The most commonly asked question about moisturizing this part of your face is whether you can use your face moisturizer for the skin around your eyes. The answer is yes. As long as it doesn't irritate your eyes and provides a sufficient amount of moisture, you're good.
We recommend applying Vaseline® Jelly on eyelids because some regular moisturizers and creams are not always safe to use on the eye area. The skin around the eyes is much more sensitive to irritants, so it's best to use a hypoallergenic product that contains pure ingredients.
What are the benefits of eye cream? Eye cream can rejuvenate skin and give it a youthful glow, even skin tone, lessen the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, prep skin for makeup, and strengthen and protect the under-eye area.
Because our eyes, eyelids, and skin around the eyes are very delicate, most products aren't safe for these areas unless they are specially formulated for it.
Safe for use around the eyes.
CeraVe eye creams are allergy-tested and ophthalmologist-tested for safety, making them suitable for use around the eyes.
The answer to this is YES, absolutely. Eye creams can make puffy eyes worse.
Skin-plumping collagen and hydrating hyaluronic acid are key to diminishing dark circles under eyes. Thinning skin and dull, dehydrated under eye skin are common companions of dark circles under eyes.
While eye cream has its benefits, it can't do much for reducing undereye puffiness or diminishing dark circles. While eye creams help undereye puffiness, the results are temporary — and require caffeine. "If the eye cream has a high concentration of caffeine, you can temporarily minimize eye puffiness," says Jaliman.
Vaseline can help with a number of dry eyelid conditions. People who notice that their skin is dry or irritated during the dry, cold winter months can use it to prevent moisture loss from the eyelids. Some people also use it as a moisturizer to reduce the risk of wrinkles, or as a supplement to traditional eye creams.
"Eye creams are formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eye, so they tend to be thicker. They contain more oil than a regular facial lotion, and they have a lot of active ingredients aimed at the problems we see around the eyes," Farris explains.
Bags under eyes are caused when the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that's usually around the eye can move into the area below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can gather fluid, making the area look puffy or swollen.
Vitamin deficiencies, including vitamin B12, E, K and D, have been associated with dark circles.
Another problem with heavy eye creams containing these ingredients is that the oils can weigh down the delicate skin tissue and over the course of time, can weaken elastin fibers causing premature wrinkles.
You shouldn't apply eye cream to your eyelids or too close to your lash line. This puts you at risk of getting the product into your eyes, which can be super uncomfortable. "As your body temperature rises, the product can travel on its own," explains Dr. Chimento.
Vaseline is safe and even recommended for use on dry skin. Because of its occlusive properties, Vaseline can help soothe skin that's chafed and dry. It's especially handy for the thin skin on your eyelids. Unlike most products, Vaseline is safe to use in the area around your eyes.
While, unfortunately, Vaseline won't do much to help erase deep-set wrinkles or brighten dark circles, Sakar said the product can provide some of the same hydrating effects as your go-to eye cream — especially when it's paired with a moisturizing cream. "Vaseline is something that's called an occlusive," she said.
"Tapping a little Aquaphor over your eye cream at night plumps up lines by sealing in moisture, and it's nonirritating," says Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist in New York City. "It's one of the best products for the under-eyes."
Hyaluronic acid with smaller molecular weight is especially great for your under-eye area because they are able to go deeper into your skin, replacing the hydration in the thin and delicate skin under the eyes.
Botulinum toxin such as Botox® or Dysport are a nonsurgical method to “lift” the brows and eyes, creating a refreshed and youthful look. As an alternative to moving or removing tissue, Botox and Dysport smooths and softens the appearance of sagging or wrinkled skin through its action on the underlying muscle.
As you mature, our skin's elasticity weakens. Fats and fluids in the eye area can accumulate in your lower eyelids, making them look plumper, and in turn, a lot puffier. Saggy skin is just the cherry on top, making you look even more fatigued.