The delicate skin around the eyes is especially vulnerable to the early signs of aging. In addition to offering hydrating benefits, the best eye creams help to visibly brighten dark under-eye circles, soothe puffy eyes and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

It’s never too early to begin using an eye cream! Skincare is a long game, so the sooner you start using products that work to smooth, firm and brighten, the longer your skin—including the skin around your eyes—will maintain a youthful-looking appearance.

To ensure you don’t tug or pull delicate eye area skin, the best way to apply eye cream is with your ring finger, which is the weakest finger. Use a gentle tapping motion to apply eye cream around your entire eye area, including under your eyes, along your orbital bone and under your brows. To soothe puffy eyes, try a product like Bye Bye Baggage™, which comes with a cooling application tool.

Using eye cream both morning and night as part of your anti-aging skincare routine will help to maximize its benefits. However, if you only want to apply eye cream once a day, it’s better to do so in the morning. The best brightening eye cream will help reduce the look of dark circles throughout the day while also providing a smooth surface for your concealer application.