10 Mistakes You Could Be Making with Your Eye Cream

Eye cream happens to be one of our very favorite skin care products. If you have dark circles, puffiness, and/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 beginner or a veteran, there’s a chance you could be making some common mistakes with how you use (or don’t use) this essential skin care product. Below, find out how to correct your eye cream errors so that you can incorporate this important product into your skin care routine the right way.

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #1: USING TOO MUCH OF IT

Keep in mind that the skin surrounding your eyes is actually quite a small area. Generally, a pea-sized amount of eye cream should be enough to cover the skin under both eyes. When it comes to eye treatments and creams, a little definitely goes a long way! Besides, most eye creams come at a higher price point than other beauty purchases, so this way you’ll also get the most bang for your buck.

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #2: APPLYING IT OUT OF ORDER

Whether or not you realize it, the order in which you apply all of your skin care products matters. But the more products that are part of your routine, the harder it can be to remember the right order in which to put them on your skin. One easy rule of thumb to keep in mind is that usually, you should apply products based on thickness. If your eye cream is richer and heavier than your moisturizer, it should go on top. If it’s lighter than your serum, make sure it goes under your moisturizer. Of course, always check the instructions on your eye cream’s packaging to see whether you should apply it before or after moisturizer.

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #3: USING IT ON DRY SKIN

This is another pro-tip that not enough people realize: If you want to get the most out of your moisturizer, you should apply it onto damp skin. That’s because applying moisturizer to wet or damp skin can help lock in hydration, and the same rule can be applied to eye cream. So, before toweling off after using your facial cleanser, dab the cream onto the skin under your eyes while your face is still damp.

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #4: PUTTING PRODUCT TOO CLOSE TO YOUR EYES

Back up! If you’re applying product to your lids or near your lashes, that’s too close. 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. When you apply eye cream any closer, you risk it migrating and getting into your eyes, which can lead to irritation. 

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #5: GETTING OVERZEALOUS WITH RUBBING

The skin surrounding the eyes is the most delicate skin on your face, so there’s no reason to handle it roughly. Instead, blend eye cream out with gentle patting and tapping motions, using just the pad of your ring finger, which has a more delicate touch compared to your other digits.

Another option to ensure applying eye cream is a gentle, enjoyable experience is to use an under-eye treatment with a wand applicator. The L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey Eye Gel has a rollerball wand applicator that helps de-puff and can be used as part of a delightful facial massage. Yes, please!

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #6: MOVING TOO FAST

Give your eye cream a little time to rest before moving on to makeup and applying foundation or concealer on top. This can help ensure the product has time to absorb and keep it from shifting when you go to layer makeup on top.

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #7: SKIPPING it in the morning

Just as you should cleanse your skin and moisturize twice a day, you should also apply your eye cream morning and night. Looking for a recommendation? The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power™ Eye Treatment can help to reduce the look of wrinkles and under-eye bags with continued use over time. Plus, it has a cooling applicator tip! Massage it gently around your eye area until thoroughly absorbed in the AM and PM.

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #8: NOT USING IT PREVENTATIVELY

An all too frequent misconception is that you should only start using eye cream once your skin starts to show signs of visible aging. But really, there’s no reason to wait! Even if fine lines and wrinkles really aren’t your main concern (lucky you!), you should absolutely still be using an eye cream regularly in order to keep your under-eye skin hydrated. The L’Oréal Paris Eye Defense is a light, non-greasy gel-cream that is specially formulated to defend against signs of premature aging around the eyes. Formulated with caffeine and hyaluronic acid, it can help reduce the look of puffiness, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. Apply it in small dots around your eye and smooth until absorbed, morning and night.

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #9: picking your eye cream based on its price

We believe this is a rule that you should consider when buying all types of skin care products: Just because something costs more, doesn’t necessarily mean that it works better. Instead of looking only at the price of an eye cream, look at the ingredients also. Watch out for potent, hydrating ingredients, not just price tags.

EYE CREAM MISTAKE #10: NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR SPECIFIC CONCERNS

Not all eye creams are created equal. While using pretty much any eye cream is better than using none, you aren’t doing the most for your skin if you’re using a cream that isn’t meant to address your specific skin care concerns. For example, if your biggest concern is dark circles, using a cream that’s focused on puffiness doesn’t make a ton of sense! Speaking of, here are Our Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles Under the Eyes.

Next: Learn about What to Expect When Getting a Facial.