Hi Ladies! One of the most disheartening things I had to face after 50 (even 40) were the wrinkles. I’d wake up some days, look in the mirror and think, “Seriously?!” If you want to know how to reduce wrinkles around the eyes and other areas on your sweet self, read on.
How to Reduce Wrinkles Around the Eyes
Our Skin as We Age
There are several factors that affect the quality of our skin as we grow older. Some of these factors are beyond our control, such as our chronological or actual age and genetics. But the good news is, some aspects are within our power to change or influence.
Lifestyle and diet are the major significant influencing factors. Even so, before you make any changes for the sake of your skin health and appearance, it pays to understand the aging process of your skin.
In Our 40’s
Once you are in your 40’s, the lymphatic system tends to slow down, just like most of the organs and systems inside your body. Unfortunately, this system also plays a vital role in getting rid of toxins from the body.
This decline in the ability to remove toxins as efficiently as before can result in the breaking down of the elastic fibers that are important for supporting the lymph glands. What you will notice as a result is a puffy look around your cheeks and eyes… and you thought she had botched Botox injections!
It is also during your 40’s that your sebum production may decline. This can adversely impact the outer protective coating of the skin, making it more sensitive to environmental influences.
These changes are also accompanied by fluctuating estrogen production. This can cause the skin to look less radiant and firm. It can also lead to the appearance of wrinkles and the start of sagging skin around the neck (see my article on body image and turkey neck) and décolletage area.
If your eyes begin to look a little sunken, this can also be due to bone loss caused by the reduced estrogen production.
In Our 50’s
Now your life is just beginning (please click your heels together 3 times while repeating)! So too is a significant drop in collagen production! This is why your skin begins to seriously sag. At this stage of life you may notice the appearance of little pigmentation changes on the skin’s surface. Age spots may start to appear on your face, arms and especially the back of your hands.
These skin blemishes can also be accompanied by the presence of spider veins which are caused by damaged blood vessels. It is also in your 50’s that your skin pores can increase in size. This is because your skin loosens making the openings of the pores appear bigger.
Some women, especially fair women, may experience drier, flakier skin with more wrinkles, than other women who have naturally oilier or darker pigmentation.
Facial hair may also begin to be a problem, as a result of the hormonal imbalances taking place (does anyone else feel like hairs being plucked off your face is felt in the lower regions of hairiness…or is it just me?).
The decline of estrogen production and the decline of collagen leads to a lack of skin moisture and ‘luster’ loss. As a consequence your skin’s elasticity isn’t so springy anymore either!
It is also during this period of a woman’s life that the skin becomes more prone to inflammation. All of these are just wonderful changes aren’t they???
In Our 60’s
In the next decade some of your hormones may now start to return to their normal levels. So there is good news after all!
However, your fascia, the part that connects your bone to your skin, may begin to deteriorate. This contributes to an increasing loss of your natural skin tone.
So, what is the good news if this is what happens? The good news is your skin sensitivity may lessen compared to previous years. If your skin displayed patchy red areas, it too may begin to appear less discolored.
At this stage, your blood circulation to the skin may tend to decline and this can significantly make your skin look duller. Your lips may become thinner and any wrinkles around the mouth may become more apparent.
To sum it all up, changes to your skin are inevitable as you age. However, the rate of change can be minimized by your actions. Your major concerns regarding skin health as you age should be a focus on a healthy diet and avoidance of dietary and environmental toxins. Please consider investing in a supplement that will reduce cell damage and restore damaged cells. Healthy cells are the key to your health and longevity.
Drink plenty of fresh water to keep your skin well-hydrated at all times, stick to your skin firming rituals and get your necessary sun exposure early in the day.
You seriously have to be thick-skinned (pun intended) during these years ladies! But remember…you’re not alone, and there are things you can do to make a difference. Hopefully, you’ve learned how to reduce wrinkles around the eyes (and other places as well)! So, lift up that turkey neck and…
Thrive! OK? 
