Eye Skin Hydration: The Key to Aging Gracefully
They say the eyes are the window to the soul. Your eyes are often the first thing anyone notices when they meet you and can impact someone’s first impression of you, which is why keeping your skin hydrated around the eyes is critical. Are you giving people the perception of energy, vitality, and youth with plump and hydrated eyes? Or are you coming off as stressed and fatigued with circles, fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, and dry skin?
If you want to age as gracefully as a Kardashian, you need to target your eyes in your skin care routine. This page will serve to provide all the information you need on eye skin hydration so you don’t succumb to aging any earlier than you already have to. You deserve to look naturally beautiful, energetic, and vibrant for many years to come!
Contents:
1. About Eye Hydration: Symptoms, Causes, and Intervention
Why Is Eye Skin So Vulnerable To Aging?
Think about everything your eyes do during the day. We scrunch them up when we smile during a conversation. We squint at the sunlight as we drive our car. We strain them to read on our digital devices. It’s no wonder that the eyes tend to lose moisture and reveal signs of aging first. The skin around them is thin, sensitive, and has less fat cushioning it than skin on other parts of the face.
We can protect your eyes by hydrating the skin around them to prevent and repair signs of aging. Manufacturers have developed skin care treatment specifically formulated to treat these sensitive areas, so it’s simple to prevent and even reverse aging eyes nowadays.
Although you shouldn’t wait until you have signs of dehydrated eyes to make eye hydration a habit, here are some of the signs that this important area needs attention.
Symptoms of Dry, Dehydrated Eye Skin
If the skin around your eyes is dehydrated, dermatologists from the Mayo Clinic say you may experience the following symptoms:
- Flaky, scaly, irritated, or itchy skin of eyelids or surrounding areas
- Dry skin patches
- Worsening of dark circles
- Discoloration around the eyes
- Accentuated fine lines or crow’s feet
- Difficulty applying concealer or makeup around the eyes
Despite your best efforts to prevent these symptoms, you can still end up with dry, discolored skin around your eyes. It’s enough to make you want to flip a table and scream at the sky. Why do these things happen? That’s a fair question, but a somewhat complex one to answer.
What Causes Dry Skin Around the Eyes?
Because not all of us can be Paul Rudd, the skin around our eyes can become dry and dehydrated simply due to aging. Your eye skin is thin, which makes it especially vulnerable to the passing years. Over time, this area naturally gets thinner, more transparent, and more fragile.
Your skin type can also make a difference in whether the skin around your eyes is hydrated or dry. For example, the American Academy of Dermatology Association reports that people with brown, black, or fair skin are more likely to develop dry skin than those with medium complexions.
Even environmental and lifestyle factors, such as the following, can contribute to dry skin.
- Sun exposure
- Pollution
- Weather, including extremely hot or cold conditions
- Lack of sleep
- Poor diet
- Stress
When Should I See a Doctor for Dry Skin Around the Eyes?
You don’t necessarily need to go running to your doctor’s office for dry eye skin, this issue can impact your quality of life and physical appearance. Most women take great pride in their looks, so if your self confidence is negatively impacted by the dry eyes you see in the mirror, Dr. Dennis Gross suggests making lifestyle changes and using skin care solutions that hydrate the affected skin.
However, if dry skin symptoms get worse, do not go away, interfere with your sleep or vision, or appear inflamed or infected, it’s best to see a dermatologist, ophthalmologist, or other health care provider.
2. Six Tips for Healthy, Hydrated Skin Around the Eyes
Moisturize and Drink Lots of Water!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder — literally and figuratively. Moisturize and nourish the skin around your eyes with a hydrating eye cream or eye serum to keep them looking youthful and radiant. Make the practice a routine part of your daily skin care.
You should also drink plenty of water to stay hydrated throughout the day. (Researchers have not yet determined whether drinking water has a direct impact on skin health, but it’s good for overall health.) We’re not talking the eight cups a day you’ve heard about your whole life — it should be closer to 12 for women and 16 for men, according to The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Wear Sunscreen 👏 Wear Sunscreen 👏 Wear Sunscreen 👏
The sun is no joke. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology reports that destructive UV rays cause 80% of aging and can make you look like Betty White in your 50s if you aren’t diligent with sunblock.
