5 Common Mistakes People Make When Using Eye Serum – And How to Fix Them
Whether you’re just getting into eye care or have been religiously using eye products for years, applying them correctly is essential.
The skin around your eyes is delicate, thin, and vulnerable, and small missteps in application can undermine your results.
Whether you’re trying to combat puffiness, dark circles, fine lines, or sagging skin, it’s important to be mindful of how you apply your eye serum to get the most benefit.
Many people, even skincare enthusiasts, unknowingly make a few mistakes that reduce the effectiveness of their eye serum.
Let’s break down the five most common errors people make—and more importantly, how to avoid them.
By adjusting your routine slightly, you can maximize your product’s performance and achieve smoother, firmer, brighter eyes.
1. Applying Your Eye Serum in the Wrong Order
This is a surprisingly common mistake. When layering skincare products, the rule is simple: apply them from the thinnest texture to the thickest, and from the most active to the least active.
Eye serums are usually lightweight and contain potent ingredients, so they should go on first—right after cleansing and before anything heavier like moisturizers or facial oils.
Putting eye serum on after applying thicker products can prevent the serum from penetrating the skin effectively. It may even trap the serum on the surface, reducing its benefits.
On a clean, dry face, dab on your eye serum before any other treatments, so it has a chance to absorb deeply.
Also, don’t rush the process. Give your serum a minute or two to absorb completely before moving on to the next step in your skincare routine.
This prevents mixing or diluting your products and ensures each layer has the chance to work on its own.
2. Using Too Much Eye Serum
With eye serum, more is definitely not better. These products are usually formulated to be potent, so a small amount is more than enough.
Using too much can lead to waste, clogged pores, or irritation—especially if the excess product creeps into your eyes.
In fact, applying too much serum increases the risk of it migrating into the eye area and causing redness, burning, or tearing.
That’s not only uncomfortable but also counterproductive, especially if you’re trying to soothe sensitive skin.
The standard recommended amount is about the size of a grain of rice or a single pump for both eyes combined. Follow the instructions on your product packaging and resist the urge to slather it on.
3. Applying the Serum Too Close to Your Eyes
Another mistake is placing the product too close to your lash line or even directly on the eyelid, thinking it will enhance absorption.
In reality, your body heat and natural blinking will help the product move closer to the eye over time, so you don’t need to bring it in too close yourself.
Your orbital bone—the bone that forms the eye socket—is a great guide for application.
Trace it gently under your eye, around the outer corner (where crow’s feet tend to appear), and just below the brow bone. That’s where you want to pat your eye serum.
Avoid putting product on your eyelids unless the formula is specifically designed for that area. Many eye serums are not intended for use on the lids and doing so can cause irritation.
4. Rubbing the Product Into the Skin
It’s tempting to rub your skincare in for faster absorption, but when it comes to eye serum, this approach can do more harm than good.
The skin under your eyes is extremely delicate and rubbing can stretch or damage it, leading to broken capillaries, redness, or increased puffiness.
Instead, use your ring finger—it has the lightest touch—to gently tap the serum into your skin.
Patting the product in helps stimulate circulation and encourages absorption without disturbing the skin’s structure.
Be gentle, slow, and deliberate in your application. Not only is it safer for the fragile under-eye area, but it’s also a more effective way to deliver active ingredients.
Rushing or applying pressure will only backfire in the long term.
5. Expecting Instant Results From Your Eye Serum
It’s natural to want immediate gratification, especially when you’re investing in a skincare routine. But most eye serums don’t offer instant, dramatic results.
While some might give you a temporary lift or a quick burst of hydration, long-term benefits take time.
Reducing fine lines, smoothing texture, and firming skin often requires consistent use over a period of 6 to 8 weeks. So, don’t be discouraged if you don’t see visible changes overnight.
The effects of good eye care are cumulative, and your patience will be rewarded.
Remember, consistency matters more than intensity. Use your serum every morning and night, and don’t skip days if you want lasting results.
Pairing your routine with good sleep, hydration, and sun protection will also boost your efforts.
Bonus Tips for Better Eye Serum Results
Store your serum in a cool, dry place. Some people even keep theirs in the fridge for a refreshing, de-puffing effect in the morning.
Use sunscreen during the day. The eye area is prone to sun damage, which speeds up aging. Layer your eye cream under a broad-spectrum SPF.
Don’t combine harsh ingredients. Avoid layering retinol eye serums with strong acids unless advised by a dermatologist.
Give it time. Like any self-care ritual, the benefits of using an eye serum come from mindful, regular application—not from miracles.
In Summary
Taking care of the skin around your eyes doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require care and intention.
Avoid these five common mistakes: applying your serum in the wrong order, using too much product, placing it too close to the eyes, rubbing instead of patting, and expecting results too quickly.
With just a few small changes, you’ll notice your eye area looking brighter, smoother, and more refreshed. Trust the process, stay consistent, and your skin will thank you in the long run.
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DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
