Eye cream before or after moisturizer

The short rule: serum, eye cream, then moisturizer

The order most brands and routine guides give is thinnest to thickest. Watery steps go first, then serums, then eye cream, then face cream, then oil if you use one. In the morning, sunscreen goes on last. At night, a sleeping mask goes on last if you use one.

Eye cream lands before moisturizer for two plain reasons. Most eye creams are lighter than a rich face cream, so they fit the thin to thick order. And when you apply eye cream first, you can then smooth face cream around the eye area without dragging it onto the lids. Our routine order guide covers every step, and the routine order builder gives you the order for the steps you actually use.

Morning and night routine order with eye cream

The position of eye cream does not change between morning and night. What changes is the last step: sunscreen in the morning, and an optional sleeping mask or heavier cream at night.

Note.Some eye creams are labeled for morning only or evening only. Check the box. For example, the Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream listing says to pat it in each morning, while the Augustinus Bader Rich Eye Cream listing says morning or evening.

When eye cream goes after moisturizer

There are two common exceptions. The first is a brand that tells you otherwise. Some lines are designed as a set and the brand gives its own order on the box or website; when that happens, follow the brand for its own products. The second is a very rich eye cream or balm that is thicker than your face cream. If your face product is a light gel-cream and your eye cream is a dense balm, putting the eye cream on last also fits the thin to thick idea.

Eye serums are a separate case. They are thinner than eye creams and go before them. The Lancome Absolue Revitalizing Eye Serum listing, for example, says to use one pump morning and evening on clean skin before eye cream. If you use both, the order is eye serum, eye cream, then face moisturizer.

How much eye cream to use and how to apply it

Most brands suggest a small amount: about a rice grain for both eyes, or a little more if the cream is light. Using more does not help the jar last and can migrate toward the lash line. See how to apply eye cream for the full technique.

1. 1

   Finish your serum and let it settle for a few seconds.

2. 2

   Take a rice-grain amount on the ring finger, using a spatula for jars.

3. 3

   Warm it between both ring fingers.

4. 4

   Tap small dots along the orbital bone under the eye and along the brow bone above it.

5. 5

   Pat gently until the dots blend in. Do not rub or pull the skin.

6. 6

   Stay off the lash line and the lids unless the box says the product is for the lid too.

7. 7

   Apply face moisturizer, working around the eye area rather than over it.

Do you need eye cream if you use a face cream

This is a personal choice, not a rule. Eye creams are formulated and tested by brands for use around the eyes, and they often come in smaller jars with a lighter texture or a fragrance-free formula. Some people prefer that for the eye area. Others use their face cream around the eyes, which is fine if the face cream box allows it. Our eye cream vs face cream page compares the two on texture, size and price per ml.

If you do buy one, compare by size. Eye creams usually come in 15 ml jars, so the price per ml is far higher than a 50 ml face cream. The best luxury eye cream guide lists jar sizes so you can compare with the price per ml calculator.

Compare luxury eye creams by size →

Common mistakes with eye cream order

If an eye cream pills or rolls when you put moisturizer on top, use less and wait a little longer between layers. The moisturizer pilling fix walks through the usual causes.

• Putting eye cream on after sunscreen. Sunscreen should be the last step in the morning.
• Applying face cream first, then eye cream on top of it. It can work, but it makes the eye cream harder to place and often wastes product.
• Using too much and getting cream on the lash line.
• Rubbing instead of patting. Tapping with the ring finger uses the lightest pressure.
• Skipping the box directions for products sold as a matched line, such as a single-brand eye and face routine.

Frequently asked questions

Does eye cream go before or after serum? After. Serum goes on first, then eye cream, then moisturizer. If you use an eye serum, it goes before eye cream too.

Should eye cream go on before or after sunscreen? Before. Sunscreen is the last step of the morning routine. Some people apply sunscreen around the eye area too, so check that your sunscreen box allows it.

Can I put eye cream on my eyelids? Only if the box says the product is for the lid. Many eye creams say to apply along the orbital bone and avoid the lid and lash line.

Do I wait between eye cream and moisturizer? A short pause of a minute or so lets the eye cream settle, which can make it easier to apply moisturizer around it without moving it.