Your Eye-Area Routine — Rewritten by an Eye Surgeon

Featuring insights from Durga S. Larkin, MD—Ophthalmic Surgeon, Pro-Age Advocate, and one of America’s leading voices in eye health.

The Morning You Realize Your Eyes Feel Different

You probably remember the moment, even if it was subtle. Maybe your eyelids felt tighter than usual one morning, or the skin beneath your eyes looked unexpectedly crepey. Maybe your mascara smudged in a way it never had before. Maybe a favorite cream, used daily for years, suddenly began to sting. Or perhaps you simply noticed your eyes looking… more tired. More reactive. More sensitive.

And because we aren’t taught anything different, most women blame themselves. We assume we’re aging “wrong.” We assume we need more products, or stronger ones. We assume we’re the problem.

But what if nothing about you has failed? What if the real issue is that no one ever explained the biology of the eye area — the thinnest, driest, most delicate skin on your entire body?

To finally answer the questions women have carried for decades, Boom Beauty turned to someone who has spent over 30 years caring for the eyes and everything around them: Durga S. Larkin, MD.

Durga S. Larkin, MD

Board-Certified Ophthalmic Surgeon, Former Chief of Ophthalmology, Harvard Community Health Plan, Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology Author, Timeless Vision: Empowered Aging Redefined

At 65, Dr. Larkin has treated thousands of real-world eye-area concerns. She has witnessed the fears women carry, the confusion surrounding “anti-aging” messaging, and the unnecessary discomfort caused by the wrong ingredients, wrong techniques, or wrong assumptions. Her philosophy aligns perfectly with Boom’s pro-age ethos.

Early in our conversation, she said something that changed the way we think about eye care forever: “Your eye area isn’t fragile just because you’re aging. It’s fragile because it always has been — no one teaches women how to care for it.”

This feature is the guide we were never given: A deeply researched, ophthalmologist-informed, pro-age rewrite of the eye-area routine — rooted in science, compassion, and the belief that your eyes deserve the same care and respect as every story they’ve ever witnessed.

Why the Eye Area Ages Differently — The Science Beneath the Surface

Dr. Larkin doesn’t begin with beauty trends. She begins with biology. Because once you understand the anatomy of this area, everything about your routine starts to make sense.

The skin is only one-quarter the thickness of facial skin.

It contains less collagen, fewer support fibers, and almost no cushioning fat. It was always delicate — but becomes even more reactive with time.

It has dramatically fewer oil glands.

Most of the oil-producing meibomian glands sit along the lash line, not beneath the eye. With age and hormonal shifts, these glands slow down — leading to dryness, tightness, stinging, and sensitivity.

Circulation slows with age.

Reduced microcirculation makes fine lines more visible and contributes to puffiness.

Menopause changes the entire ecosystem.

Declining estrogen reduces both skin hydration and tear quality. This is why the products you once loved can suddenly sting — not because the formulas changed, but because biology did.

Dr. Larkin’s perspective reframes everything: “Your eye area is living tissue responding to a changing landscape. Gentleness — not aggression — is what keeps it healthy.”

Where Most Eye Routines Go Wrong: The Barrier & Microbiome

The eye area’s barrier and microbiome are easily disrupted by:

Over-cleansing
Tugging during makeup removal
Harsh foaming surfactants
Exfoliating too closely to the lids
Using too many active ingredients

Once compromised, the area responds with:

Tightness
Redness
Stinging
Shiny, stretched skin
Unexpected irritation

This is why Dr. Larkin recommends simplicity — and why Boom formulations prioritize pH balance, microbiome support, barrier-safe hydration, and no synthetic fragrance. Products like Boom Clean, Boom Silk, Boom Nectar, Boom Awaken, and Boom Gold are formulated to work with the eye area’s biology, not against it.

Cleansing: How Most Women Accidentally Damage Their Eye Area

“No rubbing.” That’s a major rule in Dr. Larkin’s book. Rubbing stretches delicate collagen fibers. It inflames the lash-line glands. It triggers reactions that can last for days. Her preferred approach? Hold → Dissolve → Wipe downward.

Use an oil-based formula to melt mascara and eyeliner before wiping. This is exactly why Nourishing Rosehip Cleansing Oil is a hero for mature eyes — it dissolves makeup instantly, meaning zero tugging.

Then follow with Boom Clean, which respects the microbiome rather than stripping it. And to cocoon the area after cleansing, Boom Awaken delivers cooling hydration and helps reduce puffiness — preparing the skin to absorb moisture more effectively.

Ingredients That Actually Support Mature Eyes

(and Why)

As the eye area becomes thinner, drier, and more reactive with age, the ingredients you choose matter more than ever. Dr. Larkin emphasizes that mature lids need strengthening, hydration, brightening, and soothing — always delivered in gentle, barrier-supportive ways. Here’s what actually works, and why it matters:

Niacinamide

A barrier-supporting, tone-evening ingredient that helps calm redness and improve elasticity without irritation. Found in Boom Awaken, niacinamide helps fortify delicate under-eye skin and keeps the microbiome balanced — crucial as oil production and barrier resilience decline with age.

