 

Tanning

Tanning beds and salons are becoming less popular and for good reason. Tanning damages your skin exactly as excess sun exposure does, but at much higher dosages.

 

Lack of moisture

Under-eye skin is thin and sensitive, making it prone to dryness. Regularly applying a nourishing eye cream helps maintain elasticity and prevent fine lines. Neglecting moisture can make wrinkles more noticeable over time.

 

Repetitive facial expressions

Smiling, squinting, or frowning repeatedly can crease the skin under your eyes. Over time, these lines may become permanent. Even sleeping face down on a pillow can contribute to wrinkling if your skin is pressed and scrunched nightly.

 

How to Combat Eye Wrinkles

Now that we know what causes under-eye wrinkles, we can learn how we can combat these wrinkle-causing variables! Some things, like age and the creases in our skin from smiling and frowning throughout our lives, are unavoidable. Still, even those lines can be lessened with some of our simple habits for a youthful look.

 

Facial Exercises and Massages

We might not be able to massage our own backs, but we can certainly massage our faces! Facial exercises and massage help to increase blood flow in the skin. This can be especially beneficial for thin skin like your under-eyes.

Facial massage and exercise promote youthful, tighter skin. Combine this with a moisturising treatment for even better results. Look for eye creams that include peptides, hyaluronic acid, or retinol to support firming and plumping effects.

 

SPF Sunscreen

Excess sun exposure is the number one factor behind prematurely aged skin. Luckily, preventing sunburn and harmful UV radiation is as simple as applying a layer of sunscreen every morning.

The harsh sun, and especially sunburn, destroys the collagen in your skin. Protect your skin with a sunscreen that is at least SPF 35, and it will look younger, longer.

 

Limit Smoking, Vaping, and Alcohol Consumption

Smoking (and yes, that includes vaping) will cause your skin to age so much faster for several reasons. Your under-eye skin will be bombarded with smoke while you puff on your cigarette and the nicotine in the cigarettes and vapes will restrict the blood flow to your skin. Since your under-eye skin is so thin, it’s even more important to have good blood flow.

Smoking and vaping also introduce all kinds of toxic chemicals into your body, and that’s bad news for all your skin, not just your under-eyes.

The same is true for alcohol. Alcohol, when ingested, causes inflammation and severe dehydration. Staying hydrated is imperative for smooth, healthy skin, and alcohol does just the opposite.

 

Stay Hydrated

You knew it was coming, but we’re going to tell you anyway because staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to avoid under-eye wrinkles! When you drink water, it affects every single cell in your body, even your skin cells, plumping them up and making them healthier. 

Water also helps to flush out toxins from your body and skin, and studies suggest that drinking an adequate amount of water is just as important as using a topical moisturiser.

 

Stay Moisturised

Almost as important as the moisture you drink is the moisture you apply topically to your under-eye area. Dry skin isn’t just unpleasant to the touch, it’s also dull and more prone to wrinkling.

Your delicate under-eye skin will lose moisture faster than other areas of your face. So, make sure to apply moisturiser daily as part of your skincare routine. 

For the best results, we recommend using a product made for eye wrinkle treatments that target fine lines while preventing wrinkles from forming prematurely. These can be treatments like a moisturiser with retinol. Retinol helps the skin renew itself and produce more collagen, but make sure to wear sunscreen when using it, as it can make your skin more sensitive to sun exposure.