Derm DMs: Should You Apply Sunscreen Around Your Eye Area?
June 28, 2022
We know that applying sunscreen all over our face every day is vital, but should we be skipping the delicate eye area? Should we just be sticking to SPF eye creams instead? We consulted with board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, for her take on the subject. Ahead, she breaks down the process of applying sunscreen around your eye area, plus other post-sun eye cream recommendations.
How Do You Apply Sunscreen Around the Eye Area?
According to Dr. Nazarian, SPF is just as important around the eye area as it is on any part of your face. “It is safe to apply sunscreen around your eyes, but the one thing you must keep in mind is that this area is more delicate and more sensitive than other areas of the face,” she says. This means that you should look for products that won’t run into the eyes, could be applied near the eye area and don’t have ingredients that could be irritating to the eyes.
What Are the Best Products to Use Near the Eye Area?
“Many sunscreens contain ingredients that make them smell better, such as perfume or fragrance, but these same products could increase the potential for stinging and burning around your eyes,” says Dr. Nazarian. She notes that an easy trick to avoid this is to look for sunscreens that contain zinc or titanium, which are physical/mineral blockers that are generally less irritating than chemical sunscreens. We recommend the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen For Face SPF 50 which is fragrance-free and color correcting. For an eye-specific sunscreen, try the Skinceuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50.
If you’re planning to work out or be active, Dr. Nazarian recommends trying a sport sunscreen for this area as well. “It’s important to find products that remain in place with activity so that they don’t travel or drip into your eyes throughout the day.”
Post-Sun & Beyond
For your everyday eye cream application, we also recommend swapping a vitamin C infused eye cream into your routine to protect the skin from free radicals. We love the Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum or the Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream to help zap dark circles and discoloration.
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