If you’ve ever looked for products for your eye area you’ve probably heard of eye serums, but what do they actually do?
Eye serums are potent and lightweight skincare products, they are more potent than eye creams and penetrate deeper into the skin. They slow down the signs of ageing by combating fine lines and wrinkles on your skin. They also deliver nutrients to the skin under your eyes, brighten the skin, moisturize and reduce puffiness.
With the increase in the number of modern skincare options becoming available you might be confused as to what products are actually worthwhile and useful to your skin. One of the more interesting products on the market is eye serum. You might have heard about eye cream and face serum but what about eye serum? This article is a closer look at eye serum, what do eye serums do?
The skin around the eye is the most delicate skin on the face. So it’s one of the first places that ageing can be seen. If you take a close look you will notice that the skin in that area is thinner and dryer than anywhere else. It’s also an area that experiences a lot of motion from blinking, wincing squinting and expressing emotion in general. So it’s imperative that it is looked after.
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What is an eye serum?
We all know that eye creams are products which can reduce the appearance of dark circles, improve the look of fine lines, hydrate the skin around the eyes and reduce puffiness. An eye serum can do all these things as well, the difference is serums have stronger potency than eye creams. They come in various types which include lotions, gels or syringes for cleaner application.
When applying the serum be sure to not apply it too close to the eye. Only apply it on the orbital bone. As you blink the motion around your eyes allows it to travel and cover the area of skin. Be sure to use the ring finger when applying the product as this is the weakest finger and will cause the least damage to your eyes. Tap the product in gently.
What do eye serums do?
They pretty much do the same jobs that eye creams do but in a faster and more effective way:
- They are able to help slow down ageing by combatting fine lines and wrinkles.
- The serums are great at cooling the skin, giving your skin that fresh feeling and making you look more awake, even when you aren’t wearing makeup.
- They can deliver a good amount of antioxidants to your skin, antioxidants are beneficial because they repair the cells under your eyes thus helping with age spots.
- The serums firm the skin under your eyes. Making you look younger and less tired.
- They reduce the look of puffiness around your eyes.
- They help can boost the production of collagen which will make your under eyes look more youthful. (Some products use retinoids in the formulation, retinoids are known to be great collagen boosters)
- They brighten the areas around the eyes, the amino peptides in the product do this, more on peptides here
- They contain hyaluronic acid which is great at absorbing moisture from the air to hydrate your skin
Are eye serums necessary?
It depends. Serums have a more concentrated amount of ingredients than creams do. This allows you to get more results from the ingredients than you can get from creams. You need an eye serum if you notice that the cream that you’re using isn’t giving you the desired effect. If you are happy with how your eye cream is working then you don’t need it.
Also, note that most under eye bags are the result of genetics. Some people are really blessed to not have bags and other people will have them from an early age. Eye serum can help with the appearance but won’t make them go away completely. If your bags are caused by diet, stress or anything other than genetics then yes serums can help.
Are serums better than creams?
Eye serums are better than eye creams for a variety of reasons:
- The eye serum has a higher potency of ingredients than eye creams. This allows you to get quick results.
- Serums are great for dark under eyes and heavy bags under the eyes while creams work well for wrinkles and fine lines.
- When you use it you’ll realise that the serum will absorb very well into your skin. This isn’t always the case for eye creams which can sit on your skin and leave a white cast.
- Serums can be layered onto the skin, you can layer them up to 3 times for added effect.
- They penetrate deeper into the sin, this means that you won’t only be treating the top layer of your skin when you apply the product, You can really get into your skin to do the job
Do serums really work?
Yes, they work but don’t expect it to have the same effect as filler, surgery or Botox would. Serums and anything you apply topically cannot remove any of the hanging skin that you may have under your eyes. They can also only do so much to make your skin plump as though you were in your early 20’s
How do you apply eye serum?
When applying any eye products you need to take into consideration that the eye area is a very sensitive area, because of this you need to apply the product using your least dominant finger the ring finger. This finger will apply the least pressure to the eye area. You also shouldn’t apply the product too close to your eye. This is how to apply eye serum:
- Start off with a clean face, a clean face gives the serum access to the skin, there are no pollutants or dirt creating a barrier to the skin
- Apply your serum onto your ring finger and distribute the product on the tips of your fingers
- Press the product along the eye socket making sure not to get too close to the eye, as you brink and have other eye movements the product will travel closer to your eye.
- Move from the eye socket along the bone around to your temples then back around to the inner corner of your eyes tapping the product into your skin as you go
- If the product totally absorbs into the skin it’s a sign that the skin can do with some more product, apply more product repeating the same steps as above
Do you apply serum before or after moisturizer?
You should apply your serum before you apply your moisturisers. Generally, when you apply your skincare products you should apply the thinnest products first then layer your products as they get thicker.
The thinner products such as serums and essences are able to penetrate deep into your skin and deliver nutrients and minerals without anything blocking them from reaching the deeper layers of the skin.
Apply your thinker products such as moisturisers after your serums, they will help lock in the serum, serums can be very thin and can evaporate from the skin if not locked in. If you apply your serums after your moisturisers the serum may not penetrate the skin as well as it should, you’ll be wasting your serum
How long should I wait between serum and moisturizer?
