It seems like every day, there is a different eye cream release that promises to be life-changing. I don't know about you, but here, we love trying eye creams. Sometimes, we notice they don't make much of a difference, which is disappointing. But sometimes, they make a huge difference, so what gives? Do eye creams actually work on the skin, or is it just some kind of placebo effect?

We have a lot of questions about the world of eye creams, and we're going to do a dive to let you know if eye creams really are worth the investment. 

What is an eye cream?

Let's define eye cream to understand if it actually works. Many people think it is just a tiny moisturizer that does the same things as a facial moisturizer. However, that is not actually true.

Eye creams are created to specifically cater to the delicate and thin skin around your eyes. WebMD cited a dermatologist as saying that eye creams are higher in actives than moisturizers and have more oil in them than facial moisturizers. 

Do they actually work? 

The answer is yes, but also no. 

Like any other skincare product, eye creams are meant to address specific concerns. Some concerns are easier to remedy than others, which can make all the difference in a product's effectiveness. Business Insider reported that effective eye creams have ingredients that can bind water to your skin and help with skin texture and appearance. Ingredients that can help retain your skin's moisture will impact your undereyes the most. 

When it comes to effective eye creams, hydrating eye creams top the list. If your undereyes are dry, a hydrating cream is one of the easiest solutions. Plenty of eye creams were created to moisturize this sensitive area, so it should be easy to find one that works for you. Some trustworthy ingredients to keep an eye out for are hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

Eye creams can actually help with fine lines and wrinkles. Fine lines and wrinkles are caused by the loss of collagen and elastin, which happens as you get older and can also result from too much time in the sun. To remedy these concerns, effective eye creams use ingredients such as vitamin C, peptides, and retinol.  

When eye creams don't work 

Eye creams that do not work effectively fall short when it comes to dark circles. Sure, they can help reduce them a bit, but they can not entirely eliminate them. If you are concerned about your undereye circles, we suggest going to a doctor. 

Another concern where they fall short is reducing puffiness. Business Insider said that this is something that works temporarily, but it is not a permanent solution to getting rid of them.