Throughout your 20s, perhaps the most
telltale signs of aging you begin to notice are crow’s feet forming around your
eyes, those thin lines and wrinkles that result from smiling, laughing, and
un-joyous forms of skin abuse. As part of our mission to help you be your most
beautiful, we’ve collected 14 simple things you can stop doing and simple,
proactive measures you can start taking to prevent these wrinkles from forming
and deepening. Start today, lovely ladies.
Sunscreen
“The best strategy to reduce and prevent
wrinkles should be to ensure sunscreen is applied on a daily basis,” explains
dermatologic surgeon Joseph Sobanko, MD. Numerous studies indicate
that sun exposure is the biggest cause of wrinkles—so protect yourself against
it.
When choosing a sunscreen,
Dermatologist Dr. Debra Price says it’s important to pick a
sunscreen with at least a minimum SPF of 15 to 30, and it’s “equally important
to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with ingredients that extend protection
throughout the entire UVA spectrum as well. Currently the ingredients that
afford maximal UVA protection include Mexoryl SX, titanium dioxide and
azobenzone.” Dr. Price recommends applying your sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes
prior to sun exposure, and reapplying every two hours and following water
exposure.
Start wearing sunscreen “from a very early
age because sunscreen application will also help prevent skin cancer,” Dr.
Sobanko adds. Sunscreen will also help prevent dark age-spots from forming.
Sunglasses
In addition to wearing sunscreen, wearing
sunglasses can also help prevent wrinkles. Go with a pair of UV protection
sunglasses and religiously wear them every time you venture outside during
daylight.
Sunglasses will provide an addition barrier
against wrinkle-causing UV rays, and also help prevent you from repeatedly
squinting, a motion which causes your muscles to contract and creates creases
in your skin; over time, these creases form wrinkles.
Gently
Apply (& Remove) Products & Makeup
“The delicate skin around the eye is five
to 10 times thinner than the rest of your face,” explains clinical aesthetician
Jillian Wright. Because of this, you should be very gentle when applying
products and removing your makeup.
Whether it is SPF, your go-to serum, or
concealer, delicately apply the product to the eye area and avoid rubbing it
in. To do this, licensed esthetician Daniela Ferri recommends using the pads of your ring fingers—they are
your weakest fingers—to very gently pat your product onto the area. (If
applying an eye cream or serum, don’t forget to apply it to the area above the
upper lids in addition to below the lower lids. Go very easy around the tear
duct area in order to prevent the product from pooling and causing irritation).
When removing your makeup, avoid scrubbing
and excessive wiping with makeup remover cloths. “Just make sure you are gentle
with your hand and use cotton to remove [makeup],” Wright says. “Tissue is too
harsh since it is made from wood pulp.”
Wright’s go-to eye makeup removers include:
oil free remover that comes in a Q-tip from Jane Iredale or Bioelements, which
is designed specifically for the delicate eye area.
Resist
the Urge to Scratch Just as you should delicately apply and
remove products in the eye area, you should also avoid rubbing and scratching
the skin around your eyes. “Rubbing the eyes from itching or puffiness can
cause [wrinkles], too,” explains Ferri, adding that when you rub your eyes
you’re inflaming the area. “Inflammation inside or outside the skin is the
cause of fine lines and wrinkles.”
While you’re resisting the urge to rub your
eyes, also try not to touch them throughout the day since it can introduce unwanted
bacteria to the eyes—pink eye, anyone?
Be Careful
with Contacts If you’re a contact lens wearer, pay
attention to how you are putting your contacts in every morning and taking them
out every night. Putting extra pressure on the delicate upper and lower eyelids
twice a day can cause stretching and a loss of elasticity in the area. Try
using your ring and pinky fingers to hold your lids open, since those are your
two weakest fingers and will exert less stress on your skin.
Sleep
On Your Back
To help prevent wrinkles on not only your
eyes, but also your face and neck, you should sleep on your back. Sleeping on
your side or stomach “can predispose you to sleep lines that can become
permanently etched in your skin,” says Dr. Price.
While you're at it, invest in comfy silk
sheets. If you end up sleeping on your side, your skin will glide more easily
over the silk fabric, lessening the chance wrinkles have to form, Dr. Price
explains.
