Do You Really Need an Eye Cream in Your Skincare Routine?

When I was a child, I remember my mother spending a small fortune every once in a while to buy these super fancy jars of eye cream. And I was slightly obsessed with them. 

While my mother would swear by them for their ability to keep her looking youthful, I was simply mesmerized by how glamorous the jars were. And so, whenever she wasn’t home, I'd sneak into her room, try on her fancy eye creams and pretend I was Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. 

But that was then.

Now that I’ve been working in the beauty industry for a while, I’ve learned many things about the skin and how skincare products work. So let’s talk about eye creams today.

Eye creams: Do you really need them?

Some people think we need eye creams because the skin around our eyes is sensitive and delicate. As such, they think that a dedicated cream is required to care for that area. Other people say that an eye cream is basically a facial moisturizer in a smaller, more expensive jar.

So, what's the truth?

Tbh, there’s really no black or white answer here and the truth is somewhere in between.

First, let’s examine the facts about the area around the eyes. We know that the eye area is the first part of our face to shows signs of aging. That's because the skin around our eyes is much thinner compared to everywhere else. There are also fewer oil glands.

As a result, the eye area is more prone to the effects of environmental stressors and any unhealthy lifestyle habits we may have (ex: not getting enough sleep).

So, if we go by this logic, then eye creams need to...

1. be extra gentle around the eye area
2. be able to boost hydration and moisture
3. help promote collagen and elastin production

“So Graydon, are you saying that we need to use eye creams?”

Well, here's the thing.

A lot of companies use the exact same ingredients in both their moisturizers and eye creams. And they sometimes incorporate a few additional active ingredients at a lower concentration given the eyes are a sensitive area. Essentially, eye creams are moisturizers that are meant to hydrate and gently target specific skin concerns.

And this is a catch 22 kinda thing.

We need potent active ingredients to hydrate the eye area and target the signs of aging, such as wrinkles and dark circles. However, the more potent the ingredients are, the more likely they are to irritate the eye area.

Soooo… should we or shouldn't we use an eye cream?

This is where Graydon Skincare comes into play. When I first started the brand, I wanted to create products that are multipurpose and give you the most bang for your buck. 

And I did just that.

I was able to come up with moisturizers that ALSO double as eye creams!!! They are Berry Rich and Skin Stuff. Berry Rich is deeply nourishing and an excellent option for dry, mature skin and dark under eye circles. Skin Stuff is an ultralight, hydrating cream that's especially suited for individuals with sensitive skin.

How to Apply an Eye Cream

Apply your eye cream once or twice per day (totally up to you). To apply an eye cream, simply use a pea-sized amount, which is roughly half a pump, and gently tap the product along your under eye area using your ring finger. You can also tap the cream along the brow bone area, too. 

The gentle tapping motion using your ring finger prevents you from being unnecessarily rough with the skin around your eyes, which could otherwise lead to fine lines and wrinkles.

And that’s it! 🥰

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Credit for eye cream photo: keira01