Crepey Skin Under Eyes: 7 Effective Natural Remedies

by: Linda Robison / Facial Fitness Specialist @ ABZ

Crepey skin under the eyes is a common sign of aging, often appearing as loose, saggy skin or fine lines. This comprehensive guide provides seven natural remedies to improve the appearance of crepey under-eye skin, including effective treatments and prevention tips.

Crepey wrinkles and lines under the eyes.

Contents:

Crepey Skin Under Eyes: What Is It?

7 Home Remedies to Thicken Under Eye Skin

Prevention

Home Remedies That Don't Work

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

understanding crepey skin under the eyes

Crepey Skin Under Eyes

Crepey skin under the eyes is characterized by loose, saggy skin and fine lines that resemble crepe paper. This condition typically manifests beneath the lower eyelid and may extend towards the outer eye and cheeks.

If you notice deep, visible lines even when not smiling, you're likely dealing with crepey under-eye skin.

what causes crepey skin under the eyes?

Crepey skin under the eyes primarily results from aging, where the skin loses its elasticity and firmness. Key factors contributing to crepey skin include:

  • Loss of Collagen and Elastin: These proteins are crucial for skin support and elasticity. As they diminish, the skin becomes thinner and more prone to wrinkles.
  • Sun Exposure: Prolonged UV exposure accelerates collagen breakdown, leading to crepey skin.
  • Diet and Lifestyle: An unhealthy diet, smoking, and genetic factors can exacerbate crepey skin under the eyes.

Note: My under eye area started showing signs of aging when I was in my late 20s! I knew I had to do something before it got worse.

I'll tell you what I've done to reduce crepey eye skin in the article below:

Do under eye remedies work?

I'm living proof that you can at-home treatments can improve the firmness and texture of your skin. Especially, in sensitive areas like the under eye area.

In the before and after eye picture below, I had more crepey under eye skin in my 40s than I do now in my 60s!

crows feet before and afterBefore and after pictures of my under eyes. Notice less crepey skin under eyes when I'm smiling.

Crepey under eye skin: 7 treatments

1. Eye Massage

What is the best home remedy for crepey under eye skin? An eye circle massage. This is one of the cheapest home remedies for crepey eyelids and eye wrinkles because it's free!

Plus, it really works. 

A study featured in PLoS One journal found that:

"massaging boost the production of proteins such as collagen, laminin, perlecan, fibronectin, decorin, tropoelastin, and procollagen-1. These proteins are known to play a crucial role in maintaining the structure and elasticity of the skin."

So, if you want to tighten the under eyes area naturally, consider performing an eye massage, like the one below, a few times a week.


Over time, this increases healthy blood flow, reduces the appearance of dark circles. It also firms up crepey eyelids, (including upper eyelids), and helps reduce puffy eyes. 

Make sure to apply a little cream before doing this.

If you have issues with your hands like arthritis, a massage device like the kansa Wand is an easy to hold and use. This ayurvedic copper massaging wand can be used all over the face too.

2. Moisturize

C pattern technique for under eye area

Hydration is your friend when it comes to crepey skin. And keeping the eye area hydrated is a challenge, especially for women going through menopause or postmenopausal.

It's also difficult finding the right, light moisturizer that won't cause under eye puffiness. That's where Manjishtha, an Ayurvedic herb, comes in.

What is MANJISHTHA?

Manjishtha is a herb with hydrating, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. When used as an eye moisturizer, it may help protect against aging, reducing fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, and inflammation naturally.

For even better results, consider massaging the cream when you apply it. 

Why?

Because researchers found that "the use of a commercial anti-aging cream in combination with massaging amplified the beneficial effects of the cream..."

Try the C-pattern massage to apply your moisturizer

Consider applying the cream in a C-Pattern. Place a drop of cream under the eye, at the crow's feet, and on the upper eyelid.

