It’s skin care’s ultimate catch-22: the delicate skin around your eyes is typically the first to show signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles. Yet retinol, science’s most powerful anti-aging ingredient, is traditionally too irritating to use around the eyes.

That is, until now. The most advanced formula of retinol yet is now available as a kinder, gentler (yet still incredibly potent) ingredient that’s safe for the eye area. Called encapsulated retinol, it consists of “wrapping” the retinol molecules with nourishing ingredients that ensure it won’t irritate the most sensitive skin. It’s the powerhouse ingredient in our brand-new Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask, our very first eye product. 

Unlike traditional eye creams, encapsulated retinol formulations can tackle eye specific issues like milia, crow’s feet, under-eye shadows, and fatigued skin — without causing major redness, dryness, or inflammation. Encapsulated retinol utilizes a polysaccharide shell to penetrate deep into the skin, delivering those beneficial ingredients below the surface for maximum results and stability. 

Keep reading to discover the complexion perks of encapsulated retinol and why it absolutely should be in your eye cream.

It helps fight and prevent lines, sans irritation.

“Retinol plumps and helps reduce the look of fine lines,” says dermatologist Meghan Feely, MD. It does this by stimulating collagen production, plumping and firming the skin to make those lines look less noticeable. This uptick in collagen formation also helps prevent new lines from forming by slowing down the collagen loss that breaks down the skin’s structure and causes wrinkles. 

It corrects rough texture and milia.

You know those annoying little bumps that crop up under your eyes? They’re called milia. The bad news: “Milia are keratin-filled cysts that can appear in response to irritation from skin care products, or from products that don’t absorb into the skin properly,” says Dr. Feely. “They can also form from dead skin cell build-up that gets trapped under the skin.” The good news? Encapsulated retinol is an effective treatment for treating and preventing milia due to its skin-regenerating properties.

It seriously brightens.

Retinol also speeds up your skin’s natural renewal process, eliminating the old surface skin to reveal fresh, healthy, bright skin underneath. The dull, dead skin that causes your gaze to look fatigued are wiped away and you look instantly fresher and more vibrant. We wanted to up the ante on that brightening effect, which is why the encapsulated retinol in our Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask is wrapped niacinamide and hyaluronic to help battle dark circles, while antioxidant-packed coffeeberry is like a shot of espresso to the eye area. The formula’s proprietary Avo Moisture Shield technology guards skin from water, air, and pollution for up to three washes, so the environment won’t take a toll on your newly revealed glow, either.

Don’t settle for any old eye cream — choose one that safely delivers the most effective ingredients to help eliminate all those pesky eye problems that can make you look tired. Looking good, bright eyes!