How to Apply an Eye Cream & Best Ingredients to Look For

Adding an eye cream to your skincare routine can seem slightly daunting, especially when you consider that there are so many out there that all seem to claim to have the best ingredients for eye bags, crow’s feet, and more. And it’s not just eye cream ingredients that matter, either!

Try Before You Buy

When it comes to eye cream, how to apply it is just as important as the ingredients in the formula.

If you’re game to try an eye cream in your skincare routine but don’t really know where to start - or maybe you just want to know if you’re actually using the right skincare for your concerns - we’ve got all the answers to your questions! 

How to Apply an Eye Cream (The Right Way)

Knowing how to apply eye cream or eye gel properly can make a huge difference to how effective it is in the first place! There are a few crucial factors that come into play here that can impact the efficacy of your eye care products, such as when you use your eye care and just how you’re applying it.

Formulated with powerful peptides, rosemary leaf extract, and caffeine, this potent eye gel from Dermalogica firms skin while dramatically reducing the appearance of puffy eyes and dark circles.

When to Use Eye Cream in Skin Care Routine?

Ideally, any eye care product should be applied after your skincare serum and before your moisturiser - here’s why. 

Firstly, whenever you’re targeting a specific skin concern, you always want to make sure that you’re applying your treatment product to as close to bare skin as possible. In other words, try to minimise how many layers of products you have on. When it comes to eye cream, this is a product that you should apply before moisturiser, and not afterwards. 

Supercharged with marine retinol and peptides, this firming eye contour cream is perfect for tackling the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Too many layers of products can get in the way of your eye care reaching and absorbing the target area. Thicker products, such as moisturisers, typically contain occlusives - because of how these ingredients work, they can actually prevent your eye care from absorbing as well as it should, preventing you from getting the results that you want from your eye cream!

Another thing to consider is if your eye cream should be used at night time or during the day. If it’s packed with ingredients such as Vitamin C, Peptides, or Antioxidants, your eye gel can be used day and night. However, if the active ingredient is Retinol, it’s best to leave your eye cream for nightly use.

Tired, fatigued under eyes? This deeply moisturising and hydrating eye treatment replenishes hydration and refreshes tired eyes for a well-rested look. 

How to Apply an Eye Cream: Location Matters

Another important thing to know about how to apply an eye cream starts with where to apply it in the first place. I know what you’re thinking - obviously, under the eye, right? Well, that’s not the only place you should be applying eye cream.

As well as applying eye care along your lower orbital bone, you can also keep going up and around to under your brow bone, according to dermatologists. This ensures that you’re tackling any concerns from all angles - especially crow’s feet and signs of ageing - and getting the most out of your eye cream or eye gel!

This lush eye cream from Omorovicza uses a trio of innovative ingredients that work to protect the DNA of skin cells, ultimately warding off the premature signs of ageing.

Eye Cream: How to Apply for Best Results

A third and final tip about how to apply an eye cream is quite literally about the application; it’s all in the technique! The skin around your eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on your entire body. This means that excessive rubbing and rough eye cream application can cause some of the very issues that you’re trying to avoid, such as irritation and wrinkles. 

If your eye cream doesn’t come with an applicator, our best suggestion is to apply your eye cream with your ring finger in gentle tapping and patting motions until fully absorbed. Another way to apply your eye care products and get the most out of them is by using an eye massage tool!

These skincare tools help to boost circulation and absorption of your eye care products, making your eye cream and eye gel ingredients even or effective at smoothing away those puffy eye bags and preventing fine lines from appearing. 

Ideal for boosting the absorption of all eye care products, this ultrasonic massager from FOREO Is the perfect way to get more out of your skincare routine.

What Ingredient Is Best For Under Eye Concerns?

When it comes to the best skincare ingredients to include in your eye cream, there isn’t just one to choose from! Some of the best ingredients for under eye creams include:

  • Peptides
  • Retinol
  • Caffeine
  • Antioxidants
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Probiotics

Each of these ingredients brings its own benefits to eye creams and eye gels, and some are better at targeting certain issues than others. 

This lightweight, hydrating eye gel is perfect for banishing dry skin and nourishing thirsty skin thanks to a formula rich in plant extracts and ultra-soothing ingredients.

Peptides
Peptides are an incredibly gentle, yet effective skincare ingredient that can tackle all issues to do with delicate eye skin - dryness, wrinkles, eye bags, and dark circles 

Retinol
Ideal for targeting the signs of ageing such as =crows feet and fine lines, retinol is a powerful skincare ingredient that boosts collagen levels to firm aged under eye skin 

Caffeine
This handy ingredient stimulates circulation, helping to reduce the appearance of eye bags and dark circles. It can also boost the efficacy of other skincare ingredients thanks to its circulation improving qualities.

Fortified with potent Vitamin C, this eye serum from Dermalogica works hard to firm skin and boost collagen levels for a youthful, radiant look.

Antioxidants
These powerful skincare ingredients work hard to protect your skin from harmful free radicals that can cause premature wrinkles to appear. Some antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, also have the power to stimulate collagen production, helping to fill and firm skin from within. 

Hyaluronic Acid
This potent humectant instantly sweeps away under eye dryness that can cause crepey-looking skin. Hyaluronic acid also has another trick up its sleeve - by keeping skin so well-hydrated, itt temporarily fills out fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother, refreshed under eye. 

Probiotics
This category includes fermented skincare ingredients, such as La Mer’s famous Miracle Broth and SK-II Pitera. These ingredients help to support your skin’s natural turnover for skin that's more resilient to the premature signs of aging. 

This ultra-luxe eye cream is formulated with potent antioxidants and incredibly hydrating hyaluronic acid to bring a youthful twinkle to your eyes. 

How to Apply an Eye Cream: Key Points

The best way to get the most out of your eye cream or eye gel is to make sure that you’re applying it before your moisturizer. Plus, a gentle application method such as tapping or gentle massage helps it absorb faster for better results - say bye-bye to dark circles and fine lines! The right ingredients in your eye cream matter, too - so be sure to give at least one of the six amazing ingredients we mentioned a shot.

Or, if you want a complete skincare routine - eye cream included - created just for you, try our skin analysis. You’ll get a full skincare routine that's tailored just to your skin type and skin goals to help you get your beauty affairs in order!

Beauty Affairs Skin Analysis

Products Mentioned:

  • Dermalogica Awaken Peptide Eye Gel
  • Anne Semonin Miracle Eye Contour Anti-Wrinkle Cream
  • Lancôme Hydra Zen Yeux Anti-Stress Moisturising Eye Care
  • Omorovicza Blue Diamond Eye Cream
  • FOREO Iris Eye Massager Petal Pink
  • REN Vita Mineral™ Active 7 Eye Gel
  • Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum
  • Dior Prestige Le Concentré Yeux
  • Alexis Adrienne

    Alexis Adrienne

    Alexis Adrienne is a passionate beauty writer with over 10 years of experience. She’s incredibly keen on all things skincare, makeup and cosmetics, with a fingertip on the pulse of the latest global beauty trends at all times.

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