The skin around the eyes is very thin and delicate. It's in these areas that the passage of time and the resulting wrinkles are most visible. Daily care is the foundation of wrinkle prevention. It's important to care for the skin under your eyes both morning and night. Properly moisturized and nourished, it makes your face look younger and fresher. Furthermore, if you want to conceal dark circles under your eyes, foundation looks much better and lasts longer if you apply a cream before applying it.

At what age should you start using eye cosmetics?

It's worth caring for the eye area with appropriate creams and gels. These products are most often used by women who already have visible wrinkles. In fact, the loss of collagen fibers, responsible for skin elasticity and firmness, begins around the age of 18. Therefore, it's not worth waiting until the first crow's feet and fine lines appear to start caring for the eye area.

What active ingredients should you look for in these preparations?

Preventing skin aging is primarily about carefully selected cosmetics that meet the skin's needs – different active ingredients will be appropriate for dry skin, and others for skin with bruising or swelling.

The list below is a collection of active ingredients that can be found in eye creams:

• Moisturizing: hyaluronic acid, aloe, marine algae.
• Soothing: allantoin, d-panthenol, white tea, cotton extract.
• Anti-wrinkle: peptides, stem cells, collagen, coenzyme Q10.
• Nourishing: shea butter, avocado oil, jojoba oil.
• Antioxidants: green tea, acerola, ginseng.
• Anti-swelling and anti-bruising: arnica montana, eyebright extract, licorice, hesperidin, horse chestnut, rutin, vitamin C, caffeine.

How to apply eye creams?

Remember to apply creams to cleansed skin, preferably in the morning and evening. Apply the cream to the lower eyelid and pat it in with your fingertip, starting from the inner to the outer corner of the eye, ending under the eyebrow. Try not to stretch the skin, but rather just pat it in. The cream should be applied about 0.5-1 cm from the lash line. There's no need to apply it any closer, as the skin is constantly working, so the active ingredients will reach exactly where they need to be. The tapping motion improves circulation, which allows the skin to be more oxygenated, the cream absorbs better, and the active ingredients work more effectively.

Some creams can also be used on the eyelids (in which case the packaging will state: "eye and eyelid cream"). However, there is a risk of the cosmetic getting into the eye, so it must be safe to use.

Remember that "face product" doesn't mean "eye product." Of course, nothing will happen if you use one cream for your entire face. However, it's important to remember that eye cream has a gentler and more delicate formula, due to the more sensitive skin around the eyes. These cosmetics are tested and evaluated for this purpose. Therefore, they are safe even for people with sensitive eyes and skin around them. Don't use mattifying creams under your eyes that you apply to your entire face. Opt for a delicate mattifying foundation – it has a lighter formula and won't dry out your skin.

In addition to eye creams, you can also use gel eye patches. They're great for refreshing your eyes, especially after a sleepless night. They contain many active ingredients that improve skin condition. They can also be stored in the refrigerator to help reduce dark circles and puffiness.

How much eye cream should I apply at once?

Have you ever woken up with swollen eyelids? This could be caused by applying too much eye cream in the evening. Unfortunately, few people associate these two facts, but it's important to know. Too much eye cream can weigh down the skin. Lymphatic flow is reduced at night, which can result in puffy and swollen eyelids.

Proceed intuitively and with common sense – too much of anything is unhealthy. Properly applied eye creams will allow you to enjoy youthful, firm skin. Using these cosmetics should become a habit. Nowadays, the selection is vast, and everyone can find the right cream for themselves. Don't skip this step in your skincare routine.

Martyna Piechowska – blogger and make-up artist. She combines her passion for cosmetics and makeup with her professional work, where she can be found daily at the drugstore. Her blog is both a hobby and a way to spend her free time. She loves cosmetics and everything related to beauty, skincare, and makeup.