We already know what you’re thinking: “I already have a face cream.” But ask any beauty editor — and our expert, Dr. Martha Viera, a board-certified dermatologist from Miami — and they’ll say that a separate eye serum is an essential part of your skincare routine. We break down below why the area around your skin needs special attention to put the age-old beauty debate to bed once and for all:
What is an eye serum?
To bring it down to basics, “an eye serum is a serum that’s specially formulated for the delicate area around your eyes,” says Viera. An eye serum, as opposed to eye cream, “has a better penetration of active ingredients,” in addition to providing moisture, she says. It packs a huge punch with every application.
Why can’t you use your regular face products on the skin around your eyes?
The skin around your eyes is only about 0.6 mm thick, while the skin on your body is around 2 mm thick.
Though the ingredients in your eye products may seem similar to your regular face products, eye products go through specific testing to make sure it doesn’t cause irritation or inflammation to your eye. They might also have different concentrations of active ingredients that are more suitable for the eye area.
How is the skin around your eyes different from the rest of your face?
The skin around your eye shows signs of aging more quickly because “it’s not only thinner, but the cell turnover is slower, the skin barrier is weaker, and it shows an increase of transepidermal water loss, which makes it more prone to dehydration and irritation,” says Viera. The skin around your eyes is only about 0.6 mm thick, while the skin on your body is around 2 mm thick. Unlike the rest of your face, this skin also doesn’t have any oil glands, so it tends to get drier.
At what age should you use an eye serum?
“The periorbital skin is the thinnest and more sensitive type of skin and also lacks deep structures that support itself. So, a good age to start including eye serum in your skincare regimen is 25 since that’s usually when you start presenting the first sign of aging,” says Veira.
Who should use an eye serum?
If you’re looking to treat dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness, or fine lines, an eye serum can help treat and diminish the look of these features. Even if you’re not in your mid-20s or you’re not showing classic signs of aging like fine lines or crow’s feet, you can benefit from the hydrating effects of eye serums to prevent future issues. Eye serums — or any eye product — aren’t a time machine, but they can be effective at slowing down the natural process of aging.
Should you use one?
There are few reasons to invest in a separate eye serum and incorporate it into a daily part of your routine. If your existing moisturizer is too harsh around the delicate eye area, check your product ingredient list for fragrance, essential oils, and sunscreen that might be irritating for your eyes. Since eye products are tested specifically for the eye area, they’ll omit too harsh ingredients for your eyes or lower their strength. Finally, if you have existing concerns or you’re hoping to add extra hydration to the area, the new Sunday Riley 5 Stars Eye Serum soothes and nurtures your entire eye area overnight.
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