Do I Need an Eye Cream?

As they say, eyes are the windows to the soul. However, due to the thinner skin around your eyes, they can be the first to show signs of aging. Enter: Eye cream. This essential skincare staple is key to protecting the delicate nature of the eye area. A good eye cream can help to minimize the look of wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. Plus, if you start using eye cream in your 20s, you’ll potentially dramatically reduce the look of wrinkles as you get older. It’s always better to start using an eye cream before you think you need one, but it’s never too late to jump on the eye cream wagon if you haven’t before. We’ve shared everything you need to know about eye creams to keep you looking youthful and fresh.

Why should I invest in an Eye Cream?

We know you’ve heard the promises before: Eye creams can reduce or even erase the signs of aging, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. But aren't eye creams just more-expensive moisturizers in a smaller package? Not necessarily.

Eye creams are formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eye, making them thicker and richer. They contain more potent moisturizing ingredients than a regular facial lotion, and they have a lot of active ingredients aimed at the problems we see around the eyes. The skin around the eyes is more fragile, prone to dryness, and quicker to show age and fatigue. Squinting and constant movement of the eyes also hasten the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and fluids collect under the eyes and cause puffiness and dark circles. Eye creams can address some of these issues.

So, What does Eye Cream Actually Do?

Ever notice after a long night that your eyes give you away the next day? With under-eye bags, dark circles, and puffiness, there’s no hiding what time you made it home the night before. As you’ve gotten older, have you noticed that some of the first signs of aging appear as crow's feet and fine lines beneath the eyes? Neither is by chance. The skin around your peepers is more fragile than the rest of your face and body. It's much thinner, has very few oil glands to hydrate it, and is subject to tons of micro-movements and facial expressions every day. Think about how much you blink, smile, or laugh, and you'll get a taste of what that skin goes through!

That sensitive area requires special maintenance to keep it looking its best. Eye creams do just that. They're formulated to target the delicate skin around the eyes and deliver moisture with just the right amount of specific ingredients to help and not hurt. A good eye cream can lessen the look of bags, puffiness, and uneven tone while keeping the area nourished and supple. They also protect against signs of premature aging. Our hero!

What Should I look for in an Eye Cream?

Not all eye creams are created equal, so it’s important to know what ingredients are most beneficial to the delicate eye area. Since the skin around your eyes has very few active oil glands, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalene and ceramides are essential for drawing and sealing in the moisture.

Hyaluronic acid is one of the most important ingredients to look for in an eye cream. Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in the human body with amazing moisture-retaining properties. As we age, and especially with exposure to UV radiation, the amount of natural hyaluronic acid in the skin declines. When used as an ingredient in an eye cream, it plumps up the skin cells beneath the eye. That area tends to be thin and hollow with age, creating deep shadows that even the best concealer can’t hide. Hyaluronic acid makes that area look and feel more supple and smooth, all while decreasing redness and irritation.

Vitamin F, also known as linolenic acid, is a rich fatty acid that is a key ingredient to look for in eye cream. Commonly found in sunflower extract, this powerhouse vitamin helps to maintain your skin’s natural barrier and helps to minimize the signs of aging linked to free radical damage. It also helps retain your skin’s moisture, which is essential to keep the eye area looking young and radiant.

Microalgae is another excellent ingredient to look for in eye cream that will keep your eyes looking fresh. Microalgae has demonstrated anti-aging properties by inhibiting enzymes that break down collagen, a combination of fatty acids and nutrients that protect the skin. The more collagen you can maintain in your body, the better, so this naturally occurring ingredient is a homerun when it comes to eye creams.

It’s not all about what’s in your eye cream that counts. Equally as important is what is not in an eye cream. For us, we intentionally made sure to leave out irritating ingredients such as fragrance in Blur the Lines so you can use it with confidence.

Eye cream is a step you don’t want to skip when it comes to your skincare routine. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, sunflower extract, and microalgae, all found in our newest product, Blur the Lines. This de-puffing CBD eye cream combines a powerhouse of antioxidants with soft-focus technology to combat wrinkles and give you that bright-eyed look.