Lines round your eyes......

Smoking is a killer for your skin, literally. If giving up isn't an option... then wear a sunblock primer every day under your makeup or over your moisturiser. I use MAC Prep N Prime (SPF 50 ) every day. Partly genetics and partly lifestyle, I know, but I'm 37 and I don't have a single line.

I think eyecream only works when you use it every day, which I do, it keeps the delicate skin around the eye moisturised, I also wear a tinted moisturiser whenever I go outside that has SPF in it. I exfoliate every other day too which really helps keep my skin soft and I've noticed a big difference since I started doing that

Tbh though, not much halts the ageing process but a good skincare routine definitely helps. I'm 35 in May and think I've done a lot of ageing in the last year, if I look really closely I can see lines around my eyes that have started to cross over each other <sob>

Thanks FW for your advice. I don't smoke a lot, usually between 1 - 4 a day. I don't wear make up daily, only when I go out but I did buy some SPF 50 kids suncream with the intention of wearing it every day (I work outside) but I wouldn't put it that close to my eyes anyway. Even when I don't put it that close because I do a manual job I find it makes my eyes water anyway which I can only imagine is the suncream getting in my eyes.

Thanks HH. As I'm outside all day everyday I suppose I should really get to grips with the sunblock stuff which is probably what I'd need rather than just a tinted moisturiser although I guess that would be preferable than nothing!

Time to step up the skincare routine! I should probably think about investing in regular facials at the salon?

Sunblock primer is very different to suncream, it's just like a light moisturiser, it won't make your eyes water and it won't sit heavily on your skin. Honestly, I'd never think of getting ready and going out without putting it on, even on a cloudy day, it's just part of my routine now.

When removing your eye make-up, go from outer corner of eye to nose. Doing it the other way drags and pulls at the skin. (apparently).

When you put on your moisturiser do you put it on your eyes as well? I know I do but I know the moisturiser I use is far too heavy for eyes, so its better to stick to the eye cream. And pat it around the eyes.

I feel really old when I see the lines around my eyes now. S'not fair. ?

Ooh thanks FW - I've never heard of that then?! Any particular brand of primer to look out for? Do you have to keep reapplying throughout the day?

I like body shop stuff so will see if they do anything [goes off to have a butchers on Body Shop site!]

Thanks July - will remember to do it that way from now on!

Yes I put in on my eyes too. I tend to use Body Shop vitiman E face cream.

I use the MAC one, and as it goes on under my makeup which 'fixes' it, I don't keep reapplying, just once in the morning. If you're not wearing makeup, and out and about getting hot and sweaty in an active job, though, I'd reapply perhaps a couple of times (best to ask the MAC counter for advice).

Thank you

Thanks all ! ?

Whenever I look in the mirror my mother looks back! How can I stop her getting inthe way????

Seriously, I am blessed with an OH who is blind as a bat and thinks I look at least 15 years younger than I do. Won't be encouraging him to visit the optician.

I find that if I'm good and remember to drink plenty of water (and cut down on plenty of alcohol) I know I look younger and the lines diminish.

I try honestly to be very good with cleaning, serum, moisturiser etc etc but being a lazy sl*t at heart I do forget - however if I feel happy then this doesn't seem to matter as the inner glow impacts on the outer appearance - is that too profound for a Saturday night - after over a 1/2 bottle of rose?????

As I understand it, there are two sets of factors that age skin: external things, eg sun. smoke, pollution; and internal ones, eg smiling, frowning and the basic genetic makeup of your skin.

Creams and such are all very well but I don't think they make a long-term difference. Ditto drinking water - although having a good diet over the long term is probably effective.

Meh - surgery all round I guess.

I have awful skin around the eyes, which gets eczema and infections at the first sign of stress. *Touch wood* but I have found my skin has calmed down AND looked smoother since I started using No. 7 Protect and Perfect eye cream from Boots. This was recommended by lovely Hitchers and has worked wonderfully for me. It's £17. It soaks in straight away and will not make your eyes sting or water.

They are laughter lines..it shows that you are happy! Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do, just call them something other than crows feet!

What everyone else said re sunblock.

There are two creams for eyes which in my experience, actually work. The first is Stri-Vection SD eye cream, the other Prescriptives Line Filler.

The other thing is botox. It rocks! I had it early last year for the first time and was line free around my eyes and forehead for 5-6 months, without looking frozen and weird like Ms Minogue! Although it's worn off my existing lines (which were never bad, tbh, are "softer") I didn't get a top up, but I will prior to my birthday in May.

Thanks for the recs! Botox sounds great but I am a bit dubious about things like that in terms of how safe it is iyswim, not to say I'd rule it out. I'm sure the results are fab though - how much is it per session? Is 32 too young for botox? Especially if its something you have to keep up doing?

It's safe-especially if you do your research and go somewhere reputable. The guy who did me, explained the risk factors. Although I had researched myself. I think I paid £170 for two areas-around the eyes and forehead. It served as a mini brow lift! Two weeks later I had restylane (filler) around my lips-not to make them bigger as they are full anyway, but the contours sharper. That was £300 and lasted for 10 months. There was some filler left, so he filled a small, but stubborn furrow in my brow. I was extremely pleased with the results-I looked like myself, but only fresher, younger and more plumped/smooth. I had put it off for so long as I had been to a few cocktail parties in Harley St the year before with H and was freaked out by how weird and overly "preserved" some of those women looked! The skin had an almost "waxy" pallor. That is a result of overdoing it and too many top ups.

I don't think 32 is too young. I get what you say about the expense of top ups-but my rationale would be if you had it twice a year that would be £350-400. When I think of what I have spent on creams with limited results and facials (results-but not lasting) I think it would pan out. I am definately getting it done again before my big 40 and trip to Capri in May!

If you're not sure/ready, try Stri-Vectin SD eye cream or book in for a course of crystal clear facials-they can't get right up under the lash line-that would be dangerous but the outer corners-any fine lines in the socket area (by tthe bony bit) can be blasted.

Thanks for all the info on it. Yeah I get what you're saying about the cost panning out over time although I hardly spend anything on beauty stuff but needs must! Will have a look into it and keep my mind open :-)