True: Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day for a good night’s sleep. Add genetics, gravity, stress and years of squinting and smiling and what you get are crow’s feet, dark circles and under-eye puffiness—factors that instantly add years to your appearance. But these aren’t the only things that are aging your eyes; some of our everyday beauty habits are also partly to blame. Learn what you may be doing wrong—and the steps you need to take to restore your eyes’ youthful glow.
1. You Scrub Your Eye Area
We all know it’s important to remove eye makeup before bed, no matter how tired we may be. But here’s the thing about long-wearing eye shadows and waterproof mascara—they can be pretty stubborn. So you do what every sleepy, exhausted human being does: You rub your eyes clean. But vigorous makeup removal can tug at and damage delicate under-eye skin, causing broken capillaries and (you guessed it) dark circles. To make sure you’re not rubbing or scrubbing your eye area, opt for an oil-based cleanser to melt away your eye makeup. A micellar solution can get the job done—and you don’t even have to rinse.
2. You’re Not Using an Eye Cream
Ask any dermatologist and he or she will tell you the same thing: An eye cream is one of the most important components of your anti-aging regimen; it’s also one of the most commonly overlooked. The skin around your eyes is the thinnest skin on your entire body, making it much more sensitive and susceptible to damage. No wonder the first telltale signs of aging also appear around here.
3. You’re Using the WRONG Eye Cream
Not all eye creams are created equal. Here’s how to know which one best suits your needs:
- For fine lines or crow’s feet: Look for an eye cream that contains retinol, a powerful antioxidant embraced by dermatologists and estheticians alike for its ability to smooth lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet. Read more
Also read 5 Ways Lack of Sleep Wrecks Your Skin, Hair and Nails