From undereye bags and circles to fine lines and wrinkles, here’s how to hide what your eyes give away
By Jennifer Dawson

Your eyes may be the windows to your soul, but the skin around them tells its own tale. Wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness say a lot about your genes and your lifestyle. However, fostering some healthy habits and a sensible, skin-care regime can help keep your eyes looking youthful.

So why is it so easy to read our life's story in the skin around our eyes? For starters, this skin is significantly thinner than the skin elsewhere on the face and has blood vessels closer to the surface. According to Toronto dermatologist Dr. Benjamin Barankin, these unique features mean that the skin around the eyes is more sensitive, especially to rubbing and cosmetics, plus the effects of aging. “We don't tend to apply sunscreen close to the eyes, either,” he notes. As a result, damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation can be particularly noticeable around the eyes.

Eye moisturizer 101
At the top of Dr. Barankin's good habits list is using a non-irritating moisturizer around the eyes – either a face or eye cream will do. He advises testing for irritation first by applying moisturizer to the inside of your arm, opposite your elbow, once or twice a day for a week—this skin is similar to the skin around the eyes. If there's no adverse reaction, you can be fairly certain the cream will be safe for your face. Dr. Barankin also has these moisturizer tips:
• Look for fragrance-free products, to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and irritation.
• Choose formulations that include ingredients proven to help fight wrinkles and dark circles, such as vitamins C and K and retinol (use creams containing retinol every other day in the winter to avoid irritation).
• Go light on the application, and smooth gently onto the skin around the eye in an expanding circle.
• Choose a cream, rather than a lotion, for aging skin. As skin ages, the thickness of the cream should increase, suggests Barankin. Younger and oilier skin types could opt for a “fluid” or “serum” formulation.
• Apply moisturizer at night, and a facial sunscreen during the day.

Just note that facial moisturizers are not miracle cures, Dr. Barankin cautions. “There is no overnight benefit, so don't chuck the bottle after a couple of weeks with no results. Give it a three- or four-month trial and hopefully you'll discover a long-term benefit.”

8 healthy moves for youthful eyes
Besides treating your eyes with kid gloves, guarding the rest of your body can put an extra sparkle in your eyes. Here are some lifestyle tips to help brighten your outlook:

• Keep UV rays out. Use stay-put sunscreen around your eyes daily, advises Dr. Barankin, like products containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
• Get enough zzz's. It's true: a poor night's sleep will darken under eye circles, though it's not clear why.
• Quit smoking. Smoking is bad for circulation; blood vessels can appear more prominent and blue, especially under the eyes. It also weakens elastin in skin, which can lead to premature wrinkling of skin around the eyes.
• Don't rub your eyes. If eye skin is rubbed or scratched, it reacts by depositing more pigment in the area. This means darker circles, especially in darker-skinned individuals. Instead of rubbing, treat the problem. Try a moisturizer or a mild cortisone cream (for up to one week) for dry, itchy eye skin. Dr. Barankin advises seeing a dermatologist if the itching persists. For dry eyes, artificial tears are very helpful and safe.
• Treat seasonal allergies. These can result in eye puffiness and under eye circles.
• Pamper your eyes. Cool compresses, such as tea bags and cucumber slices, can reduce eye puffiness. Or try an ice cube wrapped in a soft cloth.
• Recognize the changing needs of aging skin. Younger skin may need nothing but sunscreen, while older skin may require moisturizing more than once a day. If your favourite moisturizer is no longer doing the trick, it may be that you've outgrown it.
• Watch your diet. Stay hydrated by drinking enough water and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine. Eat well, take a multi-vitamin, and limit salt intake—it can lead to water retention under the eyes.