All the latest natural skin care, anti-aging and healthy lifestyle tips from Marie Veronique Organics.
Natural Remedies for Tired Eyes
The skin around the eyes is particularly delicate and tends to be the first place one notices the formation of wrinkles and lines. Indeed, I very often see folks in their late twenties and early thirties already complaining that they are starting to see a fine network of wrinkles, called crow’s feet, starting to form. It’s a good idea to start paying attention to this area sooner rather than later, especially since part of the problem may stem from how you are using your eyes. Here are 4 common complaints and what we can do about them.
1. Crow's Feet
Crow’s feet are the result of repeated squinting. Squinting causes grooves to appear on the surface of the skin, and these grooves will eventually become a permanent feature of the facial landscape. Squinting is most often just a bad facial habit, similar to the scowl lines that form between the eyebrows. If you haven’t already, be sure and have your vision checked. Here are a couple of additional steps you can take if you are still a habitual squinter, even with your glasses on!- Take a break--If you do a lot of work in front of the computer make sure you are not hunched forward and squinting for long periods of time. Take a break every hour or so to do a little palming exercise. It goes like this: rub your hands together for a few seconds, then place the heels of your hands over your closed eyes. Press against your eyeballs gently, but using firm pressure, for about 30 seconds—this is very soothing for the optic nerve
- Tape away the lines—About 50% of our facial lines are made while we are dreaming. Our faces, especially around the eyes, are very active at this time! A simple remedy is to put scotch tape over those areas that tend to crinkle up during sleep, concentrating on the outside corners of eyes and in between the eyebrows. The tape bits remind us not to scowl or squint while we are asleep.
2. Wrinkles
In addition to facial expressions, the major factors involved in the formation of surface wrinkles are sun damage, oxidative stress and glycation. These wrinkles can be quite fine and extensive, sometimes criss-crossing each other in cob web-like structures and appearing on cheeks, forehead, chest—anywhere that receives sun exposure. Around eyes and other delicate tissue they often give a crepey look to the skin. There are two things to start doing, even in your twenties, to get you on the road towards preventing wrinkles around the eyes.- Protect by day by wearing sunscreen. Some people hesitate to put it too close to your eyes, but a safe and gentle sunscreen should go on right up to the bottom rim of the lower portion of the eye. Wear good sunglasses to protect the upper lid.
- Repair at night with an eye product that contains antioxidants. We like products that dry quickly once applied, like serums or gels. Creams tend to dissolve and leak ingredients into the eyes, which may make them puff up. Continual swelling and shrinking of the delicate tissue around the eyes can actually cause more wrinkles than it prevents.
3. Puffiness
Puffy eyes can be a sign of not enough sleep, dehydration, or in some cases allergies. For some people genetics is a factor. Beyond getting eight hours sleep a night and making sure you are drinking enough liquids, here are suggestions for helping reduce the occasional eye puffiness resulting from a late night or extra stress.- Green or black tea bags make wonderful eye compreses. Pour hot water over your tea bag as if you were making a cup of tea, then put them in the refrigerator to cool off. When you are ready to relax, take 2 cold tea bags, wring out excess liquid, lie down and place over the eyes. Relax for about ten minutes.
- Choose an eye product containing caffeine or guarana. The caffeine helps to restrict blood flow, thus reducing puffiness.
4. Dark circles
Dark circles and puffy eyes often occur together, and the same culprits apply: not enough sleep, not enough liquids, allergies or genetics. An additional cause of of dark circles is engorged or broken capillaries which can look like bruising. Some remedies are:- Choose an eye serum that contains Vitamin K. Vitamin K helps with blood clotting, thus reducing bruising.
- Look for bioflavonoids like rutin in your eye product. Bioflavonoids help strengthen capillaries to reduce bruising.
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