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A woman applying eye cream

EYE CONCERNS

FAQ: How Should I Care For My Eye Area?

No skincare routine is complete without an eye cream. Here at Kiehl’s, discover our best anti-aging eye cream and learn how to use it in your routine.

When you meet someone for the first time, their eyes are probably one of the first things you notice. That’s because the eyes convey emotion—sometimes better than language itself. Even minor expressions, like an arch of the eyebrow or a subtle squint, can tell a person exactly how you feel. And whether we mean to or not, we all use our eyes to communicate, pretty much constantly.

Given how often people will look at your eyes, it’s natural to want the area to look its best. That’s where we come in. Here, we’ll introduce you to Super Multi-Corrective Eye Zone Treatment, our best anti-aging eye cream—it’s uniquely designed to target four different areas of concern. You’ll learn why this eye cream is a must-have for youthful-looking eyes and discover how we recommend incorporating the powerful formula into your regular skincare routine. Get ready to meet your new eye care essential.

The Four Zones Of The Eye Area, Explained

While anti-aging eye creams and serums are often depicted as being for just the under-eye, the reality is that it’s important to care for the entire eye area (lid included). Below, we’ll introduce you to the four main zones of the eye area and explain the common concerns associated with each.

Zone 1:

The Browbone

The first spot we’ll focus on is the brow area. This zone encompasses the entire brow bone and surrounding skin, as well as the small strip of skin between your eyebrow and your eyelid. The main concern associated with the brow area is droopiness, which results from an age-related loss of elasticity. This loss of elasticity can make the skin around the brows sag, which gives your eyes a closed-off or tired appearance. Additionally, repetitive facial movements (like arching or furrowing your brows) can contribute to fine lines and wrinkles around your brows.

Zone 2:

The Eyelid

The skin of the eyelid is the thinnest of your entire body—it’s around a quarter of a millimeter thick, on average. It also has less sebaceous glands than the rest of your face. Sebum, your skin’s natural oil, is a preservative—it helps keep your skin moisturized and may make you less prone to developing wrinkles. With less oil than other regions, your eyelids are uniquely prone to dryness and may be more vulnerable to a loss of elasticity, which can result in crepey-looking skin. Additionally, your skin becomes thinner as you age—on the already-thin eyelid, this can make your eyes appear hooded and contribute to mild discoloration.

Zone 3:

The Under-Eye

The under-eye skin is also exceptionally thin, though, unlike your eyelid, it has a fat pad underneath it that stretches from your tear duct to the outer corner of your eye. With age, this fat pad can drop, resulting in the development of saggy-looking “bags” under the eyes. In younger people, under-eye bags are often caused by fluid retention, allergies, or genetics (your facial structure plays a significant role in how prominent under-eye bags will appear).

Puffiness is also a concern, as are under-eye wrinkles, which is why many eye creams are also marketed as under-eye wrinkle treatments. Lastly, the under-eye area is prone to discoloration in the form of dark circles under your eyes. Your habits and lifestyle can play a role in the development of dark under-eye circles, but it’s mostly genetically determined. Sleep deprivation can, however, make your skin look dull and sallow, so try to get a full eight hours when you can.

Zone 4:

The Outer Corner

The final zone of the eye area is the outer corner, which stretches vertically from the tail of your eyebrow down to the very top of your cheekbone. The skin here isn’t quite as delicate as your eyelid or under-eye, but it is vulnerable to a unique concern: crow’s feet. These small, horizontal creases appear at the corner of the eye and extend outward toward the temple. Like other wrinkles, they’re caused by repetitive facial movements like squinting and smiling and exacerbated by the natural loss of elasticity that comes with age.

How To Address Your Eye-Area Concerns

Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Zone Treatment

When it comes to anti-aging skincare, prevention is key. That means practicing healthy skin habits like wearing sunscreen as well as following a regular, dedicated skincare routine. Even with the best habits, though, all skin ages eventually. Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Zone Treatment can help address the visible signs of aging around your eyes as they occur. The powerful formula contains collagen peptide and niacinamide, plus antioxidant-rich bilberry seed extract. It addresses all four key areas of concern and is clinically-demonstrated to visibly brighten, smooth, and firm the eye area. The rich formula is suitable for all skin types and can be used daily for lifted, more youthful-looking eyes.

How To Complete Your Skincare Routine

Our anti-aging eye cream is a must for your eye area, but we’re guessing you want the rest of the skin on your face to stay in tip-top shape, too—and for that, you need, at a minimum, a cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Washing your face, of course, should always be the first step in your skincare routine. If you have a specific skin concern you’d like to address (such as oiliness), look for a cleanser designed to address that concern. Otherwise, we suggest reaching for a gentle, foaming face wash like Ultra Facial Cleanser. This classic cleanser with squalane and avocado oil helps remove dirt, oil, and other impurities without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier. The pH-balanced formula is suitable for all skin types and can be used daily for clean, balanced-feeling skin.

If you have any targeted treatments—like toners, essences, or serums—that you like to use, those will go on after washing your face. Then, moisturize with Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Face and Neck Cream. Made with phytomimetic vitamin A and fragmented hyaluronic acid, it helps address key signs of aging on the face and neck. This powerful formula is clinically-demonstrated to visibly reduce wrinkles in just four weeks.* It also helps improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and texture to reveal smoother, more radiant-looking skin over time. Alternatively, if hydration is your focus over anti-aging benefits, apply the beloved Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane. The ultra-lightweight moisturizer provides instant and lasting hydration for soft, healthy-looking skin. And it’s suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

*Results based on a 12-week clinical study of 53 panelists in the U.S.

Finally, cap off your daytime skincare routine with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, such as Super Fluid Daily UV Defense SPF 50+. The lightweight formula helps shield the skin from damaging UV rays and boasts antioxidant defense to help protect against other skin-aging stressors. It’s non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types and absorbs quickly, leaving the skin with a natural-looking matte finish. Note that you want to avoid applying the sunscreen around your immediate eye area. Instead, keep your four eye zones protected by wearing UV-filtering sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, and stick to the shade whenever you can. Trust us—your skin will thank you.

Next: Now that you know how to address your eye-area concerns, discover Your Ultimate Anti-Aging Skincare Routine.

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