Styes: Common and Preventable
Have you ever woken up, looked in the mirror, and wondered, “What happened?” Crow’s feet, puffy bags, and dark under-eye circles may have begun a daily assault on your eyes, and the only way you can think to combat it is piling the makeup on higher and deeper (if you’re a woman) or splashing some cold water on it and hoping no one notices (if you’re a man). Well, before resorting to your makeup bag or just throwing in the towel on aging eyes, try these tips out.
Sleep More
There really is truth to the phrase “beauty sleep.” The body renews its cells and goes through hormonal and metabolic changes when you sleep; a lack of sleep or poor sleep disturbs the process and results in you looking tired and aged. Go to bed at a consistent time and get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to get the full benefit of sleep. Also consider switching to a firmer pillow that will hold your head higher; this prevents fluid from pooling around your eyes and creating that puffy-eye look.
Use Sun Protection
Wear sunglasses every day. Even on days that may be cloudy; if it is bright enough to cause you to squint, you need to wear sunglasses. Not only will they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, they will help keep you from squinting and causing lines and wrinkles to appear earlier than they normally would with age. Apply sunscreen or moisturizer with an SPF rating to your face, as well. Again, this will help protect the thin skin around your eyes.
Apply Cold Compresses
To help reduce puffiness and under-eye bags in the morning, apply a cold compress to your eyes for a few minutes. This can be anything from cold cucumber slices to a teaspoon dipped in ice water to a chilled, wet tea bag to refrigerated aloe vera gel gently rubbed under the eyes.
Stop Smoking
Smoking has numerous unwanted side effects, and one of them is drying out your skin (plus loading your skin and organs with toxins). Quit the habit and you will stop premature wrinkling and help the overall health of your eyes – your skin and eyes will begin to glow again!
Wear Less Makeup
Caking on foundation and concealer to try to hide wrinkles and dark circles will only exaggerate those pesky lines because it will collect inside the wrinkles. Use a light touch to apply foundation and concealer, as well as eyeshadow. Avoid blacks and grays in eyeshadow and eyeliner; these can run, causing dark shadows under your eyes and making you look tired. Reach for lighter colors instead.
Consider Contact Lenses
Try contact lenses instead of glasses. Glasses may seem to work well by distracting focus from the skin around your eyes, but contact lenses aren’t noticeable by others at all and may cause you to seem younger simply by hiding the fact that you have vision issues. Visit your eye doctor for more information on whether contact lenses are right for you.
{ photo credit: Viewminder – cc }
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