How to Apply Eye Cream: Amount, Order and Technique

Short answer: Use a rice-grain amount per eye, about one small pump for both. Dot it along the orbital bone with your ring finger, from the inner to the outer corner, then pat lightly until it sinks in. Never rub, and keep it a few millimetres from the lash line. Apply morning and evening; ours goes on before serum.

• Amount: a grain of rice per eye. More does not work faster.
• Finger: the ring finger, because it presses most lightly.
• Where: along the bone that frames the eye, not on the lid edge or lash line.
• Motion: dot, then pat. No rubbing or dragging.
• When: morning and evening, on clean skin.

How much eye cream should you use?

About a grain of rice for each eye; for most pump bottles, one small pump covers both.

The skin around the eyes is thin and the area is small, so it needs far less product than people expect. Too much does not absorb any better. The excess tends to travel, either into the eye itself, where it can sting, or down into make-up, where it can make concealer slide. If your eye cream still feels wet a few minutes after patting, you used too much.

Where exactly should you apply eye cream?

Along the orbital bone, the ring of bone you can feel around the eye socket, and no closer to the lashes than that.

Under the eye, follow the top of the cheekbone. At the outer corner, include the area where expression lines form when you smile. On the upper side, if the product allows it, stay just below the brow bone rather than on the moving lid. Skin warmth and blinking carry product a little closer to the eye on their own, which is why you start a few millimetres away.

Zone	Apply?	Why
Orbital bone under the eye	Yes	The main area for dryness and fine lines
Outer corner	Yes	Where expression lines form
Under the brow bone	If the label allows	Dry, often overlooked skin
Lash line and inner rim	No	Product migrates into the eye
Moving eyelid	Usually no	Very thin skin; can make eye make-up crease

How do you apply eye cream, step by step?

Dot, pat and wait; the whole thing takes under a minute.

1. Start with clean skin. Morning and evening, after cleansing.
2. Warm the product. Put the amount on your ring finger and touch both ring fingers together to share it.
3. Dot it on. Place three or four small dots along the orbital bone under each eye, inner corner to outer.
4. Pat, do not rub. Tap lightly with the ring finger, moving outwards, until the cream disappears.
5. Wait a moment before the next step, so the cream is not pushed around by your moisturiser.

Our Peptide Anti-Aging Eye Cream follows exactly this method: one small pump on the ring finger, patted around the orbital bone from the inner to the outer corner, morning and evening, without rubbing and avoiding direct contact with the eyes. It combines peptides with vitamins C and E and sodium PCA, helps smooth the look of fine lines and crow's feet, and keeps the area feeling hydrated. The texture absorbs quickly, so it sits comfortably under make-up.

Does eye cream go before or after serum?

Either order works; what matters is doing it the same way each time and keeping face serum away from the eye.

There are two sensible conventions. The first follows texture, thinnest to thickest: serum on the face, then eye cream, then moisturiser. The second puts eye cream first, so the delicate area is covered before you spread serum and moisturiser over the rest of the face, which makes it less likely that stronger face products drift towards the eye. The directions for our eye cream use the second order. Pick one and keep it.

In the morning, finish with sunscreen, taking it up to the orbital bone as well. The eye area sees as much daylight as the rest of the face, and our eye cream contains no SPF.

When will you see a difference?

Comfort and hydration on the first day; a smoother look to fine lines over eight to twelve weeks if the formula is peptide-based.

Hydrated skin looks smoother almost at once, because water plumps the surface slightly. Peptides work over a longer horizon, and eight to twelve weeks of twice-daily use is a fair test. Anything promising faster is overselling. Our guide to peptides explains why the timeline is what it is.

What eye cream won't do

It cares for the skin's surface; it cannot change bone structure, genetics or sleep.

• It will not remove shadows caused by the shape of the eye socket or by pigment you were born with.
• It will not drain puffiness that comes from salt, alcohol, crying or a short night. Cool water and sleep help more.
• It will not erase deep expression lines. It can soften the look of finer, dryness-related ones.
• It will not replace sunscreen.

Sudden swelling, persistent itching or redness around the eyes is a reason to stop and speak to a doctor or pharmacist.

Common mistakes

• Using too much. The excess migrates into the eye and stings.
• Rubbing. Friction tugs on thin skin and pushes product towards the lashes.
• Applying it to the lash line. Start at the bone; let warmth do the rest.
• Skipping it in the morning. Twice daily is the routine the timelines assume.
• Ignoring fragrance. Our eye cream has a soft rose and geranium scent from added fragrance. If your eyes are easily irritated, patch test it behind the jaw first.

Frequently asked questions

Which finger should I use to apply eye cream?

The ring finger. It is the weakest finger, so it naturally presses most lightly on thin skin. Pat rather than rub, working from the inner corner outwards.

Can I put eye cream on my eyelids?

Only if the product says so. Most eye creams are designed for the orbital bone and under-eye area. On the moving lid, product can migrate into the eye and make eye make-up crease.

Should I apply eye cream in the morning or at night?

Both, if the product is designed for twice-daily use, as ours is. A lightweight eye cream sits well under make-up in the morning; at night it gets hours to work undisturbed.

Can I use my face moisturiser around my eyes instead?

Some people do without trouble. Many face creams say to avoid the eye area, though, and eye creams are formulated for thinner skin and lighter textures. Check your moisturiser's directions first.

Why does my eye cream sting?

Usually because too much was applied, it was placed too close to the lashes, or it migrated as you slept. Use less, start further out, and stop if stinging continues or redness appears.

The eye cream sits alongside our serums and moisturisers in the skincare collection.

Last reviewed: October 2026.