How to Apply Eye Cream Properly: 6 Derm-Approved Tips
If you’re serious about keeping signs of aging at bay, then it’s high time you pay closer attention to your eye area. That’s because the skin around the eyes is “thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, making it more prone to signs of aging like fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles,” explains Dr. Dahlia Rice, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of DMR Aesthetics. The good news? Eye creams are here to save the day. But if you’re new to the eye cream game, you may be wondering if you’re using the product the right way. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to apply eye cream properly so you can reap all its eye-brightening benefits and get the most bang for your buck.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Dahlia Rice, Board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of DMR Aesthetics Dr. Daniel Behoorzan, Persana verified physician and founder and director of the Dermatology Institute of Southern California Dr. Mary Alice Mina, Double-board certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon and host of the The Skin Real podcast
What Are the Key Ingredients in Eye Creams?
Just like other skincare products, eye creams come in all shapes, sizes, and formulations. “Eye creams are specifically designed for increased hydration while containing ingredients that build collagen and promote anti-aging while taking into consideration the sensitive properties of the thinner eyelid skin,” explains Dr. Daniel Behoorzan, Persana verified physician and founder and director of the Dermatology Institute of Southern California.
When it comes to the best ingredients to keep an eye out for in your eye cream, it all depends on the concern you want to address. That said, there are several standout ingredients that you can’t go wrong with, says Dr. Rice. These include:
Hyaluronic Acid: This deeply hydrating ingredient plumps and smooths fine lines. Peptides: Promotes collagen production, improves firmness, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Caffeine: Caffeine reduces puffiness and improves circulation around the eyes, making it great for diminishing the look of dark circles. Antioxidants: Antioxidants like vitamins C and E protect the skin from free radical damage and environmental stress while brightening and soothing the eye area. Niacinamide: This nourishing ingredient gets plus points for helping to soothe inflammation and irritation while strengthening the skin barrier. Retinol: The gold standard in anti-aging ingredients, retinol stimulates collagen production and cell turnover.
Key Benefits of Using Eye Cream
The skin around the eyes sometimes requires a special kind of TLC, so regular moisturizers may not always cut it—especially if you’re also dealing with stubborn under-eye concerns like dark circles and puffiness. “Eye creams are specifically formulated to target concerns with ingredients that are gentle yet effective,” explains Dr. Rice. “Unlike regular face moisturizers, which might be too heavy or irritating for the under-eye area, eye creams are designed to hydrate, firm, and brighten this sensitive region without causing irritation.”
How to Apply Eye Cream: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Apply eye cream in the right order.
Any true skincare fan knows that the order by which you apply products can affect how well they will be absorbed by the skin. Eye creams tend to be thinner and lighter in consistency than moisturizers, so they need to go after serums and before emollients.
Step 2: Use a pea-sized amount.
A little goes a long way when it comes to eye creams. “A small dab is sufficient for the eye area,” says Dr. Mary Alice Mina, a double-board certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon and host of the The Skin Real podcast.
Step 3: Tap small dots under your eyes.
“Using your ring finger (which applies the least pressure), gently dab small dots of eye cream along the orbital bone, starting from the inner corner and moving outward,” says Dr. Rice. Applying the product with your fingertip also warms up the cream and helps absorption.
Step 4: Avoid the lower lash line and eyelids.
While some eye creams are formulated for the skin around the eyes, including the eyelids, most target the under-eye area specifically and may irritate the extra delicate eyelids and lower lash line.
Step 5: Pat the eye cream gently.
You’ll want to avoid tugging and rubbing the skin, so make sure to “pat gently to prevent stretching the delicate skin,” says Dr. Mina.
Step 6: Give your skin enough time to fully absorb the product.
Wait at least two minutes before continuing with the rest of your routine to let the product fully seep in.
