You can learn a lot about a woman by examining her eyes. They express love, joy, excitement. But at the same time, more than anywhere else on the body, the eyes show early signs of sun damage, stress, and illness.

The best solution? Take a holistic approach. Natural and nature-inspired remedies supply you with a powerful arsenal. Eye products' restorative ingredients such as vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils extracted from herbs, teas, and other plants can help mend this vulnerable area. Here are a few simple lifestyle changes to tackle puffy eyes, dark circles, crow's feet, and crinkled lids, and even help preserve eyesight -- and send those bags packing.

The Cause: With age, cells produce more free radicals, which indirectly break down collagen and elastin, causing skin to lose elasticity and structure. A pad of fat, the eye's "shock absorber," bulges outward, while fat below the eye thins. Water retention amplifies the problem.

Essential Steps: Eat vitamin C-rich foods to support collagen production. Tap the eye area lightly while moisturizing to help dissipate excess fluid. To reduce water retention, drink water, limit alcohol, and get more rest.

Quick Fix: Place cucumber slices (for astringency) or chilled caffeinated tea bags (for tannins) on eyes for 15 minutes to tighten skin and absorb fluid.

Ingredients to Look For in Eye Products:

• Tea, to diminish excess fluid
• Vitamin A, to boost collagen
• Vitamins C and E, to help block collagen-degrading enzymes and sweep up free radicals
• Cucumber, oatmeal, persimmon, or witch hazel, to tighten skin
• Yeast extract, to limit free-radical damage and promote cell renewal

The Cause: Nasal congestion widens surrounding veins; related inflammation may lead to dark pigment deposits. Stress and poor diet can weaken blood vessels, which may break, creating a bruise-like undertone. Fatigue strains eyelid muscles, engorging blood vessels, and can produce a wan complexion, making circles appear darker by contrast. For some, dark circles are genetic.

Essential Steps: Eat foods rich in vitamin K, because it helps fortify blood-vessel walls. And use a daily topical treatment with vitamin K. Also aim for more downtime and sleep.

Quick Fix: Only cosmetics deliver instant results. Look for a concealer that's close to your natural complexion -- lighter tones will make circles look gray. Or try "plumping up" thin skin with a fast-absorbing oil, such as jojoba.

Ingredients to Look For in Eye Products:

• Vitamin K or green tea (which contains vitamin K), to fortify blood vessels; vitamin A, which bolsters vitamin K activity
• Vitamin C or vitamin C-rich carrot, grapeseed, or rose hip extracts, to help strengthen and repair tissue
• Kojic acid, to inhibit melanin production.

The Cause: Sun exposure and aging diminish skin's elasticity; UV rays and pollution cause inflammation and cell damage. As a result, repeated expressions (smiling, squinting) form creases.

Ingredients to Look For in Eye Products:

• Evening primrose, jojoba, and sesame oils, to hydrate skin and maintain flexibility
• Aloe, to speed healing
• Antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, to help fight free radicals and sun damage
• Hyaluronic acid, to help boost the absorption of vitamin C
• Allantoin, alpha-lipoic acid, calendula, chamomile, licorice, milk thistle, tea, or vitamin B, to reduce inflammation.

The Cause: Skin produces decreasing amounts of oil over time, so eyelids tend to become dry and fragile. Loss of elasticity and fat, plus thinning skin, compound the problem and contribute to small folds in the lids. Eye shadows and cleansers can dry, too. With diminishing protection, too much scrubbing and overly absorbent powders can make matters worse.

Essential Steps: Use a light eye cream in the morning and a rich cream at night; tap the eye area lightly with your finger until the product is absorbed to stimulate circulation. Use a gentle, hydrating makeup remover or cleanser. Don't scrub harder to remove stubborn makeup; instead, gently wash the area again. Eliminate talc-based eye shadows, which sap moisture.

Quick Fix: Use a cream eye shadow, or apply a hydrating primer underneath your usual powder to help retain natural moisture.

Ingredients to Look For in Eye Products:

• Almond, apricot kernel, castor, or grapeseed oils, for light moisture
• Aloe, antioxidants, and vitamin C, to promote healing.

The Cause: Eyes age as surely as the skin around them. Deterioration of vision is an inevitable part of aging-- in that way, it is much like getting gray hair.

Essential Steps: We can protect our eyes to some extent by wearing sunglasses to block ultraviolet rays, avoiding smoking, and getting frequent exercise to keep blood vessels in the eyes in good working order. Regular eye exams can help problems from getting worse. Additionally, certain nutrients can, it seems, slow deterioration and the progression of certain diseases.

Ingredients to Look For in Food and Supplements:

• Vitamins C and E, or taking supplements of those vitamins and beta-carotene -- all antioxidants -- may slow the development of cataracts.
• Zinc and copper impede the development of macular degeneration.
• Kale, mustard greens, collard greens, and spinach (all high in lutein and zeaxanthin) may reduce the risk of developing advanced macular degeneration.
• Fish, especially ones rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which appear to lower the risk of macular degeneration.