Earlier this year, Glossier generated some buzz in the beauty world for launching a two-in-one eye and lip cream called Bubblewrap. Although it's not the first eye-lip combo cream on the market, it got people talking for a couple of reasons (as Glossier products tend to do); mostly because, why would we want to use the same moisturizer on both the eye area and the lips? Does that make any sense?

Since Glossier is often at the forefront of product innovation, and the product idea itself stemmed from a professional makeup-artist hack, we thought this topic warranted a deeper dive. To answer all of our questions about the eyes and the lips, and which products we can use on both areas, and how to do so, we consulted a slew of experts. Here's what they had to say.

Where did the idea come from?

The idea for the Bubblewrap product combo was actually spawned by a trick that's popular among makeup artists, according to Glossier. The so-called hack is pretty much just applying some eye cream onto the lips prior to lip color in order to hydrate and prep. In the same vein as a makeup primer, a bit of eye cream on the lips might help make for a smoother and more even lipstick application.

"We knew that it wasn't widely explored, but makeup artists, in particular, will take eye cream and put it on people's lips as well," Melissa Souto, formerly director of product marketing and development at Glossier, previously told Allure.

However, as we all know, it's one thing for a brand to claim something about a product, and another thing entirely for a non-affiliated expert to whole-heartedly agree. In fact, out of the five experts I consulted on the matter (four dermatologists and one cosmetic chemist), their opinions are mixed — some are fully in favor and others are uncertain, although none are completely opposed to the idea of an eye and lip cream combo, or simply using eye cream on your lips.

"This is a good hack that I sometimes recommend to people who ask what to do with extra eye cream they have left on their fingers," says Howard Sobel, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "Multi-tasking products are great....[and] it does make sense, as eye products tend to be very safe."

It is important to note that Glossier's Bubblewrap is specifically formulated as both an eye and lip hydrator, not just an eye cream that can be used on the lips. As such, the brand formulated the cream with ingredients that are both safe and effective for both facial zones. "In the Glossier product, the use of hyaluronic acid is helpful for both the lip and the eyes because hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, which leads to plumper, hydrated skin," explains board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick.

Here, though, we're taking a look specifically at the makeup artist hack that inspired Bubblewrap, which is using eye cream on your lips (not a dual eye and lip product). Semantics, but important to note nonetheless.

Are the lips and eye area similar?

Why does it make sense to use eye cream on your lips, you ask? For starters, the skin around the eyes and on the lips are similar in that both of these areas are made up of the thinnest skin on the face. Because it's so thin, the skin in these areas also lacks sebaceous (or oil) glands, which actually serve a much greater purpose than just fueling breakouts; they help keep our skin moisturized and hydrated, Sobel explains.


Therefore, because, the skin on the lips and around the eye area doesn't produce any oil, both areas are more prone to dryness, which means that they’re also "both prone to show signs of aging faster than other parts of the face," Sobel says.

"For this reason, it is especially important to ensure adequate hydration for both areas, as they are more prone to dryness and potential [to develop] signs of aging," Garshick says. "Because the skin is thinner, the skin barrier may be weaker and more prone to irritation from harsh ingredients."

This is why you’ll often hear a dermatologist recommend or personally use something like Vaseline on both the lips and the undereye area, since it helps lock in moisture, Garshick says.

Another similarity between the eyes and the lips: They're expressive. "Both areas have a lot of movements caused by our habits — laughing, talking, etc.," says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. As such, both areas also "call for ingredients that are more concentrated and non-irritating, hence the higher price point for eye cream," King explains.

Still, partly because of the high price point and also because many eye creams aren't tested for use on lips, King recommends using only the left-over eye cream on your lips, rather than slathering it on your lips like regular lip balm.

Can any eye cream be used on the lips?

Lauren Guren, an Ohio-based, board-certified dermatologist who is on the fence in the whole using-eye-cream-on-your-lips debate, brings up a good point: "For the lips, many products tend to enhance the blood vessels to allow for a plumper look, whereas under the eye, we often want to minimize the vasculature [in order] to minimize under-eye darkness and puffiness."

In other words, there's a reason that these products are traditionally formulated to be separate; many work toward different, often opposite, goals.

However, if your goal for both your eyes and lips is pure hydration, then applying a moisturizing eye cream onto your lips is perfectly fine. No surprise then that the final answer really comes down to the product formula. Some ingredients that work well in both areas include hyaluronic acid and other gentle moisturizers, such as vitamin E. (The former is featured in Glossier's Bubblewrap, of course.)

If you want to go the retinoid-route, that's fine too, Sobel says, as long as you stick to lower-strength creams. "Retinoids and peptides are highly effective ingredients that can help plump the skin and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making it great for both areas," Sobel explains. "Make sure to select fragrance-free and lower-strength retinoids so they don’t cause irritation, especially around the eyes."

Another word of caution regarding cross-contamination, courtesy of Chicago-based dermatologist Matthew Elias: "Any residue on your lips [that gets] transferred to your eyelids can be extremely irritating, so I'd advise caution and being highly regimented in applying it to the eyes first, and the lips second."

Bottom line: "It is a good hack if you feel it's working for you," King says, but there's no need to invest in a pricy eye cream and use half of it on your lips. Instead, just apply your eye cream as normal, then swipe any extra product off of your fingertips and onto your lips afterward.

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