Sparkle & Shine

For many of us, it can take more than eight hours of shut-eye and a healthy lifestyle to look bright-eyed and bushytailed! We spoke to two experts to discover how to improve the appearance of dark circles and sagging eye bags.

The Culprit: Dark Circles

“One of the main causes of dark circles is the leakage of blood from fragile veins underneath the eyes, which accumulates in the skin and gives the area a dark, tinted appearance,” explains Dr Sylvia Ramirez, Medical and Scientific Director at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics. “Another cause can be tear trough deformity, which creates a ‘gutter’ effect that casts a shadow on the skin.”

For the first type of case, she often recommends one of her serums, Dark Circles No More, specially formulated to speed up the breakdown of blood and boost pigment elimination to lighten dark circles. For patches caused by trough deformity, she advocates an injectable filler containing hyaluronic acid, which instantly lifts the sunken tissue, making the tear trough appear shallower.

“For those who are young,” says Dr Andrew Khoo, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon at Aesthetic & Reconstructive Centre, “dark circles can be reversed with adequate rest, or camouflaged by using eye gels containing astringents, skin toning compounds and micronised silica. In moderate cases, radiofrequency (RF) treatments can improve the tone of the lower lid, and Broadband Light (BBL) treatments can lighten dark under-eye circles.”

The Culprit: Under-eye Bags

The most common causes of eye bags are heredity, medical conditions and general ageing. As we age, the skin loses volume and begins to sag, forming tear troughs or sunken areas under the eyes.

“While surgery is often suggested, dermal fillers such as Restylane are also an option. Made from hyaluronic acid, they are injected under the skin to instantly plump up sunken areas,” says Dr Sylvia.

Dr Khoo says he commonly hears requests to improve eye bags. “I always make it a point to explain that all of us have some fat around our eyes, which can expand and retain fluid. The skin under the lower lid naturally becomes lax with age, which can cause prominent sagging. In advanced cases, I often advise lower lid blepharoplasty to redistribute fat, tighten the lower lid and remove excess skin and muscle.”

The Culprit: Wrinkles around the Eyes

Over time, the breakdown of elastin and collagen causes fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Wrinkles are also caused by repeated muscle contraction (when frowning or smiling, for example), and this shows up in the outer corner of the eyes through the appearance of crow’s feet.

Dr Sylvia often uses Botox to treat crow’s feet: it works by temporarily blocking the signal from a nerve to a muscle so that the muscle contraction relaxes and softens, effectively reducing wrinkles. Fillers made from hyaluronic acid are another good option for immediately replacing lost volume and reducing fine lines.

The Culprit: Droopy Upper Lids

“One of the most common requests I get from younger patients is to create or deepen their upper eyelid creases. This makes the eyes appear bigger; it also rotates the eyelashes upwards, making them stand out more. This requires surgery, which can be either closed (scar-free) or open,” says Dr Khoo.

“For more mature women, the most common issue is a heavy or droopy upper eyelid. It’s important to understand

Insider tip: Dr Sylvia Skin Care ELASTIFIRM Eye Serum targets expression wrinkles caused by muscular contraction; it reduces wrinkle depth and promises to make the skin firmer and more elastic within eight weeks.