Eyes aren’t just the windows to the soul—they are the first site of facial aging.

You can prevent some aging by wearing sunscreen and large sunglasses. Here are other ways to perk up eyes.

Hope in a Jar

There are hundreds of eye creams on the market. Which do local skin experts recommend?

Some of the same ingredients that experts like in facial products (see page 95), such as vitamin C and pentapeptides, help eyes, too. Olay Regenerist, the top-rated antiwrinkle cream in January’s Consumer Reports, contains pentapeptides. In some of the magazine’s test subjects, Olay Regenerist diminished crow’s feet after 12 weeks.

Dermatologist Tina Alster likes hyaluronic acid, which plumps skin; she says you can find it in Chantal Ethocyn Skin Treatment—Firming & Hydrating eye cream.

Any product that hydrates or puts water into skin can diminish the appearance of eye wrinkles. Drinking water hydrates skin, too.

Lack of sleep, illness, iron or vitamin deficiencies, genetics, or excessive use of medications like Retin A can cause under-eye circles. To lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness, dermatologist Melda Isaac suggests products with green-tea extract, such as Teamine Eye Complex.

What’s in a Doctor’s Bag of Tricks

What if eye aging bothers you and is beyond over-the-counter help?

Botox, when injected in the eye area, relaxes muscles and prevents the “scrunching” that causes crow’s feet. When used in the brow, it can also lift the eyes.

Sunken eyes? Fat or Restylane injected in the hollows beneath eyes restores youthful roundness.

Blepharoplasty, surgery to remove excess skin, fat, and tissue is the only way to counter drooping lids. This is one cosmetic procedure that may be covered by insurance—if drooping lids obstruct vision.

For under-eye circles, some dermatologists suggest using topical hydroquinone; others use laser treatments. People with darker skin are more apt to get hyperpigmentation with these treatments. The conservative approach: Use concealer.