A skincare product I get asked about a lot as a beauty editor is eye cream. It seems to be the one thing that we're all a little bit confused about. Do we need it? How often should we use it? Which one is best for me? How do I apply it? These are just a handful of questions that I get asked by friends and family on a weekly basis. However, one thing that people seem to really want to know is whether you should be using a different eye cream on more mature skin. The short answer? Yes.
"Mature skin tends to be drier and more sensitive than younger skin types," explains Dr Alexis Granite, CeraVe consultant dermatologist. "When choosing an eye cream, you want to opt for one that is hydrating to improve tolerability and avoid potential irritation."
Hydrating eye creams can help with lots of skincare concerns such as fine lines and dry, flaky skin. If you're looking to tackle any of these concerns, if could be worth adding one of the best eye creams for mature skin into your daily skincare routine. If you're not sure which one to go for, not to fear, as I spoke to Dr Granite to get all of her expert advice and have rounded up some of the best options below. Just keep on scrolling...
What Ingredients to Look for in an Eye Cream for Mature Skin
First things first, it's important to think about what ingredients to look for in a eye cream. This always helps me narrow down my options and makes me feel a lot more confident in choosing the best option for my skin. "Ingredients to look out for when addressing the signs of skin ageing around the eyes include retinol, peptides, and caffeine," says Dr Granite. "Retinol and peptides help boost collagen and elastin production to improve skin texture, while caffeine improves microcirculation and reduces puffiness," she says. "To combat dryness or potential irritation, I recommend also using a product that contains hydrating and soothing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin and niacinamide."
How to Apply an Eye Cream for Mature Skin
The skin around your eyes is a lot more delicate, so you want to make sure that you are applying your eye cream as gently as possible. "I recommend using a pea-sized amount of product for each eye – dot the product along the skin, starting under the eye at the orbital bone and work in a semi-circle around the outer portion of the eye, onto the upper brow and eyelid," says Dr Granite. "Tap or gently massage the product into the skin to help boost circulation."
So, now that you have all the info, check out my edit of the best eye creams for mature skin below.
Shop the Best Eye Creams for Mature Skin
- Best eye cream overall: CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream
- Best retinol eye cream: Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3
- Best caffeine eye cream: The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
- Best hydrating eye cream: Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Elastic Lifting Eye Serum
- Best luxury eye cream: Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Eye Cream
- Best affordable eye cream: Naturium Multi-Peptide Eye Cream
- Best eye cream for sensitive skin: Clinique Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream
- Best new eye cream: Eve Lom Time Retreat Smoothing Eye Complex
1. CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Caffeine, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, a peptide complex and ceramides.
Dr Granite recommends this eye cream for CeraVe. The lightweight formula contains a wide range of effective ingredients including caffeine, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, a peptide complex and ceramides to plump and moisturise the skin around the eyes. Plus, it's suitable for all skin types (yes, even sensitive skin).
Pros: More affordable, lots of key ingredients and suitable for all skin types
Cons: Doesn't contain retinol which might suit some but not others
2. Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3
Key ingredients: Twin-encapsulated retinaldehyde, ceramides, chamomile extract and hyaluronic acid.
This Medik8 eye cream contains retinal to help reduce the appearance of fine lines. It is available in three different strengths so that you can choose the one that best suits you. If you're new to retinal, I always recommend starting with the lowest strength available to avoid irritation. Use it once or twice a week at first, before slowly introducing it to your everyday skincare routine.
Alongside retinal, this eye cream also features a blend of ceramides, hyaluronic acid and chamomile extract to soothe, hydrate and plump the skin.
Pros: Features an effective blend of ingredients to help tackle fine lines
Cons: More expensive and can cause irritation if used too much at first
3. The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Peptides and caffeine.
If a caffeine eye cream is what you're after, you can't go wrong with this one from The Inkey List. Not only is it super affordable, but it contains both caffeine and peptides to reduce puffiness and fine lines. I like to think of it as a morning cup of coffee for my under eyes.
Pros: Affordable and awakening formula
Cons: Not as hydrating as other options in this roundup
4. Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Elastic Lifting Eye Serum
Price shown is members' price.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and caffeine.
If dry skin is a concern, opt for a eye cream that is packed with hyaluronic acid. One of my favourites is this one from Beauty Pie, as it features a triple-weight hyaluronic acid blend for intense hydration.
Pros: Affordable and hydrating
Cons: Might need to alternate with a retinol eye cream for best results
5. Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Persian Silk Tree extract, red ginseng and hyaluronic acid.
Dr. Barbara Sturm formulas are some of my favourite around thanks to their moisturising properties. This eye cream contains lots of potent ingredients that are best suited to more mature skin. Think Persian Silk Tree extract to reduce puffiness, red ginseng to firm the skin and hyaluronic acid to hydrate.
Pros: Hydrating formula designed for more mature skin
Cons: Super expensive
6. Naturium Multi-Peptide Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Multi-peptide blend and vegan squalane.
Naturium products manage to be super effective without breaking the bank. This nourishing eye cream contains a multi-peptide blend and vegan squalane to hydrate, plump and smooth the skin.
Pros: Nourishing formula and more affordable
Cons: Might need to alternate with a retinol eye cream for best results
7. Clinique Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Peptides and hyaluronic acid.
Clinique has a wide range of effective eye creams, and this particular one is great for more mature skin. It contains an expert peptide blend alongside hyaluronic acid to smooth and plump the skin. Plus, it also helps to strengthen skin’s moisture barrier. Ophthalmologist tested, it is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
Pros: Nourishing formula and safe for sensitive eyes
Cons: A little more expensive
8. Eve Lom Time Retreat Smoothing Eye Complex
Key ingredients: Liposome encapsulated retinol, prebiotic oat kernel, hyaluronic acid and stabilised vitamin C.
New from Eve Lom, this eye cream is seriously impressive. It has a super refreshing applicator and contains retinol and vitamin C to reduce fine lines and add luminosity to the under eyes. Plus, it has hyaluronic acid to help combat the drying effects of retinol and prebiotic oat kernel to soothe the skin.
Pros: Effective ingredients and hydrating formula
Cons: More expensive
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