TikTok Claims This Common Household Item Is Actually The Ultimate Eye Cream

If you saw the accolades printed on an eye cream, they would probably stop you cold. These products claim to hydrate and plump one's eyes while preventing 99% of water loss while you sleep. But here's the real kicker: this is no expensive eye cream. This is a common household product that is pulling double duty as one of the most economical undereye treatments on the market.

Before you let natural skepticism take root, consider that this heady praise comes from a credible source: someone who has made skincare his life's work. It's North Carolina dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah, widely known as the DermDoctor. His popular TikTok and YouTube videos attract plenty of attention because he has burnished a reputation for being relational and practical. He particularly strikes a chord among people who want to know exactly what they're buying but don't get much help from the long, scientific-sounding ingredients on product labels.

This is a product, by the way, that consists of one — and only one — ingredient. Shah calls this product "an amazing eye cream hack" (via TikTok). You may consider it the ultimate game-changer in your skincare routine.

This common household product is none other than Vaseline, the same thick, goopy product that generations of parents have depended on to create a moisture-sealing barrier for their babies' delicate bottoms. It also prevents and heals the symptoms of diaper rash, including redness, cracking, chafing, and itching (via Medical News Today).

Consisting of 100% petroleum jelly, Vaseline delivers the same healing, soothing action to the sensitive undereye area, Dr. Muneeb Shah says. In fact, he calls it "the most effective occlusive moisturizer" there is (via TikTok). And it's simple to apply to the eye area before bedtime.

First, Shah recommends setting the stage by applying a gentle moisturizer around the eyes. Then, he instructs his patients to dab on small pools of Vaseline before blending the two products together.  Vaseline is perfectly safe, but you can overdo a good thing. You probably won't know until you give it a dry. The routine could cause milia to develop around the eye. The tiny, white bumps are neither itchy nor painful. And they will go away on their own (via Healthline). Until they do, ease up on the amount of Vaseline you use or the number of times per week you use it.

As tempting as it may be to think of Vaseline as an eye cream, do so only in the generic, not literal, sense. In other words, most products labeled "eye cream" contain ingredients meant to treat eye issues that Vaseline cannot, such as dark circles. For this, use an eye cream with brightening qualities. Meanwhile, a cream with retinol is known to target fine lines, Dr. Muneeb Shah tells Buzzfeed.

Some of the most common skin issues people encounter from their 20s to their 50s can be targeted with the right ingredients, The Derm Review says. Many people in their 20s may not yet buy an eye cream, but if they want to get a jump on treating puffy eyes and occasional dark circles, creams with caffeine and vitamin K ought to help. The production of collagen often begins to slow among people in their 30s. Eye creams with hyaluronic acid, retinol, and vitamin C can improve elasticity.

The 40s is the decade known for the emergence of crow's feet and fine lines as skin becomes drier. Eye creams with glycerin, peptides, retinol, and vitamin E can combat these issues. Undereye bags, wrinkles, and dark circles tend to become more prevalent once people enter their 50s. More than any other ingredient, retinol continues to be a not-so-secret weapon.

Vaseline, meanwhile, can assume a supporting role because its moisturizing influence is a helpful common denominator — and among people of all ages.