What Does Eye Cream Do? Is It Really Necessary?

Does the skin around your eyes look less than perfect? Perhaps it’s starting to show the signs of skin aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, or perhaps you’ve always had hollowed circles under your eyes. Whatever it is, you may be wondering whether it’s worth the time and money to add an eye cream to your skincare routine. You may also be wondering if you really need an eye cream at all.

In this article, find out what eye creams can do for you so you can finally decide if you need it.

What are the common eye skin concerns?

If you’re considering using an eye cream, chances are you’ve developed one of these common eye skin concerns:

The dark circles under your eyes can be caused by several reasons. It may be because of genetics (people with darker skin tones are more likely to produce pigment under the eyes). It can also be caused by your bone structure (the groove between the inner corner of your eye and your cheekbone can make dark circles more apparent).

More commonly, however, hollowed circles are triggered by the loss of collagen. As you age, the skin around your eyes gets thinner, causing it to lose elasticity. As a result, the veins beneath your face become more visible, especially if you have fair skin. Fat loss due to aging can also make your eyes look more sunken.

Also known as “crow’s feet”, fine lines are a common concern that appears around the eye area. Over time, those fine lines can turn into permanent, deep-set wrinkles.

Each day, your under-eye area goes through constant micromovements as a result of your ever-changing facial expressions. For example, have you noticed how when you smile, creases appear in the corner of your eyes? The bad news is that as you age, those creases can become permanent parts of your face. This is because as soon as you age, your skin cells start to lose collagen — in short, your skin will lose its ability to return to its original shape.

Another common cause of fine lines and wrinkles is sun exposure. If you’re often outdoors without proper sun protection, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can speed up the skin aging process.

Your sleep position can also cause fine lines and wrinkles, as constant contact with the pillow can add pressure to your skin and distort its appearance. This is why you should not sleep on your side or stomach.

Eye bags can be caused by genetics, but they can also come with aging. As you age, the tissue around your eyes weakens, causing the skin to sag. The fat in your eyelids can then settle in your under-eye area, making it look more swollen.

Also, when you lack sleep, the blood vessels around your eyes will dilate. This allows the blood flow to slow and pool in your under-eye area. To combat this, be sure to get the right amount of beauty sleep.

Pollutants such as dirt and dust can cause redness to your under-eye area, and excessive sun exposure can cause it to dry out. Poor skincare habits can also contribute to dry under-eyes. Washing your face too often, for example, can cause the skin to become itchy and flaky.

Chronic skin conditions such as eczema can also lead to dry and cracked skin around the eyes. If you suffer from any skin condition, it’s best to consult a board-certified dermatologist for the ideal treatment.

Do you need an eye cream?

So, is eye cream necessary? Can’t you use other skincare products to address these common skin concerns? To answer this, you need to understand that the area around your eyes is very sensitive. Its skin is so thin, making it more vulnerable to irritants and UV rays, and more prone to showing signs of skin aging. Plus, since it produces less oil, it can dry out faster than the rest of your face. Even micro-movements caused by frowning, winking, and blinking can contribute to under-eye skin concerns.

While some face products such as sunscreen and oils can be used for your whole face, they aren’t formulated for your eyes. The skin around your eyes has distinct needs from the skin on your face. Since your under-eye skin is more delicate, it needs gentler ingredients that are designed to target specific skin concerns.

What are the benefits of eye creams?

What does eye cream do, exactly? Below are the benefits of eye cream that you can reap once you add it to your routine:

Reduces the appearance of dark circles

What do you do when you wake up with dark circles under your eyes? Do you put on concealer? Sure, you’ll be able to cover them up with makeup but it’s a temporary solution. The shadows will still be there as soon as you wipe the makeup off.

One of the benefits of eye creams is they can give your under-eye area a brightening boost. Ingredients such as ceramides and peptides can also reduce the hollowed appearance of your under-eye area by plumping it up.

Hydrates the under-eye area

The area around the eyes tends to dry out faster than your face. This is because it can’t produce enough sebum or oil to stay moisturized. If you’ve noticed, even if your forehead is oily, your under-eye can still be dry. Because of this, you will have to give your under-eye area a boost of hydration with an eye serum.

Fights against eye bags and puffiness

Whether you lack sleep or downed one too many drinks, eye cream can help de-puff your under-eye area. Say goodbye to baggy eyes with eye creams containing ingredients such as caffeine and vitamin C. These can smooth out your stressed-out skin in minutes. While eye cream can’t deflate genetic eye bags for good, it can reduce the puffiness and brighten the area.

Be sure to use an eye serum with gentle ingredients that won’t irritate your skin. As we earlier said, your under-eye area is delicate, so don’t use products that can cause or worsen your skin concerns.

Lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Among the most common signs of skin aging in the face are fine lines and wrinkles. Eye creams are packed with potent ingredients that can reduce the appearance of these “flaws”, as well as restore your youthful glow. While you won’t be able to get rid of them completely (they’re a natural part of aging, anyway), you can make them less apparent.

What ingredients should you look for in an eye cream?

Be sure to get to know your ingredients before buying an eye cream. This will allow you to choose an eye cream that addresses your skin’s specific concerns. These are a few of the most common ingredients you can find in an eye cream:

Retinol

Retinol is one of the most talked-about ingredients in skincare because of its anti-aging properties. Not only does it boost collagen production, but it also increases the rate of cell turnover. That means it can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while evening out your texture and skin tone.

Caffeine

Aside from the caffeine in your drink, the caffeine in your skincare products can help speed up the de-puffing process. As a vasoconstrictor, it constricts the blood vessels under your eyes, leading to a decrease in dark circles.<

Vitamin C

As a collagen-booster, vitamin C or ascorbic acid can brighten your skin tone, as well as smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin C-based products can also aid in fading dark spots.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K keeps your skin elastic, which is why it’s commonly used for stretch marks. It helps your skin appear plumper, making it perfect for people with crow’s feet.

Ceramides

To maintain its moisture barrier, your skin produces acids known as ceramides. But, as you age, the production of ceramides will no longer be up to par, causing your eyes to become dry and irritated. An eye cream with ceramide can improve your skin’s natural ceramide levels.

Peptides

These are amino acids that tell your skin to generate more collagen. Using an eye cream with peptides can help fight the first signs of aging. They can also de-puff your eyes and improve firmness.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a must-have as it boosts hydration levels by drawing moisture into the epidermis. It’s your best bet if you often suffer from under-eye dryness. It can also plump up your skin, giving you a radiant glow.

Squalane

Squalane locks in moisture to keep your skin supple. It can de-puff your under-eye area, reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, fade dark spots, and soften your skin’s texture.

How do you properly apply eye cream?

Putting on eye cream seems pretty straightforward — after all, it is called eye cream. There is, however, a proper way to apply it. Knowing how and where to apply eye cream can help you reap its full benefits. Here’s how to use an eye cream:

Choose an eye cream that can tackle your specific skin concerns. Want to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles? Look for formulas with wrinkle-fighting ingredients such as retinoids and niacinamide. Can’t stand your dark circles? Stick to eye creams with vitamin C to reduce discoloration. Need to de-puff your under-eyes before you head out? An eye cream formulated with caffeine is your best bet.

Step 1: Find a formula that solves your skin concerns

Always start with a clean canvas. You should never put eye cream on dirty skin as this can prevent the product from penetrating the skin. Wash your face with a cleanser of your choice and then wait for your skin to completely dry.

Step 3: Place a pea-sized amount of eye cream on your finger

Place a small amount of eye cream onto your ring finger as it offers the least pressure. Each eye should get about half a pump (or a pea-sized amount) of eye cream. It may not seem like a lot, but keep in mind that eye creams tend to be more concentrated than other skincare products.

Step 4: Pat (don’t rub) your product onto your skin

Remember to treat your under-eye area with care. Because it’s so delicate, vigorous rubbing may leave it more vulnerable to wrinkles. You should only pat the product onto your skin. Be careful not to tug your skin as this can cause wrinkles.

Where to apply eye cream:

Dab the product onto the inner corner of your orbital bone, and then work your way outward. Once you’ve reached the outer corner of your eye, continue to dab upward, moving toward your brow bone. Apply your eye cream under your eyebrow, but be sure to leave some space between your brow and upper eyelid so the product doesn’t get into your eye.

How not to apply your eye cream:

If your eye cream comes with an applicator, avoid using it as you may have a hard time controlling the pressure.
Do not apply the product onto your eyelids as this can lead to irritation. You should only apply eye cream to your eyelids if the instructions say that it’s safe to do so.
Only your cleanser, toner, and serum can be applied under your eye cream. Other face products such as SPF sunscreen, spot treatment, and moisturizer should be applied on top of your eye products.

When should you apply eye cream?

Eye creams that offer long-term benefits such as anti-aging and firming should be used at night — this is when your skin cells will regenerate. However, if your eye cream is meant to de-puff or reduce dark circles, it’s best suited for daytime use as it’s formulated for its immediate benefits. To get the best results, be sure to apply both a day cream and night cream.

Your eyes deserve round-the-clock care

At PROVEN Skincare, we know how the skin works. What your under-eye area needs during the day isn’t the same as what it needs at night. To simplify your skincare system, we’ve created the Personalized Eye Cream Duo.

Packed with powerful ingredients, it gives your specific eye area concerns what it needs at a specific time of day. Our formulas are also tailored to your skin concerns and take into consideration your lifestyle. By carefully choosing each ingredient, we can give you back your youthful glow. All you’ve got to do to solve your skin concerns is take our cutting-edge Skin Genome Quiz today.

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