Yes, You Need An Eye Cream—And Here’s How To Shop For One

Your eyes deserve serious TLC.

Aug 21, 2020

It’s easy to dismiss the eye cream as a non-essential skin care item especially if you already have a moisturizer or serum in your routine. You might be asking: Aren’t they the same thing—only in a smaller and often more expensive package?

Not exactly. Unlike your usual face products, eye creams are specifically formulated for the delicate skin around the eye, so they’re usually more hydrating and packed with active ingredients that address common eye area woes.

Lest we forget: The skin around the eyes is the thinnest in the whole body, which makes it the most vulnerable to damage and the first area to show the signs of aging. Thus, it needs special attention.

That said, most skin experts, including Dr. Maximin Navarro, Fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and co-founder of Bella Pelle Philippines, recommend adding an eye cream to your daily routine as early as in your 20s as a preventive measure. “UV rays can cause the premature aging of the skin,” he says, adding that chronic sun exposure can be harmful even for the young. Care for the eye area becomes more crucial in your 30s, as it’s when skin starts to gradually lose its elasticity.

So how exactly do you choose the right eye cream to add your skin care regimen? Here, Dr. Navarro shares some of his tips and picks:

Tip #1: Go gentle

Since the skin in the eye area is extra sensitive, be wary of using products with harsh ingredients, like fragrances and preservatives, as these can cause irritation. “Choose hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and preservative-free formulas,” advises Dr. Navarro.

Proper application is important, too. The best way is to use your ring finger, which has the lightest touch, when applying your product. Also: Don’t rub, just tap. Constant rubbing, tugging, and pulling can damage the fragile skin, leading to the early onset of wrinkles.

Tip #2: Choose the right formula

Not all eye creams or serums are created equal, so it’s important to choose one that’s suited for your skin’s needs, says Dr. Navarro. Here’s a quick rundown of the common eye area dilemmas, and which ingredients work:

Dark circles

Common causes: Genetics, stress, smoking, lack of sleep, constant friction, sun exposure, damaged blood vessels, thin skin

Look for: Brightening ingredients such as Vitamin C, kojic acid, and licorice, as well as peptides, which plump up the skin to reduce the shadows.

Puffiness

Common causes: Lack of sleep, diet (particularly the overconsumption of salt, which leads to bloating), crying, allergies, aging, poor lymphatic drainage
Look for: Anti-inflammatory ingredients such as caffeine, green tea extracts, and antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E

Dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles

Common causes: Aging, sun exposure, constant friction, frequent makeup use, facial expressions
Look for: Collagen-building ingredients, such as Vitamin C and retinol, and hydrators such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides

All of the above

If you’re looking for a product to address multiple concerns, there are plenty of multitasking formulas available. Key ingredients to look for are antioxidants, hydrators, peptides, and anti-agers.

Tip #3: Mind your format

Aside from picking the right formulation, it’s also crucial to choose the right product format for your skin type in order to boost effectivity. “If skin is dry, you can use a rich cream formula,” says Dr. Navarro. “If skin is more on the oily side, try a more lightweight product, like a gel or a serum.” These lighter formulas are also easier to apply in the morning since they’re not sticky.

For best results, apply your eye cream or serum twice a day—in the morning and evening. Take note, though, that some eye products are designed for just once-a-day use, like the Biologique Recherche (BR) formulas, as they’re very rich and may cause puffiness when applied at night. Hence, they’re best used in the a.m. before you start your day. At night, you can use your BR serum for the whole face, including the eye area.