The Two Areas That Give Away Your Age First… and Why We Accidentally Neglect Them

If I asked my clients which parts of their face bother them the most, the answers are remarkably consistent.

For women in their late twenties and thirties, it's almost always the eyes. Those first little expression lines seem to appear overnight, and an eye cream becomes the first anti-aging skincare product they ever purchase. For my more mature clients, the answer shifts to the lips. The fine lines around the mouth become one of the biggest frustrations I hear about in the treatment room.

Ironically, these are also the two areas we tend to neglect the most. We spend time (and money) building thoughtful skincare routines for our face, but when it comes to the eyes and lips, we often assume one product or a quick swipe of moisturizer is enough.

These delicate areas deserve a little more attention. Here are some of the tips I share with my clients every day.

Your Eyes Deserve More Than One Cream

Most of us use multiple serums on the face—vitamin C in the morning, retinol at night, peptides, growth factors, moisturizers—but then rely on a single eye cream twice a day. I like to think about eye care the same way I think about facial skincare: your skin has different needs during the day than it does while you're sleeping.

At night, consider using an eye treatment with a gentle retinol specifically formulated for the delicate eye area, such as Marini Skin Solutions Luminate Eye Gel. Retinol helps encourage healthy cell turnover and supports smoother-looking skin over time.

In the morning, switch to an eye product rich in peptides and antioxidants, such as Alumier MD AluminEye, to hydrate, brighten, and defend against environmental damage throughout the day.

Small changes like this can make a remarkable difference over the years.

Don't Skip Sunscreen Around Your Eyes and Lips

This one surprises people. Many clients apply sunscreen beautifully across the face—but stop just short of the eyes.

If you're using a mineral sunscreen, simply close your eyes and apply it right over the eyelids and around the entire eye area. Those tissues are just as vulnerable to sun damage as the rest of your face.

Prefer a dedicated eye sunscreen? I love Colorescience Total Eye because it protects while brightening the under-eye area.

Your lips deserve protection too. One of the easiest ways is to choose a mineral-based lipstick or gloss with SPF, like Colorescience Lip Shine. It's one of those effortless habits that pays off for years.

Hollywood Had It Right

One of the easiest anti-aging tips I give? Wear oversized sunglasses.

Besides protecting your eyes from UV exposure, they reduce squinting—one of the biggest contributors to the little crinkles that develop around the eyes over time. So go ahead and channel your inner Hollywood movie star.

Give Your Eyes a Wake-Up Call

If you wake up with puffy eyes, introduce a little cold therapy into your morning routine.

A chilled jade eye mask or rose quartz roller can help calm inflammation, reduce puffiness, and leave your eyes looking more refreshed in just a few minutes. Think of it as coffee... for your eyes.

Don't Forget Weekly Lip Care

Most people exfoliate their face regularly, but the lips rarely receive the same attention.

Once a week, apply a small amount of Vaseline to your lips and gently buff away dry skin with a dedicated soft bristle toothbrush. It's simple, inexpensive, and creates a beautifully smooth surface for lipstick—or no lipstick at all.

Your Lip Line Needs Skincare Too

Here's something I notice all the time. Many people carefully apply their skincare to the face but stop right at the lip border. Don't.

When you're applying your vitamin C, peptides, or retinol, gently extend those products just beyond the lip line. This area is especially prone to fine lines and deserves the same active ingredients you're using everywhere else.

Don't Brush Away Your Skincare

This may be my favorite tip because almost everyone does it. Many people complete their entire skincare routine...

...and then brush their teeth. Afterward, they wipe their mouth with a towel, unknowingly removing every beneficial ingredient they just applied around the lips.

If this sounds familiar, simply brush your teeth before your skincare routine—or take an extra moment to reapply your products around the mouth afterward. It's a tiny change that makes a big difference.

Seal Everything In

At night, finish by locking moisture onto the lips with an occlusive product like Vaseline or an avocado oil-based lip treatment. Think of it as placing a protective blanket over all the nourishing ingredients you've already applied. You'll wake up with lips that feel softer, healthier, and far less prone to dryness.

Give These Areas the Professional Attention They Deserve

Even with an excellent home routine, the eyes and lips often benefit from a little extra professional care. That's why I love the Hydrafacial Perk treatments. These specialized add-ons are designed specifically for the delicate eye and lip areas, delivering targeted hydration while sending you home with a maintenance serum to continue caring for these tissues between appointments.

Throughout July at EB Skin, every Hydrafacial includes your choice of a complimentary Hydrafacial Eye Perk or Lip Perk. It's the perfect opportunity to give the two areas that concern us most a little extra love.

After all, successful aging isn't about chasing wrinkles after they appear. It's about caring exceptionally well for the areas that need us most—long before they ask for it.