Eyelid Wrinkles & the Clinically-Proven Products to Treat Them
The skin around our eyes is some of the most sensitive and fragile skin we have. And since it is super thin and does not produce its own moisture, it is prone to dehydration and crepiness. Learn what causes the skin on your upper eyelids to wrinkle, as well as the best ways to treat eyelid wrinkles you may already have and combat their future development.
WHY ARE MY EYELIDS WRINKLY?
Upper eyelid skin is just as fragile as the rest of the eye contour. Over time, collagen levels break down, and the paper-fine skin on our eyelids loses its elasticity and settles into folds and creases.
So, what causes crepey skin on the eyelids? Every time we laugh or cry, our lids crease, like folding a piece of paper until the crease becomes permanent—an eyelid wrinkle. Eyeshadow no longer goes on smoothly, and eyeliner stops looking as sharp as it once did.
At FACE, we want to help you lovingly care for your hardworking lids. Treat wrinkly eyelids and prevent future eyelid wrinkles with an upgraded eye care routine. We will show you how with the fewest number of clinically-proven, multitasking products necessary for strong, supple, and smooth eyelids.
WHAT CAUSES CREPEY EYELIDS?
Wondering what is causing wrinkles on eyelids and crepey skin in the eye area? These are the 4 leading causes.
Sun Exposure
The eyes are center stage, so the thin, delicate upper eyelid skin is especially vulnerable to sun damage and premature aging. UVA rays weaken the collagen and elastin fibers deep in the skin. As these fibers lose their elasticity, we develop visible signs of aging like crepiness and eyelid wrinkles.
Dehydration
Your eyelids have fewer oil glands than the rest of the face, so it is no wonder they become dry and crepey. Thin skin on the lids and under the eyes is more prone to dehydration because it just does not hang on to or produce its own moisture, emphasizing fine lines even more.
Blinking
With 22 muscles and 10,000 blinks each day, eyelids stay pretty busy! Then your eyelids are squished against your pillow at night—and these micro-movements add up. The more movements you make with your facial muscles, the more likely your skin is to start creasing and wrinkling; eyelids are no exception.
Stretching & Rubbing
You can only stretch thin, delicate skin so much before it loses the ability to snap back into place. The worst of these is removing eye makeup too quickly. Rather than rubbing, try dotting your eye cream along the orbital bone with your ring finger—the heat from your finger will help it penetrate.
WELL-AGING EYELIDS
Rather than anti-aging, the FACE philosophy is about well-aging. We are aging-positive people who love using science-backed, results-driven treatments and products to keep our bodies, minds, and spirits feeling—and looking—great.
That is why we are all about supporting and nourishing the skin, the body’s largest organ. This is especially important when it comes to fragile skin around our eyes. After all, we smile with our eyes and reassure with our eyes. We love with our eyes almost as much as our hearts!
Even when we feel fabulous, wrinkled eyelids can seriously cramp our style by making us look tired even after a good night's sleep.
With the right treatments, products, and information, we can keep our lids looking and feeling as good as we do. Keep reading to discover the best products, tools, and tips to treat and prevent eyelid wrinkles.
Eye Care Products
HOW TO TREAT EYELID WRINKLES
At FACE, we recommend the following skincare actives and tips to support skin health and combat eyelid wrinkles.
Hydrate
It is essential to keep the delicate upper eyelid skin hydrated with a hyaluronic acid serum because thin skin is prone to dehydration, highlighting any existing crepiness. Always apply hyaluronic acid on damp skin to trap more moisture.
Native Nectar Botanicals
Hyaluronic Plumping
Serum ($38)
This 100% natural pure Hyaluronic Acid serum works on the skin’s surface and immediately plumps up your thirsty skin cells and fine dehydration lines with moisture. Enriched with anti-inflammatory Pro-Vitamin B5 and vitamin-rich Irish Moss, it also boosts the performance of your other skincare products. Keep yours in the fridge for extra de-puffing powers.
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Take Your Collagen
Stimulating new collagen growth smooths eyelid wrinkles from the inside out.
