An under-eye routine that actually works

The under-eye area doesn’t respond well to excess. Too many products, too much pressure and too many actives easily overwhelm the sensitive skin on this area of the face.

What works is a simple, consistent routine that respects how delicate this skin is. The approach we recommend time and time again prioritises drainage first, then hydration, and lastly repair.

Step One: Drain

Many under-eye concerns — puffiness, heaviness, a fatigued look — are caused by fluid sitting where it shouldn’t.

Before applying any product, take a moment to encourage gentle lymphatic movement:

Clean hands are all you need to start.

The goal is to encourage lymphatic movement — helping fluid that has pooled overnight to drain away from the under-eye area. This reduces puffiness, improves circulation, and prepares the skin to absorb product more effectively.

For best results, start by gently pressing the lymph nodes near the collarbone and sides of the neck. This opens the drainage pathway before you begin working on the eye area. Finish by pressing lightly on the temples to encourage fluid to continue moving downward.

Using your ring fingers, begin at the inner corners of the eyes and tap gently outward along the orbital bone, towards the temples. Continue along the brow bone and back to the starting point. The pressure should be minimal — light enough that the skin isn't pulled or dragged. A few passes is enough.

This takes less than a minute and when done regularly makes a noticeable difference to morning puffiness and the overall appearance of the under-eye area.

Step Two: Treat

With fluid moving and the skin prepped, the under-eye area is ready to receive active ingredients.

This is where most people reach for a serum. But the under-eye area presents a challenge. Serums absorb quickly, which is ideal for comfort, but it also means hydration doesn't always stay in contact with the skin long enough to fully penetrate. The under-eye area, being thinner and drier than the rest of the face, benefits from more sustained delivery.

Hydrogel eye patches solve this. The gel format holds active ingredients directly against the skin for several minutes, giving them time to absorb rather than evaporating on the surface.

Applied to clean skin, Pure Hyaluronic Hydrogel Eye Patches sit comfortably under the eyes, delivering cooling hydration while the skin is primed and ready to receive it. Multi-weight hyaluronic acid replenishes moisture at different depths. Peptides support firmness and elasticity. Cucumber extract cools and calms, reducing redness and enhancing the depuffing effect. Aloe vera soothes without heaviness.

When you remove the patches, tap any remaining serum gently into the skin.

Step Three: Hydrate

Once the under-eye area has been treated, it needs to be sealed with a lightweight eye cream.

Applied after patches, eye cream locks in moisture and reinforces the skin barrier which, in the under-eye area, is thinner and more prone to moisture loss than anywhere else on the face.

Recover eye cream is formulated to be ultra-lightweight, fast-absorbing, and designed for sensitive eye area skin. MicroLift Peptide Technology supports collagen production and smooths fine lines and wrinkles. Irish moss strengthens the skin barrier. Coffee seed extract brightens and reduces puffiness. Shea butter restores moisture without heaviness.

Using a sunflower seed amount for each eye, pat in gently from the outer corner inward along the orbital bone, using your ring finger.

What to expect

The first time you follow this routine, you'll likely notice an immediate difference. Lymphatic drainage reduces puffiness by moving fluid away from the under-eye area. Eye patches deliver a visible boost of hydration — skin looks smoother, plumper, more awake. Eye cream seals hydration in and leaves the area feeling comfortable and soft.

Over time, the benefits compound. Multi-weight hyaluronic acid supports hydration at different depths, which helps soften the appearance of fine lines. Peptides work to maintain collagen and elasticity, addressing loss of firmness. Coffee seed extract brightens and continues to target puffiness throughout the day. Irish moss strengthens the skin barrier, making the under-eye area more resilient to moisture loss and environmental stress.

For puffiness and fatigue, most people see results quickly — often the same day. For fine lines, firmness and dark circles, results are more gradual, typically noticeable after three to four weeks of following this routine consistently.

Some mornings allow for a full ritual. Others do not. The key is not how many steps you use. It is whether your routine works for you, every single day. If your goal is skin that looks dewy, feels hydrated, and stays comfortable from morning to evening, you do not need a complicated system. You need the right steps, in the right order, done consistently.

Why your skin still feels dry after moisturising

Pure Hyaluronic Serum

If your skin still feels tight by midday, your moisturiser isn’t the problem.

How hydrogel eye patches actually work

If eye creams and serums are already part of your routine, it’s fair to wonder what eye patches actually add. They’re often seen as an extra step, without much explanation of why they exist or what makes them different. The answer isn’t about stronger formulas or instant results. It’s about how hydration is delivered to the under-eye area, and why that matters.