Eye Care

Dark circles can come from thin under-eye skin that shows the blood vessels beneath, extra pigment in the area, or shadows created by hollows and puffiness. Genetics, aging, lack of sleep, dehydration, and rubbing the eyes can all make them more noticeable. Identifying the cause helps you choose the right eye care. Brightening eye creams help with pigment, while hydrating and firming formulas help with thin skin and hollows.

Many people start using eye cream in their mid-20s to early 30s, as a preventive step before fine lines and loss of firmness appear. Others add it later to target specific concerns like dark circles, bags, or hollows. There is no wrong time to start, and earlier care helps keep the delicate skin hydrated and resilient. Using it morning and night gives the most consistent results.

Use a small, rice-sized amount for both eyes. Dot it along the orbital bone, from the inner to the outer corner, and gently tap it in with your ring finger, which applies the least pressure. Avoid rubbing or dragging the skin, and keep product away from the lash line and eyelids unless the formula says otherwise. Applying eye cream before your face moisturizer keeps heavier products from moving into the area.

Most eye creams are made for the under-eye area and the orbital bone, not the moving eyelid or lash line, unless the product says otherwise. The skin on the lids is very thin, and product placed too close to the lashes can move into the eyes and cause irritation. Apply eye cream along the orbital bone and let it spread naturally. If you want care for the upper lid, choose a product that is labeled for that area.

It can help. A lightweight eye cream in the morning layers well under makeup and can target puffiness, while a richer or more active eye cream at night suits ingredients like retinol and peptides, which are best used when skin is not exposed to the sun. Day and night eye care sets make this easy to follow. Using a dedicated formula for each time of day keeps the routine simple.

Yes, when it is in an eye cream or eye patch formulated for the area. Retinol and retinal help the under-eye look smoother and firmer, but the skin there is thin, so start with a few nights a week and build up slowly. Use it at night, keep it away from the lash line, and wear sunscreen during the day. Pairing retinol with a hydrating eye cream helps reduce dryness.