How To APPLY EYE CREAM FOR OPTIMAL RESULTS

Published: May 28, 2024

Eye cream is a staple in any complete skincare regimen. The eye area is home to the thinnest, most delicate skin on the body, so it shows signs of aging and dehydration—like dryness, eye wrinkles, and puffiness—quicker than any other area. Because the skin around the eyes is so fragile, it's important to take special care of this tender area with an eye cream formula that prevents future damage while keeping your eyes feeling fresh, moisturized, and bright.

Many people understand the importance of eye cream to address skin concerns in the eye area such as the appearance of wrinkles, dark eye circles, the appearance of puffiness, and crepey skin around the eyes. Unfortunately, most people don't realize the importance of effective application of eye cream to optimize product absorption while minimizing damage from rubbing or pulling in the eye area.

To take full advantage of all the benefits that eye cream has to offer, you must first know how to apply it. So grab your eye cream of choice and keep reading to learn the best way to apply eye cream for optimal results. We'll also go over the best anti-aging ingredients to look for on a product label when buying eye cream.

woman applying eye cream to the under eye area

How to Apply Eye Cream

Understanding how to apply eye cream correctly can help ensure this wonderful product adequately addresses your eye concerns.

As a general rule of thumb, skincare products should be layered from lightest to heaviest. This way, the lightweight products will be able to effectively target skincare concerns, but the heavier products will still penetrate through, reaching the deepest layers of the skin and providing a protective barrier between the skin and environmental stressors.

Your eye cream or serum is typically the lightest product in your skincare lineup, so apply that first and work your way up to the product with the heaviest consistency (usually a moisturizer).

Follow these steps for optimal eye cream application:

Step 1:Choose an eye cream with active ingredients designed to target your specific eye concerns (more on this below).
Step 2:Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and allow it to dry.
Step 3:Apply a pea-sized amount of cream per eye to your ring finger. Since this finger has the lightest touch, it's the best for applying product to this sensitive area.
Step 4:Dot the product around your eye socket, including your orbital bone (or brow bone) from the inner corners to the outer corners of the eye area.
Step 5:Gently tap or dab the product into your skin, don't rub it.

Additionally, when applying eye cream, always:

Apply your eye cream with a delicate touch to prevent sagging or wrinkled skin as a result of stretching or pulling motions.
When you apply eye cream in the morning, wait for the product to absorb into your skin before applying a layer of sunscreen or makeup.
Use eye cream morning and night for maximum hydration.
Add anti-aging sunscreen last, on top of your eye cream and all other skincare products, to protect the delicate eye area while ensuring all other products are completely absorbed.
Remove eye make-up before going to sleep

Benefits of Eye Cream

If you want to experience your best skin, you have to nourish it properly. Products that work to moisturize the rest of your body won't deliver the same effects that a specialized eye cream will.

Regular moisturizers can be too rough or abrasive for this sensitive skin, but eye creams are tailored to repair skin without damaging or irritating it.

Additionally, eye serums and creams are specialized to target and treat frustrating conditions around the eyes, like fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. Eye creams benefit your skin as they:

Reduce hyperpigmentation
Plump the skin to counteract natural thinning over time
Hydrate and moisturize the skin
Reduce dark circles and bags
Reduce puffiness
Reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and crow's feet
Brighten the skin to combat dullness

Should You Use Eye Cream or Eye Serum?

The best eye product for you is one that compliments your skin type without fighting your skin's natural texture and consistency. Although individual skin types vary, everyone—even those with naturally dry skin, oily skin, or combination skin—should consider eye cream to preserve the firmness of the eye area.

When it comes to choosing a product, you may notice some eye products labeled as "serums" and others labeled as "creams." Which one should you choose? Eye serums and creams each address specific concerns around the eye area to deliver an intentional, potent treatment, but they have different purposes and benefits.

What is Eye Serum?

An eye serum is a treatment applied directly to the eye area that's formulated with potent ingredients. Serums include active ingredients and nutrients that penetrate through the top layers of the skin for a powerful effect.

