How to apply eye cream with the ring finger

How much eye cream to use

A common amount is a rice grain per eye, or two rice grains for both eyes. Eye creams are usually rich, and the area is small, so more product does not mean better coverage. Excess cream can travel into the eyes or sit on top of the skin and pill under concealer.

Brands sometimes give their own amount. Shiseido tells you to scoop two pearl-sized amounts of Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream and blend between your fingers for the eye and lip area. Lancome says to dispense one pump of Absolue Revitalizing Eye Serum and tap it onto the eye contour. When the carton gives an amount, use it.

Step by step with the ring finger

The ring finger is the usual choice because it is the weakest finger, so it naturally applies less pressure on thin skin around the eye.

1. 1

   Start with clean hands and a cleansed face, after serum.

2. 2

   Take a rice-grain amount per eye with a clean spatula or fingertip.

3. 3

   Warm it by touching your two ring fingers together.

4. 4

   Place three or four small dots along the orbital bone under the eye, from the inner corner outward.

5. 5

   Place two or three dots along the brow bone, under the eyebrow.

6. 6

   Tap gently with the ring finger until the dots spread and settle.

7. 7

   Wait a minute before face cream so you do not drag it around.

Stay on the orbital bone, off the lash line

The orbital bone is the bony rim you can feel around the eye socket. Applying along that rim keeps the cream a few millimeters away from the lash line. Skin creams tend to spread a little as they warm, so cream placed on the bone will still reach the area under the eye without getting into the eye itself.

Do not apply eye cream on the moving lid or right at the lash line unless the label says the product is made for the lid. If cream gets into the eye, rinse with clean water. If irritation continues, contact a doctor.

Note.Eye area products are for external use around the eye. If you wear contact lenses, follow your eye doctor's advice on when to insert them relative to creams.

Where eye cream goes in the routine

Most routines put eye cream after serum and before moisturizer. That way you place the eye cream first and can spread face cream around it. Some people prefer it after moisturizer, and both are common. Our page on eye cream before or after moisturizer covers both orders, and the skincare routine order guide shows the full sequence.

If you use an eye serum and an eye cream, the serum goes first. Lancome tells you to use Absolue Revitalizing Eye Serum on clean, dry skin before eye cream. The Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream carton says to apply it in the morning, gently patting it into the skin around the eyes.

Eye cream sizes and price per ml

Eye creams usually come in 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) jars, so price per ml is high even when the sticker price is lower than a face cream. A rice grain per eye twice a day means a small jar can last a while. Here is the math on a few jars from our luxury eye cream guide.

Compare luxury eye creams →

Keep the jar clean and patch test first

Use a clean spatula for jars rather than a fingertip, close the lid after each use and store away from heat and sun. Our cream jar spatula guide covers jar hygiene. The skin around the eyes is thin, so patch test any new eye product on a small area first, as described in our patch test guide. If you have a skin or eye condition, ask a dermatologist or eye doctor before use. To compare eye cream with face cream, see eye cream vs face cream.

Frequently asked questions

Why use the ring finger? It tends to apply the least pressure, which suits the thin skin around the eyes. Any clean finger works if you tap gently.

Should I rub or tap eye cream? Tap or pat. Rubbing pulls on the skin and can push cream toward the eye.

Can I use face cream around my eyes? Some face creams say they can be used around the eyes and some do not. Check the label. If it does not mention the eye area, use a product that does.

How long does a 15 ml eye cream last? It depends on the amount per use. At a rice grain per eye twice a day, a 15 ml jar commonly lasts a few months.