As a beauty editor, I'm constantly fielding skin- and hair-related questions from my friends and family members. What's the difference between setting powder and setting spray? How do I apply self-tanner? What's the deal with castor oil for brows? One of the most popular requests, by far, has been the following: What eye cream should I use?
Luckily, this is a question I'm deeply passionate about. I've been using eye cream since I was 15 years old (a woman at the mall makeup counter told me I had excessively dry under-eyes, and I will never forget it), and I've globbed on more formulas than I can count throughout my career. Suffice it to say, I can rattle off multiple recommendations based on your main skin concern—puffiness, dark circles, fine lines, or just plan ol' dehydration.
I've finally decided to write them all down, if only so that I can text my friends this link instead of furiously typing paragraphs the next time they ask for my favorites. I also tapped board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD, co-founder of LM Medical, for even more ingredient insights and application tips. Below, find the nine eye creams I've personally vetted and will never stop recommending.
The Best Eye Creams, Listed
- Best for Dark Circles: Alpyn Beauty Instant Bright Eye Dark Circle Firming Cream
- Best for Puffiness: Ilia Bright Start Activated Eye Cream
- Best for Fine Lines: U Beauty The Return Eye Concentrate
- Best Hydrating: Versed Water Rush Hydrating Eye Gel
- Best Immediately Gratifying: Olehenriksen Banana Bright+ Vitamin C Brightening Eye Crème
- Best for Sensitive Eyes: Ourself HA+ Replenishing Eye Serum
- Best Under Makeup: Naturium Multi-Peptide Eye Cream
- Best Budget: The Inkey List Caffeine De-Puffing + Dark Circle Eye Cream
- Best Splurge: Sisley-Paris Supremÿa at Night The Supreme Anti-Aging Eye Cream
The Best Eye Creams of 2024
Best for Dark Circles: Alpyn Beauty Instant Bright Eye Dark Circle Firming Cream
Pros: brightens instantly and over time, gentle retinol alternative great for sensitive skin
Cons: packaging could be better; label flakes off with time
Key ingredients: peptides, niacinamide, Reneseed
Texture: light cream
I've been using this eye cream every morning for the past several months, and I have noticed my under-eye shadows looking way less apparent. I suspect it's largely thanks to the peachy-pink pigment that instantly neutralizes blue hues, plus niacinaimde, peptides, and Reneseed (a plant-based retinol alternative) to tighten and hydrate the skin. As you can probably tell from the photo below, this formula has received lots of love—my only callout would be that the white label flakes off the more you use it.
Customer review: "This eye cream is fabulous. I use this in the morning and the Alpyn Line Filling Balm at night. The two work so nicely together, and I definitely see a [difference] in the appearance of dark circles. Also, this is so light and smooth I've used a small amount pre-makeup for a smoothing effect."
Best for Puffiness: Ilia Bright Start Activated Eye Cream
Pros: has a cooling applicator to massage away puffiness, illuminates with light-reflecting pearls
Cons: doesn't absorb as well as other options
Key ingredients: caffeine, peptides, upcycled avocado extract, sea fennel extract
Texture: light cream
If puffiness is your main gripe, I cannot recommend this eye cream enough. It comes with a cooling ceramic applicator for a gentle massage that literally deflates my eye bags in the a.m. Caffeine also works wonders to reduce puffiness (it's a known vasoconstrictor, meaning it constricts blood vessels), and it has peptides, avocado extract, and sea fennel extract to further firm and hydrate the area. As if that bouquet of potent actives wasn't enough, the formula contains light-reflecting pearls to instantly brighten the under-eyes. It's a true hero in my book!
Customer review: "This eye cream is literally one of my favorite purchases from the Sephora Savings Event. Not only do I love the formula, texture, and glow that this cream gives, [but] THE MASSAGE WAND IS EVERYTHING! I keep it in the fridge and massage the cream over my entire orbital are. So smoothing and wonderful. I love the ritual of using this and the results."
Best for Fine Lines: U Beauty The Return Eye Concentrate
Pros: feels luxe and rich, brightens without irritating sensitive eyes
Cons: richer texture might be better for drier skin types
Key ingredients: Siren Capsule technology, pure diamond powder, peptides, hyaluronic acid
Texture: rich cream
Yes, this eye cream is pricey. That said, it's one of the most potent products I've tried for the delicate eye area. Of course, it contains the brand's signature Siren Capsule technology, which literally attracts free radicals before neutralizing them (you know, like a siren song), and it features pure diamond powder to brighten and smooth the under-eye area. I consider it more of an eye treatment than an eye cream, if that helps justify the price. You get what you pay for—I promise.