Carefully follow recommendations from skincancer.org by applying a mineral sunscreen around the eyes every day. Stick sunscreens might work better for those who are active. If possible, look for an SPF product made specifically for application around the eyes. You can also wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when outdoors for optimal sun protection.
Be Gentle
Remember that the skin around the eyes is more fragile than skin on the rest of the face. Avoid using beauty products that contain harsh ingredients like alcohol or fragrances as well as scrubs or abrasive cleansers, which can instantly strip away your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Instead, wash the face deeply with gentle, creamy cleansers and moisturizers. Spot dry facial skin, especially around the eyes.
Nourish Your Skin
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends looking for cooling gel cream or serum that contains ingredients shown to positively affect skin health. These include hyaluronic acid, shea butter, jojoba oil, dimethicone, glycerin, lactic acid, and shea butter. Researchers have found that topical application of some plant oils, like avocado oil, increase wound healing and the body’s ability to make collagen.
Diet is also related to the condition of the skin from the inside out. (Yes, your skin cares about what you eat!) Eat plenty of vitamin-rich fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats for healthy skin.
Say No to Smoking
We’ve all seen the cigarette commercials showing the effects of tobacco products on our bodies. It’s simple — don’t smoke tobacco. Toxins from tobacco smoke can dry and dull facial skin, especially around the eyes. Researchers from the International Journal of Biomedical Science say you should also fight free radical damage with creams, gels, or serums that contain antioxidants, including vitamin C and vitamin E.
Stress Less. Sleep More.
We all experience stress, whether from a nine to five job, the aftermath of COVID-19, wrangling a house full of children, or the outcome of the Bachelor. Regardless of what stresses you out, Dr. Mitchel Goldman says that long-lasting stress can damage skin, causing collagen breakdown and premature aging. Figure out what’s stressing you out and carve out time in your day to decompress. You should also sleep well. The American Academy of Dermatology Association has confirmed that the body, including skin, renews during sleep.
3. DIY Eye Skin Tips
Let’s admit that we are all suckers for DIY hacks. We have a few tips that pertain to DIY skin care if you’re seeking out holistic remedies.
You may be able to hydrate the skin around your eyes on your own with Style Craze’s traditional home remedies, including aloe vera gel, vitamin E gel, green tea bags, cucumber, yogurt, and rose water. There is not a lot of science to back up their use, but some swear by remedies like these.
Keep in mind when applying these or other home remedies that they should not enter the eye, and it’s best to test the skin’s reaction to any remedy on the inner arm or wrist before applying it to sensitive skin.
DIY skin care around the eyes can be affordable — if it works. However, it can have high costs if you try lots of different home remedies that cause allergic reactions or eye infections. Remember that YouTubers and social media influencers touting skin care hacks might claim to be experts, but there’s nothing to prove they are. Buyer beware.
4. Dermatologist-Recommended Eye Skin Care on a Budget
Doctor-recommended skin care products are your best bet for effective products, and they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are simple, low-cost dermatological options that can help hydrate the skin around the eyes. Generally, daily skin care routines should include cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting the skin, especially around the eyes.
The American Academy of Dermatology offers these tips:
- Wash your face gently before applying moisturizer and before going to bed.
- To get the most out of moisturizer, apply it to damp skin.
- Look for products that are non-comedogenic, which means they won’t clog pores.
- Consider traditional petroleum jelly. It’s cheap and moisturizes the skin.
- Have realistic expectations, especially from anti-aging products. Results are often hard to see and take time.
- Select skin care products that are affordable for long-term use.
- Apply products as directed.
- Stop using any over-the-counter skin care products if they sting, burn, or tingle.
