This 3-Ingredient DIY Eye Cream Will Reduce Wrinkles (and Make You Feel 5 Years Younger!)

I never had a problem with the idea of getting wrinkles when I got older- but I never expected to see them so soon! Now that I’m noticing wrinkles and fine lines on my face more often, I can’t help but look for natural ways to keep my skin looking full and healthy for longer. I know better than to waste my time and money on a $50 wrinkle cream from the mall.

One of my favorite wrinkle treatments was passed onto me from a friend, whose mother had been using it for ages and swears by it. Here’s why it works.

What Causes Wrinkles?

During the natural aging process, our skin goes through 3 major changes (1):

• skin cells divide more slowly, causing the dermis layer to thin out
• the deepest layer of skin loosens, which affects every other layer
• oil glands shrink, reducing the protection the oil gave our skin

This process of aging can occur prematurely with overexposure to sunlight. UV rays from the sun damage your collagen; while your body responds by rebuilding collagen fibers, it releases free radicals during the process, which further damage your cells (1). That’s why using sunscreen regularly and consuming antioxidant-rich foods are both very important in keeping your skin looking youthful for as long as possible.

Other causes of premature wrinkles include toxins from your environment and especially cigarette smoke. Eating a whole foods diet, exercising, being mindful of what you’re bringing into your home, and quitting smoking are some of the best things you can do for your skin (and your whole body!).

How Do You Fix It?

The natural approach to dealing with wrinkles is, first of all, to remove the bad habits that are causing them in the first place, to restore healthy oils on your skin, and promote healthy skin cells with antioxidants. If the skin under your eyes also seems puffy or damaged, you’ll want to incorporate anti-inflammatory ingredients as well. Also, if you have dark circles under your eyes, check out this article for simple ways to get rid of them.

This homemade anti-aging eye cream features 3 ingredients that do just that: Vitamin E, thyme essential oil, and coconut oil. Vitamin E is a fantastic antioxidant that can help fight against free radicals damaging your skin (2). Virgin coconut oil can moisturize your skin (and hair!) very well and is also an anti-inflammatory (3). Thyme essential oil is an antioxidant, might be anti-inflammatory, and has been used anecdotally to firm skin for ages (4,5).

Below is a ‘do it yourself’ (DIY) eye cream recipe you can make to help with your wrinkles.

3-Ingredient Natural Eye Cream Recipe

What You Need:

• 2 units Vitamin E (squeezed from capsules)
• 2 drops thyme essential oil
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

What to Do:

Combine all 3 ingredients and massage under your eyes, taking great care not to make any contact with your eyes. Wipe off any excess with a washcloth or paper towel. Do this 1-2 hours before going to bed daily.