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As an esthetician, I have been asked many times if using a separate moisturizer for the eye area is necessary if you are already using a face cream.

The answer is ‘yes’ and I’ll tell you why.

Eye moisturizers are formulated differently for the delicate skin surrounding the eye. First of all, this skin is indeed thinner around the eye and shows signs of aging more quickly than other areas of the face do. This thin skin makes it more delicate and vulnerable, and also more prone to allergic reactions than other facial skin.

The skin around the eyes also gets a much greater workout; every time you move your eyes, whether you squint, smile or widen them in surprise, you're working the tiny muscles around your eyes. Over time, this skin dries out and forms small wrinkles, sometimes called crow's feet.

Smoking and sun exposure can also encourage wrinkles to form here. The skin under the eyes can be prone to puffiness and fluid build up, as well as allergies and sinus issues. As we age, the skin surrounding the eyes becomes thinner , underlying veins become more prominent and dark circles form. This can be caused by heredity, lack of sleep, too much sun exposure and aging. Unlike skin on the rest of your face, the skin surrounding the eye area does not contain oil glands that can help keep this skin moist, thus keeping the eye area moisturized and hydrated is important to keep the skin around the eye healthy.

Eye creams usually contain emollients or moisturizers that can help hydrate the drier eye skin giving it a smoother appearance and feel. To combat the appearance of wrinkles, eye creams can also contain ingredients that help boost collagen.

Collagen is a protein that keeps skin strong and helps smooth out wrinkles, but as we age, skin produces less collagen. Eye creams with retinol-a derivative of vitamin A-are marketed to increase collagen production. Antioxidant ingredients, such as vitamin C, and peptides also assist in retaining collagen in the skin and can be found in many eye creams claiming to target aging skin.

Natural eye creams will avoid using chemical constituents to target wrinkles and fine line. Some natural anti-aging eye creams may contain ingredients such as, infusion of beta carotene, Aloe vera for skin healing, essential oils such as lavender or rosemary to reduce inflammation, and proprietary moisturizing oils like sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or even fish oil as well as vitamins E, A and C.

Some creams can even contain caffeine, which can help reduce the appearance of bags under the eyes. Eye creams fight dark circles by temporarily puffing up skin so the blood vessels underneath aren't as prevalent. Eye creams also tend to be thicker than facial lotions, and the thicker product will penetrate the thin, mobile skin.

Many experts recommend using a separate eye cream for the eye skin rather than relying on face cream to target the delicate skin. When choosing an eye moisturizer look for ingredients that will target your specific concern and remember that eye creams will not magically make wrinkles disappear. An eye cream should most of all be gentle, hypo allergenic and tested and approved by a Dermatologist and/or an Opthamologist.

By Tiffany Oney -  a licensed esthetician, professional makeup artist and natural skincare authority with a BA in Communication Studies.