The Skin Around Your Eyes - Why You May Be Having Issues With It
The skin around your eyes is one of the first places on your body to show signs of aging. In fact, a study showed that under-eye wrinkles are the most pronounced signs of aging in women between the age of 20-29.
This is due to the structure of the skin itself.
The Skin is Thinner:
The skin around the eye is much thinner than other facial areas. It is approximately 0.5 - 1 mm thick vs 2.5 - 3 mm of the skin measured on the cheek or chin. (A piece of printer paper is between .05 -.1 mm for reference.)
When you think of the function of the skin around your eyes it makes perfect sense that it should be thinner. You blink, squint, and move the area constantly throughout the day. The thinness of this skin allows for better mobility and a certain amount of light to pass through which has been shown to regulate our circadian rhythms and sleep quality.
However, because of this, the skin around our eyes has fewer oil glands and collagen than the other areas of the body. This can lead to dryness of the area and wrinkles showing up a little sooner since the lack of collagen will show the “expression lines” from the big muscle around each eye more predominantly. It is also harder to protect this area from UV rays and free radical damage as this thin skin can be a bit more sensitive.
The orbicularis oculi muscles circle the eyes. Parts of this muscle act to open and close the eyelids and are important muscles in facial expression.
The blood vessels that provide nutrients and oxygen are smaller in thinner skin. This is what causes dark circles and puffiness when we are sleep deprived, sick or dehydrated.
Eye Area Fixes:
Puffiness & Dark Circles
Look for products that contain caffeine, peptides and/or diosmin, a form of an antioxidant derived from caffeine. These ingredients will constrict blood vessels making them less apparent as well as act as an anti inflammatory.
My Fav
Awaken Peptide Eye Gel
This contains 3 different peptides and diosmin. Pro tip: place in fridge for 15 min prior to applying on really puffy days.
Wrinkles
Look for ingredients like peptides and retinol to boost skin turnover.
My Fav
Vivant’s WInk
This product does it all. It contains peptides, caffeine and an eye safe retinol.
Aging & UV Protection
Look for products containing antioxidants A, C and/or E as well as sunscreens made with zinc and/or titanium dioxide.
My Fav
Dermalogica’s BioLumin-C Eye Serum
Contains an ultra-stable vitamin c complex and peptides to fight oxidative and the appearance of aging before it begins.
Dermalogica’s Porescreen SPF
This is a physical SPF 40 with a bonus of a little tint that blurs imperfections aka those dark circles. Perfect for layering on top of your eye cream.