Then:

  •  Use your ring finger. Start at the inner corner of your under eyes.
  •  Gently glide your finger along your lower eyelid to the outer corner of your eye.
  • Now, curve your finger upwards towards your eyebrow.
  • Then, move it along your eyelid's crease back to the inner corner.
  • Repeat these steps a few times for a full circle eye massage. 

 This helps brighten and firm the entire eye area and not just the under eyes!

Why Do I Love This?

This emulsion cream melts into your skin, so there is no "greasy" look. And, the mattifying property of this cream helps to blur away the look of lines and wrinkles. 

And, it works well under your makeup, concealers, and eyeshadows. So there is no pilling and your makeup won't melt away. And, it's CHEAP!

3. Retinol Products

When dealing with crepey, wrinkly, thin skin... Retinols are your best friend!

Retinols help increase cell turn over and collagen productions. Collagen adds strength and thickness to crepey skin and works well for the under eye area. 

Note: Be careful when applying retinol products to the sensitive, fragile skin around the eyes. Aggressive cosmetics can easily irritate this delicate skin, potentially causing more wrinkles and crepiness.

If you're not sure how your skin will react, or you know you have sensitive skin, it's best to start with the mildest concentration of retinol (0.3 - 0.5%).

Apply it once a week to start. After 3-4 weeks, evaluate how your skin reacts. If all is well, you can slowly increase to 2-3 times a week. 

If your complexion is very sensitive, and you find retinols are causing irritation, you can buffer it by applying a moisturizer first, then the retinol serum.

A more gentle form of retinol

Alternatively: Look for retinol products that contain Bakuchiol.

Bakuchiol is a natural ingredient from the Babchi plant, seen as a gentle alternative to retinol. It's popular in skincare because it can help improve skin without harsh effects.

Regardless of which type of retinol you use, don't be surprised if it takes several months of daily use before you see results.

The important thing is to be consistent!

Money saving tip: To save money, instead of buy "another" cream, consider using a Retinol Serum. Just mix a few drops into your favorite moisturizer. 

It's much cheaper and because you mix it with your favorite oil or moisturizer, you'll have less chance of irritation and inflammation.

4. Rejuvenate - with Vitamin C

Fresh potent ascorbic acid crystals is no doubt the best anti-aging protection for your skin.

Only fresh vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) will truly help improve skin tone and texture. Studies show that fresh vitamin C is the best at rejuvenating and building collagen to help firm the skin. (1)

I mix up my own vitamin C cocktail using fresh L-ascorbic acid. I sprinkle a small amount of vitamin C into the palm of my hand and add a drop of serum or moisturizer, mix it.

Then I massage it to my face, neck, and chest.

UPDATE: This is a game changer!!!!

To get the freshest vitamin C directly into my skin, I stopped mixing the whole vile of vitamin C into my moisturizing serum bottle.

This vitamin C application video shows you how to do this.

Note: If you've never used vitamin C or retinols before, pick one and use it for at least a month. And, once your skin has built up a tolerance, then add the other.

And, never use retinols and vitamin C at the same time. I use retinols at night and vitamin C in the morning. 

5. Temporary Firming Serum

While this is just a temporary fix, there are plenty of under eye firming serums that work for a few hours to "hide" the crepey skin under the eyes, as well as reduce the look of under eye puffiness.

Before and after picture of less under eye crepey skin.My Before and After Picture. Using a Serum to Hide Crepey Skin Under Eyes

I use these serums when I'm tired and my eyes look puffy or extremely wrinkled. And, I always use them for special occasions to look my best.

They really work well to smooth out the under eye skin, but some of these serums can be a bit drying for mature skin, so it's important to find one that works best for you.

See how this serum compares to popular serums like Peter Thomas Roth, Plexaderm, Preparation-H.

6. Plump-up with Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid can help plump up the skin, but only if used correctly!

If you've ever tried hyaluronic acid before, you might have noticed it didn't do much for dry skin. 

Well, I found a tip that really works!

Apply your hyaluronic acid UNDER your moisturizer! You'd be surprised how well it works to seal in the moisture and keep under eye skin looking smooth and firm.

