The skin around the eyes is thinner and has fewer sebaceous glands than other areas, making it prone to dryness and wrinkles. Many people use eye cream to prevent wrinkles around the eyes, but opinions on its necessity vary, often causing confusion. Today, from a dermatologist's perspective, we will frankly discuss the actual effects of eye cream, its correct usage, and related questions.
Do I really need to apply eye cream?
To get straight to the point, I believe that a separate eye-specific cream is not strictly necessary. Eye creams are simply products formulated to be less irritating to the delicate eye area, and it's difficult to say that they contain significantly different wrinkle-improving functional ingredients compared to general moisturizing creams.
Ultimately, both eye creams and general creams serve to moisturize the skin to prevent dryness, which can lead to wrinkles. Therefore, simply keeping the skin around the eyes well-moisturized with a general moisturizer can help prevent wrinkles, rather than feeling obligated to use a separate eye cream.
A dermatologist explains, "There isn't much significant meaning in distinguishing between general cream and eye cream." However, since eye creams also provide moisturizing effects, they cannot be considered ineffective.
When and how should I apply eye cream?
Skin aging typically begins around 25 years of age, so starting eye care as early as possible can help slow down the aging process.
When applying, we recommend gently patting it on rather than rubbing excessively, to avoid damaging the skin's elastic fibers. Also, since mucous membranes are much more sensitive to irritation than skin, it's best to apply eye cream only slightly above the eyeliner, to prevent it from getting into the eyes. You might be concerned about wrinkles close to the eyes, but moisturizing ingredients spread well even to areas slightly away from where they are applied, so you don't need to worry too much.
Tips for effective eye care using eye cream
All moisturizers, including eye creams, are more effective when applied frequently. However, reapplication should be avoided in the following situations:
- When the skin has been exposed to fine dust
- When reapplying over makeup
In these cases, reapplication can actually contaminate the skin and may not absorb well. Also, it is more effective to use small amounts frequently rather than applying a large amount at once.
Are retinol/retinoid ingredients effective for eye wrinkles?
Retinol, a common ingredient in eye creams, is known to have collagen-regenerating effects and is effective for fine wrinkles, elasticity, and pore improvement. However, retinol used in cosmetics has a lower strength and concentration compared to prescription retinoids, meaning its effects are also weaker.
Recently, more people are getting prescription retinoid ointments from clinics for better results. While retinoids are effective, they can be irritating to the skin, and continuous use of high concentrations can lead to irritant contact dermatitis. Since the skin around the eyes is particularly susceptible to damage from even minor irritation, if you wish to use retinoid-containing products for eye wrinkle improvement, please consult with a dermatologist and receive a prescription after thorough discussion.
Precautions when using eye cream
Eye creams are fundamentally not very different in ingredients from general moisturizers, and many are developed to minimize irritating ingredients. Therefore, as long as excessive physical force is not applied, there are usually no major problems.
Occasionally, milia may appear after applying highly functional eye creams. In such cases, we recommend checking if the eye cream contains pore-clogging ingredients and trying a product with less oiliness.
Is Vaseline a good substitute for eye cream?
Vaseline is a moisturizer that forms an oily film on the skin to prevent moisture evaporation, and it certainly has moisturizing effects. However, it does not have anti-aging effects, and its effects are temporary.
Also, because it forms an oily film, it's difficult to apply makeup over Vaseline, and it doesn't wash off easily, leading to frequent use of strong cleansing products. Double cleansing can actually irritate the sensitive skin around the eyes, so we cannot recommend Vaseline as a substitute for eye cream.
We have now addressed various questions related to eye cream from a dermatologist's perspective. Next, we plan to explore treatments that can effectively improve eye wrinkles and drooping eyelids that are difficult to resolve with eye cream, without surgery.