How to Apply Eye Cream in 3 Steps, According to Dermatologists

by Men's Health | Jul 3, 2026 | Grooming

Maybe its hereditary insomnia, or maybe it’s the 16 hours every day I spend staring at screens, but I don’t always get the best sleep. While I’ve long grown accustomed to operating day-to-day without a quality eight hours, the evidence is always apparent through dark circles and puffiness under my eyes. Of course, rather than develop a healthier relationship with sleep, I rely on eye creams to reverse this impact. And, somewhat unfortunately, it works.

Just like face wash, serum, and moisturiser, eye creams are most effective when used twice a day—morning and night. These nifty creams not only erase dark circles and puffiness, but they’re the best option for fighting signs of ageing around the eyes, like fine lines, wrinkles, and the dreaded crow’s feet. According to dermatologist Dr. Chang Son, MD, the skin eye area is particularly vulnerable to signs of ageing and other blemishes because the skin is much thinner than the rest of your face.

Cream designed specifically for this area offers better protection and hydration than a standard moisturiser, and will also minimise irritation. Still, eye creams only work when used properly because this area of the face can be quite fickle. So I spoke with a few dermatologists about the best practices when applying.

Step One: Wash Your Face

Just like most skincare products, apply eye cream after cleansing or washing your face. This will remove any dirt, oil, and bacteria from the area, so that the cream can absorb properly and work most effectively. According to dermatologist and facial cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Ariel Ostad, MD, the ideal order should be as follows: cleanser, serum, eye cream, moisturiser, sunscreen, performed twice a day while dropping the SPF from the routine at night. By doing this, the thinner formulas will penetrate effectively before the thicker products seal everything in, he says.

Step Two: Aim for the Right Spots

Dr. Ostad says that men should mostly stick to applying eye cream along the orbital bone—the bony ridge around your eye socket—avoiding direct contact with the eyelid or getting too close to the lash line. This will help mitigate any irritation and minimize the risk of getting product in your eyes, which I can confirm, will burn. While it’s not needed, if you can tolerate applying above the eye, Dr. Ostad recommends only using a small amount.

Step Three: Apply Minimally

Just like wearing cologne or casting Jared Leto, it’s really easy to overdo it with eye cream. Dr. Son recommends only using a pea-sized amount of the product before applying with a gentle tapping motion rather than excessive rubbing. This will help to evenly distribute the product. Dermatologist Dr. Danny Guo. Says the most common mistake he sees when men are applying eye cream is using too much, especially if this is done on the upper eyelids.

Using too much or applying it too close to the lash line can cause the product to migrate into the eyes and trigger irritation, he says. If the eye cream comes in an applicator, that’ll do most of the work for you. These built-in tips are usually made of cooling metal and help you glide under the eyes to gently dispense and massage the product along the orbital bone, which promotes even application, says Dr. Guo.

The Best Eye Creams for Men

When it comes to choosing an eye cream, the most important factor is what specific concern you’re looking to address, as this will indicate what ingredients to focus on. Dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Mark, MD, has two favorite ingredients to look for in eye creams: hyaluronic acid and peptides.

Hyaluronic acid draws in and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, he says, helping hydrate and plump the skin to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles while also minimising dark circles caused by uneven contours. Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids, signal the skin to produce more collagen, helping firm and tighten the delicate eyelid area.

For hyaluronic acid formulas, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Eye Gel-Cream and CeraVe Eye Repair Cream are hard to beat, with each offering max hydration and moisture to depuff and reduce dark circles. Plus, they’re both under R200. On the peptide end of things, Dermalogica Awaken Peptide Eye Gel is a great option. It’s packed with peptides that work alongside a slew of antioxidants to firm, lift, and smooth fine lines, while caffeine helps reduce puffiness and dark circles by tightening skin and boosting circulation. The gentle, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula also suits sensitive skin without clogging pores or causing irritation.

If it’s an applicator you want, look no further than Environ C-Quence Eye Gel. Not only does the smooth, metal tip give me a nice chilling feeling, while evenly distributing the silky gel—which absorbs in seconds—but it includes a Hall of Fame list of ingredients. Imagine being in a room with Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, and whoever the baseball GOAT is; that’s what’s happening inside this tube with skin-boosting mainstays.

Sure, there’s hyaluronic acid for hydration and peptides to boost collagen for firmness, but there’s also vitamin C to brighten and even skin tone while defending against environmental stressors, and vitamin B5 that helps hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier to reduce dryness and sensitivity. Antioxidants, like glutathione and ergothioneine, then protect against oxidative damage, while fermented extracts and gold (!) help tighten, smooth texture, and boost overall radiance. It’s pricey (see: gold), to be clear, but if you can swing the high tag, your under eyes will never look better.

However, my best overall eye cream, especially considering it’s only R297, is the Skin Functional Regenerative Eye Cream. This no-nonsense stands out as a revolutionary breakthrough in anti-aging skincare. Formulated with cutting-edge ingredients like sh-Oligopeptide-1 (EGF), hydrolyzed DNA, ceramides, peptides, niacinamide, and squalane, this hydrating serum targets fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness while repairing the skin barrier and boosting hydration. Perfect for those seeking an effective anti-ageing eye cream that delivers visible results without harsh chemicals, our formula harnesses the best of science and nature to rejuvenate your complexion.