Cindy Crawford Shares Her Journey with Blepharoptosis
Cindy Crawford, the iconic supermodel, has opened up about a health condition she has lived with for over a decade. At 60 years old, the former Vogue cover star revealed that she has been dealing with blepharoptosis, commonly referred to as ptosis, since she turned 50. This condition causes the upper eyelid to droop, potentially obstructing vision and affecting one’s appearance.
According to Yale Health, blepharoptosis can be caused by aging, muscle weakness, nerve issues, or congenital factors. For Crawford, this condition made it difficult to take close-up photos in the early morning, as her eyes would not appear as bright or alert.
In 2024, the Illinois native found a solution that helped her regain confidence. She shared her experience with People, recalling how, ten years ago, she would often have to explain to her photo shoot team that her face wouldn’t fully wake up until 9am. “I could get up whenever you want, but my face doesn’t wake up until 9am, so just don’t plan any closeups or anything,” she said.
She also mentioned that her eyes would not look as perky as they once did. Sometimes, a makeup artist had to manually lift her eyelids to apply makeup properly.
Two years ago, Crawford’s dermatologist introduced her to Upneeq, an FDA-approved prescription eye drop designed to temporarily lift droopy upper eyelids. The doctor explained that it could help make her eyes look more open and awake. Initially, she used it only for photo shoots, but after realizing it could be used daily, she embraced it as part of her routine.
“It’s one of those little things we can do to feel like the best version of ourselves,” she said. “When women feel more confident, they present themselves in the world in a more confident way.”
Crawford also shared her morning routine with People. She starts her day by listening to the Bible app while dry brushing and using a gua sha tool. Then she does red light therapy before heading outside. After returning, she enjoys a cup of coffee, works out, and takes a shower.
Around 9:30am, after her workout, she applies her Upneeq eye drops. “Then I do my skincare, which is Meaningful Beauty. I can do my face in less than two minutes. Even if I’m home, I get ready for the day.”
Crawford has a positive outlook on aging. She admitted that turning 50 was a tough time for her, as she felt there was nothing girlish about it. To cope, she wrote a book about her experiences and lessons learned over the years.
“Aging has its challenges and its gifts,” she said. “I think, for instance, 50 was really hard for me. That was the one that I was like, ‘Wow, there’s nothing girlish about 50.’ So, how I handled that was by writing my book. I was like, ‘I’m not going to run from this or try to hide it, I’m just going to write about my lessons that I’ve learned over these 50 years.’”