7. Exfoliate

This sounds a bit controversial, but many health professionals agree that lightly exfoliating the skin around the eye is safe and important for healthy skin and to reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Dry dead skin cells settle into those tiny under eye lines and make them look more noticeable. 

Also, lightly exfoliating helps skin care products absorb better. Here are two ways to exfoliate under eye skin:

  • Make a home scrub but mixing a drop or two of your favorite face oil and a pinch of baking soda. Then "very lightly," massage the mixture around the whole eye area and rinse well. 
  • Exfoliate with a skin friendly fruit-based lactic acid. These are one of the few lactic acid serums that are SAFE for the eyelids.

Note: If you have sensitive skin, test a small area first. Also, if you're using any prescription creams around the eye area, check with your dermatologist first. 

Prevention: Crepey Skin Under Eyes

I know this sounds cliché, but lifestyle changes can have a powerful effect on skin health, especially as we get older.

These lifestyle prevention tips are very important and can make a difference in your under eye skin health.

  • love your skin by gently massaging it a few times a week
  • moisturize with eye friendly products
  • get enough sleep
  • drink enough water to keep skin hydrated
  • eat a healthy anti-oxidant rich diet including fruits, veggies, especially garlic, and onions
  • use anti-aging products like AHA's and/or retinols to support healthy aging 
  • always apply sunscreen daily

Home Remedies That Don't Work

I tried some home remedies found on the internet, like applying egg whites, green tea bags, and cucumber slices. Forget about them.

Used alone, they won't do much to reduce crepey eye skin. And, in fact, according to Healthline, egg whites might not be safe to use on your face.

Final say: Crepey skin under eyes treatment

Regardless if under eye creepiness was caused by aging, sun exposure, poor diet, smoking or even genetics, it can be improved via various natural remedies. 

But this does require dedication, consistency, time, and the right skincare solutions.

Top recommendations include:

  • eye massage
  • moisturizing
  • using anti-aging products with retinol and vitamin C
  • gently exfoliating
  • maintaining a balanced lifestyle and diet

It's important to remember that while changes won't happen overnight, consistent application of these remedies can lead to visible improvements over time. 

Crepey Skin Under Eyes: FAQ

Q: My eye skin is so dry and nothing works! What is the best eye cream for Crepey under eyes?

A: I would try the Sandalwood Butter with organic ghee. It's a great nighttime hydrator. If your skin is extremely dry, use it morning and night. It's not shiny or greasy. It has a matte finish, so you can use it during the daytime. You won't be sorry with this one!!

Q: Can Crepey skin be reversed?

A: To be realistic, you won't see very dramatic results with home remedies. But you can soften and smooth the creepiness.

Professional in-office procedures like laser or radiofrequency (RF) treatments, chemical peels, dermal fillers. Maybe even baby-Botox, which is injected superficially to the corners, may help soften lines to bring better results.

But, your skin will continue to age, and you'll have to continue using these treatments in order to keep crepey under eye skin at bay - which can get expensive.

That's why finding natural remedies that can help keep eye skin healthy is important and much less expensive. And, if you do get professional treatment, home remedies can help your results last longer.

Q: Will coconut oil help crepey skin?

A: Coconut oil is good and it can help hydrate the skin, but it might cause clogged pores or puffy eyes. Test it out and see how it works for you.

A better suggestion and proven in studies, is sweet almond oil. Just make sure it's organic, 100%, undiluted, unscented. I use this one as recommended by Dr. Rajani.

You can read more about the benefits of homemade remedies like almond oil for firming up and de-puffing under-eye skin here.

Q:Is Vaseline good for crepey skin under eyes?

A: Vaseline can help keep skin hydrated and maybe look better for a while. But, it doesn't contain anti-aging properties to feed your skin or stimulate collagen and elastin production like Retinols and skin massage.

Plus, it might be too heavy to use around the eye area. You risk the chance of puffy eyes or, worse, milia - which are tiny white cysts that develop under the skin.



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