Eye creams are the Marmite of the skincare world - many consider them completely unnecessary, others swear by them. Whichever camp you're in, one thing's for sure: The area around your eyes is the thinnest skin you have, and given the number of blinks a day, that thin skin is constantly on the move.
Zainab Laftah, a dermatologist at the London Dermatology Centre in the UK, explains that pollution, sun damage, poor sleep and general lifestyle can make it necessary to use an eye cream in your skincare routine. Nyla Raja, dermatologist and founder of UK aesthetic clinic Dr Nyla, agrees that the skin around the eyes will show the first signs of ageing, so a specialist product can help with clarity, hydration and hollowing.
Sejal Shah, a dermatologist at Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York City, explains that for some people, a simple moisturizer for the face and around the eyes may be enough. "An eye cream, however, has the advantage of being specifically formulated for the thinner, more sensitive skin of that area - the active ingredients may be the same, but may have a lower concentration/potency in an eye cream - and contains ingredients that target problems specific to that area that may not be a problem for the rest of the face."
We asked board-certified dermatologists to share their favorite eye creams for all kinds of problems, including dark under-eye circles, fine lines, and more. We encourage you to read on for their top suggestions.
