The Best Eye Creams to Look Like You’ve Had a Full Night’s Sleep
Say goodbye to concealer.
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If the eyes are the windows to the soul, right now my soul is looking tired, lined, puffy, and a little distressed. Along with genetics, it seems like everything can affect that sensitive under-eye area in some way. Too little sleep, stress, wine (oops), or excess time spent in front of a screen can all contribute to your under-eyes looking a bit worse for wear. Selfie-worthy eye treatments can help when you're feeling like a lost cause, but what about eye creams? To answer our burning questions–like, "Do they even work?"–we turned to dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal, for insight.
Why is eye cream so popular?
"Eye creams have become popular in the past two years because our eyes are the only things people see due to masking," says Dr. Lal. "I have had a five-fold increase in people asking for eyelid rejuvenation treatments and eye creams."
Do eye creams work?
"I believe eye cream is necessary in a skincare routine because the eye sockets and eye skin change dramatically as we age," says Dr. Lal. "The issue with eye creams is people think they work quickly when in reality the creams should be used for at least 12 weeks before making any judgment about their effectiveness. I make patients take selfies at baseline and after 12 weeks of daily use to compare." If after 12 weeks you're still not seeing a huge improvement, you might prefer to opt for an in-office treatment. "Eye rejuvenation includes procedures such as platelet-rich plasma to improve crepey skin, tear trough filler for hollow under-eyes, vascular laser treatment for darkness from blood vessels, or ablative resurfacing for overall skin laxity."
What ingredients are good to look for in an eye cream?
"Most people want to get rid of dark circles and crepey skin," says Dr. Lal. " I love eye products that have arnica in them, which helps with darkness and pigmentation from fragile under-eye blood vessels. I also love products that have peptides that stimulate collagen production. One of my favorite peptides in argireline, because it tightens the skin similar to how Botox works."
What ingredients should you avoid in an eye cream?
"I avoid eye creams that have a lot of fragrance because eyelid skin is very thin—one of the thinnest parts of our body—and this can lead to irritation, which can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation," says Dr. Lal.
Here are 16 eye creams that your delicate under-eye will thank you for.
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