Though primarily for anti-aging purposes, you can start using a retinol eye cream as early as your 20s and 30s. Follow these application guidelines from GH Beauty Lab and dermatologist experts:
✔️Read the instructions. “For best results, follow the manufacturer directions of the individual product you are using,” Wnek recommends. “It’s also imperative to read any warnings on the label.“
✔️Only apply at night. “Retinols are not meant for daytime use, as they break down when exposed to UV light,” Dr. Yeh explains.
✔️Build up a tolerance. If you’re not used to using retinol around your eyes, “go slowly,” advises Anthony Rossi, M.D., the founder of Dr. Rossi DERM MD and a dermatologist in New York City. “Apply a pea-sized amount or less and start by using it one to two times per week, increasing the frequency over a month until it can be tolerated nightly.”
✔️Be gentle. “Place a small pump or dab of eye cream on the pad of the fourth finger and gently tap the cream onto the lower eyelid then the upper eyelid [if indicated on the product’s packaging],” Dr. Yeh says. “The ring finger is the weakest finger, and you will be less likely to apply creams with too much force on the delicate skin around the eye.”
✔️Hydrate and protect skin. “When using a product with retinol, you will also need a heavier moisturizer to combat any irritation,” Dr. Rossi says. “And since retinol can cause sun sensitivity, it is especially important to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher daily.”
