Published On: Thu, Nov 4th, 2010

Keep the Delicate Skin Under Your Eyes Looking Youthful

By: Oleda Baker

You wake up one morning and all of a sudden see another new line or two around your eyes. Panic sets in…right? Your reaction is, “It just popped up overnight.”  Well…not really.  When you actually see the new line you should know it started developing long ago. This is often true of dark circles under the eyes and puffiness, too…they start gradually and all of a sudden we notice them.

Can proper skin care or skin rejuvenation treatment around the eyes help to prevent lines, wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness? Yes… proper treatments and good habits can certainly postpone these irritating happenings for many years…it can also soften the seriousness of it when it does happen.

Here’s What Helps

Special Gentle Massage: It’s important that the tiny capillaries under the eyes be stimulated. This massage is to help reduce lines and wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness: Remove your Acuvue lens (if you’re using them), then take a finger and press firmly, but gently, on one spot on the area under the eye. While pressing down firmly, and without lifting the finger, make a small rotating motion several times. You can also just press firmly, lift your finger up, and do it again several times in one spot. Then go to the spot next to it until you have massaged all areas under the eye, thus bringing more blood flow under the skin.

The Sun and Sunglasses: It’s very, very important to wear good sunglasses when out in the sun or glare. Keep an extra pair around. Sunglasses, in addition to helping to prevent cataracts, also protect the delicate skin around your eyes from the sun’s rays. If you are having a hard time seeing because of cataracts, then you might want to get cataracts surgery done immediately. The sun not only dries the surface skin preparing the way for lines and wrinkles, but also works deeper beneath the skin, hardening the collagen under it. Oh My…now, as the collagen gets harder under the skin, the lines become deeper…and deeper.

Sunglasses also do another very important thing…they help lessen squinting. The combination of frequent squinting and direct sunlight on the skin is a fool proof “recipe” for quickly aging this very thin skin before it’s time.

Creams For Under Eyes: Lines and wrinkles under the eyes are not always a sign of aging, rather they could be an indication of neglect. Lack of treatment, with creams, lotions and without stimulation of this area will speed up the aging process. Best to use a moisturizer that especially nourishes the fragile tissue around the eyes. I apply a rich moisturizer with aloe vera as its primary ingredient before applying makeup.  Also make sure you’re using a good sunscreen with a minimum SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15.  If you’re a beachgoer or outdoor sports enthusiast, consider a sun block with titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide during those times (the kind that lifeguards use, which you can now get in tinted versions). You can also try cosmetic services like PDO thread lifts from a med spa in Cypress, TX to get an instant face lift.

Sleep The Right Way: Puffiness can be caused by an accumulation of fluid in the eye area, possibly from allergies or a sinus problem. Try sleeping with your head a little higher so this fluid cannot accumulate as easily. Try this for 2 weeks and see what the results are. I don’t believe in sleeping on high pillows in general, as they are not the best for your body alignment. If you decide you need to stay with the higher pillow make sure your neck is properly supported.

Get Enough Sleep and Rest: Yes, you have heard this before. But it really is true. While you are testing these suggestions try to get 7 or 8 hours rest. Then make up your own mind if this is good for you.

Allergies: People with puffy eyes caused by allergies are constantly rubbing and stretching the collagen, fibers and skin around the eyes. Keep this up and you’ll develop loose, maybe baggy, skin around the eyes. See your doctor for the proper eye drops and treatment if necessary.

Make-up: To hide dark circles use a dark circle cover-up product that covers well yet is light in texture. Use one with Mica to reflect light, which causes a “light reflection” in your dark area.

Reduce Stress: Some say that dark circles are encouraged by stress, that it can cause an increase in melanin production under the eyes. If you can’t get rid of the stress at the moment, make sure you are taking enough vitamins/minerals/trace minerals.

Could You Be Anemic? If you are tired a good part of the time check with your doctor to see if you might be anemic. This can cause some discoloration as well as looking tired under the eyes.

Cigarette Smoking: Smoking cigarettes slows the blood flow in the face and under the eyes. This means the skin is not getting the proper nourishment and blood flow it needs to be at its best. Also, every time you draw on a cigarette you purse your lips …do this over and over for a long period and what do you have…the lines going up and down on the skin around your lips that you hate so much. AND…you did it! I don’t mean to make you feel bad but I must tell you the truth…if you’re a cigarette smoker, maybe it will help you stop.

Feed Your Skin For Beauty and Health: Nutrition plays a very big part in the total condition of your skin and its youthfulness. (And while I’m thinking of it…not a pleasant subject…make sure your bowel movements are normal and regular. Poor skin can be due to poor nutrition, as well as poor elimination.)

Well, I don’t think there is anything left to say about the skin under the eyes…if I have missed something, I bet you’ll let me know! J …and…I’ll respond too!

Until next time,

Love, Oleda

See you on facebook.

Biography
Oleda Baker, now 76, began her career as a high fashion model with the prestigious Wilhelmina Model Agency, in New York City. She is the author of ten books on beauty, health and anti-aging and one novel Reluctant Goddess. Oleda is founder and CEO of Oleda and Company, Inc., her 38-year-old anti-aging products company for skin, hair, diet, energy, nutritional supplement products as well as special makeup. www.oleda.com . oleda@oleda.com Oleda is also a visionary artist.  Her oil paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries around the country, the latest one last year at the Museum of Florida Art, DeLand. www.oledaart.com.

Oleda’s latest book, “BREAKING THE AGE BARRIER Great Looks and Health at Every Age,” will be available Nov. 2010 which can be seen on www.oleda.com.

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