How to Apply Eye Cream for the Most Benefits

For a time, eye creams were overlooked when it came to trending skin care products. These days the small but mighty eye creams are finally getting the attention they deserve. If you have dark circles, puffiness, or crow’s feet, using an eye cream as part of your daily beauty regimen may help reduce the appearance of your under-eye concerns. 

But, whether you’re an eye cream novice or an early adopter, there’s a chance you could be making some common mistakes with how you use this essential skin care product. Keep reading to learn how to apply eye cream the right way and how to fine tune your eye treatment usage so that you can reap the benefits of this skin care routine staple. These are the eye cream mistakes you want to avoid.

What Is the Best Way to Apply Eye Cream?

The best way to apply eye cream is to lightly tap it in with your ringer finger. The reason is because your ring finger has the gentlest touch, which will help you avoid tugging at the skin. Using your finger tips also helps to warm up the product, which can aid in absorption. 

9 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying Eye Cream 

There’s a right way to apply your eye cream and there is also a wrong way. Here are nine things to avoid so you can get the most out of your eye cream. 

1. Not Using the Best Eye Cream Formula for Your Skin

Like most skin care products, eye creams are formulated to treat different concerns. To get your best results, choose an eye cream that will work for your skin’s specific needs. If your biggest concern is dark circles, choose a cream that will help brighten your under-eye area, like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Anti-Aging Eye Brightener. This powerhouse cream can reduce the look of dark circles for eyes that look smoother, brighter and more wide awake. 

2. Applying Products Out Of Order

Knowing the right order to apply your skin care can ensure each product will work its best. One easy rule to keep in mind is that you should apply products based on thickness or texture. If your eye cream is richer and heavier than your moisturizer, it should go on after your moisturizer. If it’s lighter, then it’s fine to apply it before moisturizer. 

Of course, always check the instructions on your eye cream’s packaging to see what the cosmetic chemists who formulated the product advise.

3. Not Using Eye Cream Twice a Day

Just as you should cleanse and moisturize your skin twice a day, you should also apply your eye cream morning and night. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Revitalift Derm Intensives with 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum is a daily moisturizer created to care for the delicate area around the eyes. 

It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to enhance skin's moisture retention, and caffeine to help reduce that morning puffiness. Dip the triple roller applicator into the serum and massage it into the contours of the eye (top and bottom) for a few minutes on each eye during your AM and PM routines. Tap in any remaining serum with your fingertips until it’s absorbed.

4. Applying Eye Cream on Dry Skin

To get the most skin-replenishing benefits from your eye cream, it’s best to apply it while your skin is still damp. That’s because applying a cream to wet or damp skin can help lock in hydration, keeping it soft and moisturized. So, before applying your eye cream, try dabbing the skin under your eyes with a cold, damp cloth to let some extra moisture set it.

5. Using Too Much Product

The skin surrounding your eyes is quite a small area, so a pea-sized amount of eye cream should usually be enough to cover the skin under both eyes. If you’re using an eye cream with a high price tag you’ll really want to get the most bang for your buck, so be sparing. 

If you’re looking for a product that’s affordable and can multitask, try the L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Anti-Aging Eye Cream Treatment. Its formula is infused with antioxidants, and it works to target five signs of aging, ranging from dark circles to crepiness — remember, you don’t need to spend a small fortune for the best results.

6. Putting Eye Cream Too Close to Your Eyes

If you apply eye cream too close to your eyelids or near your lash line, there’s a risk it will get into your eyes, which can burn, cause puffiness and lead to irritation. For the safest use, simply dot the product along the orbital bone, right under your eyebrow and under your eyes in a semi-circle shape about half an inch below your lash line. 

7. Not Using a Gentle Touch  

The skin surrounding the eyes is the most delicate skin on your face, so there’s no reason to handle it roughly. As we mentioned above, blend the eye cream out with your ring finger (which has a more delicate touch) using gentle patting and tapping motions. 

Another option to ensure a gentle application is by using an eye cream fitted with a metal tip. The L’Oréal Paris Age Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment has an angled metal tip that feels cool on application and fits perfectly around the small contours of your eyes.

8. Rushing the Process

It’s important to give your eye cream time to settle in before moving on to the next step of your skin care routine. This can help ensure the product absorbs and doesn’t shift when you layer on other products. 

Editor’s tip: If you're in a hurry and don’t have time to wait for your eye cream to dry before applying makeup, try the L'Oréal Paris Eye Cream in a Concealer, 0.5% Hyaluronic Acid. It’s a multitasking product that offers instant dark circle coverage like a concealer and hydrates the under-eye area like an eye cream. Plus, it will save you time in the mornings by combining eye cream and concealer.

9. Using It Inconsistently

When it comes to skin care, prevention will always exceed correction. If you’re waiting for signs of aging to appear in your under-eye area before enlisting the help of eye cream, you’re already doing it wrong. Not applying eye cream until you see problems is in itself a problem — so is using eye cream once in a while to target concerns. Even if wrinkles and dark circles aren’t your main concern, you should still be using an eye cream or eye serum regularly to keep your under-eye skin hydrated.

If wrinkles are your concern, reach for a wrinkle-fighting cream like L'Oréal Paris Wrinkle Expert 55+ Anti-Wrinkle Eye Treatment to reduce the look of crow’s feet and improve smoothness in your eye area.

Next: Should You Put Sunscreen On Before or After Moisturizer?

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn