If you deal with puffiness, fine lines, or dark circles, its high time you add an eye cream into your skincare routine. Eye cream is a good thing to start using at any age, but it becomes especially important once you hit your 40s.
“Collagen production steadily declines starting in our 30s, but by the time we’re in our 40s, the signs of the collagen loss are more visibly apparent,” says Mamina Turegano, MD, FAAD, triple board-certified dermatologist. “The first area where signs of aging are often observed is around the eyes. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest and most delicate, so signs of dehydration and loss of collagen show up as crepey skin with wrinkles earlier than other parts of the face.”
For this reason, it’s particularly important to treat the skin around your eyes by implementing an eye cream. Loretta Ciraldo MD FAAD, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist with over 40 years’ experience and the founder of Dr. Loretta skincare, recommends looking for an eye cream that you’re able to apply all around the eye area, not just the under-eyes.
As far as an eye cream’s texture goes, you can choose a cream based on your personal preference. If you wear makeup during the day, Ciraldo says to opt for a quick-drying gel so that you won’t skip your eye cream in the morning.
Look for ingredients that are proven to help build collagen, decrease puffiness and dark circles, and add moisture to the skin. Ciraldo and Turegano recommend looking for ingredients like peptides, antioxidants, vitamin C, ceramides, squalane, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Keep reading for the best eye creams to start using in your 40s (and before!), according to Ciraldo and Turegano.
“It contains granactive retinoid, which is a safer, less irritating retinoid to soften the appearance of crow’s-feet. I love that it also has shiitake mushroom extract to strengthen the moisture barrier and nourishing antioxidants like vitamin E and black currant oil.” —Turegano
“Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel has been proven in instrumental testing to increase skin’s elasticity 44% after four weeks of twice a day application in women with an average age of 45. In consumer perception testing, 100% of consumers said it works well under their eye makeup.” — Ciraldo
“This is one of my favorite eye cream to moisturize and decrease the appearance of lines. This has a nice balance of mango seed butter, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E to hydrate and moisturize your skin. [It] contains caffeine to de-puff and help with dark circles, and vitamin C and peptides to build collagen. The main feature is a cool and innovative ingredient: a patented MEP Technology that addresses the signs of aging brought on by loss of estrogen without any additive hormones.” — Turegano
“[This] contains peptides, antioxidants/flavonoids, caffeine, and optical diffusers (titanium dioxide) to diminish dark circles. [It also] contains Proxylane (supports glycosaminoglycan synthesis) and peptides to help with wrinkles and crepey skin.” — Turegano
“The Ordinary Caffeine Solution at $7 promises to help under-eye puffiness, so it is definitely a good alternative for budget-conscious women. Give it a month and see if it works for you.” — Ciraldo
“Niacinamide, tetrapeptide-30, antioxidants, green tea extract, chrysin, and optical diffusers brighten dark circles. [It] contains TriHex Technology—Alastin’s blend of active peptides—to produce healthy collagen and elastin.” — Turegano
“[This] uses caffeine, antioxidants, and licorice root. Growth factors and humectants (hyaluronic acid and glycerin) help with wrinkles and moisture.” — Turegano
“Murad Essential-C Eye Cream may work for those who love vitamin C since this is a vitamin C specifically formulated for eye skin.” — Ciraldo
“[This treatment] uses antioxidants, niacinamide, and caffeine to diminish dark circles. [It] uses neuro-calming peptides and humectants to help with wrinkles and moisture.” — Turegano
In this innovative eye cream, golden root, sugar beet, and yeast work together to help soothe and de-puff the delicate eye area.
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