If you’ve been listening closely to Dr. Vicki Belo’s skincare advice, you’d know that her recommended basic routine involves cleansing, toning, exfoliation, and serum. But for those hitting their late 20s and beyond, there’s an extra step she strongly recommends you don’t go without. Eye cream may seem like a frivolous purchase, but taking special care of your eyes can prove extremely beneficial in the long run. (You’ll thank us when you’re 45 and have no crow’s feet. Trust.)

Why do I need eye cream?

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An eye cream is any cream that is specially formulated for the delicate skin around your eyes. Why all the fanfare for eyes? It’s not like we have nose or chin creams, for instance. Well: “You must remember that the eye is the first part of your face to age. Why? Because we do so much to them and its skin is so thin and fragile. Applying makeup can tear on the elastic fibers. Squinting causes wrinkles. Rubbing your eyes can make dark circles appear. All these problems have been around for a long time,” warns Dr. Belo. 

Which eye cream is right for me?

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Do what you gotta do, but don’t forget to take care of you

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Depending on your age group and skin needs, you’ll need a different kind of eye cream. Women in their 20s likely aren’t showing visible signs of eye aging, but they do need to maintain their collagen levels (20% of collagen is lost by age 20, according to Dr. Belo). An eye cream with sodium hyaluronate is great for beginners. If you’re in your 30s, you need to be more proactive about fighting the first few signs of aging—this is where eye creams with peptides and polysaccharides can help. And for women in their 40s and above, eye cream is straight-up nonnegotiable—eye creams with powerful anti-aging ingredients are a must. You can even go the extra mile with rejuvenating eye masks that supplement the effects of your current eye cream.

How often and when do I need to use eye cream?

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Boost your eye contour with the HXR-EYE CREAM of the SKIN PERFUSION line. It will help prevent any crows feet and wrinkles. It will also brighten your eyes. Tips by Laboratoires FILLMED: use twice a day. Simply massage your eyes and eyesbrows with the cream.

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Eye cream should be applied every day as a regular part of your skincare routine. But, says Dr. Belo, only in the AM! “Don’t [apply your eye creams] at night,” she advised in a recent wellness webinar with Manulife. “If you apply your eye cream at night, you just wake up with little eye bags because [an eye cream] is moisturizing. It’ll absorb oil and water, so you will only look like you cried.”

TL;DR: You definitely need an eye cream in your routine. Your face could be getting the best care, but if your eyes don’t follow suit, then those dark circles and crow’s feet will still keep you from looking youthful.

Look through our eye care options here, and don’t forget to pop by our clinics to talk to use about your eye beauty plan!