Customer review: "Like putting cashmere under my eyes, cannot recommend enough. Worth every penny spent."
Best Hydrating: Versed Water Rush Hydrating Eye Gel
Pros: lightweight consistency, deeply hydrating, great for morning and night application
Cons: doesn't have as many brightening ingredients
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, panthenol, aloe juice
Texture: gel-cream
One of my biggest beauty-product pet peeves is when a gel-cream hydrator merely sits on top of my skin instead of absorbing. I've tried my fair share of lightweight eye creams that make the delicate skin feel even drier than before—this Versed number is not one of them. The gel instantly fuses to my skin and provides a subtle plumping effect. Thank you, hyaluronic acid! I do wish it had more brightening ingredients since I deal with stubborn dark circles, but for those looking for simple hydration, this is the best of the best.
Customer review: "I've been using this for about a week, and my eyes look and feel way more hydrated [since] using this product. When I first opened it, I loved how it looks like a concealer applicator. The opening is so small, so not a lot comes out, which is perfect for just around the eyes."
Best Immediately Gratifying: Olehenriksen Banana Bright+ Vitamin C Brightening Eye Crème
Pros: A little product goes a long way, has color-correcting abilities, wears well under makeup
Cons: better suited for daytime use
Key ingredients: powerhouse vitamin C trio, citrus bioflavonoids, hardy orange extract
Texture: rich cream
I've gone through multiple jars of this Olehenriksen eye cream. (I'm out at the moment, so I don't have a photo.) Contrary to what you might think, the cult-favorite, fragrance-free formula doesn't contain any bananas. Rather, it's inspired by banana powder, the makeup product artists love to instantly brighten under-eyes. It features light-reflecting yellow mineral pigments that instantly neutralize cool, dark shadows, so you can see results in a snap.
Customer review: "Noticeably brighter under-eyes and lasts all day under makeup! This has always been a favorite of mine, a little on the pricey side, but you don't need to use a lot daily."
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Ourself HA+ Replenishing Eye Serum
Pros: super lightweight yet deeply hydrating, contains high-tech patented technology, lasts a while
Cons: pricier than other options
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid complex, peptides, jasmine- and hawthorn-flower extracts, vitamin C, niacinamide
Texture: light serum
I've also flown through multiple bottles of this baby. I have pretty sensitive eyes, and tear up every time I apply liner, mascara, and, yes, eye cream, but this formula doesn't irritate the orbs at all. It has a very thin, lightweight consistency, but don't let that fool you into thinking it doesn't deeply hydrate. Hyaluronic acid, the star hydrator we all know and love, is thought to penetrate only the surface of the skin, but Ourself has a high-tech delivery system that ushers it into the deeper skin layers. Essentially, it makes HA work 10 times better. I certainly have noticed a stronger plumping effect after sticking with the clinically backed formula.
Customer review: "I have been using this for about a week now. The one take away this early, is the crows feet near my eyes have all but vanished. I am very aware of them because I was irked after getting the 'Newtox,' which normally softens those lines for months, wore off within a few weeks. Crows feet front and center. My lip lines too are looking much better (albeit they weren't very prominent only to me and my magnifying mirror). I am 57 and am sold."
Best Under Makeup: Naturium Multi-Peptide Eye Cream
Pros: precise applicator, has a noticeable tightening effect
Cons: may be irritating on sensitive eyes
Key ingredients: peptides, squalane, jojoba oil
Texture: light cream
I was low-key shocked when I found out this product costs only $16. I have this reaction to pretty much every Naturium product I try—the formulas feel way more expensive than they are! This peptide-infused eye cream is no different. The specific peptide it has, argireline, is known to have a Botox-like effect. It's usually what makes skincare brands claim their formula is like "Botox in a bottle." Skin-firming actives aside, the consistency is incredible underneath makeup. The precise applicator helps me disperse just the right amount of product to hydrate my under-eyes and prevent pilling, another one of my major beauty pet peeves.
Customer review: "So hydrating! I'm 27 and starting to notice some fine lines around my eyes. This has helped so much with general hydration, and my fine lines look so much less noticeable. It also sits really nice under concealer/foundation!"