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Healthy Living Proteins
Multi-Collagen Peptides ($49.98)
This premium-grade collagen peptide supplement supports hair, skin, nails, and joint health while serving as an all-around amazing wellness product. It is responsibly sourced and contains the most common types of collagen, types 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Use a Barrier Cream
It is crucial to protect your eyelid skin from blue light, pollution, and sun damage which cause premature aging and eyelid wrinkles. Try an upper eyelid cream with peptides to gently stimulate collagen while smoothing and firming the sensitive area without irritation.
Colorescience
Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 ($74)
Chemical sunscreens can irritate the sensitive skin around the eyes and make your eyes sting, so try a gentle mineral sunscreen designed specifically for the sensitive eye contour. This 100% mineral eye cream SPF 35 will protect your skin from the sun and address dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness.
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De-Puff Your Lids
Puffiness can stretch the skin and lead to eyelid wrinkles, so try sleeping on an extra pillow and use gravity to drain excess lymph away from your eyelids. It’s time to try some de-puffing products. Use a de-puffing product with phyto stem cells and arjuna tree extract to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
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Native Nectar Botanicals
Orchid Stem Cell Eye Contour Cream ($42)
This nourishing blend of organic oils, arjuna tree extract, and Phyto stem cells from the Japanese Orchid safely delivers actives and gently smooths and firms puffy eyelid skin without irritation. Try this with a depuffing massage tool to maximize the benefit of this formula.
Mount Lai
Eye De-Puffing Jade Massage Tool ($30)
Perfect for those who wake up with puffy eyes. Inspired by Chinese acupressure points, this Jade eyelid de-puffer tool (Jade is the stone of eternal youth) drains lymph before it gets trapped under your eyes. Get that moment of calm before a hectic day. Pair with eye cream to get the most out of your morning eyelid care routine.
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HOW TO PREVENT EYELID WRINKLES
Even better than treating wrinkles? Preventing ‘em. Learn our favorite tips and tricks for the healthiest, happiest lids in town.
Be Gentle
Try not to tug and pull when removing your eye makeup at the end of a long day. Too much pulling can stretch the skin, leading to fine lines, eyelid wrinkles, and broken capillaries.
We love this Micellar Cleansing Water, which gently but effectively removes eye makeup without stripping precious natural oils and drying out the delicate upper eyelid skin. Powerful botanical extracts, rice protein, and anti-inflammatory geranium extract act as a soothing buffer to prevent eyelid irritation.
Eyelid Exercises
Upper eyelid creams help nourish and smooth dehydrated eyelid skin, but eventually, you will need to address the sagging muscles underneath. Your eyes contain some of the most active muscles on the face, but muscle tone fades over time. Eyelid yoga can strengthen and tone the orbicularis oculi, the circular muscle surrounding the eye that lifts the eyelids.
Avoid Retinol on Eyelids
Retinol, an anti-aging skincare active, can dry out and irritate delicate upper eyelid skin because it penetrates thin skin much too quickly. Try gentle anti-agers such as peptides and stem cell technology instead.
Use Sun Protection on Eyelids
Thin, fragile skin is much more vulnerable to sun damage and premature aging. Do not forget to protect your eyelids from the sun. Be sure to use a UVA sunscreen. We also recommend a wide-brimmed hat and large UVA-blocking sunglasses, which keep you from squinting in the sun. Plus, sunglasses also prevent UV rays from fading your eye color.
TAKEAWAY
Eyelid skin is incredibly thin and prone to dryness, dehydration, and crepiness, which lead to visible signs of aging.
The leading causes of eyelid wrinkles are sun exposure, dehydration, blinking, and rubbing.
You can combat eyelid wrinkles by using HA serum, barrier creams, eye de-puffers, and Phyto-rich eye creams.
Prevent eyelid wrinkles by being gentle with the delicate skin around the eyes, avoiding applying retinol to the area, wearing sunscreen on eyelids, and doing eyelid exercises.
Written by
Charlotte Wilkes
Strategy by
Ella Marcantonio
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