Do I Really Need Eye Cream? Yes!

Eye cream is a bit of a mystery in the skincare world. All of the other steps seem rather intuitive and make perfect sense, right? Cleanser is used to remove makeup and get you clean. Toner refreshes the  skin.  Moisturizer is used to, well,  moisturize. And a broad spectrum SPF   protects your precious skin from the harmful rays of the sun. All facts. All relatable. But, eye cream? What’s that tiny little pot all about? And why can’t my facial moisturizer work for my eyes, too?

Oh, hunny. Let’s talk. Today I’m addressing your most pressing eye cream questions —

Why do I need eye cream?

Because I said so. No, seriously. Eye cream is a crucial component to your twice-a-day skincare routine.  The skin around your eyes is totally different from the skin on the rest of your face, and as such, the eye area benefits from creams or serums that are specially formulated to be used around the eye. Your eye area is super delicate, and the skin is quite thin, so it’s helpful to stick with products that are lightweight and intended for eye care only. You might be wondering: “Felicia, why can’t I just slather my face cream around my eyes?” Hey, technically, you can do what you want. Put body lotion on your face…cooking oil on your skin…use bubble bath as shampoo. Ok, you get where I’m going with this — for the best possible skin care results, I recommend using the right product for the job.

How do I know if I need eye cream?

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times — If you’re old enough to legally consume alcohol, you’re old enough to use an eye cream. I’ve always advocated for using skin care solutions before you have a pressing NEED. So, if you’re in your early 20’s and your eye area is perfectly hydrated and free of lines — start using an eye cream anyway. Get on the “prevention” train and get on it now. Start preserving your good skin before it’s too late. If you’re looking for a good preventative eye cream, start with Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Gel. The fast-absorbing, see-thru texture is perfect for eye cream newbies. Enriched with hyaluronic acid and peptides for hydration, this skin plumping eye gel immediately revives fatigued eyes.

Now let’s say you’re beginning to see the signs of premature aging (dark circles, fine lines, crow’s feet, puffiness)….you definitely need an eye cream as well. Reach for one that contains skin-soothing vitamins and peptides. But also look for an eye cream that’s formulated with color-correcting attributes….this helps to deliver instant relief to the appearance of under eye bags and darkness. Olay Eyes Ultimate Eye Cream is your go-to because the super-charged cream for eyes not only hydrates upon contact, it also diffuses the look of puffiness and raccoon eyes. After application, the shadow of darkness is dramatically diminished.

Do ingredients matter?

Yes, of course. Choose ingredients that suit your skin’s specific needs. If moisture is a focus, stick with hyaluronic acid. For an anti aging focus, look for  peptides,   antioxidants and Vitamin B.

Will eye cream interfere with my makeup?

Totally depends. The right eye cream should absorb easily and your concealer should melt right on top. For days when I wear makeup (most days I don’t) I actually like to mix my eye cream with my concealer to give my concealer a more natural finish. The mix isn’t precise, but I typically use about two parts eye cream and one part concealer. I mix and then tap under my eye area. The vibe is very “no makeup makeup”. I love this little skincare plus makeup beauty hack!

What’s the best way to apply eye cream?

Honestly, “everyone” says to use your ring finger and tap around your eye area/ orbital bone. So, no new news there. But here’s a tip I wish more “experts” would share — Don’t Forget About The 11’s — You know, that area between your inner eye brows…where 11 lines tend to form. Yup, right there. I always tap a little eye cream in that area. It’s a great preventative practice. I also like to keep my gels based eye creams in the fridge…it really helps to boost the cooling effect. If you’re a skin care fanatic like me, and looking for ways to really step up your results — consider a rose quartz facial roller. I love to use mine after applying my eye cream…particularly at night when I give myself permission to slow down and spend a little more time on self care.

Bottom Line

Eye cream matters. Choose based on ingredients that help you achieve your skin care goals. Don’t be afraid to read the label or run the ingredients by good ol Dr. Google. It’s important to learn your skin, what it likes, what it responds well to, and do on. Soon, you wont’t need me to guide you. Joking, we’ll always be skincare-BFF’s!

*This post is sponsored by Olay. The opinions are all my own.