In addition to regularly washing and moisturizing your face, you can use a number of other skin care products to improve the look, feel and overall health of your skin. From toners to face masques, various facial skin care products effectively clear pores, replenish the skin with moisture and minimize fine lines.

Eye creams, in particular, are specifically designed to delicately replenish the moisture in the skin right below the eye. To ensure that eye creams are not going to irritate the eyes, many eye treatment manufacturers make these creams with to match the pH level of natural tears. Similarly, to add to these gentle qualities, many eye creams are perfume-free.

Under-Eye Skin

The skin under our eyes is different from that on any part of our body. Unlike other skin, our under-eye skin doesn't have any sebaceous glands, meaning that it is unable to produce oil. Moreover, the eye skin is extremely thin and delicate. As a result, this skin is one of the first areas that is susceptible to wrinkling and the signs of aging.

Types of Eye Area Treatments

Eye creams come in three different types that all have unique functions:

• Day eye cream: To be used during the day hours, as the name suggests, day eye cream brightens the look of the eye during the day. Additionally, this type of eye treatment minimizes dark, under-eye circles, moisturizes the eye skin and reduces the look of fine lines. Some day eye creams contain SPF, adding the bonus function of protecting this skin from sun damage and wrinkles.
• Night eye cream: Designed to be worn while you sleep, night eye cream helps repair damaged skin and replenish the eye skin with moisture. Effective night creams typically contain retinol and alpha hydroxyl acid.
• Non-specific eye cream: Appropriate for anytime wear, non-specific eye cream primarily moisturizes the under-eye skin. This cream is especially necessary in dry, cold climates.

How to Choose Eye Creams

While different brands will offer eye creams of varying qualities, the two main factors that will help you find the eye cream that is right for you are:

• Darkness inhibitors: This will neutralize dark under-eye circles, uneven skin tones and bruised areas of the skin. Common darkness inhibitors include vitamin K, hyrdroquinone and kojic acid.
• Firming ingredients: This will stimulate the skin's production of collagen, enhancing the skin's elasticity and preventing wrinkles. Vitamin C, retinol and alpha-hydroxy acids are all firming ingredients in eye creams.

How to Use Eye Creams

Use the following steps to appropriately apply eye area treatments:

1. Wash your face and apply toner (if you use toner as part of your skin care regimen).
2. Apply a few dabs of eye cream under each eye, taking care to gently pat the cream on, rather than rub it in.
3. Don't tug on eye skin when applying eye cream.
4. Leave the eye cream on for the duration of the day or night, washing it off at the end of the period and then reapplying eye cream to clean, refreshed skin.
5. Follow any directions the eye cream provides.

Resources

Mama'sHealth.com (n.d.). Eye Cream. Retrieved November 3, 2007, from the Mama'sHealth.com Web site: http://www.mamashealth.com/skincare/eyecream.asp.