Can you use RoC retinol eye cream on eyelids?

Why be careful on eyelids?

The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your body. Retinol can cause dryness, redness, peeling, itching and burning, so applying it to delicate eyelid skin is not the same decision as applying it elsewhere on your face. An eye cream can target wrinkles around the eyes without being suitable for every part of the eyelid.23

Which eye creams can you use on eyelids?

Choose a product whose directions explicitly include the eyelid area you want to moisturize. Eye creams target concerns around the eyes, but the product name is doing less work than the directions. Do not treat general instructions to apply a cream "around the eyes" as specific permission to cover the movable upper lid.23

For dryness, moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides are useful options. Strongly scented creams can irritate and dry delicate eye skin. Ingredient choice helps you select a product for your concern; the application directions still determine where to use it.1

How do you use RoC Retinol Correxion eye cream?

Follow the application area and amount printed on your exact RoC product. The following is a general way to introduce a retinol eye cream, not a substitute for RoC's product directions.2

1. 1Test a little on a small area of skin first. Wait a couple of days and check for redness or itching before adding it to your routine.
2. 2At bedtime, wash with a gentle cleanser and pat your skin dry. Do not scrub.
3. 3Use a small amount within the product's permitted application area. Gently pat with your ring finger rather than pulling or rubbing, and keep the cream out of your eyes.
4. 4Start every other night rather than jumping straight to nightly use. Increase gradually only if your skin tolerates it and the product directions permit it.
5. 5Finish with moisturizer. During the day, use sunscreen and other sun protection because retinoids increase sun sensitivity.

If you already use a prescription skin treatment, follow its application instructions rather than replacing them with this routine. Avoid piling several antiaging products onto the same area: using too many, especially multiple antiaging treatments, can irritate skin.25

Should you use eye cream on eyelids?

Choose by the concern you want to address, not simply because a product is called eye cream. Moisturizing ingredients help dry skin, while retinol targets fine lines by supporting collagen production. Hydration can make fine lines less visible, which is a useful job for a cream without asking it to renovate the entire eye area.1

Expect retinol changes over weeks to months, not overnight. Visible wrinkle improvement usually takes several months. The precise benefit of retinol on eyelids is less certain than its benefit on facial skin generally, so do not extend application onto your lids to chase faster results.23

Who should avoid it, and when should you stop?

Do not use retinoids during pregnancy. If your skin is already dry, inflamed or prone to allergies, consider an alternative rather than starting retinol on eyelids. Irritation can also trigger dark marks in darker skin tones.4

Stop using the cream if it causes eyelid irritation or swelling. If your eyes or eyelids swell while wearing contact lenses, remove the lenses immediately. Swelling that lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours needs assessment by an eye care professional; do not keep applying eye cream to treat it.6