You’ve probably asked yourself plenty of times: do I really need to use eye cream? It seems like such a hassle, especially when you’re already planning on moisturizing your entire face anyways. My logic has always been: my face lotion, which can’t be that different, will inevitably cover my eye area too. My skeptical nature lead me to believe that eye cream is just a marketing ploy by the cosmetic industry to get us ladies to buy yet another product. I always knew that certain skincare items were non-negotiable, including cleanser, sunscreen, and lotion. It turns out, eye cream is one of these items as well.

There are many reasons why you should incorporate an eye cream into your daily skincare regimen. I am here to give you the lowdown.

The Unique Nature of Eye Skin

Thin Skin

The skin around your eye is very thin and therefore very sensitive. On what’s called the eye contour, you will find the thinnest and most fragile skin on the entire face. This area is also without sebaceous glands, collagen, and elastin fibers. On top of all of that, this region is under the strain of 22 eye muscles in perpetual motion (think smiling, frowning, and anything in between) and approximately 10,000 blinks per day. All this info adds up to make it more than clear why the eye area is the first area to show signs of aging. In fact, it ages 36% faster—eek!

No oil glands

Like I just mentioned, the under- eye area lacks any sebaceous glands. These glands keep the rest of the face naturally moisturized, so without them, the eye area is bound to be the driest and most vulnerable to harsh weather. Regularly moisturized skin stays looking younger longer, so it’s very important to keep the eye area well moisturized.

These two factors really settle the controversial debate on whether you really need eye cream. The skin around your eyes is so different and, therefore, it requires special treatment. While your day cream may enrich and nourish your complexion, it will not have the same rewarding effect on your eye area. Untargetted creams can clog the pores in the undereye area, leading to the formation of pesky white dots. Creams formulated specifically for this area take into account the particular nature of your eye’s sensitive skin and target the problems we encounter most, all while preventing further signs of aging.

Puffiness

Fluid and swelling under your eyes becomes more and more common as you age. Under-eye tissues and muscles weaken as time rolls on and the skin in this area may begin to sag. The fat that once supported your eyelids and was restricted to the orbital area may move lower and cause the puffy appearance. Changes in temperature, lack of sleep, salty food, and genetics all play a role in how puffy your eyes may look day to day. Trust me, I know all of these things are inevitable factors in our lives.

That being said, I’m guessing it’s pretty likely that you want your under eye bags to be smaller than your chic oversized tote bag, and using the right eye cream can help with that. Stick with glamour by using Ami Iyok’s Eye Serum Glam that is specifically targeted for puffiness and dark circles. Aloe vera soothes, while olive and rosehip oil tone and restore a youthful appearance. Hyaluronic acid, which is naturally occuring in our skin and is an anti-aging superhero, is always a good ingredient to look out for when it comes to eye cream and it is not forgotten in this product. If you really want to treat yourself to some luxury, go for Tata Harper’s Illuminating Eye Cream. Shine a light (literally) on dark circles, using DIAMONDS themselves. This product actually contains a diamond dust mineral blend that illuminates subtle contours with light for a luminous, soft-focused look. This is simply one of many powerful ingredients (dual molecxular weigh hyaluronic acid, Spanish lavender, buckbean extract, etc.) in this super high-quality cream.

Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Whether you have dark circles, fine lines, crows feet or just general wrinkles, the best treatment always comes in the form of prevention, hence the name, you should have started wearing eye cream yesterday. But more important, you should have, and should always use SPF—every SINGLE day. The thinner skin around your eyes is even more susceptible to sun damage. Squinting in direct sunlight wont do you any favors either, so I suggest always wearing sunglasses on sunny days.

Using high-quality eye creams can also help to diminish the appearance of pre-existing fine lines. Most eye creams are already going to be targeted towards smoothing out fine lines, but it’s important to make sure your chosen eye cream includes a collagen boosting ingredient. An incredibly effective and natural anti-aging agent is, again, hyaluronic acid. This compound already exists in all living organisms and is naturally abundant in the epidermis and is found in all connective tissue. It has the power to attract and retain moisture in the skin, giving it the ability to make wrinkles caused by dryness dissapear. A great product to try is Susanne Kaufmann’s Eye Cream Line T. The rich combination of active ingredients and plant-based hyaluronic acid brightens, relieves, and hydrates tired skin. Fresh of the Amazingy press is news of one of our newest brands: Supermood. The eye serum from this line is so powerful that most people report seeing instant results in terms for firming and tightening the eye area. People swear that it leaves you looking super relaxed and years younger—perhaps you’ll have people asking if you’re in a super mood (har har).

PROTIPS: I’d like to recommend that you are very gentle in your application of whichever eye cream you choose. Apply the cream or serum in dots above and below your eye, while not forgetting the skin right under your brows, and work in using a delicate tapping movement. Even slight rubbing can cause micro-abrasions of the extremely sensitive skin. And NEVER, never ever rub your eyes aggressively when they’re itchy. A better solution is a cold compress or some cold eye cream. During the summer months, create an easy refreshing morning ritual by leaving your eye cream in the frigdge.

At the end of the day, it is important to remember that aging gracefully and healthfully is a beautiful thing. We shouldn’t try to remove or wish away all wrinkles and signs of age, as they are also signs of wisdom and growth. My priority will always be to have nourished and happy skin before having flawless skin. And don’t forget, crow’s feet are simply a sign of a life filled with laughter.