Blue Dreams /Revisited: How to Get Perky Eyes at Every Age

The secret to great eyes is to start taking care of them as soon as possible. Whether you're in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or 50s and beyond, it's never too late to start giving your peepers a little TLC. Here, we show you the treatments to start now to ensuregorgeous eyes no matter how old you are.

In Your 20s...Start to Prep

Wrinkles might be the last thing you see near your eyes in your twenties, but dark circles from lack of sleep or one too many cocktails are probably frequent visitors on your face. This doesn't directly age you, but it sure as heck makes you look older. Dr. David E. Bank, MD, suggests using a good eye cream to slow down the aging process and keep wrinkles away longer. Apply a lighter cream with SPF in the morning, like Neutrogena Visibly Firm Eye Cream, and a thicker one at night like RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream. To avoid breakouts, steer clear of creams that contain octyl stearate, which can clog pores and leave your skin feeling greasy.

Pair this routine with getting at least seven hours of sleep, not smoking, and eating relatively healthy. You're not young forever, after all!

In Your 30s...Find a Serum

Since the first signs of aging usually happen around the eyes, you may start to see some differences in your thirties, warns Bank. "On top of the beginning appearances of crow's feet, you'll notice that your skin is drier and duller in color. This is because the rate of new cells being produced by your skin is starting to slow down."

Bank recommends investing in an eye cream to rejuvenate the skin, like Neocutis Biogel or a serum, likeLancôme Rénergie Microlift R.A.R.E Eye Serum to help tighten fine lines and brighten up dark circles. "Stay away from eye creams with sodium chloride or isopropyl myristate, as these ingredients can irritate your skin and lead to excessive dryness," says Bank.

In Your 40s...Keep Hydrated

By the time you're in your forties, the years of sun damage you did in your twenties finally start to rear its ugly head. That, on top of what Bank calls your lymphatic drainage — the way your body gets rid of toxins decreases in speed to result in puffiness around the eyes and much thinner skin. Since sebum production is also starting to slow (how your skin stays moisturized and sometimes too oily), invest in a rich moisturizer and a skin brightener to lighten up a tired complexion.

Try Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum or L'Oreal Plenitude Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Cream to fix worn out eyes and tighten up puffy skin.

In Your 50s and Beyond...Squash Wrinkled Lids

"A key sign of aging around the eyes is when your eyelids become hooded and wrinkled," says Bank. "This shows that the skin's elasticity is starting to break down." Bank suggests trying a vitamin A retinol-based product to help firm up and even out skin tone. By applying regularly, you can actually speed up the production of new skin cells and collagen.

Moisturizing is even more vital for a healthy complexion now, and finding a hard working night creamcan do wonders on dry skin as you sleep. Try NeoCutis Lumiere Bio-restorative Eye Cream with PSP for day and Clinique Anti-Gravity Firming Eye Lift Cream for nighttime use.

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