Serums are composed of small molecules that the skin easily absorbs, which is why serums are typically one of the first skincare products to be applied before a moisturizer like a night cream or sunscreen if part of your morning routine. Eye serums target conditions that contribute to the appearance of tired skin, like eye bags, drooping skin, dry skin, and dark circles.

For example, vitamin C serum may be used around the eyes to reduce the appearance of dark spots, uneven skin tone, and wrinkles. Vitamin C is a dynamic but gentle antioxidant that fights free radicals and reverses the effects of aging and environmental damage.

What is Eye Cream?

Eye cream is made of a thicker consistency than an eye serum. Eye creams are typically formulated from larger molecules, which act as a protective barrier for the skin. Some eye creams are lighter in weight and intended to be absorbed by the skin, while others are intended to coat the skin with minimal absorption.

Eye creams are typically used to hydrate the skin while targeting fine lines and wrinkles. A caffeine eye cream can diminish crow's feet, puffiness, and dark circles around the eyes while improving natural eye support and glow.

Important Eye Cream Ingredients for a Youthful Appearance

Repairing damage from sun exposure, tightening skin, reducing the appearance of swelling, and filling fine lines and wrinkles should be the purpose of any eye cream, but some powerful active ingredients may make one product more potent than another. When you're looking for your next eye treatment, keep an eye out for these ingredients.

Hyaluronic Acid Prevents Crow's Feet and Wrinkles

Do you know the ways you can prevent an uneven skin tone? Here are four tips! They’ll also keep your skin clear and glowing:

As the skin ages, it becomes susceptible to dehydration, especially without a proper skincare routine in place. Unfortunately, the gentle eye area is one of the first places to show aging and dehydration through wrinkles, dark circles, and sagging.

Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient for reversing the signs of aging and dehydration. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it attracts, retains, and preserves water. In fact, just one molecule of hyaluronic acid can hold 1,000 times its weight in moisture!

Applying a hyaluronic acid serum around the eyes can not only keep this skin moisturized, it will also reduce the breakdown of collagen. Since collagen is responsible for keeping skin plump, full, and bouncy, maintaining collagen stores can help reduce wrinkles and crow's feet. Look for hyaluronic acid in your eye cream products if you're seeking a solution to reduce fine lines and wrinkles while creating a radiant and firm under-eye area.

Retinol Prevents Dark Circles, Eye Bags, and Wrinkles

Retinol is a powerful anti-aging ingredient you should include in your nightly skincare routine. This ingredient promotes cellular turnover, meaning it helps your skin shed dead skin cells to reveal the fresh, firm layers of skin beneath. This process not only keeps skin looking glowing and youthful, it also reduces acne and prevents clogged pores.

Retinol also stimulates collagen production in the skin, which keeps skin plump and counteracts the thinning of the skin that naturally occurs with age. If you struggle with dark circles or bags around the eyes, retinol eye creams should be at the top of your skincare list. These conditions become more apparent around the eye area as we age and the elasticity of our skin naturally reduces. Elastosis, the process by which we lose skin elasticity, is one reason why our skin starts to develop dark spots, liver spots, age spots, and discoloration.

Because retinol is considerably potent and the skin around the eyes is fragile, it's important to use a very small amount around the eyes. This skin is quick to absorb products and ingredients, and you don't want to irritate the area with a powerful retinol product. Apply a pea-size amount of retinol serum to the eye area and avoid getting too close to the eyes.

Here's our recommended application method when using a natural retinol serum around the eyes to reduce the appearance of dark circles, eye bags, and wrinkles:

Dab a very small amount of retinol serum on your ring finger.
Gently dot the serum around the eyes.
Work your way from the inner corners of the eyes to the outer edge corners with a gentle dotting motion.
Wait a minute or two for the serum to absorb.
Apply a moisturizer over the retinol serum to keep the skin hydrated, as retinol has a tendency to cause dryness.

Add Anti-Aging Eye Cream to Your Daily Skin Care Routine

Applying eye cream in the morning and at night can help your skin heal from the effects of sun damage, environmental toxins, and natural aging. With this guide, you can now avoid some of the most common mistakes people make when applying eye cream.

Remember, if you take care of your skin, your skin will take care of you. Choosing the right skincare products, especially the best eye cream, can make all the difference.