Shop Dermstore’s Favorite Eye Creams
1. Neocutis Lumiere Firm Illuminating and Tightening Eye Cream
132 reviews
$114.00
Packed with everything you could ever want in an eye cream, this anti-aging marvel tackles the most common aging concerns in the eye area while also making sure your under-eye skin stays puffiness-free.
Key Ingredients: Growth Factors, Proprietary Peptides, Vitamin C, Caffeine
Skin Type: All
Beauty Insider Tip: This eye cream is most effective when used twice daily in both your daytime and nighttime routines.
2. Revision Skincare D.E.J. Eye Cream
203 reviews
$120.00
This uber-advanced eye cream takes its cue from the functions of the dermal-epidermal junction—which, among things, is responsible for maintaining skin integrity and strengthening the skin’s layers and resistance to damage—in reducing signs of aging, enhancing hydration, maintaining the skin’s microbiome, and defending against free radicals.
Key Ingredients: Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Goji Fruit Extract, Amino Acids
Skin Type: All
Beauty Insider Tip: This eye cream can also be applied to the eyelids, giving your eye area complete nourishment and renewal.
3. iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex
120 reviews
$115.00
Say goodbye to dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles with this potent anti-aging treatment. Delivering both instant and long-term results, it prevents and delays signs of aging while noticeably refining the appearance of under-eye circles and discoloration.
Key Ingredients: Sodium Hyaluronate, Peptides, Antioxidants
Skin Type: All
Beauty Insider Tip: With the lightest touch, use your ring finger to tap the product into the skin around the eyes.
4. Bioeffect EGF Power Eye Cream
$149.00
If you’re all about ingredient synergy in your skincare products, this eye cream is for you. Powered by pure active ingredients that enhance and support each other’s benefits, this age-defying eye cream works like magic in diminishing signs of aging, hydrating the eye area, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Key Ingredients: BIOEFFECT EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor)
Skin Type: All
Beauty Insider Tip: To achieve the best results, use day and night on the eye area including the eyelids.
5. Neostrata Skin Active Intensive Eye Therapy Firming Cream for Mature Skin
47 reviews
$86.00
With its collagen-boosting blend of ingredients, this anti-aging treatment is your best bet if you want to turn back time and address deep creases, fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin and loss of firmness in the eye area.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, Caffeine, Hyaluronic Acid
Skin Type: Mature Skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Start with a once daily application for two weeks before turning things up a notch to twice daily.
FAQs
How Often Should You Apply Eye Cream?
Eye creams should be applied night and day to achieve your desired results. Be sure to follow it with sunscreen during the day.
Can You Apply Eye Cream to Your Eyelids?
It all depends on the eye cream, says Dr. Mina. “A vitamin C and retinol [eye cream] are likely too strong for the upper eyelid area, but a more hydrating eye cream is fine over the eyelids,” she adds. If you start to notice some irritation, Dr. Mina suggests lowering your usage frequency. “In general, focus on applying just below the brow bone and along the orbital bone (eye socket) to decrease irritation and the chance of spread into the eyes,” Dr. Mina says. An exception to this, however, are eye creams that are specifically formulated to address concerns around the eyes, including the eyelids.
The Bottom Line
While moisturizers do a great job of locking in moisture and nourishing your skin, they may not always be formulated with the extra delicate and fragile skin around the eyes in mind. The eye area tends to lose water faster and is more prone to dryness, which can fast-track premature skin aging. Luckily, an eye cream—infused with ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, antioxidants, peptides, and niacinamide—can be a game-changing addition to your skincare routine, especially if you’re bent on slowing down fine lines and wrinkles as well as banishing common under-eye concerns like puffiness and dark circles.
Janeca Racho is a Journalism graduate with over 15 years of writing experience. After getting her start in public relations and advertising, she made the switch to freelance writing and began working for various lifestyle, fashion, and travel brands. Her love for all things skincare has led her to beauty reporting and research for the last ten years. Writing for several hair and beauty blogs, she reports on anti-aging staples, trending brands and products, must-have ingredients, and health and wellness.
