I don’t recommend applying cream on the upper eyelid. Read why: |
Where
one should apply their eye cream seems to be a big mystery to a lot of
people. Looking over photos on the Internet reinforces my opinion that
most people apply it incorrectly. I have included some photos from what look
like homemade how-tos in order to give you my take on how to—or rather how not to apply your eye cream.
There
are several things that are wrong about the eye cream application in
the photo above. I will say, however, that perhaps the cream was applied
how and where it was for the sake of the photograph—to show up better. But since I wasn’t at this lady’s home when she took the photo, I will give a critique of how it looks like she was going to apply her eye cream and why you don’t want to do it this way.
First of all, she has applied way too much product. The skin around your eyes is the thinnest anywhere on your body. Therefore it cannot absorb much of anything—including a thick, emollient hydrating cream. Less is more when it comes to how much eye cream to apply.
Next is where she has applied it. Actually—no. I really can’t get past how much cream she has used! Once she pats that into her skin, well patting probably won’t work. There is just too much product!
The
young woman in this image has also applied way too much cream and, similar to the
first photo, not in the right areas. First, using too much product can and
will cause edema (puffiness) because the skin is thin around the eyes
and it simply cannot absorb much cream. Next, you really don’t
need to apply your eye cream so far into the nose area. Look in the
mirror, squint, and where your lines are forming is essentially where you
want the eye cream to go. Applying cream in the middle part of the eye
area toward the nose may also cause edema or even dark circles. This
tissue doesn’t have the capability of taking in all of that cream.
I don’t recommend applying eye creams above your eyes, on your upper eyelids, because it leaves the potential for the eye cream to migrate (move) down into your eyes. If you apply eye cream on your eyelid at night before going to bed, that would be OK. You will be asleep with your eyes closed all night so the cream should stay put. But then again, why apply eye cream on an area that simply doesn’t need it? Your eyelid doesn’t generally wrinkle or age. It’s under the eyes that you want to put the eye treatment you’re using—where your wrinkles are forming. This is where you want to apply eye cream.
For more information, see:
- EYE CREAM: WHY you want to use it & HOW TO apply this all-important skin care product
- Eye Creams 101: What to use?
- The Forgotten Places: The Eye Area