Beauty
The ultimate guide to the best eye cream
Geneviève Caron
Beauty
The ultimate guide to the best eye cream
Everything you need to know about eye cream to keep the skin around your peepers in tip-top shape.
One glance in the mirror is all it takes to understand that the skin around your eyes is far more delicate than anywhere else on your face and body. Thinner and often slightly translucent, the area near the eyes tends to show signs of aging the quickest. For some women, crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles can leave undereye skin looking like crêpe.
Since there are so many serums, creams and lotions on the market, and each one promises incredible results, we consulted two of the best skin doctors in the business to learn what women of all ages should look for in an eye cream—and what they should avoid at all costs.
How can an eye cream help?
The thin skin under the eyes requires extra care, says Dr. Nowell Solish, a Toronto cosmetic dermatologist. “Like folding paper over and over again, skin around the eyes tends to wrinkle easily. And because, hopefully, we smile all day, lines will continue to form.”
While many creams work to counteract specific issues, such as dryness and skin translucency, eye creams in particular should be moisture-rich. “Because the area around the eyes needs extra hydration,” says Dr. Kevin Sliwowicz of the Toronto Centre for Advanced Skin Repair, “eye creams work as great moisturizers that combat dryness, which otherwise could lead to dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.”
Still, even the most effective eye cream has its limitations. “Eye creams plump up cells with moisturizing ingredients to create an immediate, but not long-lasting, effect,” says Dr. Sliwowicz. The bottom line? An eye cream can make all the difference, but don’t expect to find a time machine when you open the jar.
When should I start using eye cream?
Eye cream, much like moisturizer and face wash, is a universal product that benefits women (and men) of all ages. For young women attempting to cover up dark circles with concealer, a hydrating eye cream will help create a smooth canvas. As women age, eye cream becomes increasingly important, since the decrease in fat and collagen around the eyes that accompanies aging shows up as sagging and wrinkling of the skin, says Dr. Sliwowicz. Once you start to see lines forming, it’s time to switch to an eye cream with anti-aging ingredients.
How do I choose the right eye cream for my needs?
Before you head to the skin-care aisle and shell out big bucks for any old eye cream, identify your specific skin needs by looking in the mirror—sans makeup—and smiling. Whatever your list of orbital grievances, rest assured that there’s an eye cream to help.
To treat dark circles, says Dr. Sliwowicz, creams often contain vitamin K or niacinamide, a potent form of vitamin B3 found in nutrient-rich foods such as meat, milk, fish and eggs. To decrease puffiness, caffeine is often present, he says. To reduce the appearance of fine lines, creams use moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and shea butter to pump up skin cells. And to combat collagen loss, which manifests under the eyes as dark circles, seek out an eye cream packed with peptides or vitamin C; over time, these ingredients work to thicken tired inelastic skin.
For a more long-lasting effect on fine lines, Dr. Sliwowicz prefers eye creams with retinol, an over-the-counter vitamin A derivative known to increase the rate of skin turnover and stimulate collagen. Be warned: Prescription-grade retinoids (such as tretinoin, found in brands such as Retin-A, Renova and ReFissa) might be overly harsh for sensitive undereye skin, so stick to over-the-counter products if you do have sensitive skin. Also, apply them only at night to avoid skin irritation from overuse and remember to layer on sunscreen in the morning, because retinoids can increase your skin’s sensitivity to light.
What ingredients should I avoid in an eye cream?
Whenever possible, women should avoid potentially irritating ingredients, such as synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes, says Dr. Sliwowicz. With so many all-natural eye creams on the market, there’s no need to settle for a product that leaves eyes red and runny.
For women with milia—tiny white bumps filled with keratin that form around the eyes—ultra-rich eye creams can be too much of a good thing. Greasy formulas can clog pores, so if you’re prone to acne or milia, reach for a serum or a lightweight lotion instead, says Dr. Solish.
Read more:
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The complete guide to eliminating dark spots
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