Keeping your complexion moisturized is an important part of maintaining healthy skin, especially if your skin is compromised or particularly parched. One area of the face that’s known for drying, sagging, and showing general signs of skin degradation such as fine lines and wrinkles sooner than other areas is the skin underneath and around the eyes. "The area around the eye is 40% thinner than the rest of the face, therefore dehydration is more evident, as with other ailments like puffiness, dark circles, lines and wrinkles, as well as other signs of aging,” says dermatologic surgeon, Dendy Engleman, MD. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to make sure the skin around your eyes stays hydrated, plump, and healthy.

We spoke with Engelman and board-certified plastic surgeon, David Shafer, MD, to find out why the skin around the eyes tends to dry out, and the best tips for keeping it looking and feeling its best.

01 Up Your Water Intake

“Keeping the body hydrated with adequate fluid intake is important for everyone,” says board-certified Plastic Surgeon, David Shafer, MD. Whether it's the skin around your eyes, on your hands, neck, face, or any part of the body, hydrating from the inside is just as important—if not more—as moisturizing the surface with creams and serums, so be sure to get your recommended half gallon of water a day.

02 Steer Clear of Drying Culprits

When it comes to protecting the skin around the eyes, staying proactive by avoiding known skin-driers on a regular basis, to the best of your ability, may save you from dealing with dry skin down the road. "Sun damage, caffeinated beverages, dehydration, and/or alcohol can make dryness worse, so it’s important to remember to avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol, and wear sunscreen!" urges Engelman.

03 Wear Sunscreen

To that last point... hopefully, everyone is wearing SPF every day, as it’s not only a proven defense against sun damage, but skin cancer as well. However, even the most devout sunscreen applier can sometimes neglect important areas, like around the eyes. Shafer notes that we often forget the eye area when applying products for fear of getting formula in our eyes, but don’t forget to carefully dab some sunscreen around your eyes in the morning, and reply throughout the day for optimum coverage.

04 Use a Humidifier

Humidifiers not only help with congestion and other cold symptoms, they’re also a great way to treat dry skin easily and effectively. "The skin around the eyes is thinner than other areas of the face and body," explains Shafer. "This makes the skin more susceptible to external conditions such as low humidity which can lead to dry skin." If you live in a naturally dry climate, or if you notice signs of dryness during windy or winter months, sleeping with a humidifier can add much needed moisture to your skin while you rest.

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