Have you noticed those fine lines under your eyes every time you smile? While your smile lights up the room, under-eye wrinkles can be annoying. But here's the good news you can reduce under-eye wrinkles when smiling with a few simple changes.
Start with an eye cream that contains retinol and hyaluronic acid to boost collagen and hydration. Add daily sunscreen and facial exercises to minimize wrinkles further. Staying hydrated and quitting smoking also help keep your skin smooth.
Professional treatments like microneedling or laser therapy turn your skin into youthful, wrinkle-free skin bringing in faster results.
Whether you're in your 30s, 40s, or beyond, smooth, radiant skin is within reach. Let's dive into how you can reclaim a wrinkle-free glow when you smile.
Understanding Under-Eye Wrinkles
Before diving into solutions, it's essential to understand what causes these wrinkles. The skin around our eyes is particularly delicate and thin, making it more susceptible to aging and environmental factors.
As we age, our skin loses collagen and elastin—two crucial proteins that keep it firm and elastic. This natural decline, combined with repetitive facial movements like smiling, can lead to the development of eye wrinkles when smiling.
Common Causes of Under Eye Wrinkles
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Aging: With the passage of time, our skin naturally loses elasticity and collagen, which are the building blocks of firm, smooth skin.
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Sun Exposure: UV rays break down collagen faster, leading to premature wrinkles under the eyes when smiling.
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Facial Expressions: Repeated movements like smiling, squinting, or frowning can deepen lines over time.
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Lack of Hydration: Dehydrated skin leads to developing fine lines and wrinkles on your skin.
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Lifestyle Factors: Other important factors, including smoking, poor diet, and lack of sleep, trigger the breakdown process of collagen and elastin, making those under-eye smile lines more noticeable.
How to Get Rid of Under Eye Wrinkles When Smiling
Now that we understand the causes, let's learn practical methods for reducing under-eye wrinkles when smiling.
1. Invest in a High-Quality Eye Cream
One of the best ways to combat wrinkles under the eyes when smiling is to use an eye cream specifically created for this sensitive area. Look for ingredients like:
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Retinol: It is a derivative of Vitamin A that helps speed up cell turnover and stimulate collagen production, smoothing out fine lines.
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Hyaluronic Acid: This powerful hydrator can plump up the skin, fading the appearance of fine lines by increasing moisture levels.
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Peptides: These amino acids help build new collagen, making the skin firmer over time.
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Vitamin C: It is known for its brightening and antioxidant properties. Vitamin C can shield the skin from free radicals and help prevent further damage.
For the best results, apply your eye cream every morning and night. Consistent use will improve your under-eye smile lines.
2. Use Sunscreen Daily
Sun damage is the most essential cause of skin aging; therefore, sunscreen is a non-negotiable part of any anti-aging skincare routine. UV rays can worsen the appearance of eye wrinkles when smiling, so cover the delicate skin around your eyes by wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning, even on cloudy days.
Choose a sunscreen with at least SPF 30. To make its application more effective, reapply it throughout the day, especially when you're outdoors. Some sunscreens are even formulated specifically for the face and under-eye area, offering lightweight protection without clogging pores.
At Cheeks, we have ColoreScience sunscreen with an SPF 50 as well as SkinBetter sunscreen with an SPF 75.
3. Try Gentle Facial Exercises
Did you know that exercising your facial muscles can reduce wrinkles under the eyes when smiling? Facial exercise can strengthen the muscles around the eyes, promote better circulation, and potentially smooth out lines.
Here's a straightforward exercise you can try:
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Close your eyes tightly and gently place your fingers on the outer corners of your eyes.
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While keeping your eyes closed, try to smile as wide as possible without opening them.
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Hold the smile for five seconds and then relax. Repeat 10 times daily.
Over time, these exercises may help improve the firmness of your skin and reduce the depth of under-eye smile lines.
4. Stay Hydrated
Hydration is key to retaining plump, youthful skin. When your skin is dehydrated, fine lines become more visible, including eye wrinkles when smiling. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated from within.
Additionally, using a hydrating serum or mask with hyaluronic acid can help lock moisture into your skin, reducing the appearance of under-eye wrinkles.
5. Consider Professional Treatments
If you're looking for faster or more dramatic results, there are several professional treatments that can target under-eye smile lines. Here are a few options:
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Botox: This injectable treatment can temporarily relax the muscles around your eyes, preventing them from contracting and deepening wrinkles when you smile.
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Dermal Fillers: Fillers like hyaluronic acid can plump up the skin, filling in under-eye wrinkles and giving you a smoother appearance.
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Laser Treatments: Laser resurfacing treatments stimulate collagen production in your skin and improve the texture and firmness of the skin around your eyes.
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Microneedling: This minimally invasive treatment involves tiny needles that create micro-injuries in the skin, promoting collagen production and reducing wrinkles.
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EMFACE Eyes: A non-invasive cosmetic treatment to rejuvenate the delicate skin under your eyes. It results in 28% improvement in crows feet, 64% improvement in dark circles, and a reduction of 1.4% ml of eye bags.
Be sure to consult a dermatologist or skincare expert to determine the best treatment for your skin type and specific concerns.
6. Adjust Your Sleep Habits
Believe it or not, how you sleep can affect the appearance of under-eye wrinkles when smiling. Sleeping on your stomach or side can pressure your face, deepening fine lines over time. Try sleeping on your back to minimize this issue.
Sleeping well each night is essential for your skin's natural repair process. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep to give your skin the time it needs to rejuvenate.
7. Quit Smoking and Improve Your Diet
Smoking is one of the worst culprits when it comes to skin aging. It triggers the faster breakdown of collagen and elastin, which causes deeper wrinkles, especially around the eyes. Therefore, you need to eliminate smoking to improve your skin's appearance and prevent further damage.
Your diet also plays a major role in the health of your skin. Eat antioxidant-rich foods like berries and leafy greens and healthy fats like avocados and salmon to promote collagen production and save your skin from harm.
Ready to Say Goodbye to Under-Eye Wrinkles?
Don't let under-eye wrinkles when you smile steal your confidence. With the right combination of skincare, lifestyle changes, and professional treatments, you can smooth out those fine lines and enjoy a radiant, youthful appearance.
At Cheeks, we have MBR Awake & Lift Eye Patches that plump lines and wrinkles immediately, for rested, hydrated and radiant eye areas.
If you're ready to start your journey toward smoother skin, use our advanced anti-aging eye creams designed to target under-eye smile lines and restore your youthful glow. Try it today and smile confidently, knowing your skin looks its best!
