The Eye Cream Mistake You May Be Making

When a beauty product is billed as maximum-strength, I’m in. Why waste time with something that provides moderate results when a super-charged formula gets you to the finish line quicker?

Not so fast. Renee Rouleau, an esthetician with eponymous skincare centers in Dallas and Austin, says that when it comes to eye creams, easing off the gas is advisable. “While I am a huge proponent of using an eye cream, I tell my clients to skip any that are billed as heavy or super rich,” she says. “Your skin can only absorb so much moisture, and when you apply a thick and greasy formula, especially overnight, the oils can run into the eyes. That seepage often causes puffiness, like you were crying all night.” 

A few light, but effective formulas that will smooth but not cause swelling: Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel ($42; sephora.com); Clinique All About Eyes Cream-Gel ($32; clinique.com); Mario Badescu Ceramide Eye Gel ($18; ulta.com); Renee Rouleau Total Eye Repair Cream ($62; reneerouleau.com); and the one I am using right now, Beauty Rx Gentle Exfoliating Eye Cream ($60; beautyrx.com).