Ever wonder why your eyes seem to give away your age first? The delicate skin around your eyes is 40% thinner than the rest of your face. This is why it’s often the first place that shows those telltale signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
The good news? You don’t have to accept tired-looking eyes as inevitable. We’re breaking down what causes undereye lines and wrinkles to begin with—and 5 of the most effective ways to improve their appearance.
What causes wrinkles under eyes?
The skin under the eyes is naturally very thin and becomes even thinner with time, making it one of the first places to show early signs of aging. These wrinkles can also be caused by a combination of lifestyle and environmental factors like:
• Natural aging: As you age, your skin makes less collagen and elastin, so it doesn't stay as firm and smooth.
• Sun exposure: UV rays from the sun can damage skin and cause lines and wrinkles to show up sooner.
• Facial expressions: Repeated movements like squinting or smiling can lead to dynamic and static lines that become permanent with time.
• Dehydration: If the skin under your eyes is dry, wrinkles and lines can look more noticeable.
• Lack of sleep: Poor sleep habits can make skin look dull and tired, which makes lines stand out more.
• Rubbing your eye area: Pulling or tugging around the eye area (like when you remove makeup or wash your face) can lead to more wrinkles.
• Genetics: Some people are naturally more prone to undereye wrinkles.
How do I get rid of undereye wrinkles?
While we can’t turn back time, adopting better lifestyle habits and a targeted skincare routine can significantly smooth and improve the appearance of undereye wrinkles. Committing to these habits can also help prevent new undereye lines from forming.
Start with smart sun protection
One of the biggest culprits behind undereye wrinkles? UV damage. Protect your eyes with a good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses. Not only will they prevent you from squinting in bright light, but they’ll also help protect your undereyes from direct sun exposure.
You should also use a broad-spectrum sunscreen like Perfectionist Pro Multi-Defense UV Gel SPF 50 daily. This water-light UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum Defense, made with anti-oxidants, helps fight visible damage to the skin from environmental aggressors such as blue light.
Pro tip: You can also get SPF protection from your favorite moisturizer, like Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Creme SPF 25.
Be gentle
It's important to treat your skin gently—especially the delicate eye area. You should always:
• Use your ring finger to apply product for the lightest touch.
• Pat product gently into your skin—never pull or tug.
• Use an oil-based cleanser that helps remove makeup and impurities from the skin like Advanced Night Cleansing Balm. Massage the formula over dry skin gently. Then, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Choose the right eye cream
If you’ve been skipping eye cream, you could be overlooking a key step in your skincare routine. A targeted formula like Advanced Night Repair Eye Lift + Sculpt can make a real difference, targeting both dynamic and static eye lines. Infused with ingredients like our Exclusive Night Peptide and Hexapeptide-8, it works to strengthen undereye skin, visibly smooth wrinkles and lift the entire eye area.
How to use it: Gently tap a few drops of eye cream into the skin around your eye area with one finger.
Stay hydrated
This one's not just skincare—it's self-care. Dehydrated skin emphasizes every line and wrinkle, making them appear deeper than they actually are. Drinking enough water throughout the day helps keep your skin soft, plump and glowing from the inside out.
Get quality sleep
Have you ever noticed what a bad night’s sleep does to your skin’s appearance? Your skin naturally goes into repair mode at night, renewing itself after the damaging effects of the day. When you skip out on that essential sleep time, your skin suffers (think undereye bags, dullness and more prominent fine lines). Aim to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night for optimal rest.
Pro tip: Try using a silk pillowcase—it’s gentler on your skin and helps prevent sleep creases caused by rougher fabrics.
What is the best under eye wrinkle treatment from Estée Lauder?
Advanced Night Repair Eye Lift + Sculpt goes beyond smoothing fine lines. The derm-advanced formula visibly lifts, firms and sculpts your entire eye area for a more youthful look.
How it works:
• Targets 4 key eye dimensions: undereyes, lids, crow’s feet and inner corners.
• Formulated with our Exclusive Night Peptide, it helps optimize skin's natural rhythm of renewal. Sculpting Hexapeptide-8 helps visibly lift the eye area and reduce the look of dynamic lines caused by facial movement.
• 2HA Volume Filler combines 2 forms of Hyaluronic Acid to replump lost volume and micro-cushion against eye lines.
Want more? Shop our bestselling high-performance skincare formulas that targets signs of aging, dark circles and more.
