Why Under-Eye Skin Changes with Age

The skin under your eyes is about 40% thinner than the skin on the rest of your face (Rzepecki et al., 2013). That means any change in collagen, elastin, or hydration shows up here first.

• Late 20s – early 30s: Collagen production starts to slow down (around 1% less each year). Fine lines may begin to creep in, especially if you’ve had lots of sun exposure or late nights.
• Mid-30s: Estrogen and progesterone start their rollercoaster ride. These hormones are big players in maintaining skin thickness and hydration. As they dip, skin under the eyes can start looking looser and more fragile.
• 40s – early 50s (perimenopause): Hormonal fluctuations accelerate. Collagen can drop by up to 30% in the first 5 years after menopause (Brincat, 2000). This is when many women notice more creasing, under-eye hollows, and increased visibility of blood vessels.
• 50s and beyond (postmenopause): With consistently lower estrogen, skin may feel drier, thinner, and less plump. The under-eye area often becomes a hotspot for crepey texture, puffiness, and dark circles.

Practical Strategies for Crepey Under-Eye Skin

1. Support Collagen & Elasticity

• Try a retinol or retinaldehyde eye cream to boost collagen and smooth fine lines.
• Look for peptide formulas (like Matrixyl or Argireline) to help with firmness.
• Consider topical estriol (like in MoreWOW cream) to replenish collagen and restore skin thickness.

Why it helps: Estrogen and progesterone normally encourage collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production. When these decline in your late 30s and 40s, skin loses its bounce and structure — especially under the eyes. Retinoids and peptides mimic some of these effects, and bioidentical hormones can help restore what’s missing.

2. Replenish Hydration & Strengthen the Barrier

• Use a hyaluronic acid serum for plumping hydration.
• Layer on a ceramide-rich moisturizer to rebuild the skin barrier.
• Seal it in with occlusive oils like squalane or jojoba to lock in moisture.

Why it helps: Hydrated skin cells are plumper and reflect light better, which smooths creases. A strong skin barrier prevents water loss, which is especially important since estrogen decline means fewer natural oils.

3. Reduce Puffiness & Boost Circulation

• Apply a chilled eye mask or cold spoon to tighten skin and reduce swelling.
• Try gentle lymphatic massage or gua sha under the eyes to improve fluid drainage.
• Use caffeine-infused eye creams to constrict blood vessels and brighten dark circles.

Why it helps: When skin thins, blood vessels show through more easily, creating shadows and puffiness. Cold therapy and circulation-boosting tricks minimize that “I haven’t slept in a week” look.

4. Feed Your Skin from the Inside Out

• Add collagen peptides to your routine — studies show they improve dermal density and hydration over time (Proksch et al., 2014).
• Boost omega-3 fatty acids (think salmon, chia, flax, or a quality supplement) to support the lipid barrier.
• Eat antioxidant-rich foods (berries, leafy greens, green tea) to combat oxidative stress.
• Consider bioidentical hormones (progesterone, estriol, DHEA) under medical guidance to address the root cause of midlife collagen and moisture loss.

Why it helps: Your skin is an organ that needs building blocks (protein, fats, micronutrients) and hormonal signaling to stay plump, strong, and smooth. Supporting it inside and out means your under-eye area can bounce back more gracefully.

What About Dry Eyes (the Actual Eyeballs)?

It’s not just the skin — many women in perimenopause and menopause notice burning, gritty, or watery eyes. That’s because declining estrogen and androgen levels affect the meibomian glands in your eyelids, which produce the oils that keep tears from evaporating too quickly (Gupta et al., 2017). Less lubrication = dry, irritated eyes.

What helps:

• Artificial tears or lubricating eye drops (look for preservative-free).
• Omega-3 supplements, which support tear film quality.
• Warm compresses to unclog oil glands.
• Bioidentical hormone support (estriol or DHEA), which has been shown in some studies to improve ocular surface health.

Tackling Dark Circles: Why They Get Worse with Age

Dark circles are the ultimate betrayal — even after a full night’s sleep, they can make you look like you pulled an all-nighter with three toddlers and no coffee. Unfortunately, age and hormones both team up against us here.

• Thinning skin: With less collagen and elastin, the under-eye skin becomes translucent, so the underlying blood vessels show through more vividly (Kong et al., 2016).
• Fat pad changes: As estrogen drops, the fat pads under your eyes shift and shrink, creating shadows and hollows that read as “dark circles.”
• Poor circulation: Hormonal changes and slower microcirculation can make blood pool under the eyes, leaving that purplish tint.
• Sleep disruption: Thanks to hot flashes, night sweats, and shifting cortisol patterns, many women in perimenopause don’t sleep well — and tiredness makes under-eye shadows more obvious (Bromberger & Kravitz, 2011).

What helps:

• Vitamin C serums under the eyes to brighten and support collagen.
• Niacinamide for strengthening thin skin and evening tone.
• Cold therapy or jade rollers to shrink dilated blood vessels.
• Color correctors (peach or salmon-toned concealers) to instantly neutralize blue/purple tones.
• Lifestyle support: Prioritize quality sleep, hydration, and iron-rich foods if you’re prone to anemia, since low iron can worsen under-eye circles.

💡 Why it helps: Dark circles are often about structure and circulation, not just pigmentation. By boosting collagen, improving blood flow, and evening tone, you can soften the shadowed look that makes you appear more tired than you actually are.

Need a Secret Weapon?

If your under-eyes are starting to look crepey, shadowed, or dry, you’re not imagining things — it’s one of the first places hormone shifts and collagen decline show up. The good news? You don’t have to just “deal with it.” From retinol and peptides, to hydrating eye creams, to nutrients and hormone support, you can rebuild your skin’s bounce, strength, and brightness from the inside out. And if your actual eyeballs are feeling dry and irritated, that’s part of the same hormonal story — and yes, it can be treated.

✨ You deserve to look in the mirror and see bright, smooth, vibrant eyes looking back at you. That’s why we love pairing MoreWOW Cream (with pephatight, rejuveNAD+ and argireline for firm, hydrated, glowing under-eye skin) with Silky Peach Estriol Cream, which supports collagen, elasticity, and deep tissue hydration where it matters most.

👉 Ready to smooth the crepe, soothe the dryness, and bring back your glow? Try MoreWOW + Silky Peach for the ultimate inside-and-out eye and skin support.

Brincat, M. (2000). Hormone replacement therapy and the skin. Maturitas, 35(2), 107–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-5122(00)00150-1
Gupta, P. D., Johar, K., Nagpal, K., & Vasavada, A. R. (2017). Sex hormone receptors in the human eye. Survey of Ophthalmology, 52(2), 244–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2006.12.009
Proksch, E., Schunck, M., Zague, V., Segger, D., Degwert, J., & Oesser, S. (2014). Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27(3), 113–119. https://doi.org/10.1159/000357732
Rzepecki, A. K., Murase, J. E., Juran, R., Fabi, S. G., & McLellan, B. N. (2013). Estrogen-deficient skin: The role of topical therapy. British Journal of Dermatology, 169(s2), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.12439