And if you do sleep on your side or stomach,
also try alternate which side of your face is against the pillow so as to not
overly stress one side.
No
Smoking Unless you fancy the Shar Pei look, don’t
smoke. This needs no explanation: cigarettes rapidly age and damage nearly
every part of your body—especially your skin. The facial motions you have to
make to hold and puff a cigarette cause the skin on your face to pull and
causes wrinkles, and nicotine destroys the collagen and elastin that keep your skin
plump and nimble.
Also avoid second-hand smoke. In addition
to the myriad of serious health problems second hand smoke causes, it also can
contribute to wrinkle formation and cause your skin to lose elasticity. Plus,
people tend to instinctively squint when they’re around smoke—and we’ve already
established that squinting leads to fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes.
Easy
with the Eyeliner
We love eyeliner as much as the next girl,
just not the fact that all that pulling and tugging on the lids can cause
wrinkles and saggy lids. During application, instead of pulling your eyelids
straight at the corners, hold the skin taut from the temple. Keep your pencil
liners sharp, too, so you can easily line your eyes without having to tug.
Skip
Straws in Your Drinks
Just like drinking from a straw will cause
you to have wrinkles around your mouth, it may also contribute to eye wrinkles
due to the movements your face makes to drink through the straw.
Skip the straw for water, but you may want
to use it for teeth-wearing drinks like coffee, tea, juices and soda.
Get
Your Vision Checked
If you find yourself having to squint to
see more clearly, set an appointment with your eye doctor. We squint when we’re
straining to see, and this breeds crow’s feet and fine lines.
Take
Computer Breaks If you spend most of your time in front of
a bright computer screen, you may have noticed your eyes can begin to strain
after a while. To combat this, take frequent breaks from the computer when you
can, and be sure to optimize your monitor’s brightness settings, as too bright
or too dim screens can aggravate the strain.
Wrinkle-Fighting
Foods
Although sun protection and preventing bad
eye habits are crucial to slowing the progression of eye wrinkles, there are
foods you can eat for an added boost.
“In one study, people who ate
antioxidant-rich foods—think fruits and veggies, olive oil and nuts—had fewer
lines than those who ate diets low in antioxidants,” explains registered dietitian
Kerri-Ann Jennings.
“Soyfoods—like tofu and edamame—which are
high in isoflavones, may ward off UV-damage, a main culprit in wrinkles.”
Foods rich in the omega-3 fatty acid EPA (like
salmon) and vitamin C (like citrus fruits, cauliflower and strawberries) can
also help, Jennings explains.
As Jennings says, “Bottom line: many of the
healthy foods that are good for your general health may have the added bonus of
warding off wrinkles. Win-win!”
Preparation
H
Yes,
that
Preparation H. Consider using it if you get puffiness, or bags, under your
eyes, as this puffiness can contribute to eye wrinkles. Applied below the lower
eyelids, the active ingredients in the hemorrhoid cream can help to reduce under-eye
bags. Just be careful not to get it in your eyes—or to leave it out for
visitors to see.
Retinoid
and Retinol Creams
There are an overwhelming number of beauty
products out there claiming to prevent crow’s feet and wrinkles, but few things
work well. “Over-the-counter ‘anti-aging’ creams may be a popular way to
‘prevent or treat wrinkles,’” adds Dr. Sobanko, “but there is really little
good scientific evidence that they do this. They may help promote collagen
strength under the skin. But it is important to recognize the significant
limitations of these creams.”
What has actually been shown to work, and
is often the go-to for dermatologists, are prescription retinoid creams (known
as Retin A). Retinoids have the effect of thickening the skin if used
regularly, which can both prevent and treat crow’s feet. If you get a generic
version, the creams can also be affordable. Talk to your doctor about this
option, and also any potential side effects (common ones include increased
sensitivity, redness, dryness and itching).
Over-the-counter wrinkle prevention
options, while less effective, may help if you look for the right ingredients. Retinol
is a significantly less powerful version of retinoid creams (so it tends to be
less effective), but is available over-the-counter. Also look for products
containing Q10, alpha hydroxy acids, peptides or antioxidants.
To schedule an appointment, give us a call at
831-373-2273. You can also book online at www.montereydayspa.com
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*article source chixrx.com
