Why do wrinkles occur around the eyes?

Your eyes aren’t just two of your most beautiful facial features; they’re incredibly delicate parts of your face that need a little extra TLC when it comes to preventing wrinkles.

Did you know the skin around your eyes is actually 10 times thinner than the skin on your face? That’s why wrinkles tend to appear there first. Plus, your eye area has almost no oil glands, meaning it needs a bit more moisture than the rest of your skin. But with a few of our fave nourishing products and some easy tips, eye wrinkles can be beaten!

Here’s how the conversation went…

Skin care Expert Robyn Hutch sat down with Sophie and Stephanie to chat about eye wrinkles and explore a few ways to keep them at bay.

The top six ways to reduce eye wrinkles

Reducing eye wrinkles can be incredibly easy - all it takes is a few extra steps in your regular skincare routine and a couple of lifestyle tweaks to prevent wrinkles from forming.

Avoid excessive sun exposure

UV rays are the number one cause of wrinkles, so it’s best to avoid long periods in the sun – especially during the peak period of 10am to 3pm. When you do go out in the sun, using a SPF 50+ sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays will be one of your best defences against eye wrinkles (and wrinkles in general).

Use a nourishing and protective eye cream

The skin around your eyes is incredibly delicate, so it needs extra care compared to the rest of your face. Using an eye cream with anti-ageing ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Creatine can help visibly reduce fine lines and eye wrinkles and accelerate your skin's own cell renewal process. Believe us, your eyes will thank you!

Get your eyes checked

Having trouble seeing short or long distances? Constant squinting can form grooves around your eyes, which may lead to wrinkles over time. Getting your eyes checked by an optometrist will determine whether you need glasses or contacts, which can alleviate the need to scrunch your eyes.

Include more omega-3 in your diet

Complementing your skincare routine with a healthy diet high in skin-loving ingredients may help fight off eye wrinkles. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that can support wrinkle prevention by nourishing your skin and keeping it youthful and supple. Salmon and other cold-water fish are packed with omega-3, but you’ll also find it in plant sources including walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, and various vegetable oils.

Use eye make-up remover

Impurities from make-up can cause fine lines and under-eye wrinkles by penetrating your skin. A dedicated eye make-up remover is designed to hydrate and protect the sensitive skin around your eyes, so make sure to add it to your evening skincare routine.

Wear a protective day cream

Choosing a cream that combines SPF protection and some of our fave anti-ageing ingredients – like Hyaluronic Acid, Creatine and Q10 – can help visibly reduce wrinkles and prevent new ones from appearing. Consider it the easiest all-in-one defense against fine lines and eye wrinkles!

WHY DO WRINKLES FORM AROUND OUR EYES?

It’s widely accepted that the onset of under eye wrinkles is inevitable and we will all be affected eventually. However, there are a lot of different factors that determine how quickly the ageing process, and the onset of wrinkles like crows feet, will progress.

The skin around the eyes stays firm and supple when we’re younger due to the production of collagen and elastin which is why you don't have eye wrinkles at an early age! However, as we get older these aren’t produced as quickly, which reduces skin elasticity. What’s more, the skin thinning under the eyes is a natural process, causing it to lose its resilience, and under eye wrinkles to form. This is made worse by the fact that there are no glands around the eyes that produce oil to keep the area hydrated.

GENTLE AND CARING CLEANSING

If not done properly, the cleansing process can be very harsh on your delicate skin and can contribute to premature skin thinning. A recipe for disaster when it comes to preventing wrinkles under your eyes.

Use a makeup remover that is extra gentle on the skin like NIVEA MicellAIR water for sensitive skin. This removes even waterproof mascara whilst caring for the sensitive eye area.

If you prefer face wipes, try the NIVEA 3-in-1 Cleansing Wipes. They are non-woven so have a smooth texture for protecting the delicate eye area, and no rubbing or scrubbing is required to remove even waterproof mascara.

Always be as gentle as you can with your makeup removal technique - don’t pull or tug on the skin. NIVEA cleansing products are gentle and effective to not require rubbing consistently to remove even the hardest makeup.

Attached are also some images & videos for you to use on the page if possible.