The best eye creams have been formulated to specifically treat the delicate skin around the eyes. Since this area has thinner and more fragile skin than the rest of your face, creams have been designed with extra nourishing, anti-wrinkle, and anti-aging potency. The area around the eye generally shows the first signs of skin-related aging with darkening and sagging soft tissue.
Some regular moisturizers can contain fragrances and compounds that are harmful to the sensitive skin around your eyes. Eye creams and serums carefully blend the right concentration of active ingredients to increase the rate of skin cell turnover and nourish your skin. With many eye cream formulas out there claiming to work miracles, you need to make sure you choose a cream that contains ingredients helpful for your skin type. Choosing the right eye cream will yield better results and make your investment well worth it.
What to Consider When Choosing an Eye Cream Skin Type
It is important to choose an eye cream that does not contain any harsh preservatives or synthetic fragrances. Just as essential, is choosing a cream that is suited to your skin type.
Dry Skin
Dry skin can cause a more prominent appearance of fine lines. Using an eye cream helps to prevent dryness and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. If you have dry skin, choose an eye cream with moisturizing ingredients such as vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. Vitamin E soothes and replenishes while hyaluronic acid helps the skin to retain moisture.
Mature Skin
With age, the skin produces less collagen, leading to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Antioxidants can help the skin appear more youthful. Vitamin C has a host of anti-aging properties and also evens out the skin.
Tired Skin
You’ve probably noticed after a lot of traveling or lack of sleep that tired skin can lead to puffiness and dark circles under your eyes. Look for eye creams containing ingredients that have soothing and brightening properties. Vitamin C and caffeine are good examples. Vitamin C protects the skin from free radical damage while caffeine improves circulation, reduces swelling, and therefore, lightens dark circles.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin requires special care with fragrance-free nourishing and protective ingredients. Vitamin E conditions and rejuvenates sensitive and tired skin without causing irritation.
Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, you want to avoid any products with the potential to cause build-up or clogging of pores. Niacinamide, almond-, and sunflower oil are helpful ingredients that have a hydrating effect while reducing the excess build-up of naturally secreted oils that can potentially block pores.
Eye Cream Ingredients
Creams are formulated with specific ingredients that benefit the sensitive skin around the eyes. Here is what to look out for.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants counteract wrinkling and dullness by protecting your skin from cell damage. They can assist in brightening the look of your skin and protect against environmental damage. When checking for antioxidants in eye cream look for ingredients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, plant oils, and ferulic acid.
Hyaluronic acid or ceramides
These ingredients help plump up wrinkled areas. Retinol is a form of vitamin A that stimulates collagen production, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Peptides
Peptides are anti-aging ingredients that firm up sagging skin by increasing elastin and collagen. If you are looking to remedy under-eye bags make sure this is listed in the ingredients.
Niacinamide or kojic acid
These ingredients slow down pigment-producing cells which can help to lighten under-eye circles and brighten your skin. If your under-eye circles are due to a lack of sleep, a nap will probably fix this more effectively than any cream.
What to Avoid in Eye Creams?
As mentioned previously, eye cream should not contain any strong fragrance, harsh ingredients, or chemicals. Irritation causes dryness and more damage. The skin around your eye is sensitive, thin, and requires vitamin-rich nourishment and moisturizing.
Just because a product is pricey does not mean you will get better results. Look at the ingredients as your first decision-making factor. Lower-cost eye creams with the same ingredients will work just as well.
The Real Importance of Eye Creams
Eye cream products are not a quick fix and are meant to be included as part of a long-term skincare regime. Think about how often your eyes are constantly moving. We blink approximately 10,000 times a day. When we smile, cry, frown, or squint the skin around our eyes also moves. In addition, we rub our eyes, remove makeup and spend a lot of time staring at mobile or computer screens. This all contributes to dry, tired, and aging skin under the eyes and around the eyes. For the best results, use your eye products consistently every day for at least three to four months to start seeing results.
Eye Cream FAQ
Q: At what age should you start to use an eye cream?
A: Although there is no specific age at which you should start to use eye creams, prevention is always better than cure. Experts suggest incorporating the use of eye cream in your early twenties. This is more of a preventative measure. If you wait too long to start it will be harder to reverse the signs of aging and restore already damaged skin.
Q: How should eye cream be applied?
A: You only need to apply a small amount of eye cream at a time. Always make sure your hands are completely clean when applying eye cream. Dip the tip of your finger in the cream and dot it evenly around the eye from the inner to outer corners. Gently smooth the cream into the skin to let it absorb fully.
Q: Is there a difference between eye cream and eye serum?
A: Both products are used to enhance the skin area around the eyes. They vary mainly in texture with eye serums having a gel-like consistency. They are not diluted with moisturizers so active ingredients penetrate the skin faster. Creams are more viscous with additional hydration benefits. Using both types in your skincare regime can provide different benefits for maximum results.