Great Looking Eyes at Every Age

Some say that your eyes are the windows to your soul, but if they're looking tired and saggy, the guy checking you out in line at the grocery store might not even get to the soul part. Here, get expert tips and makeup tricks to have radiant, perky eyes around the clock.

Photo by: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

20s: Start Prepping

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!

Neutrogena Visibly Firm Eye Cream, Yahoo! Shopping

RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, Yahoo! Shopping

Photo by: John Parra/WireImage.com

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20s: Try Anything Once

"In your 20s, you really can get away with pretty much anything," says makeup artist and brow expert Ramy of RAMY Beauty Therapy. "Heavy eyeliner, bright colors, super dark eyes this is the time to experiment."

One thing to stay away from? Permanent makeup, he advises. Other than that, "use sunblock and anything with shimmer. This is the period of your life where you need to experience trial and error."

Photo by: Frederick M. Brown - Getty Images Entertainment

30s: Start with 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, like Lancôme 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.

Neocutis Biogel, Yahoo! Shopping

Lancôme Rénergie Microlift R.A.R.E Eye Serum, Yahoo! Shopping

Photo by: Michael Buckney - Getty Images Entertainment

30s: Start Paying Attention

It's time to start being a bit more strategic to how you apply your makeup, says Ramy. Start with a primer on your eyes and face for smooth skin that will make applying makeup a breeze. Ramy also recommends using a moisturizing concealer around the entire orb of the eye to lift and bring them forward. "Avoid black eyeliner, which can be too severe and switch out for a softer shade. Eyeliner and mascara to the upper lash line only will also give you some extra lift," he says.

 

Photo by: Jamie McCarthy- WireImage.com

40s: Hydrate Your Skin

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.

Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum, Yahoo! Shopping

L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Advanced RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate, Yahoo! Shopping

Photo by: Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

40s: Skip the Powder

Primers are especially great at this age, but what you really should be using are foundations and tinted moisturizers with anti-aging and firming ingredients, says Ramy. Powder can cling to the lines in your face, which tends to add years on, not take them away. "Define your eyes by adding a light liner to your lower lash line," suggests Ramy. "If you have a lipstick shade you love, get a brighter look all over by adding a sheer gloss on top to make your skin really pop."

Photo by: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com

50s and Beyond: Stop 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 cream can 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.

NeoCutis Lumiere Bio-restorative Eye Cream, Yahoo! Shopping

Clinique Anti-Gravity Firming Eye Lift Cream, Yahoo! Shopping

Photo by: Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

50s and Beyond: Less is More

Take this mantra to heart when it comes to your makeup routine. "Skip the eye shadow and apply a neutral liner to your upper lash line only," says Ramy. "Mascara can still be black, but used only on your upper lashes. My rule of thumb is to add an additional coat of mascara for every decade over twenty years old."

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