Eye cream vs eye serum: which one do you need?

Eye cream vs eye serum is a smaller decision than it looks. Both are made for the same patch of skin, both go on with a fingertip, and neither is compulsory. The difference is mostly how they feel and what else is in the bottle. Here is how to choose, using the two we make as worked examples, plus the two other eye formats in our range that are neither.

Why the eye area gets its own products

The skin around the eyes is very thin, so it dries out and gets irritated easily, says Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD. That is the case for a product made for the area: a lighter texture, a small dose, applied by patting instead of rubbing.

It is also why many face creams tell you to stay away from the eyes. Our Peptide AM-PM Cream and Glow Face Oil both say so in their directions.

Eye cream vs eye serum, side by side

When an eye serum is the better pick

Choose a serum if you dislike the feel of cream near your lashes, if you wear concealer most days, or if you simply want the lightest option. Our Retinol Alternative Eye Serum is a light fluid with a dewy finish, made for all skin types, for under-eyes that look smoother and fresher.

Aloe leaf juice is its base, with hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA to hydrate, and jojoba and castor oils. It is retinol-free, 100% natural origin, and COSMOS Natural certified. Use it morning and night, then follow with moisturizer, and with sunscreen in the morning.

When an eye cream is the better pick

Choose a cream if the skin around your eyes feels dry by midday, or if your skin is mature. Dr. Khetarpal's ingredient guide points to hydrating ingredients for dryness and peptides for skin that has lost some firmness.

Our Peptide Eye Cream is made for mature skin. It is a light cream with hexapeptide-11 for a smoother-looking eye area, 2% sodium PCA to draw in moisture, borage and jojoba oils and mango seed butter. It softens the look of fine lines and keeps the area feeling hydrated, and it is 99% natural origin and COSMOS Natural certified.

One honest note covers both. Each contains fragrance and natural essential oil components. Dr. Khetarpal notes that strongly scented products can irritate delicate skin, so patch test first if your skin is reactive, and skip them if you avoid fragrance.

How to apply either one

1. Start with clean skin.
2. Take a small amount on a fingertip. One small dose covers both eyes. Dr. Khetarpal suggests patting it on gently with your ring finger.
3. Pat, do not rub, from the inner corner outward.
4. Keep it out of the eyes themselves.
5. Let it settle before makeup.

If you use both, the thin-to-thick rule applies: serum first, cream after. For the rest of the routine, see skincare routine steps; for the eye step, follow each product's own directions.

Two eye formats that are neither

A booster. The Caffeine Gel Booster is a light gel with 1% caffeine. You do not put it on by itself: mix 1 to 3 drops into your eye cream or moisturizer in your palm, for a fresher, less puffy look. It is oil-free, made for mature or oily skin, and contains alcohol and fragrance.

Patches. Our Caffeine Eye Patches are cool hydrogel patches you wear for about 15 minutes when your eyes look tired, then pat in what is left. They are made for normal to dry skin. They come before your eye cream, not in place of it.

More on both: how long to leave eye patches on and caffeine for under-eyes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between eye cream and eye serum?

Texture, mostly. An eye serum is a light fluid that pats in quickly; an eye cream is thicker and more cushioning. The ingredients differ by product, so read the label for what each one is built around.

Should you use eye serum and eye cream together?

You can, with the serum first and the cream on top. One is enough for most routines, so choose by texture and by the skin type each product names.

What is the difference between face cream and eye cream?

An eye cream is made for the thin skin around the eyes and is applied in a small amount with a fingertip. Many face creams, including our Peptide AM-PM Cream, are meant to avoid the eye area.

Where should you not apply eye cream?

Not in the eyes themselves. Pat it around the eye area from the inner corner outward and avoid direct contact with the eyes.

Do you put eye cream on before or after moisturizer?

Follow the product's own directions. Our Peptide Eye Cream goes on after your serum and face cream; our eye serum goes on first, before moisturizer. As a general rule, go from lightest to heaviest.

Do I really need a separate eye product?

No. It is optional. It is worth having if you want the eye area in your routine, since many face products are meant to be kept away from it.

Sources

Cleveland Clinic (Shilpi Khetarpal, MD). How to choose the right eye cream. 2022. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/hello-bright-eyes-how-to-pick-the-eye-cream-thats-right-for-you
Product details are taken from the exokiss product pages. This article is general information, not medical advice.