Best Budget: The Inkey List Caffeine De-Puffing + Dark Circle Eye Cream
Pros: sophisticated formula for a budget-friendly price, fragrance-free
Cons: not the best for specific aging concerns like fine lines
Key ingredients: caffeine, peptides, albizia julibrissin bark extract
Texture: light cream
Whenever a friend asks for eye cream recommendations, I'll always include this one in the list for a budget-friendly option that performs. Caffeine is a star ingredient for brightening and de-puffing formulas, as its vasoconstriction properties constrict blood vessels. This, in turn, reduces puffiness and makes cool shadows less apparent. If those are your main concerns, you can't go wrong with this $11 pick.
Customer review: "I have naturally really dark, obvious under-eye bags, and I started this in January, and my under-eyes haven't been the same since. My friends used to point out that I looked tired, and now, I look awake and even feel awake!! It's so good and so cheap, and I'm telling you this thing is a game changer!!!"
Best Splurge: Sisley-Paris Supremÿa at Night The Supreme Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Pros: cooling massage tool reduces puffiness, great for aging-skin concerns
Cons: more of a nighttime eye cream
Key ingredient: Fundamental Regeneration Complex
Texture: rich cream
For those down to splurge, this Supremÿa cream is just divine. At the heart of the formula lies the brand's Fundamental Regeneration Complex, a high-tech combination of ingredients that targets 25 anti-aging markers at key stages of the night for long-term results. The experience itself exudes luxury. The rich cream feels like straight-up cashmere, and it comes with a naturally cooling massage accessory to deflate puffiness and sculpt the eye area. I'd snag it for the sensory experience alone, but the bright, well-rested results make the price even more worth it.
Customer review: "This cream is a game changer, along with the new tool. It's [a] fantastic must-get."
What to Look for in an Eye Cream
Ultimately, you should choose an eye cream based on your skin type and any specific goals you'd like to address. For example, if you struggle with dark circles, brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide will be most helpful. If fine lines are your main gripe, look for formulas with retinol, peptides, and gentle AHAs. Here, Rabach lists the most common actives found in eye creams and what they're best suited for:
- Caffeine reduces the size of blood vessels, decreasing dark circles and puffiness.
- Retinol stimulates collagen production, helping to reduce fine lines.
- Peptides help collagen and elastin production, keeping the skin firm.
- Hyaluronic acid hydrates, reducing the appearance of fine lines.
- Vitamin C and vitamin E are antioxidants, so they improve skin tone and texture.
In terms of what ingredients to avoid, again, you'll want to consider your skin type. Those with oily skin should opt for lightweight, gel-based formulas, Rabach says, and people with drier skin might want a thicker confection brimming with skin-plumping hydrators. Those with especially sensitive eyes might want to look for hypoallergenic eye creams. The term has no set definition, but they tend to come fragrance-free and are generally gentler on the skin. "Avoid products with potential irritants like alcohol, dyes, botanicals, or preservatives," Rabach adds.
FAQ
Do under-eye creams really work?
Short answer? Yes, especially if you have specific skin concerns you'd like to target. See, the skin underneath and around the eyes is super thin (it's one of the thinnest, most sensitive areas of skin on your entire face), so it requires extra care.
While you can totally tap your moisturizer on the area, you might find more success with a product tailor-made for the special skin region. "Formulations have special ingredients, like caffeine, to reduce puffiness and dark circles," says Rabach. Not to mention, the sensitive skin might not be able to handle more potent actives, such as retinol. Eye creams that do contain retinol tend to use lower concentrates to account for that sensitivity, Rabach adds.
How should I apply eye cream?
"You should use eye cream both in the morning and evening after cleansing," says Rabach. I like to apply mine post-serum, pre-moisturizer. "Don’t rub; gently tap," she adds. Again, the skin underneath the eyes is super sensitive—any rubbing or tugging can create microtears, which only exacerbate puffiness and fine lines. A good rule of thumb is to apply with your ring finger, as that's typically your weakest digit.
What eye creams do dermatologists recommend?
Rabach personally recommends the Alpyn Beauty Instant Bright Eye Dark Circle Firming Cream. "It's an excellent peptide-packed eye cream with visibly brightening niacinamide, fine line targeting Reneseed, and a peachy-pink hue to blur dark circles," she shares. "It targets fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, and elasticity."
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