Eyelid ptosis, or blepharoptosis, is the drooping or falling of the eyelids that restricts vision, with the affected person having to tilt their head to be able to see clearly. This droopiness is also a cosmetic issue, responsible for issues with self-image and esteem.
There are several reasons for the falling of the upper eyelid, the most common ones being aging, genetics, and eye surgeries. As one gets older, the skin becomes more elastic and less firm, resulting in overall sagging of the skin.
Eyelid ptosis can be fixed using invasive methods like botox injections and surgery (blepharoplasty). However, it may be better to use topical agents as first-line therapy before moving on to more invasive methods. We have shortlisted five amazing products that can reverse the effects of aging and firm up the skin to significantly reduce the drooping of the eyelid.
1. Filorga Time-Filler Eyes Absolute Eye Correction Cream
- Improves the appearance of lines
- Nourishes skin
- Well-absorbed into skin
Cons
- Slightly irritating/stinging
- Strong smell
The Filorga Time-Filler Eyes Absolute Eye Correction Cream is a multipurpose eye cream that targets the dark circles and the wrinkles around the eye while also boosting eyelash growth and visibly lifting sagging eyelids. The absolute eye correction cream is a wonderful ad luxurious blend of folic acid, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, biotin, pyridoxine, squalene, and niacin, all of which aim to revive and rejuvenate the skin around the eyes.
Niacin and Niacinamide are two of the main ingredients of the Filorga Absolute Eye Correction Cream due to several beneficial characteristics. Both ingredients can be covered by the blanket term, Vitamine B3 and they not only improve skin barrier function to reduce transepidermal water loss but also increase protein and ceramide synthesis which significantly improves the skin appearance (1). They also play a crucial role in reversing the effects of photoaging like wrinkles, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation (1).
Folic acid, another important ingredient of the Absolute correction eye cream, stimulates wound healing properties of the skin, hence improving upon the impaired or reduced collagen synthesis in the skin (2). This increase in collagen is accompanied by an increase in elastin protein which reduces the elasticity of the skin, and eventually the sagging and drooping of the lids. Folic acid also reduces the effect of oxidative stress on the skin, further enhancing the appearance of the skin(2).
Overall, this product is a blend of vitamins that work together and target every cosmetic issue of the skin around the eye to give the skin a youthful and radiant glow.
2. L’Oréal Paris Revita Lift Double Lifting Eye Cream
- Fair price
- Effective for aging signs
- May achieve a firmer and lifted look
Cons
- Not recommended for teens
- Might be irritating
- Not safe for lips and eyelids
The L’Oreal Paris Revita Lift Double Lifting Eye Cream is a fragrance-free, lightweight cream that works on reducing wrinkles and fine lines on the skin in the under-eye region also lifting the upper eyelid. This Ophthalmologically and Dermatologically tested product claims to show visible results with just four weeks of use.
The Revita Lift Eye Cream is a perfect blend of Pro Retinol A which targets the delicate, under-eye skin and L’Oreal patented ingredient, pro-tensium E which targets and immediately firms the upper eyelid. The product also contains caffeine, shea butter, and citric acid.
All the ingredients of this product work together to reduce the appearance of dark circles, wrinkles, fine lines, general puffiness, and sagginess of the skin around the eyes. Caffeine is responsible for improving the microcirculation in the skin while constricting blood vessels which helps brighten the skin around the eye, for a more youthful glow (3).
Retinol works on both the upper and lower eyelids as it improves the skin barrier function and increases the collagen content of the skin (4). This increase in collagen tightens the skin and visibly reduces any fines lines and sagginess of the eyelids. Retinol has a powerful antiaging effect on the skin.
Basically, Revita Lift Eye cream works wonders on the eye with its patented formula that tightens, brightens, and revives the skin around the eye.
3. LANCER Eye Contour Lifting Cream with Diamond Powder
- Intended for all skin types
- Free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates
- Illuminates the under-eye area instantly
Cons
- Expensive
- Some ingredients are weak
- The dispenser design might not work properly
The Lancer Eye Contour Lifting Cream with Diamond Powder is a luxurious product that guarantees to reverse the signs of aging on the delicate skin around the eyes. The Lancer Eye cream is a beautiful blend of caffeine, Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract, algae (Alaria esculenta) extract, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter among others. The diamond powder used by the Lancer brand plays a crucial role in the brightening of the dark circles and hyperpigmented skin around the eye.
Hyaluronic acid and shea butter both work towards the hydration and moisturization of the skin with hyaluronic acid also improving the wound healing properties of the skin (5). This increases the collagen content of the skin hence, tightening and firming the skin.
