Eye cream is one of the products with the greatest gap between price and active efficacy. Premium packaging with 3ml of product, key ingredients at the end of the INCI list, and claims promising results in 24 hours for processes that take 8–12 weeks. There's a smarter way to choose.

What Periocular Skin Needs

The skin around the eyes has particularities that justify specific products:

• 0.5mm thickness vs. 2mm on the rest of the face — actives penetrate more easily but also irritate more easily
• Absence of sebaceous glands — without natural sebum protection, dries quickly
• Constant exposure to muscular movement — expression lines form here first
• Proximity to conjunctival mucosa — no fragrances, no alcohol

Actives With Evidence for This Zone

Signalling Peptides (Argireline, Syn-ake)

Reduce muscular tension in the orbicular muscles — the topical botox claim, with modest but measurable results in 4–8 weeks of consistent use.

Bakuchiol (Retinol Alternative)

Cell renewal without retinol's irritation risk — critical in this zone. Retinol can cause severe flaking and sensitivity in periocular skin; bakuchiol offers comparable renewal without this risk.

What Doesn't Belong in an Eye Cream

• Retinol at concentrations >0.1% — high risk of periocular irritation
• AHAs at standard concentrations — too irritating for such thin skin
• Fragrances or essential oils — risk of sensitisation and eye irritation