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The smartest way to 'anti-age your eyes' without resorting to surgery

smartest way to anti-age eyes without resorting surgery tips
smartest way to anti-age eyes without resorting surgery tips

If I had £100 for every time someone asked me how to fix their 'tired eyes' I'd be a millionaire. We don't tend to mind a few crinkles - after all smile lines are endearing - but we find it harder to tolerate looking 'tired' even when we are knackered, and the statistics prove it.

Harley Street oculoplastic surgeon, Dr Sabrina Shah Desai reveals that now we are living life under a mask, eye surgery has overtaken every other facial treatment in his practice by 60%.

He says, ''I've seen a significant increase in patients enquiring about treatments for the eye area - particularly during lockdown, as I think that with the introduction of masks, the emphasis has moved away from the mouth and is now very much on the eyes.'

But, he explains that tired looking eyes aren't just down to a lack of sleep. 'Dark circles and eye bags aren’t just related to how much sleep we are, or aren’t getting. As we age, we lose volume in the under-eye, commonly called the tear trough region. This can cause dark circles, wrinkles, thinning skin, and a sunken appearance. Puffy eyes and sagging skin around the eye area can show up as a result of fatigue, stress, allergies, dehydration and sun damage.

Fillers

Dr Shah Desai has seen a huge spike in enquiries for tear trough fillers during lockdown and has been carrying out online enquiries throughout the period. ‘Dark circles aren’t just caused by ageing,’ explains Dr Shah Desai. ‘We see a number of young patients as early as in their twenties requesting help with their dark circles. This is especially the case for those with darker skin tones. It can be rectified using tear trough fillers which are expertly injected under the eye to give a rejuvenated appearance.’

However, Dr. Shah Desai warns that the treatment isn’t as simple as it sounds. 'Tear trough fillers are one of the most complicated injectable techniques and something that should only be performed by a medical professional. Complications can be devastating, ranging from swelling, lumpiness, bluish discoloration (Tyndall) or even blindness.' Crikey.

Radiofrequency

He suggests less invasive tweaks like radiofrequency treatments such as Morpheus 8, which can be very beneficial for helping to smooth and tighten the skin and decrease wrinkles, lines and hooding in the eye area with long-lasting results –no surgery, injections and little to no downtime.

Diet

But have you considered your diet? I hadn't either until I looked at a picture of myself in a face mask the first time I wore one. Shocked at how visible my dark circles were, I happened to be chatting to a nutritionist at the time who suggested that I may be lacking in iron; A true enough statement, I figured, since I rarely eat red meat and have had a history of Anaemia in the past.

'Iron deficiency is another reason why you might have dark circles,’ explains Dr Shah Desai. ‘Make sure you include vitamin B12 and foods like red meat, pork, poultry, seafood, beans, spinach, raisins, apricots, and peas into your diet.'

Immediately I began taking a B12 supplement and upped my greens and fish. As I eat a little bit of red meat from time to time, I made sure to have a bite every now and then, usually off of one of the kid's plates.

However, you don't need to eat red meat - or animal products - to get your iron levels to where they need to be. Floridix Liquid Iron Supplement is what I took after giving birth to my twins when I was severely anaemic and it was transformative.

Iron is just part of the puzzle. Making sure your skin is hydrated from within is vital for dissipating dark circles as they are more evident when the skin is thin - and for keeping fine lines at bay. I do this by eating lots of water-rich foods such as eggs, cucumbers, melon, salad and other fruits and veggies which hydrate the skin from the inside. Alongside healthy fats like avocado to keep my skin supple.

Skincare

Topically, I used a retinol serum at night under my eyes to boost collagen and firm and thicken the area - though this takes consistency and time. During the day I religously applied a vitamin C cream and massaged it in with a rose quartz roller to drain the lymph and reduce early morning puffiness.

Dr. Shah Desai says, 'when it comes to skincare, with repeated use, retinoids can help rebuild dermal collagen and contribute to vascular support in the area and the recovery of skin volume and firmness. For dark circles that are caused by increased pigment, topical lightening agents such as vitamin C can help decrease skin pigmentation over time, ultimately resulting in the lightening of the dark circles.'

Do I think I need surgery, filler or radiofrequency now that I've tweaked my diet, massaged my eyes daily and applied a targeted day and night serum for the past month? Not a chance. In fact, I'd say I've knocked at least five years off of my eye age with no pain or downtime - and all for less than £200.

6 of the best anti-ageing eye fixes

Floradix Liquid Iron and Vitamin Formula 500ml, £19, Boots

floradix liquid iron and vitamin formula smartest way to anti-age eyes without resorting surgery
floradix liquid iron and vitamin formula smartest way to anti-age eyes without resorting surgery

Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Eye Serum 15ml, £70, Cult Beauty

dr dennis gross ferulic retinol eye serum smartest way to anti-age eyes without resorting surgery
dr dennis gross ferulic retinol eye serum smartest way to anti-age eyes without resorting surgery

Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector 15ml, £56, Cult Beauty

murad vita-c eyes dark circle corrector smartest way anti-age without resorting surgery
murad vita-c eyes dark circle corrector smartest way anti-age without resorting surgery

Sculpted by Aimee Brighten Up Concealer 7ml, £15, Boots

sculpted by aimee brighten up concealer smartest way anti age eyes without resorting surgery
sculpted by aimee brighten up concealer smartest way anti age eyes without resorting surgery

Revolve Contouring Massage Roller, £115, Revive Skincare

revive skincare revolve contouring massage roller smartest way anti age eyes without surgery
revive skincare revolve contouring massage roller smartest way anti age eyes without surgery

Dr. Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask, £89.99, Current Body

dr. harris anti-wrinkle sleep mask smartest way anti-age eyes without surgery
dr. harris anti-wrinkle sleep mask smartest way anti-age eyes without surgery