Understanding how to apply eye cream can freshen and revitalize your looks. Do you know how to choose the best one? Here's the low-down on all things eye cream.
Eye cream is a staple in any complete skincare regimen. The eye area is home to the thinnest 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 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 correctly applying 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.
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:
Additionally, when applying eye cream, always:
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:
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.
An eye serum is a treatment applied directly to the eye area that's formulated with concentrated 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 or sunscreen. 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 booster 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 small amounts of retinol serum to the eye area, and avoid getting too close to the eyes.
Here's how you can use a natural retinol serum around the eyes to reduce the appearance of dark circles, eye bags, and wrinkles:
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.
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.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, which is reason enough for you to give it a little extra love from time to time.
One way to keep your skin youthful and glowing is to adhere to a daily routine composed of anti-aging skin care products.
