Sometimes overlooked on the natural skincare aisles are eye creams and eye treatments specifically for under eye wrinkles and aging. One of the first areas that show signs of aging is around the eyes of all genders. The epidermal layer surrounding the eyes is ten times thinner than adjacent facial skin.
Equally concerning is that the under-eye tissue has minimal oil glands and minimal natural moisture. Weakening eye muscles and tissue allows fat slippage into the lower eye area producing more accumulated puff.
The aging process affects all the skin layers creating weakening dermal collagen and epidermal function. The results are thinning, elasticity decline, “elastosis”, drying skin, coupled with chronic facial muscle contractions that become permanently frozen as wrinkles.
If this sounds like a looming beauty emergency in the making, you may be right. A proper diet and natural products that work harmonically with your under eye area can prevent and protect against irreversible under eye wrinkles.
If this sounds like a looming beauty emergency in the making, you may be right. A proper diet and natural products that work harmonically with your under eye area can prevent and protect against irreversible under eye wrinkles.
Why Do We Get Under Eye Wrinkles?
We start with smooth, resilient skin in our youth and then suddenly, one day, we start to see compromised skin under the eyes in the form of fine lines and wrinkles. Our daily environment hosts many under-eye skin aggressors like excessive sun exposure, extreme temperatures, smoke, blue light, allergens, pollen, dander, pollution. Fluctuations in weight can stretch the delicate eye area tissues ushering in crepe-looking skin.
Dark circles, periorbital puffiness or “under-eye bags” may result from genetics, overload on salt, tear gland build-up, or lack of sleep. Puffiness from fluid retention may also arise from medical conditions of the kidneys, liver, heart or thyroid. Anemia reveals bluish discoloration under the eyes, while dehydration shows up as dark circles. Lack of sleep makes the skin more translucent, which can amp the appearance of underlying blood vessels.
The under-eye zone is identified as the meridian for the kidneys in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. The emotion associated with this part of the body is fear.
Before discussing products to help with under eye wrinkles, it’s essential to address the root cause of under-eye issues holistically. More sleep and correct supplements may diminish discoloration, dark circles, and redness. These can include:
Dietary Supplements
- Avocado – High in vitamin K
- Vitamin K – Reduces dark circles, increases elasticity
- Vitamin C – Activates collagen, antioxidant
- Cucumber – Vitamin C, Reduces capillary dilation
- Parsley – Flushes kidneys
- Spring Water – Cleanses, detoxifies, hydrates
- Electrolytes – Hydrate
Capillary Strengtheners (Obtain Medical Advice and Approval First)*
- Pycnogenol
- Grapeseed Extract
- Butcher’s Broom
Periorbital Puffiness
Under-eye bags are not easily concealed. Let’s target the potential causes to minimize the puff. Certain foods bring on puffiness like no tomorrow. Avoid these inflammatory food culprits:
- Gluten
- Tomatoes
- Dairy products
- Sodium
- Sugar
- Hot peppers red and green
Certain medications are required for health, and there’s no workaround when it’s time to take them. However, you do have a choice as to when you take supplements and your last drink of water before you put your head on the pillow and drift off to sleep. If you are not under medical direction or have a health consideration:
- Refrain from drinking fluids and taking supplements right before bed
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated
- Sleep on your back
Reducing nighttime fluid buildup under the eyes can be this easy. I have had several clients try this technique with spectacular results. Often, some clients suddenly saw more puffiness and were looking for product remedies. When asked if they started taking new supplements or meds right before bed, the answer was usually “yes.”
Lymph and fluids build up under the eyes while sleeping; remember, the meridian point for the kidneys is located under the eyes. You’ll notice one under eye may be puffier than the other. Is the puffier eye the side you sleep on?
Certain foods and treatments will help flush and detox unwanted fluids around the eyes. Add some avocado, high in vitamin K and parsley, to your green smoothie to flush kidneys. Then there’s the almighty cucumber which is genuinely the natural go-to for under eye relief.
Benefits of Raw Chilled Cucumbers Eye Pads:
- Vitamin C brightens
- Silica collagen precursor
- Vitamin B moisture retainer
- Vitamin A retinol anti-aging
- 95% water hydrates
- Caffeic acid reduces water retention
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels
It’s Product Time!
Caring for the sensitive and fragile eye area requires safe techniques to avoid further damage and maintain youthful resilience. Please do not heavily stretch or pull outward the under-eye area when applying the product. These muscles are sensitive, and you will lose elasticity quickly. Instead, lightly pat on moisturizers and serums. If applying lymphatic movements, lightly slide fluids outward and down towards the proper lymphatic facial channels with no pressure heavier than the weight of a nickel.
Star Ingredients You Want in Natural Under Eye Wrinkle Products
When exploring eye treatments from the immense range of products. Look for these ingredients in creams, gels, balms, mists, and pads:
- Aloe
- Alpha Lipoic Acid
- Arnica
- Bearberry
- Caffeine
- Calendula
- Carrot
- Coconut Water
- Cucumber
- Chamomile
- Eyebright
- Grape Seed Extract
- Green Algae
- Green Coffee
- Green Tea
- Lavender
- Peptides
- Mushrooms
- Niacinamide
- Plant Stem Cells
- Shea Butter
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Squalene
- Vegan hyaluronic acid
- Vitamins C, E, K
Low Comedogenic Oils For Natural Under Eye Care
Applying oils to the eye area must be strategic because of the thin skin, absorbing and processing compounds. This process works both ways inside and out. If you have ever noticed small yellow bumps “milia” building up under the eyes, it can mean that your moisturizer oils are too heavy for processing and absorption. Some oils are imperfect under the eyes and have an enormous molecular structure. Milia buildup can sometimes happen from eating fried or oily foods. There are nourishing low pore clogging natural oils that are lifesavers for eye care. Visit Tash at Holistic Health Herbalist for more details on comedogenic oils. A few non-comedogenic oils you can use include:
- Hemp
- Jojoba
- Olive Oil
- Linoleic acid
- Shea Butter
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Black Currant Seed Oil
- Evening Primrose
Eye care products designed for the treatment of under eye wrinkles carry ingredients with a smaller molecular structure to pass through the thinner skin under your eye. When caring for facial skin, designate speciality products for the region under your eyes too!
