How to care for under eyes

In some beauty circles the eye area is viewed as some kind of hallowed beast. We're warned it's particularly delicate, the skin is thin and the place we're most likely to show our age.

So of course we should invest in a swanky eye cream to stop sagging, zap dark circles and reduce puffiness. But actually that's only part of the story.

It's true that the eye area is delicate, but that doesn't necessarily mean you need a special cream for it. Many people use their everyday moisturiser and if you don't suffer any irritation following suit then stick with it. There are obviously some great eye creams too, so if you like using separate products on different parts of your face then go with it.

The most important thing about caring for the eye area is to be gentle. Whether you use a special cream or not, you need to apply it without too much pressure. Use your ring finger to pat and roll the product as it's the one with the weakest muscles.

Don't drag the moisturiser or buff it into skin, both of which can make you wrinkle quicker and cause irritation. Also, don't be shy about where you apply your product. Yes you want to slick it on your dark circles, but you also need to get the outside of the eye and your lid. Just don't go too close to the lash line, as that can cause a reaction.

You also need to consider when to apply your cream. There is no set rule for this; it depends on what you're using. In general the lightest part of your regime needs to be applied first so it can work its way into the skin properly.

Thicker creams go on later as they are able to work through layers of skincare in a way lighter ones aren't. So if your eye cream is lighter than your serum put it on first, if not stick it on afterwards.

If you opt for a proper eye cream, don't skimp on how much you apply or trowel it on with a shovel. Three pumps or drops should be enough, but the easiest way to check if you've got the amount right is to touch your skin after application.

If it's dry go in for round two, if it's still slick you've got carried away.