Retinol is one of the few skincare ingredients that makes a tangible difference. Here, we run through the best retinol eye products that won’t cause irritation.
Retinol. It’s one of the few skincare ingredients proven to deliver transformative results and is a firm favourite amongst dermatologists. Derived from vitamin A, retinols improve cell turnover, help fade pigmentation, encourages collagen production and reduces spots.
However, retinol can cause skin sensitivity and irritation. “We speak to a lot of people who have burnt their face with retinol because they didn’t really know what retinol was,” says Colette Newbury, co-founder of The INKEY List. If you’re a beginner, experts recommend building up your skin’s tolerance. Start with a low percentage two to three times a week, gradually working your way up to every night.
You may also like
5 of the best beauty editor-approved retinol creams
Unfortunately, while its hailed as a holy grail ingredient, its associations with skin irritation means some people worry about applying it to more sensitive areas of the face, such as your eyes. But this area is actually one of the key places to apply retinol. “Fine lines will start to appear here, which is one the benefits to retinol” explains Mary Curry, co-founder of The INKEY List.
As retinol encourages collagen production, it leaves skin plump and smooth. While you should of course be careful of getting retinol too close to your eyes, it’s fine to apply it around the contour of the eye. In fact, The INKEY List even made its own retinol eye cream.
“We’ve got a slow release retinol in there at 0.1% actual retinol,” says Curry. “This is because it’s working overtime overnight, so you’re going to get the impact.”
Eager to give it a go? Here’s some of our favourite retinol eye creams…
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum
Packed full of red algae extract that helps with skin’s elasticity and three-part retinol formula, Murad’s eye serum is a lightweight cream that’s gentle enough for you under-eyes.
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream
Reknown for their transparency in the skincare world, The Inkey List’s eye cream is a rich cream that both nourishes and smooths out fine lines.
Medik8 Advanced Eye Vitamin A Serum
Designed specifically to be used at night, Medik8’s eye serum a pretty low dose of retinol, 0.1%, that’s combined with moisturising vitamin E to feel as gentle as possible.
Main image: Getty