I'm 29 do I need eye cream?

[Anonymous]

I always read that the only thing you can really do is wear sunscreen to prevent damage. What does an eye cream do exactly?

[Anonymous]

The eye cream in anti-aging lines is usually a less irritating dosage of whatever is in the cream (retinol for my favorite RoC line, for example). It is much more expensive than the face cream, so I use the face cream in lieu of eye cream. I promised myself I would start diligently using those things at 30. Of course, regardless of your age, sunscreen is a must every morning before going out. I view the anti-aging stuff as more of a night-time routine.

[Anonymous]

Here is what I don't get though. So the active ingredient is retinol. Why not go straight for something like Retin-A? I think that's the same stuff, right? You're insurance would cover it and it would be more effective. Like I said, I'm clueless.

[Anonymous]

Don't overuse rich eye creams--could cause milia (small white bumps) under the eyes.

[Anonymous]

The fairer the skin, earlier the need for eye cream. Some of my friends started using eye cream in college. Also, your mother's skin can be a good indicator how you will age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I don't get though. So the active ingredient is retinol. Why not go straight for something like Retin-A? I think that's the same stuff, right? You're insurance would cover it and it would be more effective. Like I said, I'm clueless.

Not acquainted with Retin-A, but if it's a prescription, it is more concentrated that RoC products, and occasionally less well tolerated. I highly doubt my health insurance would cover "cosmetic/anti-aging" prescriptions, but if anyone has other evidence, I am interested!

[Anonymous]

Dear 29-year old me,
Yes, use eye cream. And sunscreen--and lather that all the hell over your hands every single day. And use dishwashing gloves without fail. And if you notice that you carry stress in your forehead, start botoxing that right about...NOW.

Most importantly, appreciate the fact that you know nothing but look fantastic, because right when you start to figure it all out, you'll look down and realize that your boobies are about 4" lower than they used to be and you need to choose your ass or your face, because once you hit a certain age, you can't have both.

Sincerely,
Your 40-year old future.

[Anonymous]

LOL, great post PP

[Anonymous]

Okay, I will buy some eye cream, but what does it DO????

And please recommend yours. I don't want to spend too much.

[Anonymous]

A good eye cream should help with fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. I love Arbonne, it is the best one I have ever used. I have been using eye cream since my 20's.

[Anonymous]

So who am I to offer advice here -- i'm 30. But i've used eye cream for years because my eyes just look 'better' when I do. You can either use your regular facial moisturizer if its not too heavy, or something specifically for eyes. Aveeno and Olay both have good eye cremes (avoid the stuff for 'mature' skin as that will give you milia as another poster mentioned).

For "morning-after" eyes (hangover, morning after a good cry, allergy eyes, etc) use Kiehl's Eye Alert (comes in a blue tube). Its AWESOME -- sleep in a tube. You can use it over/under another cream if you feel like you need more moisture. Its much better than Preparation H (which some people use for this same purpose) because it doesn't pill and rub off under makeup.

[Anonymous]

oh, and in answer to what does the eye cream "do" --- it depends. Moisturize, SPF, combat puffiness, help cover dark circles, prevent/puff up fine lines, etc. Depends on the formula. But, it all depends on how it reacts to YOUR skin. You have to experiment. In many ways, its preventive, so you're not going to see dramatic changes, so it may not feel like its "doing" anything. But it is!

[Anonymous]

i only started to "get" why anyone should use eye cream when i started noticing the wrinkles around my friends' (in their late 20s) eyes. it seems like one of the first places where aging starts to show probably because the skin there is more fragile.

[Anonymous]

Paula Begoun says that eye creams are gimmicks. You do not need a special cream for your eyes, unless they are drier than the rest of your face. Your moisturizer can double as an eye cream and your eye cream can doublt as your moisturizer.

[Anonymous]

No, youd don´t need it, that is unless you want to have wrinkles and surgery before nature intended. Eye creams generally do more harm than good. Plaster the area with sun screen, were shades, and otherwise leave it alone.