Hyaluronic Acid: Most eye creams will contain hyaluronic acid and/or other moisturizing ingredients (like glycerin) because arguably one of the most important things an eye cream can do is hydrate the eye area. Often, these ingredients can deliver an immediate plumping effect by infusing the skin with water and plumping it up to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and reduce sagging. Well moisturized skin looks healthier and fuller, so keeping the area around your eyes moisturized with an eye cream is essential.
Retinoids: Many men notice signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging around their eyes before the rest of their faces, which is why many reach for eye cream. Retinoids can help reduce these signs of aging. By helping to increase cell turnover, retinoids can help smooth fine lines and even increase natural collagen production helping to slow the signs of again over time. The thing about retinoids, though, is that they can be irritating and the same retinoid you might be using on your face may irritate the delicate skin around your eye. Eye creams with retinoids have been specifically formulated, and tested, on the eye area so if you’re looking for anti-aging benefits, consider a specific eye cream that contains retinoids.
Ceramides: Think of your skin as a brick wall. Skin cells are the bricks and ceramides are the mortar that holds it together. When the mortar is weak, the whole thing becomes weaker leading to issues like sagging, dryness and signs of aging. Using an eye cream with ceramides, which are lipids, can help to build the skin back up to full strength. They’re not necessarily an ingredient you’ll see an immediate effect from, but they’re good to have in an eye cream for long term effects.
Peptides: These chains of amino acids that help make up proteins (which in turn make up elements of your skin) can help with all sorts of things. In eye cream, it’s common for them to address puffiness and sagging by helping to firm and hydrate the skin underneath your eyes. They’re often combined with other ingredients like antioxidants and ceramides as well and have been proven highly effective.
Vitamin C: One of the biggest reasons people reach for eye cream is to address dark circles that can appear under their eyes. They’re caused by a variety of factors some of which are fatigue, dehydration and hyperpigmentation. Many eye creams use antioxidants like Vitamin C to address dark circles because these ingredients fight free radical damage that can lead to signs of aging and also help boost collagen production. Vitamin C, particularly, can also have a brightening effect on the skin which can help reduce the appearance of dark circles both in the short and long terms.
Caffeine: As you investigate eye creams, you’ll notice that many of them contain caffeine. This ingredient is primarily used in eye cream to address puffiness. It works by constricting the blood vessels and providing a temporary tightening effect to the skin and reduces swelling. It’s not going to offer you many long term benefits, but it’s a good bet if you need something to work quickly on bags.
