In general, daily skincare refers to three fundamental steps. First is cleansing, then moisturizing. The last step is putting on sunscreen. There are some sub-steps, however, that involve products that are specifically targeted to certain areas of the skin. Others are created to fix certain problems. One such product is eye cream.

The necessity of eye cream is a long-standing debate among skincare enthusiasts. Is it really different from your regular moisturizer? The short answer is yes. Eye creams are formulated especially for the delicate undereye area. The skin there is thinner and more prone to dryness and wrinkles. Your usual moisturizer might be too heavy or too potent, causing more harm than good.

What are the Most Common Undereye Skin Issues?

Besides being a gentler formulation, eye creams address problems that are different from the other areas of the body. Let’s take a look at the most common complaints people have about their undereye area.

1. Lines and Wrinkles

Wrinkles are a normal byproduct of aging. As you get older, your skin loses the ability to renew itself. Because of decreased skin elasticity, creases, folds, or ridges appear around the eye area. These wrinkles can be classified into three types.

• Dynamic wrinkles are caused by the repeated contraction of muscles in the periorbital area. They appear when those muscles are in use, for instance when you smile or squint. The most obvious examples of dynamic wrinkles are crow’s feet.
• Static wrinkles remain visible even when your facial muscles are at rest. They’re usually caused by exposure to the sun’s damaging rays or smoking, and also a poor diet. Dynamic wrinkles can become static over time.
• Wrinkle folds first manifest in the areas of your face that naturally fold during facial expressions. They develop mostly in the grooves between the mouth and nose, but they can also occur in the eye area.

2. Eye Bags

Although eye bags have the same causes as wrinkles, they look different. When support from the muscles and tissues around your eyes weakens, the skin becomes droopy. The loose skin tends to form little pouches, especially in the corners of the eyelids and under the eyes.

3. Puffiness

Sometimes, fluid accumulates in the space below your eyes and the skin looks swollen. This could happen due to water retention if your diet is too high in sodium. Alternatively, puffy eyes could be the result of a lack of sleep or crying. Allergies can also build up fluids in your sinuses and your eyes.

4. Dark Circles

For some people, unfortunately, dark circles are hereditary. Sometimes, they’re an irregularity in skin pigmentation. Most of the time, however, dark undereye circles are your blood vessels showing through your skin. They could be dilated because of fatigue or illness, or they could just be more noticeable because the skin in that area is so thin.

Which Eye Cream Ingredients Work Best?

There are hundreds of eye creams and gels that promise miraculous results, but the evidence varies. To find out if a product is truly effective, check if its ingredients have a proven track record in addressing skin problems like sagging and discoloration.

Does Eye Cream Really Work? 

There are still a few skeptics about the efficacy of eye creams out there. But the fact of the matter is, the skin under and around your eyes is special. It’s more delicate and sensitive than the rest of your face. Thus, it deserves special treatment.

Eye creams may contain the same active ingredients as your regular moisturizer, but they’re scaled down so that they don’t harm your undereye skin. Additionally, they’re formulated to focus on certain issues that don’t occur anywhere else, such as crow’s feet and dark circles. There’s a slew of eye creams and gels in the market so you’re sure to find one that will give you the best outcome.