Step-by-Step Guide to the Ultimate Eye Facial

The ultimate eye facial: Your step-by-step guide

Of course every part of your face is important, but the eye area really does have it hard. Between all the tugging, rubbing, and squinting it is subjected to on a daily – make that an hourly – basis, eyes take a lot of unintended abuse that ultimately results in deepened crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and dark circles. 

While your daily skin regimen can certainly help, we love giving the eye area a little boost with a targeted TLC nighttime eye facial. By following these four steps, you’re practically guaranteed to wake up bright-eyed (the bushy-tailed part is on you).

What are the benefits of an eye facial?

• Hydrate dry or crepey undereye area
• Brighten dark circles and even hyperpigmentation
• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes
• Smooth crow’s feet
• Lessen the appearance of puffiness around the eyes

Step 1: Remove your eye makeup

Start things off with a clean slate. Wash your eye area and face with our Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Daily Cleansing Gel. It gently dissolves eye makeup (including waterproof mascara), plus dirt and oil, but won’t leave your skin feeling stripped or tight. Pat dry. 

Step 2: Grab your DermInfusions Lift + Repair Eye Mask & Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro 

The brand new DermInfusions Lift + Repair Eye Mask is a 360° eye mask that visibly firms, brightens, and depuffs the eye area. Formulated with niacinamide, l-ascorbic acid and green tea, this mask delivers immediate results with Lyocell-delivered ingredient infusions to visibly brighten, deeply hydrate, and restore the skin's moisture barrier. Apply the mask and then the DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro overtop.

This updated version of our popular LED device does all the things: With 30 percent more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) than before, it covers a larger surface area. And those LEDs go to work. They emit four different wavelengths of light (amber, red, deep red, and infrared), which combine to stimulate collagen production at multiple skin depths. When collagen levels go up, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles goes down. With consistent daily use, these four LED wavelengths also help even skin tone, reduce puffiness and dark circles, and increase the penetration of any topicals you apply post-treatment.

A single, three-minute treatment once a day is all you need. Our FDA-cleared Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro will shut off automatically once the cycle is complete. While this entire four-step eye ritual should be a relaxing bit of me time, the three minutes you’re wearing your Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro are an especially good opportunity to help center yourself before bed, whether you opt for some simple breathing exercises or just allow your mind to wander.

Continue to wear the DermInfusions Lift + Repair Eye Mask for the remaining treatment time (two to seven minutes).

Step 3: Time for topicals

You’re familiar with the idea of layering your facial skincare for best results. The eyes are no different. Now that you’ve prepped your skin, reach for a retinol-based serum to help promote collagen formation, which will help firm skin, minimize the appearance of crow’s feet, and improve skin texture. (It’s always about building collagen when it comes to the eye area.) Use your ring finger to pat the product around your orbital bone. (Our Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum can be applied to eyelids, whose crepey appearance can also benefit from the collagen-building magic of retinol.) Then gently tap — don’t rub — the serum into your skin. (For a more in-depth, take on the best way to apply your eye serums and creams, check out our Ultimate Guide to Undereye Care & Eye Treatments.)

Step 4: Seal your work with a cream

You know the drill: Always follow your serum with a cream both to hydrate your skin and to lock in the serum’s benefits. But don’t settle for simple moisturization when eye creams can do so much more. Our Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment is loaded with vitamin C, in addition to moisture barrier-boosting ceramides. This powerful antioxidant helps build collagen (check), as well as reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and other signs of sun damage. Once again, use your ring finger to dab dots of cream along your orbital bone before tapping it all in. (Skip the lids this time.) After that, it’s time to hit the sack!

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Updated on 6/12/2023. Originally published on 4/2/2023