MAYBE IT’S HEREDITARY insomnia, or maybe it’s the 16 hours every day I spend staring at screens, but I don’t always get the best sleep. While I’ve long grown accustomed to operating day-to-day without a quality eight hours, the evidence is always apparent through dark circles and puffiness under my eyes. Of course, rather than develop a healthier relationship with sleep, I rely on eye creams to reverse this impact. And, somewhat unfortunately, it works.
Just like face wash, serum, and moisturizer, eye creams are most effective when used twice a day—morning and night. These nifty creams not only erase dark circles and puffiness, but they’re the best option for fighting signs of aging around the eyes, like fine lines, wrinkles, and the dreaded crow’s feet. According to dermatologist Dr. Chang Son, MD, the skin eye area is particularly vulnerable to signs of aging and other blemishes because the skin is much thinner than the rest of your face.
Cream designed specifically for this area offers better protection and hydration than a standard moisturizer, and will also minimize irritation. Still, eye creams only work when used properly because this area of the face can be quite fickle. So I spoke with a few dermatologists about the best practices when applying.
Step One: Wash Your Face
Just like most skincare products, apply eye cream after cleansing or washing your face. This will remove any dirt, oil, and bacteria from the area, so that the cream can absorb properly and work most effectively. According to dermatologist and facial cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Ariel Ostad, MD, the ideal order should be as follows: cleanser, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, sunscreen, performed twice a day while dropping the SPF from the routine at night. By doing this, the thinner formulas will penetrate effectively before the thicker products seal everything in, he says.
Step Two: Aim for the Right Spots
Dr. Ostad says that men should mostly stick to applying eye cream along the orbital bone—the bony ridge around your eye socket—avoiding direct contact with the eyelid or getting too close to the lash line. This will help mitigate any irritation and minimize the risk of getting product in your eyes, which I can confirm, will burn. While it’s not needed, if you can tolerate applying above the eye, Dr. Ostad recommends only using a small amount.
Step Three: Apply Minimally
Just like wearing cologne or casting Jared Leto, it’s really easy to overdo it with eye cream. Dr. Son recommends only using a pea-sized amount of the product before applying with a gentle tapping motion rather than excessive rubbing. This will help to evenly distribute the product. Dermatologist Dr. Danny Guo. Says the most common mistake he sees when men are applying eye cream is using too much, especially if this is done on the upper eyelids.
Using too much or applying it too close to the lash line can cause the product to migrate into the eyes and trigger irritation, he says. If the eye cream comes in an applicator, that’ll do most of the work for you. These built-in tips are usually made of cooling metal and help you glide under the eyes to gently dispense and massage the product along the orbital bone, which promotes even application, says Dr. Guo.
The Best Eye Creams for Men
When it comes to choosing an eye cream, the most important factor is what specific concern you’re looking to address, as this will indicate what ingredients to focus on. Dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Mark, MD, has two favorite ingredients to look for in eye creams: hyaluronic acid and peptides.
Hyaluronic acid draws in and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, he says, helping hydrate and plump the skin to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles while also minimizing dark circles caused by uneven contours. Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids, signal the skin to produce more collagen, helping firm and tighten the delicate eyelid area.
For hyaluronic acid formulas, theNeutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Eye Gel-CreamandCeraVe Eye Repair Cream are hard to beat, with each offering max hydration and moisture to depuff and reduce dark circles. Plus, they’re both under $20. On the peptide end of things,Atwater’s Eye Armor is a great option. It’s packed with peptides that work alongside a slew of antioxidants to firm, lift, and smooth fine lines, while caffeine helps reduce puffiness and dark circles by tightening skin and boosting circulation. The gentle, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula also suits sensitive skin without clogging pores or causing irritation.
If it’s an applicator you want, look no further than IsClinical’s just-released GenEXC Firming Eye Gel. Not only does the smooth, metal tip give me a nice chilling feeling, while evenly distributing the silky gel—which absorbs in seconds—but it includes a Hall of Fame list of ingredients. Imagine being in a room with Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, and whoever the baseball GOAT is; that’s what’s happening inside this tube with skin-boosting mainstays.
Sure, there’s hyaluronic acid for hydration and peptides to boost collagen for firmness, but there’s also vitamin C to brighten and even skin tone while defending against environmental stressors, and vitamin B5 that helps hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier to reduce dryness and sensitivity. Antioxidants, like glutathione and ergothioneine, then protect against oxidative damage, while fermented extracts and gold (!) help tighten, smooth texture, and boost overall radiance. It’s pricey (see: gold), to be clear, but if you can swing the high tag, your under eyes will never look better.
However, my best overall eye cream, especially considering it’s only $20, is the Marlowe No. 127 Eye Cream. This no-nonsense beginner-friendly, pro-level cream includes vitamin C to brighten, caffeine to reduce puffiness and dark circles by boosting circulation, and squalane to deliver lightweight hydration to smooth fine lines without heaviness. Similar to Atwater’s cream, the gentle, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic formula also suits sensitive skin. As someone who has a complicated relationship with sleep and a commitment to carrying stress, this cream consistently makes eyes look noticeably more awake, and covers up the effects of both.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Ariel Ostad, MD, board-certified dermatologist and facial cosmetic surgeon based in New York City.
- Dr. Chang Son, MD, board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director for Rejuran.
- Dr. Kenneth Mark, MD, cosmetic dermatologist.
- Dr. Danny Guo, MD, double board-certified dermatologist.
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Sean Zucker is the Grooming and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health. He brings over half a decade of experience covering health, wellness, and lifestyle. When Sean’s not writing about hair products, you can find him running for exercise, or toward the nearest food truck.
Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men’s Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.
