The eyes give everything away: How tired you might be, how old you are, or how hungover you might be. Because the skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest and most delicate on your face, the eyes are much more susceptible to the kinds of things we’d otherwise like to get rid of—like dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines or wrinkles. Doing so gives you the confidence that people aren’t staring at you and wondering “Is he not getting enough sleep?” or “Wow, he looks… rough.” Instead, you’ve got smooth, rested-looking eyes that don’t give away any of these hints.

The long- and short-term solution for all of these concerns can be found in a single product: eye cream. (With a few healthy lifestyle habits mixed in, too.) As long as the eye cream packs the proper ingredients, such as peptides and niacinamide, to keep skin firm, bright, and hydrated, then it can do wonders for this susceptible skin. 

Here’s everything you should know about treating and preventing these signs of wear around the eyes.

First let's cover what's causing dark circles under eyes and eye bags, so we can better treat them. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on the face.It’s especially easy to see through the thin skin when you’re dehydrated, tired, hungover, etc. For this reason, the following three things are very common occurrences in the area.

Dark Circles: What you’re seeing is the blood vessels and tissues under the skin. People with anemia are especially prone to dark circles due to the iron deficiency in their blood. An eye cream can help keep this skin nourished and bright.

Puffiness: The fat deposits under/behind your eyes are a natural thing, but as you age, the skin and muscles in the area start to loosen and wear away. So, particularly in the morning or when you’re tired, these fat deposits can slip down into the eyelids and create “bags” or “puffiness”. So, you need the right product to keep this skin firm, to either push these deposits back up, or prevent them from falling.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles: It’s no surprise, then, that because of the thinness of this skin, it’s much more prone to the fine lines that come from the constant moving of your eyes—blinking, wincing, squinting, or even smiling. When any of this happens, the skin at the corners of the eyes folds over. And after a lifetime of this, it starts to show itself permanently, similar to lines on the forehead. Secondly, the toxins in the air (from smoke and pollution) as well as UV rays, can “photo age” the skin significantly. Keeping the skin nourished and firm—and fueled with antioxidants—can help slow and prevent these signs of aging—and, surprise, an eye cream will do that for you.

Here are the ways to help tighten, lift, and brighten your eye area. It’s never too late to start all of these habits, and the sooner you do so, the sooner you’ll see improvement in all three areas (puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles).

Use a Dedicated Eye Cream: A tiny, pea-sized application of eye cream, applied daily, can keep this skin firm, bright, and nourished. Apply it under and at the sides of the eyes, where these signs of wear commonly appear. Most importantly, pick an eye cream with the following two key ingredients: First, peptides, which keep collagen production strong in the skin, and in turn keep it firm to prevent these maladies. Secondly, niacinamide, which strengthens the barrier of the skin, promotes firmness (and decreases fine lines), and which thwarts photo-aging toxins. We loaded up Cardon’s eye cream with both ingredients, as well as ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid, defensive but nourishing Vitamin E, and the miracle ingredient in all Cardon products, cactus extract. You can roll it onto skin with the cooling applicator in the morning, after cleansing, and before applying SPF moisturizer. You can also apply it in the evening, after cleansing, in order to synchronize the benefits with your regenerative sleep cycle (it should also help you wake up looking more rested, with a lower chance of puffiness and dark circles). 

Get Proper Rest: Nothing cures quite like a full night of sleep. Doing so promotes proper cellular turnover in the skin, and thus keeps the skin firm and bright (to prevent all three signs of wear).

Stay Hydrated: This one is no surprise, either. Water is essential for sustaining all bodily functions, and the skin’s processes are no different. Always stay hydrated, and you’ll in turn see the benefits reflected in your eyes, in the form of proper nutrient delivery, firmness, youthfulness, and so forth.

Eat Well, Avoid Smoking and Excessive Alcohol: This tip benefits your overall health, and when it comes to the eye area, it’s just as important. A nutritious, balanced diet promotes healthy skin, whereas excess sugars and processed foods can hinder collagen production in the skin, and weaken its structure. Smoking does the same. These can lead to wrinkles, thinner, more translucent skin under the eyes, and a higher likelihood of puffiness. Excess sodium can promote swelling and puffiness. Alcohol dehydrates the skin and decreases nutrient delivery. 

Wear SPF: A layer of SPF over top an eye cream can do wonders to prevent the “photoaging” caused by ultraviolet rays. Wear it daily, and reapply every two hours when you’re out in the sun. You can even get it from a daily moisturizer—like Cardon’s SPF 30 daily moisturizer—and apply that over top your dedicated eye cream. (Read more: Why You Need SPF Every Day.)