The under-eye area requires special attention. It’s thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face, and since we naturally make eye contact while communicating, it’s often in the spotlight. This makes it easier to notice signs of fatigue and early signs of skin ageing here compared to other areas of the body.
Proper care for the eye area is crucial to delaying these visible changes. However, eye care goes beyond aesthetics; it’s also about maintaining healthy skin.
If you’re well-versed in conscious skincare, you might be familiar with the classic "Do I need a separate eye cream?" question. When it comes to choosing the right products, what ingredients should you look for to tackle specific concerns? Are wrinkles and dark circles treated the same way, or is the solution different?
At Face Dr, we’re here not only to guide you through it all and help you understand what’s best for your skin health but also to share the best anti-ageing eye creams to brighten your under-eye area and support well-ageing.
In this article:
- Do You Really Need a Separate Eye Cream?
- What Makes the Skin Around Your Eyes So Unique?
- How to Care for the Skin Around Your Eyes
- General Anti-Ageing for the Eye Area
- Best Anti-Ageing Ingredients for the Eye Area
- Best Anti-Ageing Eye Creams to Try
Do You Really Need a Separate Eye Cream?
This question often sparks debate. For instance, Paula Begoun, founder of Paula's Choice, has long argued against the necessity of a dedicated eye cream. For two decades, her brand didn’t offer an eye care product, and when they eventually introduced the RESIST Anti-Aging Eye Cream, it generated quite a buzz.
But aren’t eye creams just pricey moisturisers in smaller containers?
Eye creams are specially formulated for the sensitive skin around the eyes, which is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face. These products are often richer and contain higher levels of oils, with active ingredients specifically targeting common concerns like dryness, puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles. The skin around the eyes is more vulnerable to ageing signs, with frequent movement and fluid buildup contributing to puffiness and tired-looking eyes. Eye creams offer solutions for these specific challenges, giving you a targeted approach to care.
What Makes the Skin Around Your Eyes So Unique?
- Thin and Delicate Structure: The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the body, measuring less than one millimetre thick, with no subcutaneous fat. This makes it more vulnerable to damage and quicker to show fine lines and wrinkles.
- Weak Moisture Barrier: The under-eye area has a weaker moisture barrier than the rest of the face. A compromised barrier leads to dehydration, causing dry, flaky skin and visible fine lines.
- Lack of Natural Moisturising Factors and Oils: The skin around the eyes lacks sufficient natural oils and moisturising factors. Sebaceous glands are sparse here, and those that exist mainly protect the eyes, leaving the skin more prone to dryness.
- Least Natural Elasticity: The under-eye area has minimal elasticity, making it prone to sagging and fine lines over time. The lack of bounce-back from daily stress contributes to early ageing signs.
- Visible Signs of Ageing and Dehydration: Due to its thinness, weak moisture barrier, and lack of natural oils, the under-eye area shows signs of ageing and dehydration more quickly. Dryness makes fine lines and wrinkles more prominent.
- Impact of Stress and Genetics: Stress and genetics can cause puffiness and dark circles. Stress raises cortisol levels, affecting blood circulation and making blood vessels more visible under the skin.
- Thinning Skin and Under-Eye Darkness: As we age, skin naturally thins, making blood vessels more visible and contributing to dark circles. This, along with less subcutaneous fat, causes the under-eye area to appear darker.
Recognising these unique characteristics helps address the under-eye area's specific needs. Thin skin, weak moisture barriers, lack of oils, reduced elasticity, and vulnerability to stress and genetics all contribute to common concerns like dehydration, fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles. By using targeted skincare, you can better care for this delicate area and maintain a healthy, youthful look.
How to Care for the Skin Around Your Eyes
- Use an Eye Cream: According to dermatologists, “Eye creams are one of those things that people often don’t use, but they need a cream that penetrates the area to provide adequate moisture to the skin.”
- Don’t Rely on Face Moisturisers: Many people wonder if they can use regular moisturisers for their eyes, but the answer is simply no. You need an eye cream specifically formulated for this area! Face serums and moisturisers may contain active ingredients like retinoids in a concentration that is too harsh for the delicate skin under the eyes.
- Choose the Right Eye Cream: Just because the skin around your eyes is thinner doesn’t mean you can only use mild moisturisers. Eye creams are different from regular face creams as they are formulated with lower concentrations of active ingredients and higher concentrations of skin-soothing ingredients to reduce irritation while boosting hydration.
General Anti-Ageing for the Eye Area
- Cleansing and Exfoliation: Always start by thoroughly removing eye makeup! Micellar water or makeup removers will quickly remove eye makeup, including waterproof mascara. It’s important not to irritate the eyes while doing so. Afterwards, cleanse with facial milk or foam suitable for your skin type, making sure not to tug at the delicate skin. Gently exfoliate the eye area regularly with a mild chemical or enzymatic exfoliant for better skin breathing and absorption of active ingredients.
- Hydration: The next crucial step is to deeply hydrate the area. Gel creams are perfect for this, offering excellent moisture. They’re ideal for younger skin to prevent early signs of ageing. For more mature skin, it’s beneficial to use nourishing, moisturising, and slightly richer anti-wrinkle eye creams to provide extra hydration and care.
- Daily Sun Protection: Fighting the general signs of ageing starts with daily sun protection, and the eye area is no different. Choose a sunscreen based on your skin type. If your skin around the eyes is more sensitive, it’s worth using a physical sunscreen here.
- Massage and Circulation: Face rollers and Gua Sha stones, made from various minerals, are great tools to stimulate circulation.
