15 Natural Remedies to Tighten Skin Under Eyes

Why are so many of us complaining of dark circles, fine lines, and sagging skin around the eyes? It’s because this area of the face has the thinnest skin and so it shows the signs of aging earlier than other parts.

How to tighten skin under eyes? If you’re looking for natural, non-invasive ways, keep on reading.

General Skin Aging

This skin tends to be more delicate than the skin on the other parts of your face. Aging and fatigue and other effects tend to show up here first.

One of the first signs of skin aging is these fine lines and tiny wrinkles around the eyes. Depending on how well you’ve been caring about the area around the eyes, you might start seeing those even in your early 20s.

Why? It is because the skin around our eyes tends to be the most delicate and the thinnest, to begin with. With every passing year, the skin gets thinner bit by bit. No wonder that aging but also fatigue show up here first. Raccoon eyes and sagging are the results.

This is the reason why prevention is key here. Starting to use an eye cream early on – in your 20s and early 30s – will go a long way in preventing premature aging in this area.

Most importantly, and this is true for everyone, not only the youngsters, applying sunscreen every single day will keep these eyes bright and unwrinkled longer.

Also, do not forget to wear UV-blocking sunglasses daily when outdoors. Read about how it might go a long way in preventing these early wrinkles around the eyes.

What Happens to the Skin Around the Eyes in the Midlife

The skin around the eyes is also lacking subcutaneous fat that other parts of the face, like the chin or cheeks, have.  

It also doesn’t have as many oil glands and collagen, research suggests, so it tends to look a little drier and is more prone to developing fine lines, too.

Causes of thin under-eye skin

Add to it the changes that come with normal aging, and not surprisingly, the eye area becomes the first casualty.

Starting in our mid-20s, the levels of collagen and elastin begin to decrease in the body. These two proteins are key in keeping the skin tout and plump, including the skin around the eyes.

Since collagen and elastin also decrease in the skin over time. These two proteins help to keep skin under the eyes looking and feeling tight, but as they start decreasing, you may find increased sagging in the under-eye area.

Murad.com

What Else Causes Loose Skin Around the Eyes

Aside from normal skin aging due to loss of collagen and elastin, some other factors might cause your skin around the eyes to become thinner and looser. Here are the main culprits:

• Too much sun
• Lighter skin
• People with lighter skin tend to show
• Sleep deprivation
• Smoking

All these factors will progressively make the skin around the eyes thin even more so it makes sense to avoid these behaviors if you want your eyes to look their best.

How to Tighten the Skin Around the Eyes

Luckily there are a few options when trying to make the skin tight around the eyes. They range from dietary and lifestyle changes to minimally invasive treatments at a doctor’s office to surgical interventions.

Supplements

Let’s start with supplements. As always, make sure you discuss any new supplements with your doctor before you start taking them.

Collagen

Since the loose skin under the eyes is a result of a lack of moisture and decreasing collagen, taking a collagen supplement might be a very good option.

I wrote a separate post about all the goodness from supplementing with collagen. I’m a huge fan of it and I have seen really good results in the appearance of my skin, hair, and nails.

Hyaluronic Acid

We know that using Hyaluronic Acid (HA) topically is one of the best ways to improve the hydration of the outermost layers of the skin.

Taking HA internally has been proven to increase moisturization of the skin from the inside out.

Daily HA supplements can moisturize the skin because the metabolites of HA increase the skin moisture content by having an effect on the skin cells.

Nutrition Journal

Diet

Treating the skin’s health and appearance from within is a no-brainer. What you put in, shows up on the surface. So, eating a healthful diet will help the skin as well.

There are, however, certain specific compounds that can up the ante when it comes to the skin’s tone. Chief amongst them are antioxidants.

Antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes may help reduce skin sagging and wrinkles by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are compounds that can activate pathways that eventually degrade collagen.

Medical News Today

Skin Tightening Carotenoids

Including skin tightening carotenoids in your diet can help a lot too. Orange fruits like mango, papaya, goji berries, persimmons, sweet potatoes, melons, and carrots as well as green leafy veggies (broccoli, kale, spinach) can help tighten the skin in general.

Essential Fatty Acids

Add fatty fish, avocados, and olive oil to your diet and your skin will say a big Thank you! Unless you consume fatty fish at least twice a day, adding a high-quality EPA/DHA Fish Oil supplement might be a good idea. (Please consult with your medical practitioner before taking any supplements.)

Vitamin C Foods

We know how good Vitamin C is for skin health and appearance. Using Vitamin C topically is always a great idea as it protects the skin from the free radicals that our skin is exposed to on daily basis.

RELATED POST: The Benefits of Kakadu Plum (Super Vitamin C Food)

But the full benefits of Vitamin C supplementation might be even more pronounced when you combine the topical application with consuming foods that are rich in Vitamin C. Here are some to consider:

• Oranges and other citrus
• Beets
• Bell Peppers
• Broccoli
• Hibiscus Tea (read why)

Good proteins

Our skin benefits from healthy sources of protein.

For meat-eaters, this means to only get quality meat, organic, humanly raised, or grass-fed.

