Skincare Routines / Skin care Routines / Eyes & Lips / Skincare Tips

Eye Cream Ingredients to Target Your Eye Concerns

Puffiness around the Eyes

If you have puffy skin around the eyes, use an eye cream that contains caffeine which allows a temporary de-puffing by constricting blood vessels in the area. For example, try SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel OR Exuviance DePuffing Eye Serum  

Dark Circles under Eyes

For dark circles go for an eye product which contains ingredients such as vitamin C, licorice, Kojic acid, Chromabright or niacinamide which inhibit melanin production. For example, try Jan Marini Luminate Eye Gel.
 
Sesderma K-Vit Anti-Dark Cicle Serum And Auriga Cernor XO GelOther ingredients such as Vitamin K can help, it's an antioxidant that strengthens the capillaries under the eyes. Our top Vitamin K eye serum is Sesderma K-VIT Anti-Dark Circle Serum.
 
Please bear in mind that dark circles are very difficult to treat. It also has a lot to do with your diet and lifestyle.

Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Look for eye products that contain Retinol (Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Peptides & Growth factors.
 
Retinol helps with lines & wrinkles. Make sure the retinol eye products are formulated just for the delicate eye area. For example the Medik8 Retinol Eye TR or Medik8 Advanced Night Eye.
 Jan Marini C-ESTA Eye Repair Concentrate & Mene & Moy Eye Contour C5
Vitamin C encourages collagen production & also brightens the skin. You could try the Jan Marini C-ESTA Eye Repair Concentrate 
 
Peptide eye products tell fibroblasts in the skin to create more collagen so the skin becomes suppler and firmer which is the main reason why peptides should be in your eye cream. For example the HydroPeptide Uplift Eye Gel or PCA Skin Ideal Complex Revitalizing Eye Gel.
HydroPeptide Uplift Eye Gel & PCA Skin Ideal Complex Revitalizing Eye Gel
Growth factors will help to decrease fine lines and wrinkles as well as thicken the very thin skin beneath the eyes. Try the Jan Marini Transformation Eye Cream or AQ Skin Solutions Eye Serum.
Jan Marini Transformation Eye Cream & AQ Skin Solutions Eye Serum
The more that any of the anti-ageing ingredients mentioned above are included in your eye creams the better.

If the eye area is sagging/baggy I am afraid an eye cream cannot help. Only surgery will help remove that excess skin.

Dry & Crepey Skin Around The Eye Area

If the skin around your eyes is drier, then you need hydrating ingredients like HA (Hyaluronic Acid). HA is great as it is a hydrating ingredient but not too heavy. Obviously if you need something more hydrating, then go for an emollient type of eye cream like a balm or a product that contains vitamin E. Be careful not to go too heavy if you don't need to as it may cause milia around the eye area.
 
Our top Hyaluronic Acid eye product pick is the Teoxane R[II] Eye Contour.
 

 

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex & SkinCeuticals Eye Balm

Make sure you're using your eye cream correctly

You do not need to use too much - just a pea sized amount will suffice. Apply using your ring finger for a light touch. Dab small dots under and around your eyes and on the brow bone. Don't rub or stretch or pull the skin.

It's vital that you protect your skin daily against the sun. This also applies to the skin around the eyes. The problems of wrinkles, dark circles, etc. will only get worse if you go out without sun protection. Use either an eye SPF sunscreen or a mineral SPF sunscreen or make sure that your concealer is a minimum of SPF30 or higher. And lastly don't forget to wear sunglasses.
 
Eye Cream dotted under the eye
 
A photo of Andrea Patel
Andrea Patel Dermatology Nurse Practitioner & Director Author
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