How Much Would You Pay for an Eye Cream?

The price of beauty runs high to low,, but how much are you willing to shell out for a product that will make you look younger, help prevent the aging process, and protect the most sensitive skin on your body? We're talking about eye cream, a beauty must-have that can range from $10 to $1000. These days Beauties are starting preventative aging measures even earlier (20-25 is the general age) and an eye cream is one of the first products they'll purchase. We spoke with dermatologist Helen Torok, M.D., about the ingredients to look for in any eye cream, and whether it's really worth spending the big bucks.

According to Dr. Torok, eye cream is one product you should definitely splurge on. “The skin around your eyes is the thinnest and most sensitive area on your body,” says Dr. Torok. “Your eyes show age easily from sun exposure and movement, so you need an eye cream whose ingredients show better efficacy and penetration."

The most important thing to remember when choosing an eye cream is to first determine which problems you want to remedy. Do you have dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness, or sagging skin? Do you want something that you can use during the day, or are you looking for a night cream that will provide long-lasting benefits? Dr. Torok suggests determining what you want your cream to do, then researching different brands and their philosophies, and the science behind the products. You should also choose a product with a consistency that you prefer. Do you like lotions, serums, or thick, emollient creams?

However, not all of us can afford to splurge. Fortunately for us, Beauties, effective ingredients are present in both luxury and less expensive formulas. "To reduce puffiness and bags around the eyes, look for an eye cream with copper peptides, as copper is a natural anti-inflammatory," explains Dr. Torok. "Copper peptides have also been shown to increase natural collagen production, firming the skin and reducing fine lines. DNA repair technology also helps to stimulate the body’s own repair processes, reducing fine lines and wrinkles caused by sun exposure—so look for products that use DNA repair enzymes. To reduce dark circles, look for an eye cream with haloxyl, which prevents and diminishes the appearance of circles by targeting the underlying cause."

Another tip? Test your eye cream before you make a purchase. Almost all makeup counters will give you free samples to take home and try, giving you the opportunity to test the formulation and see how well it works for your skin type.