Help! My eyes are aging and it's not pretty!

[Meadowlark]

Okay, maybe I'm having a midlife crisis or something.

 

I'm approaching...ahem...the decade after my 30's and I can see it in my eyes! Especially when I smile, all of a sudden there are about 5 lines coming out of each eye. I look OLD!

 

What do I need? Retinol?  I've been using CeraVe eye treatment and it's obviously doing nothing. I know there's no miracle but surely somebody knows of something that might help? Thanks!

 

Oh, and my eyes do NOT do well if things get into them so if it stings, I can't use it.

[umsami]

Retinol is not good near the eyes. 

 

FInd an eye cream you like....keep it in the fridge.... apply it with your ring finger.

 

A lot of eye wrinkles are due to sun and heredity....which means not a lot you can do now other than a visit to the dermatologist, ophthalmologist (ocuplastics) or plastic surgeon.

 

If it helps, a lot of younger folks have eye wrinkles....even Kate Middleton.  

 

Consider them character marks....or smile marks.

 

I 100% guarantee you that they do not look as bad as you think.

Edited February 26, 2016 by umsami

[fairfarmhand]

Smile a lot.

 

When I'm having a frowny day, I make myself fake it because I'd rather have smile lines than frowny ones.

[Laura Corin]

You are the age you are.  Your body is lovely in each of its decades: it's amazing what it can do, what it can experience, what it can recover from.  Just love it a little, with all the marks that show the work it has done for you.

[Happy]

Wearing eyeglasses hides those lines a bit....

[desertflower]

I don't think there is anything you can do to get rid of your current wrinkles except for seeing a doctor like someone mentioned.

 

I'm not a doctor, but I would imagine getting enough sleep, sunscreen, and lots of water will help prevent some.

 

Someone i know mentioned Dr. Oz finding.....i don't exactly remember what. Just something about wrinkles. Something about mixing vitamin c with something else. A break through apparently. I don't know if it's legit.

 

I will say this, since you mentioned retinol. I used it when I was a teenager. The liquid and cream for acne. Not by choice. I do have less wrinkles for someone my age. Hmmm something to think about.

 

In the end though, all that matters is that you are happy with yourself.

 

 

I'm about your age btw. ;) I think when I go through a midlife crisis, I'll get a new hairdo. :) Hmmmm I wonder how I will look in purple.....I don't think anyone will be looking at my wrinkles then! Lol

[Laura Corin]

My mid life crisis, at fifty, involved looking around me at the older women in my choir. I decided I wanted a good haircut and a really functional body, to the extent allowed by the accidents of health.

 

So I spend money on my hair cut, eat well, walk, and practise yoga. I'm happy with the results.

[creekmom]

Retin A is the only thing that's been proven to be effective in reducing wrinkles and signs of aging. I started on the lowest dose over a year ago and worked my way up to 1% strength. My skin looks better now than it did 5 years ago! It is AMAZING the difference it has made. My sister in law told my husband the other day that I must be an alien bc I have not aged LOL! I started using retinol products almost 10 years ago at 37, but I wish I had started with pure retin A back then. I learned a lot about anti aging creams from Angie's youtube channel (Hot and Flashy). She has before and after picks of her retin A use and also reviews other products for mature skin.

Edited February 27, 2016 by creekmom

[TCB]

Retin A is the only thing that's been proven to be effective in reducing wrinkles and signs of aging. I started on the lowest dose over a year ago and worked my way up to 1% strength. My skin looks better now than it did 5 years ago! It is AMAZING the difference it has made. My sister in law told my husband the other day that I must be an alien bc I have not aged LOL! I started using retinol products almost 10 years ago at 37, but I wish I had started with pure retin A back then. I learned a lot about anti aging creams from Angie's youtube channel (Hot and Flashy). She has before and after picks of her retin A use and also reviews other products for mature skin.

 

 

Do you have a recommendation and where do you buy it? 

[Mothersweets]

tcb, you have to go to a dermatologist to get the real stuff - Retin-A. Over the counter products just aren't strong enough.

[creekmom]

Do you have a recommendation and where do you buy it?

Dermatologist will need to write you a prescription. Start out slow with lowest dose and expect some redness and peeling. Dryness and irritation shouldn't last long, and you'll be thrilled with the condition of your skin in a few weeks!

[Katy]

nm

Edited July 22, 2016 by Katy

[RosieCotton]

Nothing works except Retin-A with a prescription so make an appt with your skin Dr.

