Heres Why You Should Never Skip Eye Cream, According To Dermatologists – Forbes

By daniellenierenberg

Getty

"Do you really need an eye cream?" It's a question that has intrigued many myself includedever since the tiny pots and tubes hit Sephora shelves.

One might wonder why you need a separate cream for your eye area when you already have a moisturizer for the face. Besides, your bathroom cabinet is probably already too crowded without having to add any more products, right?

In an attempt to resolve this skincare dilemma, three dermatologists weigh in on whether eye creams are actually a necessary skincare component or merely a nice-to-have:

Why you should invest in an eye cream?

"The skin around the eyes is thinner and shows signs of aging more quickly than other areas of the face do. This thinness makes it more delicate, vulnerable and prone to allergic reactions than other facial skin," says Dr. Craig Kraffert, board-certified dermatologist and president of Amarte Skin Care.

This is why the delicate skin around your eyes needs an extra dose of TLC, which a regular face moisturizer might not be able to deliver.

Moreover, the skin around your eyes also gets a much greater workout. "Every time you move your eyes, whether you squint, smile or widen them in surprise, you're using muscles around your eyes," notes Dr. Kraffert. Over time, factors like dryness and loss of collagen and elasticity lead to the formation of small wrinkles near your eyes, commonly known as 'crow's feet'. "Smoking and exposure to the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays can also contribute to wrinkle formation," adds the dermatologist.

Incorporating an eye cream into your daily skincare routine can help minimize the appearance of these wrinkles as well as tackle other skin concerns like dryness, puffiness, dark circles and pigmentation, tells Dr. Amy Ross, board-certified dermatologist and advisor for MONATs scientific advisory board.

And the sooner you start using one, the better. "The best time to start using an eye cream is before you think you need one," tells Dr. Ross. "Its easier to prevent signs of aging than correct them, so I recommend investing in an eye cream starting in your 20s," she says. Dr. Kraffert recommends applying an eye cream twice every day for optimal results.

What ingredients should you look for in an eye cream?

"Some key ingredients to look for are caffeine, hyaluronic acid and peptides," says Dr. Ross. Caffeine helps shrink under-eye bags by constricting the blood vessels and reducing inflammation. While peptides boost collagen production, making your skin plumper and more youthful.

Since the skin around your eyes has very few active oil glands, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane and ceramides are essential for drawing in and sealing in the moisture.

For anti-aging benefits, "choose an eye cream contains retinol or a retinol derivative in a moisturizing baselook for ceramides, dimethicone, glycerin and oils in the ingredient list," says Dr. Estee Williams, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

In addition, you should also consider factors like your skin type, what skin concern you wish to target, whether you'll be layering makeup on top, etc. when picking an eye cream, suggests Dr. Williams.

The best eye creams for every skin concern:

Whether you want to tackle fine lines, treat dark circles or reduce puffiness, these skincare picks have got you covered:

For dryness: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream

Formulated with ultra-moisturizing hyaluronic acid, Neutrogenas Hydro Boost Gel-Cream penetrates quickly into the skin, plumping the skin cells with long-lasting moisture, making the delicate eye area visibly smooth and supple. It's lightweight, fragrance-free formula makes it suitable for all skin types, including oily and sensitive skin.

For dark circles: Sisley Paris Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid

Sisley Paris Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid

Infused with black rose extract, shea oil and caffeine, this luxe eye cream visibly smooths, revitalizes and brightens the skin around your eyes, making your peepers appear fresh and well-rested.

For de-puffing: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream

Sunday Riley's Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream features a powerful blend of Brazilian ginseng root extract and caffeine that instantly invigorates and firms up the delicate eye area, reducing the appearance of under-eye bags. In addition, it contains horse chestnut extract that helps improve skin tone and smooth out fine lines.

For fighting photo-damage: Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35

Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35

The skin around your eyes is more sensitive and vulnerable to sun damage than the rest of your facial skin. This is why investing in an eye cream that also provides broad-spectrum protection is a good idea. Colorescience's three-in-one eye cream not only shields the eye area from harmful UVA and UVB rays but also noticeably improves the appearance of dark circles, wrinkles and fine lines.

For firming: No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream

No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream

Made with skin-nourishing ingredients like shea butter, ginseng root extract and white mulberry leaf extract, No7s Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream combats both uneven skin tone and fine lines, leaving your skin noticeably smooth, firm and radiant.

For dull, dry skin: Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream

Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream

Packed with date seed extract, peptides and avocado protein extract, this ultra-hydrating cream is like a tall glass of water for your skin. Its antioxidant-rich formula nourishes and brightens the delicate eye areamaking it instantly refreshed and reinvigorated.

For wrinkle repair: La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eyes Retinol Eye Cream

La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eyes Retinol Eye Cream

Featuring a potent formula supercharged with pure retinol, caffeine and thermal spring water, La Roche Posay's antioxidant-packed eye cream is a perfect pick for those whose primary skincare concern is wrinkles or fine lines.

For tackling signs of aging: Monat Eye Smooth Nourishing Eye Cream

Monat Eye Smooth Nourishing Eye Cream

From smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines to diminishing the appearance of dark circles, this rejuvenating cream does it all. Formulated with antioxidant-rich caffeine, peptides and plant stem cells, it plumps, brightens and evens skin tone, revealing a visibly smoother and youthful look around the eyes. Plus, it comes with a compact rose gold eye-roller that helps soothe puffy, stressed-out skin and improve circulation.

Excerpt from:
Heres Why You Should Never Skip Eye Cream, According To Dermatologists - Forbes