YOUNGER-LOOKING EYES

31 Jan YOUNGER-LOOKING EYES

There is no one-treatment-fits-all when it comes to treating the most delicate skin on our bodies… our eyelids.

Just like your skincare routine, your upper and lower eyelid treatments should be tailor-made to address your specific concerns. And then hit it hard with multiple types of treatments specific to what you are wanting to treat. This is not the time to cheat off your neighbor’s paper, folks! Specific concerns need specific treatment plans.

Here are my top eyelid treatments for younger-looking eyes based on specific concerns:

FINE LINES & WRINKLES

If fine lines and wrinkles are your main concerns, there are a multitude of treatments to address this.

1. Venus by EvenSkyn: This device heats the dermis to 107.6°F to stimulate collagen and elastin. The sonic vibration helps to decrease eye bags by assisting with lymphatic drainage but also stimulates protein synthesis responsible for cell rigidity, creating firmer skin.
2. Micro-current: Micro-current devices, such as the Myolift Mini, enable small electrical currents to pass through the skin to lift and educate the underlying tissue as well as smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Silicone Patches: These medical-grade silicone sheets with adhesive backing help to draw moisture from deep within the skin, creating a plumping effect, which diminishes fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Micro-Needling: Micro-needling, with devices such as the Dr. Pen M8, creates micro-traumas that utilize the power of our own immune response system to heal the treatment area with new (less wrinkled) skin.
5. Eye Creams: When it comes to fine lines and wrinkles, you want to look for eye creams containing retinoids, which will treat fine lines, and hyaluronic acid, which will plump up the skin and diminish its appearance.
6. Botox: There is no doubt that Botox (OnabotulinumtoxinA) is nothing short of a skincare miracle. Plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and even Botox-specialized nurses have been injecting the FDA-approved neuromuscular-paralyzing substance to treat fine lines and wrinkles, as well as prevent new lines from forming since it first burst on the scene in 1989. It works wonders to treat and prevent crow’s feet!
7. Fibroblast Plasma Treatment: This is a non-surgical, less-invasive procedure with a shorter recovery time than surgical options. I’ve found it extremely effective in the treatment of crepey eyelids. I have achieved some pretty dramatic results after just 1 treatment. However, multiple treatments are recommended. Results do not last as long and are not as dramatic as surgical options.
8. Upper & Lower Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Plastic Surgery): I am not one to push surgical options to my clients, but I like to inform clients of ALL treatment options so they may make informed decisions“Bleph,” as it is sometimes referred to in short, is an outpatient procedure in which excess skin, muscles and fat are trimmed from around the eyelids. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, it is one of the top 5 cosmetic procedures performed every year. The cost can vary greatly depending on the doctor and the location. On average, the price range is between $5,000-$15,000. I personally have not had this procedure (yet-Haha!), but I have clients who love their results. Sometimes the reason for eyelid surgery is purely cosmetic, yet obstruction of vision is also cited as a reason for the procedure.

EYE BAGS

Nothing ages an individual like the presence of the dreaded eye bag. Ugh! Why you ask? Because it makes us look tired.
And youthful eyes are not tired-looking eyes. Besides cucumber slices, ice packs, or elevating the head of your bed, there are really only 2 main treatment types here – You basically want to push out (lymphatic drainage) or shrink the fluid (vasoconstriction) which collects under the eye. I do both!

1. Lymphatic Drainage: Devices such as jade roller, Nurse Jamie’s Uplift, and The Venus by EvenSkyn (described above) work to push excess fluid from underneath the eye, reducing the appearance of eye bags.
2. Eye Creams: For eye bags, you want to look for eye creams that list caffeine in the ingredients. My personal favorite is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution.
3. Surgical/In-Office Treatment Options: When consistent, non-surgical treatments have been exhausted with less than desirable results, a lower Bleph, which consists of removing an excessive accumulation of fat under the eye may help to achieve a younger-looking eye area. In addition, sometimes a loss of fat in the tear trough area can leave a hollowing that accentuates an eye bag. Hyaluronic fillers, such as Restylane or Juvéderm, when placed strategically, have been shown to reduce the appearance of eye bags.

DARK CIRCLES

Dark circles are tricky. Dark undereye circles are often (self) misdiagnosed. Please see my IG Live show, “Younger-Looking Eyes” for more information on how to self-diagnose.
Is there a shadow cast from your brow or an under-eye bag? Is the skin surrounding your eyes super thin, revealing the underlying vascular system? Or is there true hyperpigmentation due to genetics, vasoconstriction, or sun exposure? The way you would treat each of these issues is very different. Thus, we need to first diagnose the true problem, and only then will we have options for solutions.

1. Shadowing: Shadows are not dark circles, folks. And there is no amount of eye cream that can erase a shadow.  Shadowing can be caused by bad overhead lighting, a large brow bone + overhead lighting, or an eye bag shadow masquerading as a dark circle. If your dark circle is actually shadowing, change your lighting when possible, and treat the eye bag with appropriate treatments (see above).
2. Thin Skin: Our skin naturally thins as we age. Our delicate under-eye skin can thin so much that the underlying vasculature and muscles may show through the skin and present itself as dark (either red or blue-ish) circles. It’s not a true dark circle. It’s the muscles, veins, and capillaries just underneath the skin. If thin skin is the culprit, follow the protocol for fine lines and wrinkles presented above. You want to help thicken that skin with Retinoids and micro-needling.
3. Allergic Reactions: You would be surprised how many clients come to me with “dark circles” only to find out they have been having a reaction to their skincare. By eliminating the skincare causing the reddening, the pigment returns to normal. Yet another reason why diagnosing the problem correctly is so important!
4. Hyperpigmentation: Okay, NOW we are talking about true dark circle
5. Eye Creams: Look for ingredients such as Vitamin C, which brightens the area, and Niacinamide, proven to safely lighten skin. Retinols, over time, also help to treat hyperpigmentation. Hydroquinone, which can lighten dark patches of skin, should be used only for a limited time and under a dermatologist’s care.
6. Sunscreen: The sun is the #1 culprit for dark spots and melasma. Because the skin around the eyes is thin, it leaves this area especially vulnerable to sun damage. Make sure you are using an SPF of 30+ and preferably a tinted sunscreen which has the added protection of zinc oxide + ion oxide.

So that’s it. My guide to Younger Looking Eyes. Sign up to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram for more anti-aging tips and tricks.

Live Young (and look younger while doing it ;)),
Darnell