How To Apply Eye Cream: A Helpful Guide
By Camille Poggi
How to apply eye cream properly wasn’t something most of us were taught in school, unless you studied to become an esthetician or a makeup artist. In fact, many of us have developed our entire skin care routine from reading articles such as this or watching videos on Youtube. Even if there were a class on skincare, it would be tough to come up with a curriculum that is right for everyone. We all face unique skin types and skin concerns, so all of our regimens will vary a bit.
Regardless of skin type or concern, though, there are a few foolproof methods everyone can follow to reap the benefits from their skincare products. We’ll walk you through how to apply eye cream, when to apply it, and all the benefits you can reap when you do.
Let’s back up a second, though. If you aren’t using eye cream, you probably should be. Whether you have dry skin around the eyes or you’re looking to prevent the signs of crow’s feet and eye wrinkles, adding a daily eye cream can do wonders for your complexion. Here are the reasons why this is an essential piece of eye skin care. With that out of the way, let’s make sure you follow the right eye cream application steps for optimal results.
How to Apply Eye Cream
Applying an eye cream isn’t difficult, but you’ll want to do it right to avoid irritating this sensitive area of the skin and to ensure you’re getting the most out of your eye product. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here we’ll focus on how to apply eye cream for maximum results.
Massage, Don’t Rub
Somewhere, somehow, we got the idea to pat or tap eye cream onto the skin, but this isn’t necessarily the best method. Albeit, gentle, the problem with the pat or tap method is that eye cream is generally a thicker formula, similar to moisturizer, that won’t fully absorb into the skin with a simple tap. If you’ve been tapping it on, you may have noticed that your makeup doesn’t go on as smoothly or that the formula sits on the skin for a while. So, how do you apply an eye treatment then?
Take our richly nourishing Keep Young & Beautiful Firm & Lift Eye Cream, for instance. Apply it by giving yourself a little massage, using a light touch, perhaps only using the pads of one or two fingers. Resist the urge to rub and avoid pulling the skin in any direction. We get it, there’s a small window between barely-touching and over-touching the eye area, but when you find it, you’re doing it right. Use soft, small circular motions until the cream is absorbed.
Use a Teeny-Tiny Amount
A little eye cream goes a long way. Even a rice-grain sized amount of product will get the job done. Remember, this skin is thin; it doesn’t need to carry the weight of a thimbleful amount of cream. If you do apply too much, it could easily spread to your eyes and irritate them. Plus, when you use a small amount of product, your eye cream will last much longer.
Apply Eye Cream All Over
Many people make the mistake of only applying eye cream under the eyes, but this leaves out the skin on the eyelids and brow bones that is not only the same thinness but also faces the same problems. These areas get puffy too (and could be casting a shadow on your under eyes that makes them appear dark). They also show fine lines and eye wrinkles. So don’t neglect this area. Apply your eye cream, ideally, Keep Young & Beautiful Instant Brightening Beauty Shot if you’re struggling with puffiness and signs of aging, using the gentle massaging method we described above, all over your eye area.
When To Apply Eye Cream
Because eye cream isn’t one of the skincare products you swipe, pat, or slather all over your face, it’s understandable that there’s some confusion around when to apply it; do you apply eye cream before or after moisturizer? What about before or after serum? Here’s your answer...
Apply Eye Cream After Cleanser, Before Moisturizer
After cleansing morning and night, apply your clean beauty toner, and then apply your eye cream. After applying your eye cream, let it sit for a minute or two. Perhaps brush your teeth or comb your hair. Then, once it’s sunk in, follow with a clean moisturizer and, in the morning, sunscreen. The reason for applying eye cream before moisturizer is that it allows the ingredients in your eye cream to penetrate the skin and get to work, not just sit on top of a creamy moisturizer.
Here’s an example routine pretty much anyone can follow:
- Cleanse your skin
- Tone with Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
- Apply Radiance Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream
- Massage Radiance Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream over face and neck
- Finish with Clean Screen SPF 30
Apply Throughout the Day
Now that you know how eye cream affects the skin and its many benefits, it's time to start incorporating this product into your daily routine. Eye cream isn’t necessarily only for morning and night. With lightweight formulas, such as our Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel, you can apply it throughout the day for a burst of hydration. Yes, even over makeup. When applying a gel formula like this one throughout the day, you can employ the tapping method to keep your makeup in place and smudge-free.
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About the Author
Camille Poggi is a doctor in Pharmacy (PharmD.) and is passionate about skincare and how the skin works in general. She specializes in the cosmetic industry and worked for renowned companies in France like L’Oréal and Chanel before moving to London. After being a training manager for 4 years, Camille is at ease with explaining how products work in the skin and how to adapt her speech according to the audience.
She joined REN in January 2020 as International Training Manager and moved to the Research & Development team earlier this year to be the new Scientific Education Manager. A tailored-made role where she assesses and leads all technical communication and ensures scientific compliance is always met. She’s also involved in new product development from the earliest stages. Finding a way to create sustainable skincare products and making sure the message is properly delivered and understood is definitely a big challenge but also her favorite part working for REN.
