We collectively spend billions of dollars and countless hours on our beauty products – but do we really know what they are doing for us? Take your eye cream, for example. Did you buy it because it was recommended by a dermatologist? Or did you buy into the media hype surrounding the product?

Don’t kick yourself. We all fall prey to media hype, and we all buy products because the packaging is alluring. These systems are elaborately designed to make us do so. But too many of us aren’t aware of what should be in our eye creams: what will actually make them effectively reduce our fine lines, wrinkles, puffy bags, and dark circles. Next time you buy an eye cream, be sure to look for at least some of the following ingredients (and discuss with your dermatologist what the concentration of these ingredients should be):

• Matrixyl 3000: Matrixyl 3000 is not to be confused with plain old Matrixyl, which contains only one peptide where Matrixyl 3000 contains two peptides (amino acid chains) that address different skincare problems while making each other more powerful. Together, these peptides stimulate the growth of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid to fill wrinkles naturally from within, while also preventing glycation – a process that contributes greatly to aging.

• Retinol: Retinol is a vitamin A compound and a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are extremely important for skincare because they neutralize free radicals, which are unstable oxygen molecules that break down skin cells and cause wrinkles.

• Tretinoin: More powerful than Retinol, tretinoin is a vitamin A compound available by prescription only. It is known as an effective antiwrinkle formulation, but must be avoided if you could be pregnant because it is also known to increase the risk of birth defects.

• Hyaluronic acid: Traditionally used to promote quicker healing of wounds, hyaluronic acid increases the skin’s retinoic acid, which improves skin hydration. It also promotes collagen creation. It is well known under the name “Restylane” when used as a filler product for antiaging purposes.

• Alpha lipoic acid: Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant, a mild anti-inflammatory, and an inhibitor of a process called “cross-linking,” which is partially responsible for the hardening of your arteries, wrinkling of your skin, and stiffening of your joints.

• Copper peptides: Copper exists in tiny amounts in every skin cell. It is combined with peptides to create a formulation that was originally used to heal wounds. The healing power of copper peptides has been found to be an effective anti-aging remedy. They also stimulate collagen production and may also enhance the effectiveness of antioxidants.

• DMAE: DMAE (dimethylethanolamine) is a skin-firming treatment, otherwise known as “the facelift in a jar.” DMAE is more widely known as a “smart drug” than a skin-firming agent.

• Caffeine and alcohol: Both caffeine and alcohol are commonly used as firming agents since they temporarily dehydrate your skin and make it appear more taught.

• Argireline: Argireline is the trade name for acetyl hexapeptide-3. It’s a synthetic anti-aging formulation that inhibits the contractions of facial muscles. The manufacturer refers to it as “Botox without the hassles.” Long-term effects are unknown.

• Haloxyl: Haloxyl is a synthetic ingredient used to treat dark circles under the eyes. The manufacturer published a clinical study wherein 22 females used haloxyl on one eye and a placebo on the other eye for 56 days. About 65 percent of the participants showed an improvement – some significant – on the eye treated with haloxyl.

• Vitamin K: Used in eye creams that target dark under-eye circles or bags, vitamin K has been shown to counteract dark shadows caused by too much blood flow and minor bruising under the eyes.

• Kojic Acid and hydroquinone: Kojic acid and hydroquinone are skin-lightening agents, often found in bleaching and age-spot creams – and also in eye creams that target dark circles under the eyes.

• Vitamin C products: Eye creams that include the three vitamin C products – L-ascorbic acid, vitamin C ester, and ascorbyl palmitate – combat fine lines and wrinkles, promote collagen production, and promote healing. L-ascorbic acid also allows hyaluronic acid to be more effectively absorbed by your skin. Note that vitamin C products should NOT be used together with copper peptides, as they will cancel each other out!

• Vitamin E: Most effective in its natural alcohol form (rather than the acetate form), vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that combats the free radicals that are part of our aging process. Using topical vitamin E is more effective than taking the vitamin orally.

• Allantoin: This natural plant extract is an anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, and astringent that is used in a wide variety of personal hygiene products, from deodorants to shampoos and aftershaves. Also used to heal minor abrasions, allantoin is a useful anti-aging skin remedy.