Dark circles, puffiness, and creases around the eyes are among the first signs of aging. The skin in this area is thinner and more susceptible to photodamage. It requires products specially formulated for this delicate region to enhance firmness, brighten complexion, and soften wrinkles.

Read about the most effective under-eye skincare tips and products that will keep the skin under your eyes fresh, firm, and bright.

Under Eye Skin Care

Why the Under-Eye Area Needs Special Care

The under-eye area is extremely thin, delicate, and prone to damage. It is usually the first to show premature signs of aging, such as crow's feet, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. Because the skin is so thin and permeable, more allergens can enter, leading to inflammation, redness, itchiness, puffiness, and watery eyes.

Dermatologists recommend using only microbiome-friendly products with hypoallergenic, non-irritating, and specially formulated active ingredients for the under-eye area.

Common Under-Eye Skin Concerns

The most common under-eye skin issues are the following:

Under-Eye Skincare Products

Topical products designed for the under-eye area are formulated to address a range of concerns, including puffiness, fine lines, dark circles, and under-eye hollows. You can combine creams, serums, gels, under-eye patches, masks, balms, and essential oils. Choose fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and paraben-free products specially designed for this area to prevent any irritation or allergies.

Ingredients to Look For

Each ingredient has a unique skin benefit that brings you closer to your cosmetic goal. Combining active ingredients helps you achieve lasting skin-rejuvenating results.

These are the most potent skincare ingredients for the under-eye region:

  • Hyaluronic acid – Improves skin texture and elasticity and prevents dryness by attracting and retaining moisture.
  • Glycerin – Softens the skin, prevents moisture loss, and deeply hydrates the skin, making it plump, smooth, and silky.
  • Beta-glucan - Provides intense hydration, reinforces the barrier, and reduces redness and puffiness.
  • Retinol – Tightens the skin under the eyes, brightens the complexion, and stimulates collagen to prevent wrinkle formation.
  • Peptides – These amino acid chains promote collagen and elastin production, lessening the appearance of under-eye bags, reducing fine lines, and improving overall skin tone.
  • Niacinamide - Reduces discoloration by inhibiting melanin production and improves skin texture and firmness.
  • Ceramides – Plump the skin and strengthen the barrier, preventing moisture loss and defending against environmental irritants and allergens.
  • Glutathione - Reduces dark circles by inhibiting melanin, decreases puffiness, and neutralizes free radical damage.
  • Vitamin C – Lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, boosts collagen production, brightens the skin, and provides antioxidant protection.
  • Caffeine – Constricts blood vessels and temporarily de-puffs the under-eye area, also reducing dark circles.
  • Licorice extract – Brightens the skin, soothes inflammation, and reduces pigmentation issues.
  • Kojic acid – Fades dark circles by blocking tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production.

Under-Eye Serums

Eye serums are lightweight, watery, or gel-like, with a high concentration of active ingredients that target specific concerns, such as puffiness, under-eye hollows, fine lines, or dark circles. Depending on their formulation and purpose, they tighten, brighten, or repair the delicate under-eye area.

Use them twice a day after cleansing and before applying a moisturizer. Our skin experts recommend (plated)™ EYE Serum and moisture-boosting Desert Vibe Serum.

Desert Vibe moisture boosting serum

Note: Learn the difference between eye serums and eye creams and how to combine them for optimal results.

Under-Eye Creams

Eye creams have a thicker, creamier texture and a lower concentration of active ingredients. Unlike serums, they do not penetrate deeper into the skin, and their primary purpose is to hydrate, nourish, and strengthen the protective layer.

Use them twice a day, after cleansing the skin and applying a serum. Our skin experts recommend ZO Skin Health Eye Brightening Crème and ZO Skin Health Intense Eye Crème, both designed to reduce puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines.

Note: Discover the best eye creams for sensitive skin and dark circles.

Under-Eye Oils

Essential oils are rich in powerful antioxidants, such as vitamins A, E, K, and C, which help keep the skin soft, bright, and young-looking. They reduce the appearance of fine lines, puffiness, and discoloration.

Use only oils diluted with a carrier oil before applying them to the skin and always perform a patch test first. Apply them daily or twice a week, after a serum and moisturizer.

Under-Eye Patches

Under-eye patches can revitalize the under-eye area and provide deep hydration. Depending on their purpose, they may contain caffeine to minimize the bags, hyaluronic acid or glycerin for hydration, collagen to plump the skin, and vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten tone.

Use them in the morning to de-puff the eyes before applying makeup, or at night to hydrate and nourish the under-eye area. Use them daily or twice a week, depending on your beauty goals.

We recommend SkinMedica’s® Instant Bright Eye Mask cooling gel patches, which hydrate, soothe, and instantly refresh the under-eye area.

Under-Eye Skincare Treatments

Cosmetic treatments rejuvenate the skin under your eyes, making it visibly plumper, brighter, and firmer for weeks. With regular follow-ups, you can maintain the youthful, rested appearance for months.

Under-Eye Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers treat tear troughs, restore lost volume, and minimize the appearance of sunken eyes by injecting hyaluronic acid into the target area. The most popular HA-based fillers for the under-eye area are Juvéderm, Restylane, and Versa.

Under-eye fillers are minimally invasive, require no downtime, and can be used every nine to twelve months to maintain a fresh, well-rested look.

Note: Read about the best fillers for the under eyes.

Under-Eye Botox

Under-eye Botox temporarily smooths the lines and creases around the eyes caused by muscle movement. This neurotoxin freezes the muscles around the eyes, eliminating the fine lines and wrinkles caused by repeated muscle contractions, restoring elasticity, and eliminating bagginess.