Waiting for your products to get absorbed into your skin before you apply your next product is a good idea. You can apply your moisturiser onto your skin 30-60 seconds after you’ve applied your serum, this maximises the efficacy of your product. You’ll need to let the product settle into your skin to a point where you can’t feel it on top of your skin.
Another reason why you need to wait a little while before you apply the moisturizer or any other product is because product textures can roll up if you apply one product right on top of another without giving the product time to set.
What is the best treatment for dark circles under the eyes?
Retinol: retinol is really great for your skin overall, it helps to clear up acne, reduce your fine lines and wrinkles and even help get rid of your dark circles. The ingredient triggers the skin to produce collagen. This collagen will make the skin thicker and improve the appearance of dark circles.
Sleep on your back: Sleeping on your back will help prevent premature ageing and it will also help with your under-eye wrinkles. Dark circles are caused by the pooling of fluid, sleeping on your back prevents the pooling of fluid overnight
Use colour correcting products: sun damage can increase the pigment under your eyes, so can rubbing your eyes. To correct this problem you can use topical colour correcting agents like kojic acid, liquorice extract and vitamin c. If used correctly the pigmentation will decrease over time.
Use essential oils: essential oils can help with a number of issues and under-eye circles are one of them. Oils that can help with getting rid of dark under-eye circles include lavender, fennel, rosemary, rose geranium and German camomile. Use these oils with carrier oils and apply them under your eyes.
Do you put eye cream on eyelids?
No, you shouldn’t put your eye cream on your eyelids. You should apply the product to your orbital bone. As your eye moves the product will travel closer to the eye onto the soft tissue. Your body temperature will also help it warm up and travel easier covering the skin on your eye. This can take about an hour or two.
What is the best eye serum?
The best eye serum is an eye serum cream, the Premium Total Eye Cream Serum. This eye cream serum combines the nutrient concentration of serum and the moisturising properties of a cream.
It deposits a rich supply of vitamin C and E and well as hyaluronic acid, aloe and argan oil. The caffeine and vitamin c in this product will increase the collagen in your skin helping to get rid of dark circles, puffiness and under-eye bags.
The product will also boost the production of antioxidants which are essential in fighting off dangerous free radicals. The shea butter and primrose oil in the formula are essential in lifting and restoring the skin. The product is fragrance-free so it won’t irritate your eyes, is paraben-free cruelty-free and GMO-free
Are serums better than creams?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Serums are better because they contain a concentration of active ingredients which get deposited deeply into the skin and better target issues.
Creams are a thicker alternative to serums, they are great at minimising and preventing water loss on the skin because they have occlusive properties. If you want the best possible result you need to find the best product that will cater to your specific needs.
Can I use 2 serums at the same time?
Yes, you can use 2 serums at the same time, I don’t recommend mixing them but you can use them in the same routine. If you mix product together their chemistry may not match, they may change texture or become less potent if mixed together.
Mixing them can also lead to pilling when you apply your moisturiser, piling is when the product you applied starts to rub off or ball up when you apply the moisturiser. If you layer your products and wait for them to absorb you’ll be better off.
You can also alternate between the serums you use in your routines, using one in your morning routine then a different one in your nightly routine.
Can you put vitamin C serum under your eyes?
Yes, you can put vitamin C serum under your eyes. The serum can help to hydrate the under eyes as well as plump the skin which will reduce the appearance of fine lines.
It’s also great because it can help boost wound healing and it can improve collagen production which will make you look younger. As we age the vitamin C production in the body decreases so using it as you age will be very beneficial, it helps to minimise the signs of wrinkles and sun damage.
What is the best Vitamin C serum?
The best and one of the most well-loved vitamin C serums is the TreSkin vitamin c serum. The serum not only contains vitamin C but it also contains hyaluronic acid and victim E.
Hyaluronic acid is great for hydrating the skin and vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants, it will nourish and protect your skin and fight off dangerous free radicals. As a bonus, it is cruelty-free and free from fragrance, stabilizers, and colour additives.
Is Vaseline good for eyelids?
If you want to lock moisture into your eyelids then yes vaseline is good for eyelids. Vaseline does not have any hydrating properties but it will moisturise and seal hydration into your skin.
Hydration is when your skin gets filled with water and plums up, moisturisation seals in all the hydration and makes the skin soft. Vaseline isn’t irritating to the eyes making it a good sealant to use over your serum or moisturiser.
Does rubbing your eyes damage them?
Yes rubbing your eyes can damage them. You can develop dark circles and even thin your cornea. When you rub the tiny blood vessels in your eyes start to become weaker and break, this results in dark circles and the bloodshot eye look. Your hands are dirtier than you think and if you’re not careful you can transfer that dirt and bacteria into your eyes and cause infections
What causes eye bags?
Under-eye bags can be caused by age, allergies, smoking, a lack of sleep, it can be hereditary or caused by fluid retention. As you age the tissue found around your eyes which is meant to support your eyes become weaker. When this happens the fat around your eyes migrates to the lower eyelids and this creates the bags under your eyes. If you have excess fluid migrating to these areas you can get more swelling.
I hope you enjoyed this article looking at what eye serums actually do. If you found this article helpful or interesting please care it.
