For Beautiful Eyes

“Not only are the eyes a ‘window to the soul,’ but they can also say a lot about one’s general health,” says New York City dermatologist Andrea Lynn Cambio, MD.

“If someone is healthy,” she says, “the eyes will be clear and bright, but if health problems exist, the eye area can reflect this, too.” Thyroid and kidney conditions can make the eyes puffy, while chronic diseases can give the eye area a sunken appearance.

Pamper Delicate Skin

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the body. It also tends to be dry since it lacks sweat and oil glands. And the muscle surrounding the eye, the obicularis oculi, has no network of supporting muscles.

“Pulling and rubbing the delicate tissue around the eyes can cause damage to the skin,” says Dean Palompo at Zia Natural Skincare. “Squinting, rubbing your eyes, and putting contacts in and taking them out all contribute to the formation of lines and wrinkles, increasing slackness, which can make eyes look swollen and puffy.”

What You Can Do

While topical treatments cannot remove the fat cells that accumulate and cause puffiness, minimizing water retention may help. Botanicals including green tea, chamomile, cucumber, witch hazel, ginkgo, and aloe vera soothe and tighten skin, helping to reduce swelling. When applying any product to the eye area, avoid excessive pressure and rubbing.

If you’re trying to alleviate puffiness or dark circles, avoid using a heavy, thick moisturizer—even one that’s perfect for the rest of your face—on the thin skin under the eyes. Think light. To help prevent dryness, look for ingredients like sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), yeast extract, and mango butter. Green tea, grape seed, red tea, and vitamin C provide antioxidant activity to prevent and repair damage.

Beauty Reflects Health

Diet plays a significant role in the health and appearance of this sensitive area. “The skin around the eyes shows the condition of our kidneys,” says Christina Pirello, MS, author of Glow. “Diet directly impacts the kidneys, and eating saturated animal fats and refined sugars makes the kidneys work harder than they should,” she says.

Consuming foods that support the digestive system and other organs helps make skin glow. Dark, leafy greens—high in folates, vitamin C, and trace minerals—along with shiitake mushrooms and astringent, sour foods, like lemon and grapefruit, support the internal organs whose health is reflected in your eyes.