Under Eye Wrinkles: 5 Habits for Younger Looking Eyes

by Linda Robison

Under Eye Wrinkles - let's face it, after a certain age we all have to deal with eye wrinkles. But, don't despair, we found 5 simple beauty habits that can help firm and smooth the under eye skin.

1. Eye Firming Exercises

This eye wrinkle exercise helps strengthen the underlying muscles all around the eyes for firmer skin. You’re trying to make “eye goggles” using your fingers and thumbs around each eye, as if you’re holding a pair of binoculars.

Why Eye Goggles?

The point of placing your fingers and thumbs around your eyes (without any gaps) is to prevent the skin from moving or being pulled/stretched. There is no skin movement here - you're trying to work the underlying muscle only!

Courtesy of Carolyn's Facial Fitness

Before you begin you can apply a small amount of moisturizer under the eyes. It's best to perform this in front of a mirror until you get it right. Try to maintain a firm pressure around the eye sockets throughout these movements.

1. Outer corner of bottom eyelid:

Make goggles with your fingers (as shown in photo), as if your holding a pair of binoculars.
Contract the bottom outer corner of the right eyelid by lifting it up (as if you’re trying to wink with your right eye) and hold to a count of 5.
Then release and repeat the same process with the bottom outer corner of the left eyelid and hold for count of 5. You've just made 1 round.
Repeat this process for both eyes for a total of 5 rounds.

2. Inner corner of bottom eyelid:

Make goggles with your fingers (as shown in photo), as if your holding a pair of binoculars.
Contract the bottom inner corner of the right eyelid by lifting it up and hold to a count of 5.
Then release and repeat the same process with the bottom inner corner of the left eyelid and hold for count of 5. You've just made 1 round.
Repeat this process for both eyes for a total of 5 rounds.

3. Upper eyelid stretch:

Make goggles with your fingers (as shown in photo), as if your holding a pair of binoculars.
Next, close both eyes while stretching the upper eyelids down towards the bottom of the eyes.
Hold this stretch for count of 5.
Repeat 5 times.

4. Eye Squeeze:

Make goggles with your fingers (as shown in photo), as if your holding a pair of binoculars.
Next squeeze the eyes shut tight while the goggles (your fingers pressed firmly around your eyes like binoculars) are firmly and evenly pressed around both eyes.
Repeat 5 times.

2. Remove eye makeup gently

If you wear a lot of eye makeup - especially water-proof eye makeup, you know how difficult it can be to wash off completely.

Years of tugging, pulling, rubbing, and the use harsh eye makeup removers and cleanser, can create under eye wrinkles and lines quickly.

Make sure to use a gentle cleanser that helps dissolve makeup without much effort. We like to use creamy blends like Carolyn's Balancing Facial Cleanser. It's a 93% organic, vitamin rich cleansing cream with antioxidants. You can use this on your whole face.

Organic Balancing Facial Cleanser Cream

Tip: Generously massage a creamy cleanser around the eyes and whole face. Then lay a warm washcloth across the eyes for a few seconds. Then gently wipe away the eye makeup. This is relaxing and great ritual to do before bedtime!

3. Exfoliate under eye skin

Exfoliating the skin is a great way to reduce the depth and appearance of under eye wrinkles. Retinols are a perfect way to exfoliate the skin without harsh scrubs. Plus, retinols are the gold standard when it comes to reducing fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration.

Just make sure you choose a retinol product that is effective but gentle enough for the delicate under eye skin.

DermaDoctor makes a patented 1% anti-aging micro-encapsulated retinol cream in a super calming, hydrating base that's perfect to use around the eyes.

Personally, I love Theraderm Fruit Acid Peel. It's fruit-based and so gentle you don't have to rinse it, and you can use it around the eyes, lips and neck.

Theraderm Fruit Acid Exfoliant

4. Protect and feed delicate under eye skin

While you sleep, your skin regenerates making bedtime the perfect time to protect and feed the skin with anti-wrinkle eye creams that contain proven anti-aging, anti-oxidant ingredients – like copper peptides or CBD oil.

Consider these your skin's best friend...

These anti-aging ingredients can help improve skin health and cell turnover. While they won't make all your wrinkles go away overnight, they can make a difference in the long run.

Look for products that have the highest amount the active anti-aging ingredients. How? Check the label - the further down the ingredient list, the less it contains.

While those drug-store brands might be a bargain, how much of the active ingredient do they contain? So before you buy - read the label and check the ingredients.

Products like:

Along with Philosophy Miracle Worker, Miraculous Anti-Aging Retinoid Eye Repair Cream, and Kinerase Pro+ Therapy MD C8 Peptide Under Eye Treatment have excellent reviews and loyal followings.

5. Erase under eye wrinkles

When in doubt fake it!

Nothing will remove under eye wrinkles 100%, but that doesn't mean you can't rely on topical illusions to help "temporarily" hide those eye wrinkles and even disguise under eye puffiness.

During the daytime, consider using lifting or firming serums designed for the under eye area. While some people find these serums drying, there are some that are suitable even for those with sensitive skin.

My favorite is the:

Instant Eye Tuck and Dark Circle treatment.

I've been using this serum since 2012 and wear it every day. I won't leave home without! This serum really helps smooth and hide those tiny lines and wrinkles under the eyes.

AND it also helps reduce droopiness, bags, puffiness, and dark circles. Although the tightening effect is temporary, it works in about 5-10 minutes and last for 12 hours.