Can I use retinol near my eyes?
There really is nothing that retinol can’t combat. Cosmetic imperfections? No problem, fine lines and wrinkles? All gone, pale, dull complexion? No need to worry. Yes, there’s no denying that retinol is a smart ingredient, which explains why so many of us add it to our daily skincare routine.
However, the question we ask ourselves is whether we should avoid using this powerhouse of a skin area. It’s no secret that the area around the eyes is one of the first to show signs of aging, with fine lines and crow’s feet becoming more noticeable over time. Other issues like dark circles and eye bags can also look more severe because the skin around the eyes is thinner, 40% thinner than the rest of the face, to be exact. So, with that in mind, let’s explore whether you can use retinol near your eyes and what results you can expect.
Can I use retinol around my eyes?
Yes, using retinol around the eyes is completely safe and effective. Just make sure you use the right product to deliver results without causing irritation or allergic reactions.
Granted, there are still some outdated studies that suggest you should avoid eye creams with powerful ingredients, but that’s no longer the case. In fact, you’ll find retinol as the number one ingredient recommended by experts for fighting signs of aging, dark circles, and eye bags.
Modern eye creams contain less retinol than products used on other parts of the face. These formulas also often incorporate other moisturizing ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, to counteract the drying side effects common among retinol users. Before you toss your existing eye cream, you can layer it with another retinol product. Simply mix your eye cream with retinol and apply it under your eyes.
Is retinol good for under-eye wrinkles?
Of course, as I mentioned before, retinol is a popular ingredient among skincare experts and dermatologists for fighting signs of aging, dark circles, and eye bags. Retinol works in the lower layers of the skin, extending beyond the epidermis and boosting collagen production. When more collagen helps skin appear plumper and younger, you’ll notice a noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.
How close to the eyes should you apply retinol?
Since the skin around the eyes is significantly thinner than the rest of the face, you’ll find that it absorbs into the skin quickly, potentially causing skin irritation. That’s why you need to be careful when applying retinol around the eyes. Here are some examples of how to apply retinol to the eyes while following proper precautions.
Start with a pea-sized amount of retinol product.
Always use a product designed for use around the eyes.
Use your ring finger to apply the product, as it naturally applies minimal pressure to avoid pulling the skin.
Gently apply the product around the eye area, starting under the eye and working your way to the outer corner of the eye and up to the brow.
Do not apply retinol to your lash line, as this may cause irritation.
Don’t forget to follow up with a retinol eye cream at night, as retinol loses its effectiveness when exposed to UV rays.
Make sure to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher in the morning.
Is retinol good for eye bags?
Yes, it is ideal for combating eye bags, especially when the product combines retinol with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. After 3 to 4 weeks, you will notice noticeable changes: bags under the eyes are visibly reduced, the eye area is firmer and looks more radiant.
Retinol is particularly helpful to use around the eyes, as the eye area can appear sunken and dark circles become more noticeable. For some people, these are signs of lack of sleep or sleeping posture, for others, it has to do with their personality. Whatever the reason, you can combat them with the help of retinol.
Are retinol eye creams safe?
Yes, they are. Despite the fact that retinol is so effective, there are questions about whether it should be used on the sensitive eye area. Don’t worry, because retinol-rich eye creams are usually lower in content and are mixed with hyaluronic acid or other moisturizing ingredients. The advantage is that hyaluronic acid has moisturizing properties, which means it can attract moisture and lock it in the surface layer of the skin, combating possible irritation and dryness.
Remember that when you first start using retinol, you should introduce it into your daily routine slowly and in the right way. This should be done after doing a patch test and consulting a doctor to make sure that retinol is the best ingredient for you and your skin.
Does retinol make dark circles worse?
Yes, long-term overuse of retinol products around the eyes can make dark circles worse. This is the result of a side effect when applying retinol to the skin. These are usually red, scaly circles around the eyes that heal and appear black. To avoid this, try using retinol every other day, only at night, and don’t forget to use an SPF of 30 or higher every day, even on cloudy days.
What happens if you use retinol and go out in the sun?
Retinol is very sensitive to sunlight, so it loses its effectiveness and won’t work on the skin. All skin experts recommend using retinol at night so that the active ingredients can work undisturbed while you get your beauty sleep.
I hope you now have a better idea of how to use retinol around the eyes. Don’t forget to find us on Instagram if you have any skin care questions.
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.
