Look on the Bright Side: A Conversation About Eye Cream for Men
There’s something about applying eye cream that just makes me feel like I’m a Real Adult. Full disclosure: I used to crack open Vitamin E supplements and use their insides (and it works a treat!).
But despite my devotion, the men in my life and I have never quite seen eye to eye (sorry) on this topic. So imagine my delight when asked to write about how the best under-eye cream for men can make your face better. Watch and learn (sorry).
"The skin around your eyes is one-tenth the thickness of the rest of your face."
Why does the eye area need moisturising?
Glad you asked. The skin around your eyes is one-tenth the thickness of the rest of your face. As a result, signs of ageing also become more apparent in this area.
- Cortisol (the primary stress hormone) breaks down the collagen in your skin, which loosens skin and creates premature wrinkles.
- A lack of sleep causes the blood vessels under the skin of your eyes to dilate, creating a dark tint (if you’ve had a really big one).
- Sun damage increases melanin production, and some sunscreen ingredients can irritate your skin. Both of these factors can make dark circles worse.
Fine - but can’t face cream fix that as part of its job?
Nooooooo! The skin’s thinness makes the eye area particularly fragile, so creams made for it need to be lightweight in order to be easily absorbed.
Because it’s a more sensitive area, the concentration of active ingredients in eye cream is a lower percentage than that of facial moisturisers in order to be less irritating.
The best eye cream for men will also contain ingredients to address eye-specific issues, like bags, puffiness, crow’s feet and dark circles.
But Why Do Men Need To Use It?
Firstly, gender is a construct (#DragRace). But to be fair, men are slightly more fortunate in the skin department. Biologically, male skin tends to be thicker and more resilient than female skin.
It also produces more sebum, so it’s likely to have naturally higher levels of hydration. But - and this is a big but (and I cannot lie) - the resilience of men’s skin tends to be taken for granted.
So even if your skin is surviving without moisturiser, it definitely won’t be thriving.
Okay, Not That I Would Ever Use This...But If I Were, What Ingredients Are In A Good Eye Cream?
Subtle. Okay, here’s the cheat sheet of Good Stuff:
- Antioxidants (vitamins A, C & E) = anti-aging
- Retinol = smoothing
- Ceramides = moisturising
- Peptides = plumping
- Hyaluronic acid = anti-wrinkles
"Start at the outer corner of your eyelid, and gently dab it on to your eye area, working towards the inner corner."
Ugh, You Got Me. How Do I Apply It?
*does victory dance* Use a tiny bit, dispensed onto the tip of your ring finger. Start at the outer corner of your eyelid, and gently dab it on to your eye area, working towards the inner corner. Repeat under the eye, and don’t rub or pull the skin as you apply it, as you’ll end up creating fine lines.
