"The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, so you need to use a cream that offers excellent barrier repair," says Neil Sadick, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Look for formulas with a very rich emollient, like shea butter or cholesterol (try Clinique All About Eyes Rich or Kinerase Pro+ Therapy Ultra Rich Eye Repair). Sadick also recommends creams that contain hyaluronic acid, which draws in moisture. Retinol and vitamin C help build collagen (both ingredients are sensitive to light and air, so the cream should come in an opaque, airtight tube, like RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream).

At night, slather the stuff all over—even on your lids. In the morning, use a lighter cream or gel (like H2O Plus Eye Oasis Moisture Replenishing Treatment), and skip your lids. Pat cream or gel on the orbital bone, gently blending upward but stopping short of the lashline.