Home > Appearance > Advice for Younger Looking Eyes

Advice for Younger Looking Eyes

By: Hsin-Yi Cohen BSc, MA, MSt - Updated: 22 Apr 2014 | comments*Discuss
 
Crows Feet Wrinkles Eye Cream Eyes Anti

Your eyes might be the windows to your soul, but unfortunately, they are also a good window into the signs of ageing. Crows feet, wrinkles, dark shadows and puffy under-eye bags all contribute towards making your look old and tired, whilst conversely, brightening up a person’s eyes can give them an instantly more youthful appearance. So how can you get younger looking eyes?

Banish Tired Looking Eyes!

The first thing is to get enough sleep and drink enough water. Lack of sleep and dehydration are the two biggest factors in making eyes look dull, old and puffy.

If you suffer from extremely puffy eyes, consider buying a few fluffy pillows which will elevate your head more and help reduce water retention, which can contribute to the puffiness and under-eye bags. Try to avoid excessive alcohol and salty foods as these can cause water retention and under-eye puffiness.

Skincare Tricks

A good skincare routine, especially for the delicate skin around the eyes, is a must for anyone wishing to have younger looking eyes. Always apply an eye cream before going to bed at night and also in the morning, after washing your face, to help with any issues such as puffiness and bags.

Choose a cream or gel especially designed for this area, not just your usual face cream, and you can now find a range of special anti ageing products and treatments for the eye area on the market. The delicate skin around the eyes is very thin and fragile so apply the cream very gently, ideally with your weakest finger (e.g.. little finger).

Rubbing the eye cream in too roughly or pulling the skin around the eyes while applying the cream can be just as damaging – the cream or gel should be gently patted on and only enough used so that it can be easily absorbed.

A few home-made remedies can help reduce bags and puffiness – try putting a few slices of chilled cucumber over your eyes and lying down to relax until the cucumber slices have warmed up. Alternatively, camomile teabags – moistened and then cooled – also work well or even a couple of chilled spoons.

Make-Up Tricks

A few clever make-up tricks can go a long way to towards giving the illusion of brighter, younger looking eyes. First, find a good creamy concealer that matches your skin tone and apply that gently to the area under the eyes to smooth away any dark circles. In particular, if you have severe dark circles, choose a concealer with a yellow undertone which will counteract the bluish shade under the eyes.

Stay away from frosted eyeshadows, especially as you get older – they are unflattering, highlight any wrinkles and can also make the eyes appear smaller. However, you can look for a light coloured shadow which has a hint of shimmer. If applying eye liner, keep things soft – harsh lines do not suit old age and black is often too harsh. Try a soft brown instead or even a light blue eye liner, to bring out the whites of your eyes.

However, be careful of liner on the lower lids – for a more natural look, it is best to just line the upper lids and to stay as close to the lash line as possible, smudging when finished for a softer look. Similarly, with mascara, choosing a dark brown or sable shade may be more flattering than black. Lash curlers can also help to open up the eyes.

Don’t forget your eye brows, as these frame the face and if shaped correctly, can enhance your looks significantly. In fact, a great brow arch can instantly lift your eyes. Start by tweezing stray hairs and combing your brow into place, then using a dark brown/black eye shadow to shade in any sparse areas, rather than pencil, to maintain the soft look.

If you have not plucked and shaped your own brows for some time, it may be worth investing in a professional shape and pluck, to update your look and set you in the right direction. You will also get valuable advice in maintaining your brows.

Cosmetic and Surgical Treatments

For those who want to go one step further, there are now a range of cosmetic and surgical procedures which act as anti-ageing treatments for the eye. These include blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery) which involves the removal of fat and excess skin from the upper and lower eyes lids, thus correcting drooping eyelids and puffy eye bags.

Another popular procedure is the brow lift which helps to correct drooping eyebrows and loose skin around that area, thus giving a more youthful appearance. Lastly, Botox injections are now all the rage and are used to target wrinkles at the corner of the eyes, smoothing away crows feet.

The drawbacks of Botox are the risks of a drooping eyelid or even double vision, due to poor administration – therefore, it is vital to find a highly skilled eye surgeon who is experienced in performing such injections. Remember also that the effect of Botox is not permanent, with most effects lasting only 3 months and crows feet may need even more frequent treatment – and thus carries all the usual risks of frequent artificial cosmetic treatment.

You might also like...
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice..
Why not be the first to leave a comment for discussion, ask for advice or share your story...

If you'd like to ask a question one of our experts (workload permitting) or a helpful reader hopefully can help you... We also love comments and interesting stories

Title:
(never shown)
Firstname:
(never shown)
Surname:
(never shown)
Email:
(never shown)
Nickname:
(shown)
Comment:
Validate:
Enter word:
Topics