Vitamin C

A brightening antioxidant that supports collagen and helps reduce dullness and discoloration — but must be formulated gently.

In Boom Awaken, Dr. Larkin approves the use of Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a stable, less irritating form of Vitamin C that helps visibly brighten dark circles.

Hyaluronic Acid

This water-binding molecule draws moisture into the skin, instantly softening the appearance of fine lines. Because the eye area loses hydration rapidly, it works best when layered under a moisturizer like Boom Silk or Boom Nectar. Boom Awaken includes hyaluronic acid for immediate plumping and hydrating benefits that don’t overwhelm sensitive skin.

Botanical Oils (as in Boom Gold)

While not meant specifically for dark circles or puffiness, botanical oils are invaluable for long-term skin comfort and resilience — especially as estrogen declines and natural lipids diminish. Boom Gold delivers a curated blend of organic oils including:

Grape Seed Oil for hydration and soothing
Tamanu Oil for elasticity and improved texture
Honey for moisture retention
Turmeric, Frankincense & Sandalwood for brightness, radiance, and calming benefits

These botanicals help restore suppleness, cushion, and glow — supporting the overall health of the eye-area skin and the face as a whole.

Where Boom Awaken Fits In

Boom Awaken brings these science-backed ingredients together in a single under-eye formula specifically tailored to mature skin. It targets:

Dark circles with Vitamin C + Licorice Root
Puffiness with Wild Mint + Green Tea
Barrier support with Niacinamide
Hydration with Hyaluronic Acid
Instant radiance with light-diffusing mica

It’s designed to be gentle, brightening, and cooling — exactly the type of multifunctional, ophthalmologist-friendly formula Dr. Larkin endorses.

Mascara & Mature Eyes: Why Most Formulas Cause Problems

Mascara is often the most irritating product women use — especially traditional waterproof formulas, which rely on aggressive polymers that cling to lashes and require scrubbing to remove. Scrubbing = gland damage = dryness, redness, and irritation.

Dr. Larkin sees this often: “If a mascara takes force to remove, it’s not worth the inflammation it creates.”

But here is where Boom Bold Mascara is different.

Unlike traditional waterproof mascaras, Boom Bold was intentionally designed to avoid the very issues Dr. Larkin warns against.

Ophthalmologist-tested
Clean beauty formulation that doesn’t rely on harsh, brittle polymers
Nourishing ingredients that strengthen and hydrate lashes
No smudging, clumping, or flaking
Soft, flexible wear — not brittle
Removes easily with Nourishing Rosehip Cleansing Oil (no scrubbing)

Ingredient highlights:

Beeswax – prevents flaking, provides flexible structure
Carnauba Wax – adds smooth, lifted volume
Glycerin – hydrates and conditions lashes
Plant Cellulose – strengthens, supports fullness

This makes Boom Bold the rare mascara that gives dramatic volume while honoring the delicate eye area.

“The volume is amazing — and it keeps my lashes soft, not clumpy.” – Amanda L.

Morning Ritual — The Doctor-Recommended Pro-Age Routine

1. Cleanse with Boom Clean

pH balanced, microbiome-respecting and non-stripping.

2. Apply Boom Awaken

Cooling, de-puffing hydration that soothes delicate under eyes.

3. Nourish with Boom Nectar or Boom Gold

Depending on your hydration needs.

4. Moisturize with Boom Silk

A clean, barrier-supporting finish.

5. Add makeup that respects your biology:

Pure Precision Eyeliner: glides on without tugging
Boom Bold Mascara: bold volume in a clean, lash-conditioning formula that removes easily

6. And finally:

Mineral SPF like Boom Sun along the orbital bone — Dr. Larkin’s non-negotiable.

Evening Ritual — Remove, Restore, Replenish

1. Remove with Nourishing Rosehip Cleansing Oil

Dissolves eye makeup effortlessly — no rubbing required, keeping delicate lids calm and protected.

2. Cleanse with Boom Clean

A gentle, pH-balanced cleanse that preserves your microbiome and leaves the skin refreshed, never stripped.

3. Soothe with Boom Awaken

Cooling, brightening hydration that visibly reduces puffiness and settles tired under-eyes after a long day.

4. Nourish with Boom Nectar or Boom Gold

Boom Nectar: A rich botanical concentrate that comforts reactive skin and delivers deep, restorative moisture.
Boom Gold: A lightweight yet luxurious blend of organic oils that boosts elasticity and radiance while you rest.

5. Seal with Boomsilk

Wraps the skin in a soft, protective moisture barrier for overnight repair and replenishment. This gentle sequence mirrors the way ophthalmic surgeons protect the eye area during recovery: hydration, protection, minimal friction.