I was never a big believer in eye cream. But after a straight-talking facialist told me mid treatment that she could tell I didn’t use it, I was floored and decided it was time to start.
Ever since, I’ve dabbled with eye cream but never used anything consistently—probably because I didn’t notice the immediate results. That’s when a chance meeting with dermatologist Natalia Jiménez taught me a trick that finally solidified the habit. And even better, I’m seeing results too.
Jiménez stressed that eye products should always be applied just after cleansing and before moisturizing. As she said this, I could see another expert, pharmacist Marta Masi, nodding her head in agreement. This order proves more effective for several reasons, one of which is that “applying eye cream immediately after cleansing ensures the more delicate skin is not affected by the higher-concentration actives that we use for the rest of the complexion,” as the derm explained.
By using your eye cream first (Masi and Dr. Jiménez both like the Collagen Bank Reviving Eye Cream from Neutrogena), the cream forms a barrier preventing the active ingredients of subsequent treatments from penetrating or irritating the skin (especially the likes of vitamin C or retinol). And by following this order, not only is it easy to incorporate into your routine, but you also get better product penetration.
The effectiveness of our skin care depends on how it is used. And in the specific case of eye cream, the way it is applied does make a difference—largely to do with the fact it’s a very sensitive area. Dr. Jiménez advises using only the equivalent of a grain of rice for each eye and applying it gently, both under the eye and on the upper eyelid, always from the outside toward the inner corner.
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