From long, hard days of working and staring at a computer screen to stretching your eyelid to get that liquid eyeliner on just right, our eyes go through a lot, and it's important to remember to give them some TLC.
An eye cream can help reverse the wear and tear from your everyday routine. By applying one, you can brighten dark under-eye areas, fill in fine lines, and even reverse wrinkles.
The Best Eye Creams
- Best for Dark Circles: OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Crème
- Best for Hydration: Kiehl's Since 1851 Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
- Best for Reducing Puffiness: Clinique All About Eyes
- Best for Sensitive Eyes: The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream
- Best Drugstore Buy: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
- Best for Looking More Awake: It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream
- Best for Anti-Aging: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex Synchronized Recovery
- Best for Dry Skin: Mario Badescu Olive Eye Cream
- Best for Brightening: Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream
- Best Luxury: La Mer The Eye Concentrate
When to Start Using Eye Creams
First off, when it comes to starting your eye-care routine, it never hurts to start sooner rather than later. Celebrity dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman recommends incorporating one into your skincare routine by your mid-20s to really see the benefits from them in the long run.
“Having a dedicated eye product is very important for people after the age of 25.”
“Having a dedicated eye product is very important for people after the age of 25,” she says. “During allergy season, when people are more likely to rub their eyes and have laxity as a result, I recommend adding an additional product in the morning that contains peptides to support collagen and elastin to firm the look of sagging skin.”
What to Look for in Your Eye Creams
According to Dr. Engelman, some of the best ingredients for your undereyes and lids include peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
Some of the best ingredients for your undereyes and lids include peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
“Peptides smooth fine lines and wrinkles, ceramides fortify the skin barrier, and hyaluronic acid adds moisture and an instant plumping effect,” she says. When you’re young, I think you can get away with using a hyaluronic acid-based eye cream because that helps with dark circles and hydration. As you teeter past 25, I suggest adding a product with peptides or ceramide. And don’t forget the sunscreen.”
Applying an eye cream each day seems easy enough, but Dr. Engelman does have a helpful tip to get the most out of this routine. "After cleansing, apply toner and retinoids (like Differin Gel), then you apply eye cream," she says. "I like to dot it above and below the eyes, and pat it in gently with your middle plus fourth finger."
No matter what under-eye issues you're concerned about, there's a formula out there that'll help address it. This guide to the best eye creams spans a wide range of benefits and price points, so read on to learn more about each one.
Best for Dark Circles
OLEHENRIKSEN's Banana Bright Eye Creme has a cult following for its ability to brighten under-eye circles. Its secret ingredients are special color-correcting pigments that neutralize dark tones. It also contains vitamin C and collagen, which diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and crow's feet, so you'll look well-rested, no matter how many (or how few) zzz's you catch. Editors at Marie Claire also gave this eye cream rave reviews, touting its priming abilities as well.
Best for Hydration
Turns out, avocado isn't just great on toast. This gentle eye cream from Kiehl's uses avocado oil and shea butter to deliver serious moisture to your under-eye area. Its many loyal fans love the creamy, thick texture because it doesn't run into your eyes. A little of this eye cream goes a long way, so it pretty much lasts forever.
Best for Reducing Puffiness
Here's a classic option that's been around for years. Clinique's All About Eyes has a hybrid cream-gel consistency that feels ultra lightweight. While it's formulated to moisturize and treat dark circles, it's most loved for its ability to reduce puffiness under the eyes. If you're totally new to eye creams, this is a good one to start with.
Best for Sensitive Eyes
Got sensitive undereyes? Then soothe and nurture them without causing any excess damage with this eye-awakening (and budget-friendly) cream. This lightweight $10 pick from the INKEY List works to hydrate and soothe tired and delicate undereyes and lids while working hand-in-hand with caffeine to reduce puffiness. Plus, this verified Clean at Sephora brand skips out on the harsh red-flag ingredients, so even the most sensitive skin types can use this eye cream without worry.
Best Drugstore Buy
Fact: Eye creams can be very expensive. But the good news is that there are affordable, effective options available! This eye cream from CeraVe is less than $20 and available at pretty much any drugstore, and it has hundreds of five-star reviews singing its praises.
The formula contains three essential ceramides, a marine and botanical complex, and hyaluronic acid, which all work to reduce dark circles, and repair dry, delicate skin. It's also great for those with sensitivities since it's also hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic.
Best for Looking More Awake
When you're tired of looking ... tired, this eye cream from IT Cosmetics can help. Similar to OLEHENRIKSEN, it uses color correction to brighten up the area under the eyes (which is why the cream has an apricot tint).
Ingredients like a proprietary anti-aging concentrate, ceramides, licorice root, avocado, and squalane work to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Just tap it lightly around the eyes to take on the day looking totally refreshed.
Best for Anti-Aging
Looking for an eye cream that can do it all? This top-rated option from Estée Lauder keeps eyes looking youthful while also protecting them from UV pollution and the damaging blue light emitted from our phone, TV, and computer screens.
The highly concentrated gel formula contains the brand's ChronoluxCB (which helps with the skin's natural repair process), hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants that protect your skin from free radicals.
Best for Dry Skin
If you're a fan of Mario Badescu's facial sprays, you may want to add the brand's eye cream to your skincare routine, too. A great value at less than $20, this moisture-rich formula uses a gentle blend of olive oil and cocoa butter to smooth the skin around the eyes. Dab it on before going to bed, and watch dry patches and flakiness disappear overnight!
Best for Brightening
You have coffee to wake up in the morning, and your eyes have the Origins GinZing cream. It's packed with caffeine that comes from coffee beans, ginseng, and magnolia extract that give your puffy, tired eyes a boost. What's interesting about this cream is that it’s actually shimmery, which helps counteract dark circles and brighten up your eyes, so you can skip the concealer.
Best Luxury
Although certainly a splurge, it's hard to argue against the efficacy of La Mer's eye concentrate. One of the brand's best-sellers, this eye cream features the signature La Mer Miracle Broth — this is an elixir of hand-harvested sea kelp, nutrients, and minerals that improve skin's health, along with magnetically charged hematite that clears up dark circles. Our favorite part is the soothing applicator that makes this skincare step feel like at-home spa time rather than a daily chore.
Read More:
Eye Makeup Removers for a Makeup-Free Sleep
Say Goodbye to Bags Underneath Your Eyes
The Best Moisturizers for Oily Skin and Sensitive Complexions
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