How to Apply Eye Cream Everyday

Alongside a trusty cleanser and a dependable moisturizer, eye cream needs to be the final piece of any basic AM and PM skin care routine. Having a good eye cream in your arsenal is super important for preventative skin care, anti-aging, and helping your peepers look bright and awake when you wake up in the morning. A good eye cream means you’ll also be less reliant on under-eye concealers and foundations, which can often sit in creases and have the unintended consequence of making you look more fatigued.

There are a few different issues that most of us are battling on the eye front. There are creases, crow’s feet, dark circles, eye bags, puffiness, dry skin, laugh lines – the list goes on. Whatever you’re dealing with, it’s essential to be applying your eye cream correctly, and using the right combo of products. The skin around your eyes is super delicate and easily damaged, so it’s important that you have the right ultra-gentle technique (while still being effective).

Side note: it’s important to not make the mistake of using your moisturizer as an eye cream. Moisturizers might contain ingredients that are irritating to the fragile eye area, or that aren’t specially designed to target the tiny pores. Stick with a formula that’s meant for your blinkers.

A good eye cream formula will work in a preventative way, circumventing any future damage and protecting the eye area from daily stressors. Opt for a formula with antioxidants, which will work to promote cellular regeneration in the eye area, for reduced sagging and a plumper, younger look. We love pomegranate oil and grapeseed oil for their high antioxidant content. Plant based retinoids are also great for stimulating skin cell turnover in the eye area, and caffeine can be an allstar choice when it comes to reducing swelling and puffiness. Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and coconut oil are all great moisturizers to be applying to the eye area, for an enhanced lipid barrier and protection against stress induced aging. Vitamin C is another eye cream MVP: it will protect your eye area from UV damage and will help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

First, it’s important to make sure you’re starting with a cleansed face sans makeup. Removing your eye makeup before applying any serums or creams might seem intuitive, but it’s an easy step to forget. Opt for an oil based eye makeup remover, or simply use a dab of fatty acid rich coconut oil. Oil is super effective at dissolving dark pigments from mascara and eyeliner, and will also deliver a dose of healthy lipids to your eyelids.

After cleansing, apply a pea sized amount of eye cream to your ring finger. This is an important detail, because the ring finger is your weakest digit, meaning that it has the gentlest touch when it comes to applying an eye cream. The super sensitive eye area can become red and inflamed with even the smallest amount of pressure, so it’s smart to opt for the finger least likely to over prod.

Next, it’s time to pay attention to your orbital eye area. This refers to the delicate orbital bone structure surrounding your eye. It goes from the corner of your cheekbone to the inner edge of your nose to your brow bone. It’s the circular (or orbital) shape that you need to be focusing on when you’re applying cream. Dab your cream in small dots in a circle that follows the orbital eye area to ensure adequate coverage. Don’t get too close to your tear ducts to prevent irritation.

Instead of rubbing your eye cream in, next you need to focus on perfecting the art of tapping your product in. Using your ring finger, gently tap in a semi circular pattern to stimulate circulation while simultaneously avoiding any pulling or tugging. Make sure you’re not stretching the skin, but don’t be afraid to continue the tapping motion even after the product has visibly absorbed. This tapping technique can help reduce swelling and fluid retention, so it can be a super helpful tactic in battling puffy eyes.

Finally, if you’re an overachiever and you use an eye cream both in the PM and the AM, make sure you wait a few minutes before you start applying any foundation or concealer. If an eye cream isn’t fully absorbed, you’ll end up with flaking and creasing, and will also decrease the effectiveness of the active ingredients in your eye cream.

With this fool proof guide, you’ll get the most out of your eye cream and notice a firmer and brighter orbital area over time.

More skin care how-to’s to help you get the most out of your routine:

How to Wash Your Face for Clearer Pores - How to wash your face properly to avoid breakouts, dry skin, and more!
How to Use Toner for Soft, Glowing Skin - Easy, beneficial tips for using a toner in your daily routine