Aging like fine wine is something we men aspire to. However, that doesn’t mean we aren’t concerned with premature aging. One key area that shows signs of aging more prominently than others is our eyes.
The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your body. This makes it prone to dryness, irritation, and sun damage. The skin also becomes thinner with age because it loses elasticity and strength over time, leaving you with dull, aging eyes.
One of the best ways to care for the skin around your eyes and reduce the look of puffiness, bags, and wrinkles is to use an eye cream – specifically, an eye cream for men.
Applying eye cream isn’t rocket science, but it IS important to know how to apply an eye cream correctly to avoid irritating your eyes and to get the most benefits from your eye cream. Read on to learn more!
Why should you use an eye cream?
But first, let’s answer the question of whether or not you even NEED an eye cream. Many men think they can get away with using regular moisturizer for their eyes, but they’re missing out!
So, do you need an eye cream? The answer is YES! There are distinct benefits to using an eye cream for men compared to regular moisturizers.
For example, eye creams are formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eyes. They tend to be more moisturizing than regular facial lotions and most importantly, a good eye cream will have lots of active ingredients aimed at problems seen around the eyes, like puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles.
Here are 5 benefits to using an eye cream!
1. Smooths lines and wrinkles
A good eye cream will help to immediately plump the look of skin under the eyes. At the same time, it should promote longer-term anti-aging benefits with ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, and peptides.
2. Reduces puffiness
One of the top benefits of an eye cream is that it can help depuff your under eye area, reducing the look of eye bags. Look for an eye cream that contains caffeine, which acts as a vasoconstrictor. This helps to reduce the look of swelling under the eyes and is especially helpful for bags caused by a lack of sleep and late nights.
3. Helps hydrate your skin
The skin under the eyes is especially prone to dryness, so eye creams can go beyond basic moisturizers and offer targeted hydration to this area.
4. Reduces the look of dark circles
Eye creams can also help reduce the look of dark circles by minimizing puffiness (which creates a shadow effect, further emphasizing circles). Eye creams can also help even skin tone to lessen the look of discoloration.
5. Evens out skin tone
Hydrated, nourished skin naturally looks brighter, which can help even out the skin tone around the eyes, making your eyes look healthier and more alive.
Mistakes to avoid when using an eye cream for men
When it comes to eye cream, it’s important to avoid some common mistakes. Applying an eye cream the wrong way can cause more harm than good – so don’t miss this section!
1. Using too much
The #1 newbie mistake is using too much eye cream. Sure, it’s tempting to smother your wrinkles with eye cream, but this is a waste of product and money. Worse, it creates a thick, shiny layer on the skin and could even migrate into your eyes, causing irritation.
2. Not using enough
At the same time, if you don’t apply enough eye cream you won’t get the maximum benefits. And what’s the point of that? The other issue is that if you don’t apply enough, you’re more prone to drag on the skin to try to spread the product around, which can damage the delicate skin around the eyes.
3. Applying it out of order
The order that you apply skincare products matters! A good rule of thumb is to apply lighter products first and heavier products after that. Since eye creams are typically thicker than facial lotions, they should be applied after your usual moisturizer if you use one.
Note: You should NOT apply regular moisturizer under your eyes before applying an eye cream. Eye cream is all you should be using in this area.
4. Applying eye cream too close to your eyes
Applying eye cream too close to your eyes is another very common mistake. Eye cream can migrate into the eyes, leading to puffiness and irritation. Eye cream should be applied along the orbital bone at least 1/2 inch from your eyes.
5. Harsh application
The skin around your eyes is very delicate, so you want to make sure you apply your eye cream gently. Using your ring finger, gently pat the eye cream into your skin until it’s fully absorbed. Never rub or pull the skin!
How to apply an eye cream properly
Here are the proper steps to applying an eye cream:
1. Scoop a pea-sized amount with your ring finger
A pea-size amount is all you need for both eyes. Since your ring finger is your weakest finger, this will help ensure that you are using a light touch on your skin.
2. Apply eye cream to the undereye area
Apply small dots under the eyes, starting at the inner corner and working out using a patting motion (don’t rub). Be sure to stay at least 1/2 inch away from your eyes. You can extend this out to the side of the eyes to target the crow’s feet area, too.
3. Apply eye cream to the upper eye area (optional)
Most men do NOT need to apply eye cream to the upper eye area since most issues (bags, puffiness, and lines) are related to the undereye area. However, if you want to apply eye cream to the upper eyes, apply it right underneath the eyebrows only, never on the eyelids themselves. Be sure to stay 1/2 inch from the eyes.
4. Wait 2 minutes to let the cream absorb completely
When should you apply eye cream?
For best results, eye cream should be applied both morning and night.
In the morning – Apply eye cream after you shower and after applying daily moisturizer if you use one.
In the evening – Apply after washing your face as part of your nighttime routine.
Use at both times for maximum benefits, but no more frequently than every 12 hrs.
What ingredients should you look for in an eye cream?
Aside from applying your eye cream correctly, the ingredients in your eye cream will have a big impact on your results.
Certain ingredients have specific benefits. Depending on what your issues are, you should look for eye creams that contain specific ingredients. Here are the best ingredients for eye creams:
Antioxidants – Help protect against free radical damage that causes skin aging.
Retinoids – Help to stimulate cell turnover and reduce the look of lines and wrinkles.
Peptides – Increase collagen and elastin production for firmer-looking skin.
Caffeine – This is the top ingredient to help with puffiness and dark circles, as it boosts circulation and reduces swelling.
Hyaluronic acid – Acts as a humectant to draw moisture into the skin, immediately plumping the skin and smoothing any lines.
Squalane or shea butter – These are occlusive ingredients that seal in moisture and keep the skin hydrated.
Final thoughts
Eye cream is an essential component to any man’s grooming routine. But knowing which eye cream to use and how to apply it correctly is just as important!
Looking for a great eye cream that will help tackle puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles? Then look no further than our Triple Shot Restoring Eye Cream for men. This bestselling men’s eye cream contains potent ingredients that fight signs of aging and fatigue for a healthy, restored appearance.
