Age-proof your eyes: turn back the clock with this expert advice on how to minimize dark circles, smooth out crow's-feet, and more

Want to look younger fast?

Start taking care of the skin around your eyes. "It's very thin, so fine lines and other signs of aging tend to show up there long before anywhere else," says Linda K. Franks, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. Most women think their regular skin-care and makeup practices are enough, but you really do need a separate eye-care routine and specialized products to target this delicate area. After all, you want your eyes to be the focus of your face in a good way. The most vital steps to take? Read on.

diminish dark circles

Blame those raccoon eyes on hyperpigmentation (higher-than-normal levels of melanin caused by heredity, sun exposure, and hormones, among other factors) or on a collection of blood vessels under your eyes. "Blood vessels show through delicate skin, making it look dark," explains Kenneth Beer, M.D., a dermatologist in West Palm Beach, Florida. You can't make dark circles disappear, but you can fade them.

* Wear sunscreen religiously Choose one with a physical block, such as titanium dioxide (see below) or zinc oxide, which is less irritating to eyes.

* Use creams with caffeine "It's a vasoconstrictor, meaning it tightens dilated capillaries so skin above them doesn't look so dark," says Franks. What works: Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour serum ($54; clarins.com).

* Try vitamin K It helps heal broken capillaries, a cause of under-eye darkness. You'll find the vitamin in Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief eye cream ($45; skyniceland.com).

Rev up your results Ask your dermatologist about the Vbeam laser, which gently constricts red blood vessels, the cause of that blue tint under eyes. This laser helps seal the vessels, making them disappear within a few days. You should notice results after three or four 10-minute sessions ($350-$700 each). If lasers aren't your thing, try a cream like Hylexin ($95; hylexin.com), which helps absorb excess blood, one culprit behind discoloration.

depuff your eyes

Eye tissue can retain fluid and trigger temporary puffiness. It's often brought on by too many margaritas, salty snacks, or seasonal allergies, but some of us are genetically predisposed to accumulating fat here, resulting in permanent bags. Either way you don't have to look so tired.

* Drink plenty of water It helps reduce fluid buildup by enhancing blood flow through the kidneys and flushing out excess sodium, says Franks.

* Treat your allergy Stop the sneezing and watery eyes that cause puffiness with an over-the-counter antihistamine like loratadine (Claritin).

Rev up your results Used to minimize wrinkles on the entire face, Thermage--a device that emits radio waves to heat and contract collagen below the skin's surface--can also make baggy eyes less prominent. You'll see results after four to six treatments, which start at about $500 each.

smooth dry skin

Because the area under the eyes has fewer oil glands than the rest of your face, even normal and oily skin types are prone to dryness here. "Skin dehydration can exaggerate fine lines," says Beer, adding that softening your skin is one way to improve your appearance.

* Moisturize Choose fragrance-free creams with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, honey, and vitamin E to keep skin supple and camouflage fine lines. Our favorite skin quenchers are Healing Garden reFortify eye cream ($14; drugstores) with shea butter and honey; L'Oreal Age Perfect Pro-Calcium Eye & Lip Cream ($25; drugstores) with hydrating glycerin; and Lumiere ($75, available from dermatologists without a prescription), which contains nutrients that plump lines and help improve the health of skin cells.

Rev up your results If your skin is still red or scaly, you might have dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin. It can be cleared up in just a week with a topical steroid cream from your doctor.

4 FAST FIXES FOR TIRED EYES

1 CHOOSE THE RIGHT CONCEALER. To reduce under-eye darkness, which often gets worse with age, use a yellow-based cover-up one shade lighter than your skin tone. "You'll immediately look well rested, and eyes will seem brighter," says Jessica Liebeskind, a New York-based makeup artist.

2 USE SHIMMER STRATEGICALLY. "If you put it all over the lid, it can accentuate creases," says Joanna Schlip, a celebrity makeup artist in Los Angeles. Her trick? Place a dot of shimmer shadow in gold, white, silver, cream, or pastel at the inner corner of the eyes, then spread it halfway across your top and bottom lids to make eyes appear wider and brighter. We love Revlon Eyeglide Shimmer Shadow ($6.50; drugstores), which comes in 15 shades and has a sponge tip for easy application.

3 LINE LIDS. "Applying eyeliner to the upper lash line opens the eye and detracts attention from dark circles," says Liebeskind. Our favorite smudge-proof liners are Clinique Brush-On cream liner ($14.50; clinique.com), in four neutral hues, and Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour eye definer ($5; drugstores), available in six shades.