Best Anti-Ageing Ingredients for the Eye Area
- Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is a natural moisturising ingredient that helps retain moisture in the skin. Its use is especially important for maintaining hydration in the delicate skin around the eyes and reducing fine lines.
- Retinol: Retinol, a derivative of Vitamin A, effectively reduces wrinkles and improves skin texture. However, it’s important to introduce it gradually into your skincare routine, especially for the sensitive eye area, as it is a potent active ingredient.
- Vitamin C: Thanks to its antioxidant properties, Vitamin C helps firm the skin and lighten dark circles or puffiness around the eyes. Regular use leads to a brighter, more even skin tone in this delicate area.
- Peptides: Peptides are chains of amino acids that support collagen production and improve skin elasticity. When applied to the eye area, peptides help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Niacinamide: Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, has anti-inflammatory properties and helps strengthen the skin's barrier function. It’s a great choice for reducing irritation and improving hydration around the eyes, especially for sensitive skin.
- Ceramides: Ceramides are natural lipids that help maintain the skin’s protective barrier and retain moisture. In eye creams, they play a key role in strengthening the skin barrier, protecting it from environmental stressors, and preserving hydration.
Best Anti-Ageing Eye Creams to Try
Here are our top picks to rejuvenate and brighten your under-eye area while supporting well-ageing:
#1. Glytone Age Defying PHA+ Renewing Eye Cream
At Face Dr, we're proud to offer the Glytone Age Defying PHA+ Renewing Eye Cream, a product backed by 30 years of innovation. Glytone is a leader in active acid formulations, and for the first time, this iconic brand is available to purchase in the UK exclusively through Face Dr. This eye cream, powered by exfoliating Glycolic Acid and deeply hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, helps reduce fine lines, improve skin texture, and target puffiness and dark circles. Experience Glytone’s cutting-edge formulations today.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid
Size: 15 ml
Glytone Age-Defying PHA+ Renewing Eye Cream for £68.00 on Face Dr.
#2. Obagi’s ELASTIderm Eye Cream
Obagi’s ELASTIderm Eye Cream is packed with antioxidants like Vitamin E and Malachite to fight fine lines. The advanced Bi-Mineral Contour Complex™ (a combination of zinc, copper, and malonate) helps support healthy elastin and improve skin elasticity, making it perfect for treating dryness and crepey skin.
Key Ingredients: Bi-Mineral Contour Complex™, Malachite, Vitamin E
Size: 15 g
Obagi’s ELASTIderm Eye Cream retails for £120.00 on Face Dr.
#3. Clinical Skin Ultra-Rich Eye Cream
This rich eye cream contains peptides and Bakuchiol, a plant-based alternative to Retinol, to help reduce wrinkles and promote collagen production. It hydrates and brightens tired eyes while also working to reduce puffiness.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, Bakuchiol
Size: 15 ml
Clinical Skin Ultra-Rich Eye Cream retails for £116.00 on Face Dr.
#4. ZO Skin Health’s Intense Eye Crème
ZO Skin Health’s Intense Eye Crème targets wrinkles and puffiness with powerful peptides and Retinol. It also features optical diffusers that help instantly reduce the appearance of dark circles, leaving the eye area looking smoother and more youthful.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, Retinol
Size: 15 ml
ZO Skin Health’s Intense Eye Crème retails on Face Dr.
#5. Paula’s Choice Ceramide-Enriched Firming Eye Cream
This eye cream combines Ceramides, Vitamin C, and Retinol to fight wrinkles while providing hydration and brightening the under-eye area. It also targets dark circles and enhances skin firmness, offering an all-in-one anti-ageing solution.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, Vitamin C, Retinol
Size: 15 ml
Paula’s Choice Ceramide-Enriched Firming Eye Cream retails for £38.25 on https://www.paulaschoice.co.uk.
#6. SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye for Dark Circles
This next-generation eye cream targets wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness caused by advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.s). The silky formula is powered by Proxylane™ (a concentrated flavonoid blend), Matrixyl 3000, and Glycyrrhetinic Acid to smooth crow’s feet, restore firmness, and brighten the under-eye area. Caffeine helps reduce puffiness, while optical diffusers instantly enhance radiance for all skin tones.
Key Ingredients: Proxylane™, Matrixyl 3000, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Caffeine
Size: 15 ml
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye for Dark Circles retails for £105.00 on https://www.skinceuticals.co.uk.
#7. Neocutis Lumière Firm Riche
This advanced eye cream targets fine lines, wrinkles, and puffiness with Growth Factors and Proprietary Peptides to support collagen and elastin. Caffeine helps reduce puffiness, while Vitamin C brightens and protects. Designed for anti-ageing and post-procedure care, it revitalises tired eyes, improving skin tone and texture for a smoother, more youthful look.
Key Ingredients: Growth Factors, Proprietary Peptides, Caffeine, Vitamin C
Size: 15 ml
Neocutis Lumière Firm Riche retails for £72.00 on https://onlyskincare.com.
Book your free video skincare consultation
Those were our top seven eye cream products we recommend to combat lines and prevent premature signs of ageing. Unsure which one is right for you? Our Skin Experts at Face Dr are available to assist you. We offer free, 30-minute online skincare consultations, allowing you to connect with a member of our team from the comfort of your home. During your consultation, an expert will assess your skin, understand your concerns, and provide personalised product recommendations.
We only recommend products that deliver visible results, ensuring you use the best options for your skin and unique needs. Whether you're focusing on signs of ageing, acne or redness, we're here to help you create a skincare routine tailored to you.
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