The delicate tissue under the eyes can often play host to dark circles, wrinkles, or excess puffiness—making the quest to find the best eye cream feel never-ending. With so many products constantly entering the market, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin.
Whether you’re looking to firm up under-eye bags, or apply a deeply hydrating formula before hitting the hay, here, find 18 under eye creams that will answer some of your most pressing wishes.
Best Eye Creams for Brightening Dark Circles
Dark circles can at times feel impossible to fade, especially for those who sleep evades. Fortunately, Drunk Elephant’s C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream has quintuple the amount of vitamin C than most brightening eye creams, and is balanced out by soothing cucumber.
Best Eye Creams for Wrinkles
For starters, La Mer’s eye balm deeply penetrates the skin with hydrating shea butter and algae , while Jurlique’s Supreme Eye Balm includes spilanthes flower extract to relax facial muscles and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Dior’s Firming & Wrinkle-Correcting Eye Cream is actress Nina Dobrev’s favorite—she puts it on “in the morning, at night—whenever I have a flight.” As for model Imaan Hammam? She opts for the Kat Burki Rosehip Eye Serum for a hydrating boost. “After a long week I put this under my eyes and let it sit there.”
Best Eye Creams for Puffiness
For de-puffing, a hint of caffeine in your eye cream will do the trick. Sonya Dakar’s Jade Energy Eye Balm includes green coffee oil and hemp seed oil to calm the under eye. Similarly, the green tea and golden chamomile in Jordan Samuel’s eye gel soothes the under eye and offers a radiant finish. Singer Jorja Smith reaches for The Ordinary’s caffeine under eye solution, as she doesn’t “want to look tired.” Similarly, to de-puff and avoid “dark circles when [she] travels,” Riverdale’s Madeleine Petsch says the Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Age Eye & Lip Contour Cream & Massage Tool duo is her go-to for lifting and sculpting.
Best Eye Creams for Sensitive Skin
The eye area is ultra-sensitive as is, but for those with allergies or other skin conditions, the area can often be more irritated than most. Babor Soothing Cream doubles as an eye cream with its Neuroxyl, Microsilver and Evening Primrose Oil, perfect for balancing stress and irritation in highly sensitive skin conditions. Dr. Tamara Lazic Strugar, MD, FAAD, who specializes in diagnosing and treating allergic contact dermatitis, says it’s necessary for those with sensitive skin to use “a moisturizer to strengthen the barrier that is free of ingredients that could potentially cause irritation or an allergic reaction such as fragrance, parabens, certain preservatives, and drying alcohol.” Accordingly, her recommendation is La Roche Posay’s Ultra Soothing Eye Cream, the perfect go-to with its shea butter, niacinamide and spring water combination, that delivers a next level dose of hydration for irritated eyes.
Best Firming Eye Creams
Thrive Causemetics Defying Gravity Eye Lifting Cream is formulated with bio power retinol which enhances skin’s elasticity. Similarly, Algenist’s Elevate Firming Eye Cream’s ProPeptide3 tightens up sagging skin, and Epara’s eye serum provides a mix of bamboo silk and niacinamide to reduce puffiness while also enhancing firmness. Dendy Engelman, M.D. recommends Elizabeth Arden’s Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Eye Serum because “it contains peptides to support collagen and elastin to firm the look of sagging skin, while hyaluronic acid plumps and smooths. Throwing them in the fridge adds a de-puffing effect as well.”
Best Night Eye Creams
Bed time is the perfect time to tackle multiple skin issues at once, including ones below the eye, with ultra-hydrating formulas. Epi.logic’s nighttime eye cream is the perfect place to start. The cocktail of squalane, peptides and hyaluronic acid create even pigment and firm up the overall texture while also providing hydration. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Cream has Butcher’s Broom Extract which depuffs the eyes for a well-rested look in the a.m., while the squalane works to smooth. Olay’s Retinol24 eye cream, offers anti-aging benefits with 24-hour hydration, thanks to its retinol, niacinamide, and vitamin E infused formula.