Eye Skin-Specific Solutions
Dermatologists also recommend topical skin care specifically formulated for use around the eyes. Some of these products are backed by scientific studies that prove their efficacy. For example, some anti-aging eye cream formulas not only offer immediate results by hydrating the skin around the eyes, but they also offer long-term benefits.
Used routinely, some scientifically proven and dermatologist-recommended products can:
- Boost collagen
- Improve skin elasticity
- Accelerate skin renewal
- Improve skin tone (including dark circles)
- Smooth fine lines and wrinkles
- Prevent sun damage and, ultimately, sunspots
5. What to Look For in Eye Skin Care
A product’s active ingredients — those that drive good results — set a product apart in a crowded marketplace. Top eye creams, eye gels, and eye serums have high concentrations of quality ingredients, which have the ability to deliver important ingredients below the skin’s surface. If a topical cream just sits on the skin, it might lock in some hydration, but that’s about it.
Many dermatologists only recommend skin care products that are backed by science. They also tend to recommend products that do not contain parabens, propylene glycol, gluten, fragrance, and other irritants.
Finding a product specifically designed to prevent and reverse damaged skin around the eyes is the first step. The next step is to use it as directed. The third step? Take care of your skin by protecting it from environmental toxins and by living a healthy lifestyle.
6. DefenAge Eye Skin Care Solutions
DefenAge is a line of skin care products backed by science, having been tested in five clinical studies. The line includes a hydrating eye cream and a product specifically designed for skin around the neck. It’s the perfect addition to the skin care regimen of any individual wanting to defy their age and defend their skin against damage and wrinkles.
How Our Proprietary Ingredients Work
Doctors discovered the anti-aging properties of DefenAge’s proprietary ingredient defensins in 2014. They discovered that these molecules naturally awaken dormant skin cells to create new skin, which led to the skin care line’s launch the following year.
DefenAge has since been shown in published studies to hydrate skin and reverse visible signs of aging skin. In one study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, dermatologist investigators found DefenAge Skincare improved the visual appearance of fine and coarse wrinkles, pore size, and brown spots. The skincare regimen also improved such skin qualities as hydration without causing irritation.
What’s in 3D Eye Radiance Cream — and What’s Not?
DefenAge’s 3D Eye Radiance Cream contains defensins, which are unique to the product line. These are natural molecules that stimulate the body’s dormant stem cells to produce new skin. The eye product, like the rest of the line, also includes hyaluronic acid, which promotes hydration, and a blend of natural extracts and antioxidants shown to fight cell damage and strengthen elastin.
DefenAge products are formulated without abrasives, aluminum salts, animal-derived ingredients, BPA, BHT/BHA, chemical sunscreens, coal tar, colorants, formaldehyde-releasing agents, formaldehydes, gluten ingredients, growth factors, human-derived ingredients, hydroquinone, irritating acids, mineral oil, parabens, paraffin, petrolatum, phthalates, polyethylene and polypropylene, propylene glycol, retinyl palmitate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, strong emulsifiers, sulfates, talc, triclocarban, triclosan, and triethanolamine.
The line’s eye cream is ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested, and safe for contact lens wearers.
DefenAge Eye Cream Results
Dermatologists who recommend DefenAge’s 3D Eye Radiance Cream have reported seeing less eye puffiness, diminished dark under-eye circles, and smoother skin with fewer lines and wrinkles. You could experience the same results! Dermatologists recommend applying DefenAge’s eye cream as part of their skin care routine, both morning and night.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/symptoms-causes/syc-20353885
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/dry-skin-causes
https://observer.com/2017/10/why-the-skin-around-your-eyes-ages-so-quickly-and-how-to-protect-it/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/hydrated-skin/faq-20058067
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3790843/pdf/ccid-6-221.pdf
https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sunscreen-around-your-eyes/
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28707186/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614697/pdf/IJBS-4-89.pdf
https://clderm.com/what-does-stress-do-to-your-skin/
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/skin-care-in-your-40s-and-50s
https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/15-tips-to-control-dryness-around-your-eyes/
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/skin-care-budget
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/maximize-anti-aging-products