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

 IN THIS ARTICLE:

• How is the skin around the eyes different?
• What should an eye cream do?
• How are eye creams different from regular moisturizers?
• What not to use around the eyes
• Graydon Skincare face + eye creams
• How to apply an eye cream
• Summary

When I was a child, I remember my mother spending a small fortune on super fancy jars of eye cream. She swore that the creams kept her looking youthful and I was mesmerized by the glamorous jars. And so, whenever my mom wasn’t home, I'd sneak into her room, apply her fancy eye creams and pretend I was Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. 

At that time, I had no idea there was quite the controversy around eye creams. Some people say they’re essential because the skin around our eyes is sensitive and delicate. Other people say that an eye cream is basically a facial moisturizer in a smaller, more expensive jar.

So, what's the truth? To be honest, there’s really no black or white answer and the truth is somewhere in between. So today, let’s discuss eye creams.

How is the skin around the eyes different?

It’s true that the skin around your eyes is different from the skin on the rest of your face. First, let’s examine the facts about the area around the eyes:

• The skin around our eyes is much thinner than other areas of the face. This means that it’s often the first to experience a reduction in collagen. As we age, collagen production slows down. This results in skin that doesn’t look as plump and is more prone to showing fine lines. 
• There are fewer oil glands around the eyes. It’s not uncommon for the skin around the eyes to be dry as a result. 
• The skin around the eyes is more prone to the effects of environmental stressors. Because the skin around the eyes is thin and delicate, the risk of free radical damage from UV rays and airborne pollutants is increased.

These factors all contribute to the eye area showing signs of aging before other parts of the face. Obviously, it’s important to protect the eye area with a proper skincare routine. Before we determine if you need a special eye cream, let’s talk about what an eye cream should do.

What should an eye cream do?

Based on what we know about the eye area, an eye cream should:

• Promote collagen production: This will help to combat the loss of collagen that naturally occurs with time. 
• Boost hydration: Increased moisture around the eye area will help to reduce flaking that can occur with dry skin. Increased hydration will also help the skin to look plump and supple.
• Provide antioxidant benefits: Combating free radical damage caused by environmental stressors is essential to keeping premature signs of aging at bay. 

How are eye creams different from regular moisturizers?

Let’s be honest, it sounds like an eye cream should perform the exact same functions as a regular facial moisturizer. The thing is, an eye cream must be gentle. The last thing you want to do is cause irritation to the delicate skin around your eyes. 

A lot of companies use the same ingredients in both their moisturizers and eye creams. The difference between the products is that they often incorporate active ingredients at a lower concentration. 

And this is a bit of a catch 22.

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.

Let’s review what you don’t want to use around your eyes.

What not to use around the eyes

Our Social Marketing Coordinator + Product Educator, Emma, is also a certified esthetician. She recommends avoiding the following around the eye area:

• Harsh exfoliants: The skin around the eyes is thin and delicate. Over exfoliation of the area can lead to inflammation and irritation. 
• Thick moisturizers: This may seem like a great way to hydrate and protect the skin around the eyes; however, that may not be the case. Heavy moisturizers that aren't formulated for use around the eye can be a factor in the formation of milia (small, hard, white bumps under the skin). 
• Products high in actives: As we already touched on, active ingredients are important in keeping the skin looking young; however, high levels of active ingredients can be irritating. 

So does that mean you need a special eye cream? Not necessarily!

Graydon Skincare face + eye creams

Eye creams don’t have to be separate from your regular facial moisturizer. Gentle,  facial moisturizers that are low in active ingredients can usually be used around the eye area. 

When I first started this brand, I wanted to create multipurpose products that give you the most bang for your buck and simplify your skincare routine. I’m proud to offer a number of multipurpose products including two facial moisturizers that also double as eye creams! 

Skin Stuff Face + Eye Cream is an ultralight, hydrating moisturizer that’s formulated for sensitive skin. This weightless moisturizer contains:

• Botanical ceramides: These lipids are essential to skin health. Ceramides help to reinforce the skin barrier and slow transepidermal water loss. This helps to keep the skin hydrated so it looks plump and supple.
• Rosehip seed oil: Bursting with fatty acids and vitamins, rosehip seed oil helps to moisturize the skin, boost collagen production and fade hyperpigmentation. It also boasts powerful antioxidant properties.  

Berry Rich Face + Eye Cream is a deeply nourishing moisturizer and an excellent option for dry, mature skin. This probiotic moisturizer is formulated with:

• Blue-green algae: Rich in minerals and amino acids, blue-green algae helps to boost skin hydration and improve skin texture.⁽¹⁾ 
• Blueberry seed oil: With powerful antioxidant properties, blueberry seed oil helps to combat free radical damage caused by environmental stressors.

The ingredients in our face + eye creams work to increase collagen production, improve skin hydration and reduce free radical damage. Best of all, these plant-based moisturizers are powerful enough to deliver visible results while being gentle enough to use around your delicate eye area. 

Skin Stuff and Berry Rich are both dermatologist and clinically tested, hypoallergenic and non-irritating. That said, we still recommend conducting a patch test when introducing any new skincare products into your routine.

How to apply an eye cream

When it comes to applying moisturizer around your eye area, it’s important to be delicate. You want to be careful not to tug at the skin. To apply an eye cream:

1. Dispense a pea-sized amount of cream onto your ring finger. 
2. Tap your ring fingers together to get product on both hands.
3. Gently tap your ring finger under your eyes and along your brow bone. 

By tapping the product into your skin, you avoid being unnecessarily rough with the skin around your eyes. Smearing a cream onto the eye area and pulling at the skin could lead to fine lines and wrinkles, which is exactly what we’re trying to avoid by using an eye cream!

Summary

• The skin around your eyes is delicate and more prone to visible signs of aging.
• An eye cream should boost collagen, increase hydration and fight free radicals.
• An eye cream should not contain harsh actives or be mattifying.
• You do not need a special eye cream if your facial moisturizer is gentle.
• Apply moisturizer around your eyes by gently tapping the cream into your skin using your ring finger. 
• Try our Skin Stuff Face + Eye Cream or Berry Rich Face + Eye Cream. 

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