The Truth About Under Eye Wrinkles In Menopause

One day you are bright eyed and smooth under the eyes…

Then you catch yourself in the mirror and think, “Wait. When did that happen?”

Fine lines, crepey skin, puffiness, dark circles. Under eye wrinkles hit hard in midlife, and most women have no idea what actually works and what is just expensive packaging.

Let’s fix that.

In this post I am going to walk you through:

• Why under eye wrinkles suddenly show up in perimenopause and menopause
• What actually changes in your skin
• Long term options that support healthier tissue
• My simple morning depuff routine
• And the instant, 90 second product that erases my fine lines for the day

Why Under Eye Wrinkles Show Up In Midlife

Yes… time is part of it. But the big reason under eye wrinkles show up so suddenly for women is hormones.

As estrogen drops in perimenopause and menopause, your skin loses collagen, elasticity and moisture. Studies suggest women can lose up to 30 percent of their skin’s collagen in the first five years after menopause, which makes tissues thinner, drier and more fragile.

Dermatology research also shows that hormone replacement therapy can improve skin thickness, hydration and elasticity in postmenopausal women by restoring collagen and water content.

Translation…

• Less estrogen means less collage
• And less collagen means thinner, crepier skin
• Thinner skin + fluid retention = bags, lines and shadowing under the eyes

You are not imagining it. This is not “you didn’t drink enough water.” This is hormones + time.

HRT, Estriol Cream And Skin: What The Research Says

Some women notice that once they start on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with an appropriate clinician, their skin improves overall. That is because estrogen can help support collagen production, skin thickness and hydration.

There is also growing interest in topical estriol face creams. Early studies and clinical reviews suggest that low dose topical estriol can improve facial skin appearance with minimal systemic absorption when used correctly, although it still needs to be prescribed and monitored by a clinician.

Important note:

• Estriol is generally considered less biologically active than estradiol
• Even so, anything hormone based should be used under medical supervision
• If you are a breast cancer survivor or have a hormone sensitive condition, you absolutely need that one-on-one conversation with your doctor

I am not your doctor. I just play one on YouTube. Talk to your own clinician about whether systemic HRT or topical estriol makes sense for you. For that, I trust and get mine from Midi Health.

My Long Term Under Eye Routine

Here is what I personally do for the long game:

• Work with a menopause-literate clinician for HRT
• Use a prescribed estriol + hyaluronic acid face cream under my eyes and on areas where the skin is thinning
• Keep my overall skin health in mind… not just one tiny patch under my eyes

Again, this is not a prescription for you. It is a conversation starter for you and your clinician.

 

The Free Stuff: Lymphatic Drainage And Ice

Now let’s talk about what you can do tomorrow morning that does not cost anything.

When you wake up puffy, a lot of that is simple fluid shifting into the tissues of your face overnight. Gentle lymphatic drainage massage and cold therapy can temporarily move that fluid and reduce swelling, which makes your under eye area look smoother and more defined.

Here is my simple routine: I use an ice roller under my eyes for a couple of minutes while I drink my coffee. Then I do light lymphatic strokes with my hands down the sides of my nose, under my cheekbones and from chin to ear and down the neck.

You do not need a fancy tool. Your hands work. It is not permanent… the fluids can come back with sleep position, alcohol, salt and hormones… but it absolutely helps that “I just woke up” puff.

My 90 Second Instant Under Eye Fix

Now for the fun part.

There are a few “instant tightening” under eye products on the market that use ingredients like silicates, peptides and seaweed extracts. As they dry, they create a tightening film on the skin that temporarily smooths the surface and reduces the look of lines and bags.

The one I show in the above video goes on over my concealer, tightens as it dries, leaves the treated side noticeably smoother, brighter and less crepey and lasts all day on me until I wash it off.

This is cosmetic. It is not changing your collagen or hormones. But if you have a big event, you are filming, or you just want to feel a little more aligned with how you feel on the inside… it is a great tool.

Key tips so it works:

• Use a tiny amount
• Dab and pat… do not rub
• Fan it dry and try not to move your face too much while it sets
• Then gently add powder if you want to set everything

It may take a little trial and error to get the amount and layering right on your own skin. Once you figure it out, it is wild how big the difference can be in under two minutes.

Quick Recap: Short Term Fixes And Long Term Solutions

If you are suddenly noticing under eye wrinkles in midlife, here is the bottom line…

What is actually going on

• Estrogen drops
• Collagen and skin thickness drop
• Skin becomes thinner, drier and more fragile
• Fluid retention shows up as puffiness and bags

Long term strategies

• Talk to a clinician about HRT and whether you are a candidate
• Ask an expert about topical estriol or estrogen-based face creams and if they are appropriate for you
• Take care of overall skin health… sleep, nutrition, sun protection, not smoking

Short term tricks

• Morning ice roller
• Gentle lymphatic massage to move fluid
• An instant tightening under eye product for special days

You are not vain for wanting to look more like you feel. You are not “too old” to care about your face. This is about alignment… how you feel on the inside matching what you see in the mirror a little bit more.

Use the quick fixes when you want an immediate boost.

And if you have products that truly worked for you or total fails you want to warn other women about, share them below.

Love you, mean it,

Chalene

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