 

You can also find a good med spa and start getting chemical peels a few times per year. Can take years off.

 

 

[redsquirrel]

Dermatologist will need to write you a prescription. Start out slow with lowest dose and expect some redness and peeling. Dryness and irritation shouldn't last long, and you'll be thrilled with the condition of your skin in a few weeks!

 

It doesn't need to be a dermatologist. I get mine from my GP.  It's my reward for getting my annual, lol.

 

Just FYI, insurance won't cover it.  I ask for a small tube and it last for ever.  Once she gave me a script for a larger tube and it cost 160$.  It would have lasted 2 years though.  I don't mind 80$ because it actually WORKS and you could spend a lot more on drugstore things that don't do much.

 

You do have to worship sunscreen if you use it though. Like, do not mess around because you will damage your skin.

 

And you can use it on around your eyes, just not too close. But on the sides, around those lines should be ok, just use common sense. 

 

You start using it like once a week. And you use a teensy bit.  Then after three weeks move up to twice a week and then after a while try three times a week. 

[RKWAcademy]

I'm around the same age as you are.  My birthday this month hit me hard.  I started to notice lines around my eyes, too.  But, that's life.  I'd like to think it just makes us look wiser.  Embrace them as a reminder of all the good laughs you've had in your - ahem - many decades. 

 

If that doesn't help, maybe your skin is dry because of winter?  Maybe they aren't noticeable in the summer with a touch of a tan and moister skin? 

 

I really do love those lines on my husband, though.  Why do they make men so much more distinguished?  *sigh*

[Mothersweets]

I'm around the same age as you are.  My birthday this month hit me hard.  I started to notice lines around my eyes, too.  But, that's life.  I'd like to think it just makes us look wiser.  Embrace them as a reminder of all the good laughs you've had in your - ahem - many decades. 

 

If that doesn't help, maybe your skin is dry because of winter?  Maybe they aren't noticeable in the summer with a touch of a tan and moister skin? 

 

I really do love those lines on my husband, though.  Why do they make men so much more distinguished?  *sigh*

 

It just isn't fair, is it? It's the same for graying hair - on men it makes them look better. :(

[redsquirrel]

It just isn't fair, is it? It's the same for graying hair - on men it makes them look better. :(

 

Only because our society has told us it does.

 

I think I look better now than I did in my 20s.  My skin isn't as peachy, of course, but I think my lines and touch of grey add to my looks, not detract from them.  I certainly feel more comfortable in my looks as a mature woman, not an ingenue.

 

If you love those lines and grey hairs on your husband, I would hope he loves them on you...and thinks they only add to your beauty.

[Meadowlark]

This Retin A thing has me curious. What do you say to your Dermotologist to get him/her to write that prescription? 

[Tsuga]

tcb, you have to go to a dermatologist to get the real stuff - Retin-A. Over the counter products just aren't strong enough.

 

How is that long-term? I thought retin-a increased sensitivity to UV rays. Wouldn't that be counter-productive in the long run?

 

Not that I'll get it. I'm nearly 40, I have two gorgeous daughters for people to admire, so I'm just going to have to suck it up and age gracefully.

[Meadowlark]

How is that long-term? I thought retin-a increased sensitivity to UV rays. Wouldn't that be counter-productive in the long run?

 

Not that I'll get it. I'm nearly 40, I have two gorgeous daughters for people to admire, so I'm just going to have to suck it up and age gracefully.

 

Yes, I'm curious about this too. I am a fair skinned redhead. I wouldn't say my skin is super sensitive, but I burn VERY easily. I've been diligent about using suncreen on my face since my early 20's, but the nature of my skin (and heredity) is just going to be thin and wrinkly I think. I'd love to start the retinol A thing if my skin could handle it. I'm a little worried about it though. I've heard you put in on at night because of the UV sensitivity thing.

[6packofun]

You can use retinol products around the eyes.  Just not IN them.  LOL

 

http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/eye-care/_/how-to-find-the-best-eye-cream The most important point from this article, IMO, is that you don't need a separate eye cream because you should be using products that are gentle AND full of great ingredients for your entire face!

 

(Unfortunately, the Resist Intensive Repair Cream is what I like and it's out of stock right now!  I like it and the Skin Recovery Hydrating Mask, which is just a very emollient moisturizer that you can leave on or wash off if your skin isn't too dry.  Mine is pretty dry.  Regardless, you don't have to use Paula's Choice products to learn something from the article!)