eye cream with peptides and hyaluronic acid

Posted on March 17, 2019 by OPFP — No Comments ↓

eye cream with peptides and hyaluronic acid

In an ideal world, our eyes would age like fine wine—but sadly that’s just a Cabernet-induced pipe dream. When it comes to wrinkles, the eye area actually shows wear and tear first because the skin is much thinner than the rest of the face. “As you get older, the skin foundation weakens, so when you smile or squint, the skin folds, leading to crow’s feet and wrinkles,” explains dermatologist Joshua Zeichner M.D. “Plus, chronic rubbing from allergies or removing makeup— combined with sun exposure—creates uneven under-eye pigmentation as well.”

But thankfully, there is a product, or rather, products that help fight the aging of the oh-so delicate eye area. We talked to Dr. Howard Sobel, a dermatologist in NYC about when you should start using an eye cream, and the ingredients you should reach for.

First and foremost, Dr. Sobel suggests that one starts using an eye cream during their 30′s because that’s when fine lines around the corners of the eyes start to appear. As a rule, “Eye creams formulated with hyaluronic acid help with dark circles and hydration, but once you are over the age of 25, you should look for eye creams that have peptides to support collagen and elastin—and firm the look of sagging skin.”

Here are our favorite wrinkle-busters to incorporate into your skincare routine.

Hyaluronic acid: Found naturally in the skin, hyaluronic acid is a form of sugar that draws in water, which helps to hydrate and plump the skin. Many times, under-eye wrinkles are a result of dryness, Dr. Rao says, and hyaluronic acid is well-studied and shown to help reduce the signs of aging. (Check out these eye creams for dry skin if hydration is your main problem.)

Peptides: Copper peptides, polypeptides, and oligopeptides are thought to penetrate the skin and help build hyaluronic acid and collagen. These structural proteins hold cells and tissues together like glue, diminishing the look of wrinkles.

Retinol: This vitamin A derivative stimulates collagen production and promotes cell turnover to help reduce the signs of aging. Because the skin under the eyes is so sensitive, the dermatologists we spoke to recommended products with relatively low concentrations of retinol.

Sunscreen: “This one’s a no-brainer,” says Dr. Rao. Without proper protection, UV rays break down collagen and age your skin. (Unfortunately, SPF can be tough to find in eye creams.)

Antioxidants: Vitamins C and E, ferulic acid, and berry extracts help reduce oxidative stress due to UV rays or pollutants, explains Dr. Rao. Antioxidants also improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The thought of using a separate cream for the eye area may seem excessive, especially if you’re already using a day cream, a night cream, and other products to address your specific skin-care issues. Alas, skin experts say there’s a good reason to treat your peepers with some extra TLC.
“The skin around the eye is thinner and more sensitive than skin in other areas, and especially prone to signs of aging,” says Arash Akhavan, M.D., a dermatologist based in New York City.

Therefore, the delicate region requires a moisturizer that can hydrate without causing irritation, while also helping to improve collagen production to reduce the appearance and growth of fine lines and wrinkles. In search of products that get the job done, I asked dermatologists for their favorite eye cream recommendations. Here are their top picks.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.