Mens Fitness

Definition "Old" is All in the Eyes

• Wrinkles, bags, and dark circles in the delicate skin around your eyes increase your "apparent age" more than changes in other facial features do, according to new research from France. "As the skin loses collagen and elasticity, repetitive contractions like squinting can etch deep lines," says Rhoda Narins, M.D., a clinical professor of dermatology at NYU's school of medicine. Here's how to turn back the clock.

Keep your chin up

• Gravity pulls fluid downhill as you sleep. The result? Puffy bags. Reduce them by slipping an extra pillow under your head.

Cover your assets

• Wide-frame sunglasses or UV-protective prescription glasses can curb squinting and shield skin from the sun.

Freeze out lumps

• Placing chilled spoons or cotton balls dipped in a 50/50 mix of cold water and milk over your eyes in the morning for 5 minutes can reduce swelling.

The best cure for acne is aging

• Can't wait for clear skin?Skip the soap. Instead, wash twice a day with Zirh Wash facial cleanser ($14, zirh.com). Harvard researchers found that washing any less increased the incidence of acne lesions by up to 30 percent. Any more dries out your skin's delicate oil balance, says Kenneth Beer M.D., a dermatologist based in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Your lips require protective custody

• Your lips can have as few as 10 layers of skin, compared with 20 or more elsewhere on your body. "Men are less likely to wear glosses and lipsticks, so their risk of lip cancer is three times higher," says Vilma Cokkinides, director of risk-factor surveillance at the American Cancer Society. Use a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher, and reapply it at least every 2 hours if you're in the sun. You should also add a protective swipe in the morning and at night before bed to stop splits and rehydrate the skin.