A lot of people wonder whether it's truly necessary to add a separate cream on top of the cleansing and moisturizing they already do. There's a good reason to pay special attention to your eyes.
The skin surrounding your eyes is the most fragile on your face. That means it's prone to dryness, visible fatigue and — you guessed it — signs of aging. Squinting, constant movement and fluid that collects underneath can all cause puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Eye creams help correct some of these issues.
What's in a cream?
Eye creams are formulated specifically for the delicate skin around your eyes. They tend to be thicker than a normal moisturizer and contain more oil, along with active ingredients that target the problem areas you may have.
Your problem: dry skin
The skin around the eye is some of the driest on your complexion, largely because there are very few oil glands beneath it. Regularly applying makeup like concealer and foundation can dehydrate it further. A hydrating eye cream is a great starter — moisturizing this area helps keep it smooth.
Your problem: dark circles
Sometimes genetic, sometimes a sign of exhaustion. Some dark circles are caused by an overproduction of melanin; others are simply blood vessels showing through the skin. Losing bone and fat as you age can make the hollows under your eyes more pronounced — and eye cream can help.
Your problem: puffy eyes
Puffiness is most often caused by retained fluid, with contributing factors ranging from a salty diet to the way you sleep. Delicately massaging the area moves the fluid; pairing a light massage with the right eye cream can reduce overall puffiness.
Fine lines and wrinkles
If fine lines are your main concern, avoiding UV exposure is your first defense. Your second is moisturizing and hydrating with an eye cream that contains collagen-boosting ingredients such as peptides or retinol.
Final thoughts
Adding eye cream to your daily routine is something you'll be glad you started when you did. It keeps the eyes looking bright and awake while supporting the overall health of the most delicate skin on your face.