The best creams and treatments for the eye area –

Sooner or later, the skin of all of us will show the marks of the passage of time. And the first signs usually appear in a very specific region: around the eyes. Blame the very thin skin with only 0.5 millimeters thick. Some women, especially fair-skinned women, may already have fine lines by age 25. After 35, on average, sagging eyelids begin to appear and, in some cases, bags. Therefore, it is a consensus among dermatologists that the sooner you start a care routine, the more preserved the area around your eyes will be at 40.

The good news is that thin skin, which highlights the marks, favors the treatment of these same alterations, as it allows better penetration of the assets. The first step is to adhere to area-specific creams. They contain the ingredients in the ideal concentration and texture to treat (without irritating) the eye area. Afterwards, according to your needs, it is worth investing in treatments that help revert more severe signs of aging, as you will discover below.

crackle effect

The skin around the eyes has fine, shallow lines that give the impression of dryness (think of the texture of crepe paper). Common in younger women, they arise because of repetitive eyelid movement and natural aging. They are aggravated by exposure to the sun without protection, lack of hydration, cigarettes and even the pollution of big cities. Over time, these lines will deepen and become more pronounced wrinkles.

how to treat

At home: it is worth betting on creams that provide intense hydration (ceramides III and aquaporins are good choices) and that contain ingredients capable of stimulating collagen formation, such as fragments of hyaluronic acid. “I also recommend vitamin C”, says dermatologist Silvia de Melo, from the Ivo Pitanguy clinic, in Rio de Janeiro. The active, in addition to acting on the firmness of the skin, has antioxidant properties, that is, it fights free radicals, preventing these lines from deepening.

In the office: many dermatologists have opted for a technique called Skinbooster. They are injections of hyaluronic acid, a substance capable of retaining water, not with the purpose of filling, but to ensure hydration and turgor to the skin. For this, the procedure uses a less dense type of hyaluronic acid that must be applied superficially at various points on the face.

Chicken feet

Deeper wrinkles around the eyes denounce a greater loss of collagen and elastin, proteins that give, respectively, firmness and elasticity to the skin. Natural aging combined with the habits of smiling, sunbathing and smoking “break down” these proteins, causing the appearance of furrows in the outer corner of the eyes, which, unfortunately, not even makeup hides. Dry skin is more prone to wrinkle formation.

how to treat

At home: counterattack with powerful collagen-stimulating actives, such as growth factors. Retinol, derived from retinoic acid, is another good option, as it acts on cell renewal, leaving the surface of the skin smoother and more vibrant. “All must be manipulated in creamy emulsions. These vehicles prevent water loss, since aging skin is usually drier”, explains dermatologist Juliana Carnevale, from Rio de Janeiro.

In the office: the dynamic duo of botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid-based fillers are the main options. And no one will have a frozen expression. The two techniques are more modern and, combined, allow a more natural rejuvenation, what doctors call 3D antiaging. Botulinum toxin is indicated to treat dynamic wrinkles, those formed by muscle contraction. As the substance relaxes the muscle, expression wrinkles are smoothed when we move the face. The filler evens out the surface of the skin, as its molecules occupy the creases of wrinkles. The most modern versions of this asset even help to stimulate collagen, prolonging the treatment result.

Flaccidity

Take a look at your mother and grandmothers: if they have a droopy upper eyelid, chances are you too will suffer from the problem. This is because sagging in this region has a strong genetic component. As time goes by, there is also fat loss, which further contributes to the eyelids “dropping”. This process starts from the age of 25, but only after the age of 35 does it begin to be noticeable. The trick is not to wait too long to pay attention to your eyelids: it might be too late to treat them only with creams.

how to treat

At home: invest in firming actives, such as DMAE (which promotes a lifting effect) and Matrixyl, a peptide that stimulates collagen. Pay attention to the way you apply the cream, because if you rub it in, it can intensify the flaccidity: “Use a small amount with delicate movements, from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner”, explains dermatologist Luciana Hitomi, from Slim Clinique, in Rio de Janeiro.

In the office: fractional CO2 lasers, such as Fraxel Repair, are effective in this case. The procedure stimulates collagen and gives firmness to the skin. Two to five sessions are required, one per month, and the results can last up to three years. Ulthera – microfocused ultrasound that heats the deeper layers of the skin, also boosting collagen – is another good option. The indication is one session every six months. It is worth remembering that botulinum toxin also has the function of lifting expression. “However, it is not recommended for very droopy eyelids, which will only benefit from plastic surgery”, says Luciana Hitomi.

bags

The swelling in the lower eyelids ages the face because it gives the appearance of eternal fatigue. It can appear for four reasons: genetics, liquid retention, sagging and excess fat. Of the signs of aging in the eye area, this is the most difficult to treat. Bags can still be accompanied by dark circles, another problem with different causes, but which some creams help to combat.

how to treat

At home: if the problem is just beginning, invest in creams that give firmness and alleviate water retention. Look for actives like caffeine, which has a draining and lipolytic action, in addition to ginkgo biloba and arnica, to activate circulation. The treatment is more complete when associating these actives with hyaluronic acid, due to its anti-sagging action. When applying the cream, take the opportunity to perform a facial lymphatic drainage with light pressure with the ring finger from the inner corner of the eyes to the outer corner.

In the office: bet on multipolar radiofrequency devices, such as Freeze. “The heat emitted by the equipment contracts the collagen fibers and compacts the fat cells”, says dermatologist Carla Albuquerque, from São Paulo. If the bags are very prominent, the only solution is blepharoplasty – surgical removal of fat and excess skin. For dark circles, it is worth resorting to injections of hyaluronic acid. “The acid fills in the furrow, levels the bag and disguises the dark marks,” says dermatologist Luciana Lourenço, from São Paulo.