This Is When Experts Say You Should Really Start Dabbing On Eye Cream

When it comes to preserving that smooth, wrinkle-free skin of your youth, it's all about starting your skincare regimen early, especially around the eyes. "The skin around the eye area is the thinnest and most sensitive on the face, making it prone to earlier wrinkling, dryness, and irritation," explained board-certified dermatologist Papri Sarkar.

The skin around the eyes also lacks sebaceous glands and collagen fibers, so it's extra important to keep it hydrated to maintain that youthful appearance. "I refer to the old saying 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure,' so for me, the sooner the better when it comes to preventing the signs of aging and protecting the skin," noted esthetician Candace Marino.

As a general rule, you should consider integrating skin care at the same time you begin experimenting with makeup. "When makeup comes before skin care, we tend to see issues with the skin, like congested pores, acne, and premature aging such as fine lines," Marino said.

If you're wanting to take the first steps at cracking open an eye cream, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help plump and hydrate the skin, as well as vitamin C for brightening and caffeine to help with dark circles. "My favorite products for the eye area have specialized ingredients to not only stimulate collagen to tighten the skin and improve fine lines, but also lighten the skin so that area doesn't look so dark and hollow as we age," explained cosmetic dermatologist Jason Emer.

Our personal favorite: Restorsea Pro Firming Eye Serum ($85). This special blend contains caffeine, which helps to stimulate circulation, and stevia, to reduce under-eye puffiness. "I also always recommend popping eye creams in the fridge to help decrease puffiness and swelling," Sarkar said.

There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for your eye cream. Look for eye products in pumps or bottles rather than jars. "It keeps active ingredients protected from air exposure and germs from fingers or spatulas dipping in, which can contaminate the product and oxidize ingredients, making them ineffective," Marino explained. Our experts also recommended avoiding heavily fragranced creams in the eye area, because this site is more likely to have an allergic or irritant reaction.

Eye creams are generally richer but more delicate than your average moisturizer. Be gentle as you apply them. "Rubbing too vigorously can contribute to dark circles, so remember to apply eye cream with the tip of your finger and dab it on gently. No pulling or stretching!" Sarkar warned.

Apply a pea-size amount to ring fingers, and gently tap all along the orbital area. "An orbital massage assists in lymphatic drainage, which reduces puffiness and dark circles that can linger in the hollows of the under-eyes," Emer said.

You can start with daily applications in the morning and night, unless you tend to wake up with puffy eyes; in that case, skip eye cream application at night. "Although eye creams are hydrating and nourishing, humectant ingredients in them will draw water to the area, which can lead to puffiness in the morning," Emer explained.