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae or yeast extract plays an important role in the enhancement of skin barrier function and reversal of all signs of facial aging (6). Similarly, the algae (Alaria esculenta) extract reduces the visible signs of aging on the facial skin by downregulating the production of a protein important for the aging of the human skin (7).
In general, all the ingredients aim to moisturize and revitalize the sensitive skin around the eyes, hence giving the face a fresh and youthful appearance that is to die for.
4. Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Triple Correction Eye Serum
- Light, non-greasy texture, ideal as a serum
- Has a soothing effect on the eye area.
- May achieve a firmer, radiant, and wrinkle-free look
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Some individuals do not like the glass packaging
- Not very nourishing
The Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Triple Correction Eye Serum is a triple hit product that smoothens, brightens, and tightens the delicate skin around the eyes while also hydrating and reviving the skin.
The paraben-free and phthalate-free product is a lightweight gel that reduces the wrinkles, fine lines, and elasticity of the periorbital skin while takes away years of damage from your skin.
The Correction Eye Serum is a smooth concoction containing Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice) extract, ferulic acid, retinol, caffeine, hyaluronic acid, and ubiquinone.
The Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice) extract works wonders on the skin with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (8). The ferulic acid, one of the two main ingredients of the correction eye serum, remarkably lifts the upper eyelid by increasing collagen and elastin production in the skin (9). Apart from that, ferulic acid also has anti-photoaging and brightening effects on the skin which significantly improves the appearance of the eyes.
Overall, this product is a perfect choice for those with dark circles and drooping eyelids.
5. CLINIQUE Repairwear Anti-Gravity Eye Lift Cream
- Helps lift up around the eyes
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- The first application creates a cushiony feel and a brighter look
Cons
- Results are not guaranteed
- Some packages arrive damaged
The CLINIQUE Repairwear Anti-Gravity Eye Lift Cream is a product suitable for all skin types that visibly improves the appearance of the skin with daily use. The anti-gravity lifting and brightening product by Clinique is a smooth blend of caffeine, hyaluronic acid, yeast extract, shea butter, and titanium dioxide.
Titanium dioxide is a widely used ingredient in the skincare industry for its protective properties against UV radiation, hence preventing photodamage (10). Other ingredients of this product like shea butter and hyaluronic acid work on enhancing the wound healing properties of the skin and hence increasing collagen and elastin content of the skin (5).
Basically the product firms the skin and reverses signs of aging and photoaging while also preventing any further photodamage to the skin. This product moisturizes and brightens the skin to give it the spry look that it deserves.
Citations:
- Gehring, W. “Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin.” Journal of cosmetic dermatology vol. 3,2 (2004): 88-93. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x
- Zhao, Mei et al. “Folic Acid Promotes Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice by Suppression of Oxidative Stress.” Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology vol. 64,1 (2018): 26-33. doi:10.3177/jnsv.64.26
- Herman, A, and A P Herman. “Caffeine’s mechanisms of action and its cosmetic use.” Skin pharmacology and physiology vol. 26,1 (2013): 8-14. doi:10.1159/000343174
- Kong, Rong et al. “A comparative study of the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on histological, molecular, and clinical properties of human skin.” Journal of cosmetic dermatology vol. 15,1 (2016): 49-57. doi:10.1111/jocd.12193
- Keen, Mohammad Abid. “Hyaluronic Acid in Dermatology.” Skinmed vol. 15,6 441-448. 1 Dec. 2017
- Namkoong, Jin et al. “Assessment of Human Skin Gene Expression by Different Blends of Plant Extracts with Implications to Periorbital Skin Aging.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 19,11 3349. 26 Oct. 2018, doi:10.3390/ijms19113349
- Verdy, C et al. “Quantitative assessment of lactate and progerin production in normal human cutaneous cells during normal ageing: effect of an Alaria esculenta extract.” International journal of cosmetic science vol. 33,5 (2011): 462-6. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2494.2011.00656.x
- El-Saber Batiha, Gaber et al. “Traditional Uses, Bioactive Chemical Constituents, and Pharmacological and Toxicological Activities of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae).” Biomolecules vol. 10,3 352. 25 Feb. 2020, doi:10.3390/biom10030352
- Zduńska, Kamila et al. “Antioxidant Properties of Ferulic Acid and Its Possible Application.” Skin pharmacology and physiology vol. 31,6 (2018): 332-336. doi:10.1159/000491755
- Dréno, B et al. “Safety of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in cosmetics.” Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV vol. 33 Suppl 7 (2019): 34-46. doi:10.1111/jdv.15943
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Koka, K., & Patel, B. C. (2021). Ptosis Correction. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.