Top 9 Things to Do About Dry Skin Around the Eyes

Your face is the first part of the body that most people notice, and when flaky, dry skin is getting the best of you, you’ll want to take some steps to reverse it. And while moisturizing your face is usually the go-to, it’s hard to stomp out flaky skin in more sensitive areas like around your eyes.

Dry skin around the eyes is pretty common, especially since the skin around that area is extremely thin and susceptible to drying out. Couple that with the possibility of eyebrow dandruff, and your eyes might look even drier than they feel.

The good news is that there are ways to treat and prevent dryness in this area without needing to change up your normal skincare routine completely. Here are some of the best ways to fix dry skin around your eyes.

1. Use an Eye Cream

The best way to alleviate the feeling of dryness around the eyes is to use a targeted product that is specifically designed for that area. And an eye cream is just the thing you might need, even if you haven’t noticed any signs of flakiness yet.

Our replenishing Eye Revival Marine Cream contains marine active ingredients, such as biofermented exopolysaccharides derived from brown kelp, as well as hexapeptides and tetrapeptides. These can help to replenish the skin and improve elasticity to help rejuvenate moisture to your eyes.

On top of that, an eye cream can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and undereye bags -- so you can multitask and attack a number of different unsightly features with one fell swoop.

2. Stop Using Harsh Products

To tackle dryness around the eyes, you might not need to add any products to your existing routine. In fact, you may actually need to take some away.

Especially if you have a sensitive skin type or if you’re already prone to dry skin, harsh chemical cleansers and exfoliators can easily dry out the face and lead to areas of flakiness near your eyes. You may want to swap out your cleansers for a more gentle face wash, such as a purifying mist.

Also, the dryness might be the result of overwashing as well. While cleaning your face is an essential component of personal hygiene, it should only be done twice a day or after excessive sweating. Cleaning your face too often might cause your skin to produce excess oil to overcompensate, which can lead to extra dryness.

3. Don’t Rub Your Skin the Wrong Way

When you wake up groggy in the morning, it feels natural to rub your eyes and wipe away some of the crusts formed during a night’s rest. And while we touch our eyes often throughout the day, it might be part of the reason why our eyes lose moisture.

Remember that the skin near your eyes and on your eyelids is extremely thin, so putting excess stress in that area can cause it to peel and flake a bit more than you’d want. Try not to apply much pressure if you ever need to rub your eyes to get rid of an itch. Or better yet, try just patting your eyes with a damp towel to alleviate discomfort instead.

And that last tip can be helpful for your post-facial cleansing routine as well. Instead of rubbing a towel on your face to dry it off, try patting it dry instead. This is less abrasive for all areas of your face, not just the eyes.

4. Moisturize

Using a moisturizer is one of the easiest ways to restore hydration to your skin while also helping to lock in water to prevent dryness in the future. 

However, it can be hard to find a moisturizer that doesn’t irritate the eyes.

You can use natural remedies that aren’t as abrasive to use in sensitive areas like this. Certain ingredients that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends for moisturizing include:

• Jojoba oil
• Mineral oil
• Shea butter
• Petroleum jelly

It’s also safe to use most moisturizers around your eye as long as they’re made with clean ingredients. 

Marine actives are an example of a clean ingredient that harnesses profound health effects, including restoring rejuvenation to the areas around your eye. Marine actives such as algae and wakame extract are both great ingredients to look for in a product.

Applying direct moisturizers to your face isn’t the only way to enhance your skin’s appearance. You can also add humidifiers to your living space so that your home doesn’t dry out your skin.

5. Beat the Heat

Sitting outside in the sun or toasting marshmallows by the fire are some of the most comforting activities in existence. But they can also dry out your skin super easily.

Since heat can lead to excessive dryness around the eyes, try to take care not to take too hot of showers when you take one. Additionally, wear sunglasses when you go outside to protect the area around your eyes from sun exposure while also limiting the amount of time you spend sitting or standing next to heat sources.

6. Decompress With a Cold Compress

The dryness and flakiness around your eyes doesn’t just look frustrating, but it also feels extremely uncomfortable. To alleviate some of the itchiness without further irritating the area by rubbing or scratching it, you can use a cold compress.

On the other hand, you can also use a warm compress to bring some more soothing relief if you need it as well. Just be sure not to leave them on for too long, as prolonged exposure to warm or hot water can do more harm than good.

7. Catch Some Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest is important to keep your body healthy both inside and out. But it can also help to make the skin around your eyes more replenished and less susceptible to dryness.

Not only does a lack of sleep lead to dark circles, but it can also weaken circulation to certain areas of the face. This makes it more difficult for the body to repair itself, especially in spots where dryness is evident. 

So by getting a bit more sleep, you might be able to reduce the dryness and flakiness around your eyes while also improving your overall health. 

8. Keep It Clean

Washing your face is essential to avoid pimples and acne, but it’s also a necessary step to prevent dryness around your eyes. Impurities such as oil and dirt can dry out and irritate the skin, leading to the loss of moisture in many areas.

Just keep in mind that harsh soaps and cleansers might be the reason for your dry eye skin, and overwashing might be a culprit as well. Stick to a cleanser that uses natural ingredients, and don’t wash more than twice a day.

9. Switch Up Your Diet

The foods you put into your body can have a direct effect on your appearance on the outside. Certain antioxidant-rich foods, like leafy greens, fruits, and nuts, are excellent sources of nutrients and can help fight against oxidative stress, which may lead to symptoms like dryness, wrinkles, or fine lines.

There are also certain foods to try to avoid as much as you can. These are processed foods like chips and candy, sugary beverages, and refined carbohydrates, such as pasta and white rice. 

In Conclusion

Dry skin around the eyes can be caused by several factors, such as eczema, exposure to climate conditions, or using the wrong facial cleansers. Regardless, there are some simple ways to rejuvenate your skin and get rid of some dry patches in this thin layer of skin.

The most effective options revolve around restoring moisture to the area, so using eye creams and moisturizers should do the trick in no time. You can also prevent further irritation by ditching abrasive products and trying to avoid frequent heat exposure.

Finally, getting enough sleep each night, using a cold compress, or not rubbing your eyes can help keep your face looking healthy and hydrated. 

Sources:

Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin | AAD

Dark circles under eyes Causes | The Mayo Clinic

Oxidative Stress: Harms and Benefits for Human Health | NCBI