When it comes to your everyday skincare routine, you probably have your go-to products down pat. However, as we roll into the colder, dryer, and darker days of winter, it may be a good time to check in on the easily overlooked skin of the under eye.

For those of us lacking in a regime for this delicate but equally important area, it can be confusing to sort through all of the products out there. Which begs the question, what is the difference between an eye cream and an eye serum? And do we need both?

To answer the second question first, yes, individuals should be using both an eye serum and a cream as they address different eye area skin concerns.

Eye cream is more often used to retain moisture, while serums have specific anti-aging purposes. You may be thinking, “I have a great face cream that I use all over my face, including my undereye.” Good for you! However, the skin underneath and around the eye is particularly sensitive and may need more care than the forehead, chin, and cheeks.

Eye creams should be used daily to hydrate the skin around the eye, focusing on reducing puffiness, dark circles, and overall dullness. Since creams are mainly for moisture, they also help with crepiness and rough texture. Eye creams are usually thicker and heavier than regular moisturizers and aren’t just for the under eye, but also the lid and brow. In fact, more advanced eye creams now incorporate ingredients to help with crows’ feet.

Eye serums are lighter than creams and better able to penetrate pores with anti-aging ingredients. Serums, in general, are better for wrinkles and help improve skin firmness. With eye serums, the focus is more on the active components like peptides, antioxidants, and retinols rather than on moisturizing. Serums aren’t meant for daily use, but once or twice a week.

When incorporating eye creams and serums into your skincare regimen, you may want to consult a dermatologist if you have super sensitive skin or are prone to rosacea or eczema. If you don’t have dermatological concerns, look to the products and brands you currently use for eye creams and serums. Many skincare companies offer sets or product lines that are meant to work together to give you softer, firmer, and clearer skin.

The TimeWise set from Mary Kay is a good example. And you can try out their travel version for just $25, which comes with a cleanser, sunscreen, night cream, and eye cream.

For fans of all-natural skincare, check out Tata Harper’s daily essentials set. The sample size version includes reparative moisturizer, rejuvenating serum, cleanser, hydrating floral essence, resurfacing mask, and a restorative eye crème.

If you want to “play the field” in your search for the perfect cream and serum, consider signing up for monthly beauty box subscriptions like Birch Box or Glossybox. Whether you go with a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription, you get to explore products not usually found at your local drugstore. You can often personalize what you’re sent if you want to focus just on skincare. From Birch Box, I discovered Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye and Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum. I also discovered that I am a bit sensitive to retinols and need to use products containing them with a very light touch.

For truly little-to-no commitment product use, consider eye masks. You can try out not only a variety of brands but also ingredients. Sephora offers eye masks and patches from an array of companies, all with a mix of ingredients, like cucumber, vitamin C, even caffeine. These one-off treatments are usually cheaper than an overall care system.

As we prepare for the holidays and winter ahead, consider gifting yourself some skincare, and switch up your beauty routine with a new eye cream and eye serum. It’s been a rough year; you’re going to need them both!