For fish-eaters, fatty fish like salmon is always a good idea.

For lacto-ovo vegetarians, organic eggs, tofu, and full-fat Greek yogurt might be the best options.

For vegans and strict vegetarians, beans and legumes are always a winner.

Zink and Selenium Foods

Do not forget zink and selenium foods. Not only are they crucial for skin health and appearance, but they will also protect you from infections and might even have some anti-cancer properties.

• Oysters
• Bell Peppers
• Brazil Nuts
• Walnuts

What Foods Will Wreak Havoc on Your Skin?

Since we talked about what foods are good for skin tightening, let’s also see which foods to avoid. Here are the three main ones:

• Sugar (including sugary beverages)
• Alcohol
• Caffeine in excess

Given that these three are such culprits, trying to stick to water. It’s the best way to hydrate throughout the day and a well-hydrated person wears a well-hydrated skin.

Water was recommended by dermatologists that said it can even prevent ‘sunken eyes’.

Skin Tightening Foods

Topical Treatments to Tighten Skin Under Eyes

When looking for topicals, look for sera, lotions, and creams for the undereye that contain antioxidants and/or peptides.

However, it is important to remember that topical treatments will have subtle effects when it comes to lifting sagging skin. According to dermatologists, a cream or lotion cannot penetrate the skin deeply enough to do this.

The best way to get benefits from applying topical treatment is to be very consistent. Daily or twice-daily application is a must since the effects such as moisturizing and tightening are temporary.

Here are a few ingredients to consider when looking to tighten skin under eyes:

Retin-A and Other Retinoids

Retinoids are some of the most powerful antioxidants that can help boost collagen and elastin production in the delicate eye area.

However, some people might find them too harsh, so if you’re new to using retinoids, make sure to go slow. Maybe start with an application every other day. Or, mix your retinoid with hyaluronic acid to boost hydration.

Vitamin C

This is the antioxidant that is used by the body to produce collagen. It is also important in fighting off free radicals which would otherwise continue to contribute to aging.

Vitamin C is also known to have a brightening effect which is helpful to those suffering from dark circles around the eyes.

Peptides

What are they?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids which help to build proteins such as collagen and elastin, both of which facilitate firmer, plumper, more youthful-looking skin.

The Derm Collective

I’m a huge fan of peptides, ever since I started using this proprietary peptide serum called Os01 by OneSkin. I wrote a separate article on it here. This peptide is thoroughly researched and the results are great. I’m speaking from personal experience and from the many reviews from other happy users.

Alpha-hydroxy Acids

A gentle exfoliation by alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) such as lactic, mandelic, or glycolic acids is another option to tighten the skin around the eyes.

Given that these are acids, you’ll have to be very careful with application. The keywords here are light exfoliation. So, go for low concentrations and make sure not to get the ingredient into the eye.

Caffeine

If your biggest problems are eye bags and dark circles, try a cream that contains caffeine.

By narrowing blood vessels and calming skin, caffeine can temporarily reduce under-eye bags.

Dr. Jeannette Graf

I make my own eye balm in which the star ingredient is coffee-infused sweet almond oil. It is so soothing and fast-absorbing!

Non-Surgical Treatments at Home

Before going under the knife for drastic eye surgery, there are some non-invasive treatments that are worth trying.

Gua Sha

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese technique of facial massage, sometimes also called muscle scrapping.

The tool used for gua sha is usually a stone such as rose quartz or jade that’s been carved and polished in such a way that it glides alongside the contours of the face.

Microneedling

I wrote a separate post about this wonderful way to induce collagen production by your own body. This can be done also to tighten the skin under the eyes.

Just make sure to use needles that are no longer than 0.25 mm. Anything else would be too deep for this delicate area.

Microcurrent

This is another non-invasive treatment that can tighten the skin around the eyes. My ZIIP microcurrent device comes with an app with a multitude of programs for different needs: sculpting, toning, plumping, and also for a brow lift, and a special program for the eyes.

Read this post to get more info about microcurrents.

Non-Invasive Treatments at the Dermatologist Office

There are plenty of non-invasive or minimally invasive (this means non-surgical) options to try out at the derm office. The American Academy of Dermatology Association offers lots of info on things such as:

• Laser treatments
• Chemical peels
• Radiofrequency

Blepharoplasty

The most drastic option to tighten skin under eyes is surgery. This one is probably best for those bothered mostly by the sagging lids and under-eye bags.

Blepharoplasty is the name for the procedure to tighten up sagging eyelids, as well as to remove fatty deposits in the eyelids and bags under the eyes.

Healthline

Since I have not had it done, I cannot comment on its effectiveness, downtime, etc. but there is plenty of info on these procedures online.

It’s A Wrap

There you have it. 15 natural ways to tighten skin under eyes.

Treating the sagging skin under the eyes might be a difficult thing to do.

This is why prevention is always best.

Once the skin gets to the point when you want to tighten it, there are options from totally natural measured to non-invasive procedures either at home or at the doctor’s office.

I hope you’ll be able to find something that works for you.

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Before you go, check out some natural skincare DIY recipes in this booklet.