The Only Finger You Should Use To Apply Eye Cream
Out of all the parts of our face that have creams specifically targeted at them, the under-eye area always seems to get the most attention. It's well-deserved, according to Beverly Hills MD. The cosmeceutical company explains that the skin directly underneath our eyes differs from the rest in several crucial ways. Unlike other skin, the under-eye area is extraordinarily thin thanks to it being right over the eye hollows in the skull.
With no bone structure there to offer the skin extra support, it's very delicate too. This fragility is why your under-eye area deserves super gentle treatment and also why it's prone to so many issues. Problems like puffy eye bags and dark circles can cause you to look tired and older than your actual age. While eye creams will certainly help, you could be causing more distress to your skin if you're applying them with the wrong finger.
Your ring finger is best when applying eye cream
Here's a real eye-opener: Embarking on a new skincare routine for your under-eye area could be a potentially hazardous decision if you don't do it right. If you use rough hands, you might just cause irreparable damage to a very sensitive part of your face — and one that shows damage more than most, too. The sensitivity of your under-eye area means it is extremely prone to damage.
Putting any kind of product there with even a tad too much force could cause irritation and the development of fine lines, which are both signs that your skincare routine is doing more harm than good. To keep your skin from undergoing the stress of being pulled too roughly, Corey L. Hartman, MD, who is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama, suggests eye cream converts only use their ring fingers during application.
As he informed Byrdie, "Your ring finger will apply less pressure to the delicate eye area than your pointer finger would." Hartman continued, "[This] can help reduce pulling or tugging at the skin, which can lead to fine lines and wrinkles."
Other ways to protect the delicate under-eye area
Being gentle during your skincare routine can protect your under-eye area from further damage but the actual moisturization gained from whichever cream you use is hugely important too. According to Healthline, the skin beneath our eyes lacks oil glands, which moisturize the rest of your face. Because our under-eye area doesn't get this luxury, it can easily become dry and irritated.
Using an eye cream not only soothes this area but also provides plenty of moisturization, which will help with its appearance overall. You might be able to just use your regular moisturizer, but if there's any adverse reaction in this particular area, switch to a dedicated eye cream instead. Elsewhere, reducing your screen time could make a drastic improvement in the appearance of your under-eye area too.
In an interview with Woman & Home, Bhavin Shah, founder of Central Vision Opticians, said, "Take lots of breaks from screens and devices and remember the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at an object over 20 feet away for 20 seconds." He went on to suggest taking a break from all screens for at least five minutes every hour too.