For longer-lasting smoothness around the eyes, you can combine this treatment with Botox for crow’s feet.

Microneedling

Under-eye microneedling restores lost collagen, fills in the hollows, de-puffs the eyes, and reduces dark spots. Fine, sterile needles create tiny punctures, causing controlled micro-injuries which stimulate collagen synthesis and firm up the delicate under-eye skin.

Note: Find out more about microneedling and other skin benefits, including the reduction of hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and stretch marks.

Sofwave™

Sofwave™ therapy uses advanced ultrasound technology to trigger the skin's natural healing processes, stimulating collagen and elastin production to reduce skin laxity. This minimally invasive procedure is safe for the treatment of mild to moderate lines and wrinkles on the eyelids, resulting in firmer, smoother, and visibly lifted skin. Sofwave improves the appearance of droopy eyelids, crepey skin, crow's feet, and fine lines around the eyes.

Moxi™ Laser

Moxi ™ is a gentle, non-ablative fractional laser therapy that stimulates collagen production to improve both texture and tone. It reduces fine lines and wrinkles, refines texture, reduces dark spots, and minimizes sun damage. It is FDA-approved for treating actinic keratosis but is also safe for the delicate under-eye area when performed by a trained professional.

Moxi treatment at spa

Lifestyle Factors

Aging and genetics are not the only factors that affect the quality of your under-eye skin; your lifestyle choices are also crucial. The good news is that these are within your control, and by making healthier choices, you can improve your skin’s overall appearance and reduce dark circles and under-eye puffiness.

Poor Diet

Nutrient deficiencies due to poor dietary habits or nutrient malabsorption can lead to dry skin, premature wrinkling, and under-eye shadows. Overly processed food full of saturated and trans fats, additives, and artificial sweeteners can worsen skin issues around the eyes by increasing overall inflammation and slowing down repair.

Dehydration

Lack of water can make your under-eye hollows more prominent. Dehydrated skin is more prone to cracking, itching, flaking, and creasing. The underlying blood vessels become more visible as the skin thins, further exaggerating a sunken appearance.

Sun Exposure

Excessive sun exposure accelerates collagen breakdown and stimulates melanin production, contributing to hyperpigmentation, photoaging, and skin laxity. The under-eye region can look darker, and the hollows can appear more pronounced if you do not apply a mineral-based sunscreen to protect this sensitive area.

Note: Learn how to choose a sunscreen that won’t irritate your eyes.

Poor Sleep

Poor sleeping habits make your entire face paler, duller, and more sunken than usual. Lack of sleep also affects fluid balance and blood circulation, leading to more pronounced under-eye puffiness and shadows.

Non-Invasive Under-Eye Rituals

There is a host of effective at-home beauty rituals that can make your under-eye area fresh, bright, and firm.

Cooling Pads

The soothing, cold temperature of the cooling eye pads reduces swelling and calms the sensitive eye area. They can also reduce inflammation by constricting blood vessels. This, in turn, helps minimize dark circles and under-eye shadows.

Use gel pads, cold compresses, or gel eye masks combined with cucumber slices for a few minutes at a time to refresh your eyes and alleviate eye strain.

Gua Sha

Gua sha can remove excess fluid, relax the muscles, and improve blood circulation, brightening the tone, reducing puffiness, and increasing product absorption.

Use facial oils designed for the under-eye area and lightly press the skin using the gua sha tool. Be very gentle to avoid irritating this delicate area. Start at the outer corner of the eye and gently glide the tool upwards, to the temple, and under the brow bone.

Gentle Massage with Oils

You can stimulate microcirculation and reduce fluid retention using under-eye serums and oils. This ritual can also enhance the absorption of other active ingredients used in your daily skincare routine.

Gently pat the under-eye area with your fingertips, starting at the inner and moving to the outer corners, making sure not to press or tug.

Lymphatic Drainage

Not strictly an at-home treatment, lymphatic drainage massage is a technique is that is highly effective for morning puffiness and can also help clear the waste that often dulls the complexion in the eye area. It promotes toxin removal, reduces the bags under your eyes, and prevents fluid retention. For optimal results, schedule a professional lymphatic massage with a certified provider.

Building an Under-Eye Routine

There are no quick fixes or miracle solutions for the under-eye area. Consistent skin care with microbiome-friendly products delivers the best, longest-lasting benefits.

The following guidelines can help you build a solid routine:

  • Make a list of products to use based on their active ingredients and the skin issue you wish to address (e.g., puffiness, skin rejuvenation, pigmentation issues).
  • Cleanse your face thoroughly using mild, soothing ingredients that preserve the barrier.
  • Apply serums and moisturizers designed for the sensitive under-eye region.
  • Use face masks, cooling pads, cool compresses, or nourishing oils at least twice a week.
  • Protect the skin with a mineral-based, high-factor sunscreen formulated specifically for this area.
  • Complement this routine with a non-invasive cosmetic treatment to reach your goals faster.

When to Consult a Professional

Consulting a skincare professional can save you both time and money, especially if you have chronic skin issues that are difficult to manage on your own. Choose an experienced, holistic esthetician to ensure all factors influencing your skin’s health are carefully considered.

Schedule a free consultation with our team at Vibrant Skin to discover the products and treatments best suited to your specific under-eye skin concerns.

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Conclusion

Not everyone wakes up looking refreshed and ready to take on the day. If you struggle with under-eye shadows, puffiness, or fine lines, you now know how to address these issues. These concerns can be effectively improved with proper skin care and targeted treatments.

Contact our team to explore personalized aesthetic solutions designed to restore a youthful, radiant look.

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