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 skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest you have," says holistic cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Jeanette Jacknin, author of "Smart Medicine for Your Skin." Pair that fragility with a small pad of underlying fat that all but vanishes with age, and you're left with little to guard against wrinkles or disguise veins. As a result, the slightest damage readily becomes visible.

Store shelves are packed with conventional treatments specific to the eye area. But no single, perfect product exists, says Dr. Thomas Le, director of facial rejuvenation procedures at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

The best solution? Take a holistic approach. Natural and nature-inspired remedies supply you with a powerful arsenal, say Jacknin and home-spa doyenne Janice Cox, author of "Natural Beauty at Home." Restorative ingredients such as vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils extracted from herbs, teas, and other plants can help mend this vulnerable area.

Here, our experts offer simple lifestyle changes, quick fixes, and product suggestions to tackle puffy eyes, dark circles, crow's feet, crinkled lids -- and send those bags packing.