Dramatic, youthful-looking eyes are attention grabbers. At no time, however, has more attention been focused on the eyes than now. With a mask covering up half your face, eyes are truly the first thing people notice.
If you’re thinking about smoothing out eye wrinkles, elongating your lashes, or even having eye surgery, this is the time to do it. All eyes are on your eyes!
No Downtime Procedures
In-office procedures that can transform your eyes within days include:
Botox/Dysport/Jeuveau: These wrinkle smoothers temporarily immobilize the muscles in the forehead and around the eyes (called crow’s feet). Doing so stops the muscles from moving. This allows collagen (a skin-plumping protein in the skin) to rebuild itself, smoothing wrinkles in the process. A beautifully positioned brow truly frames the eye and makes a huge difference.
The end result: younger looking eyes!
Temporary side effects can include redness or bruising at the injection site.
Results can last anywhere from four to six months.
Latisse: This prescription lash enhancer helps grow long, lush lashes in just weeks. Simply apply to the lash line of top lashes every night, and you’ll begin to notice your lashes growing! For some people, the results are so dramatic, we call them “camel lashes!”
I’ve been using Latisse for years and love it—and the results! Some people can experience some irritation on the upper eyelid but for the most part, this lash enhancer is free from side effects.
Once lashes reach a desired length, you have to keep using the product to maintain results‚ but you can often switch to every-other-day application.
Longer, lusher lashes can result in younger looking eyes!
Juvéderm/Restylane: These injectable gels are used to instantly treat hollowness under the eyes. They’re composed of hyaluronic acid, a natural component of the skin that gets depleted over time.
I also use these fillers to fill in sunken temples. The temples are a neglected area. Filling the temples prevents us from looking too “bony” and supports the outer part of the eyebrow, helping to keep it lifted.
Another neglected area is just below the eyebrow. This area can start to look sunken as well. Just look at your high school yearbook picture to see what I mean. Fillers work great to fill in this area, too.
Finally, I can smooth the transverse lines across the forehead with a combination of fillers and Botox.
Results can last up to six months. Side effects can include some redness, bruising, and swelling.
Bottom line: treating all these areas creates a fresh look around the eyes that looks natural.
All About Eye Lifts
Droopy eyelids are a common sign of aging. They’re caused by a loss of elasticity in the muscles of the eyes. To achieve younger looking eyes, I regularly do blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, to tighten excess eyelid skin.
To correct the upper eyelid, I first make an incision in the natural crease of the eye, and then remove excess skin. I can also remove excess fat, which creates a little bulge.
For lower lid surgery, I typically make an incision just below the line of the lower lashes or just inside the eyelid.
Brow Lifts May Work for You
In many cases, sagging upper eyelids can be corrected with a brow lift. Lifting the brow can bring back both the eyelids and brows to a more youthful position.
Brow lifts are sometimes done with eyelid surgery to create a very harmonious result. If the brow is too low, an upper eyelid surgery will not solve this. A subtle brow lift will do the trick. Lifting the brow can bring both the eyelids and brows back to a more youthful position.
At-Home Products Can Help, Too
When used in conjunction with procedures and/or Latisse, over-the-counter products can also help keep the skin around the eyes more youthful looking. Here’s what I recommend:
Sun protection!
Daily SPF is a must, particularly if you’re out and about with a mask on and your eyes and upper forehead area exposed. (Wearing oversized sunglasses with UV protection is also important. Sunglasses protect the delicate eye area.)
Look for mineral-based products specially formulated for the eyes to avoid irritation; Skinceuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50 is a good option, particularly if you’re not wearing sunglasses. For the rest of your face, including your forehead, try the new Beautycounter Countersun Daily Sheer Defense for Face SPF 25.
Just remember to reapply often: every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
Eye Treatments
The delicate skin around the eyes needs our attention. Applying products to the eye area twice daily can help result in younger looking eyes. The skin will be hydrated and wrinkles will be smoothed. Retinol containing products also boost collagen, helping prevent fine lines and winkles.
I love the Revision D.E.J. Eye Cream, which can be used on upper part of the eyes and eyelids to help tighten the skin. At night, I always use my own retinol eye cream to help boost collagen, preventing fine lines and wrinkles.
If you’re using other products, look for ingredients like hydrating and plumping hyaluronic acid as well as wrinkle-smoothing retinol. Good options include: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream with hyaluronic acid and Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream.
The best way to apply products is by dabbing them on around the eye area with your ring finger. This helps avoid pulling and tugging delicate eye skin.
If there’s any time to focus on your eyes, it’s now. There are so many proven ways to get younger looking eyes. Remember: all eyes are on your eyes!