Do you really need to use an eye cream?

The area around your eyes is indeed more fragile - the skin there is thinner, so it dehydrates faster. That said, you don't have to believe it's essential - a good regular moisturizer can do the job if you apply it properly. The real difference is that eye contour creams are usually formulated to be gentler and not irritate if you put them near the mucous membrane. If your budget's tight, don't sweat it, but if you really want to take care of that area, it's not completely pointless either.