For many people, including myself, the under-eye area yields a host of concerns, including dryness, fine lines, discoloration and puffiness. Since this particular area is one of the most sensitive parts of your body, you’ll need to be extra cautious when trying to find a solution, according to dermatologists. There are a number of eye creams on the market designed to help most under-eye concerns, but keep in mind that no cream is a one-size-fits-all solution, according to our experts.
To help you determine how to find the right one for your skin, I consulted with board-certified dermatologists about what to consider when shopping and how to best target your specific concerns. SKIP AHEAD Best eye creams | Best hydrating | Best brightening | Best depuffing | Best smoothing | How to shop for eye cream | Do eye creams actually work? When shopping for the best eye cream, our experts recommend considering the following factors: Below, I’ve rounded up dermatologist-recommended eye creams, plus some NBC Select staff favorites that align with our experts’ guidance. Cerave Eye Repair Cream Finding an eye cream that won’t irritate your eyes can be tricky, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr.
Heather Woolery-Lloyd . In her experience, people who are sensitive around the eye area can tolerate this Cerave formula well. It has ceramides that calms the skin and help with texture, hyaluronic acid to add moisture and niacinamide to brighten, according to the brand.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Soothing Eye Cream This gel-cream option has niacinamide, shea butter and glycerin to help reduce irritation associated with dryness and sensitivity around the eyes and eyelids, according to the brand. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio uses this eye cream daily in the winter to hydrate her dry under eyes. “It adds a great amount of hydration that I need during the colder months, and it doesn’t irritate my super sensitive skin,” she says.
Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb This cream, which has a 4.8-star average rating from over 900 reviews at Sephora, is suitable for all skin types and helps moisturize the under-eye area without feeling too thick on the skin, according to the brand. The lightweight cream has ingredients like glycerin, squalane and ceramides to help retain moisture and support your skin barrier, according to the brand.
Colorescience Total Eye Firm and Repair Concentrate If you have dry, sensitive skin under your eyes, consider this Colorescience eye cream. The cream uses humectants like glycerin and emollients like squalane to improve texture on the under-eye skin, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick .
Not only does this help combat dryness, but it also helps firm the skin under the eyes, improve discoloration and reduce overall puffiness, she says. Glossier Full Orbit This Glossier eye cream is meant to go on both your under-eye area and eyelids. “I love how creamy and lightweight this eye cream is — it absorbs quickly into my skin and feels instantly hydrating,” says Godio.
“I also find that it sits really well under makeup and never feels heavy on the thin skin around my eyes.” The gel cream has a combination of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to brighten and smooth out the area, according to the brand. Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment This eye cream, which has a 4.
3-star average rating from over 2,600 reviews at Ulta, is great for those who prefer a thick consistency or one they can wear to sleep. It has hydrating ingredients like avocado oil and shea butter. Neocutis Lumiere Firm Riche Extra Moisturizing Illuminating Tightening Eye Cream This eye cream targets dark circles with ingredients like vitamin C, caffeine and peptides, according to the brand.
Plus, it has growth hormones, which are proteins that help regulate good collagen processes to restore the skin and prevent collagen production from decreasing (which can contribute to thin, sagging skin), says Woolery-Lloyd. (Collagen keeps the structure of your skin firm and provides underlying support, according to our experts.) Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Eye Cream This cream comes recommended by board-certified dermatologist Dr.
Lily Talakoub for anyone looking to combat dark circles because it brightens the under eye using vitamin C. Not only does the eye cream help with discoloration, but it also has hyaluronic acid, which helps prevent crepey skin, says Talakoub. Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream This lightweight cream has a whipped texture and comes recommended by NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin .
Suitable for all skin types, this eye cream, like others on our list, has vitamin C and caffeine to help brighten, depuff and support the production of collagen, according to the brand. Malin, who dabs less than 1⁄4 of a teaspoon onto the skin, says a little goes a long with this eye cream. Colorscience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 This Colorscience eye cream is a tinted SPF for those who want to brighten and color correct the eye area while also protecting their skin from UVA and UVB exposure, says Talakoub.
The cream, which comes in four shades (fair, medium, tan and deep), also has a cooling applicator to help reduce puffiness, according to Colorscience. Olehenriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Crème Like other products on our list, this eye cream uses vitamin C and orange extract to help brighten the under-eye area, according to Olehenriksen. “Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient in skin care, because it’s an antioxidant that has skin brightening properties so it protects and treats [the skin],” says Woolery-Lloyd.
It also has jojoba seed oil, shea butter and beeswax, which are all gentle for the eye area and hydrate the skin, she says. Naturium Vitamin Bright Illuminating Eye Cream When I want a makeup-free day or need help combatting discoloration, I apply this eye cream because it instantly brightens up my under-eye area. Unlike other eye creams I use, this one has a thick mousse-like consistency, which is easy to blend and feels lightweight on my skin.
It comes in two shades — light/medium and medium/dark — and it has buildable coverage, so it reduces darkness without feeling too heavy or drying. Charlotte Tilbury Cryo Recovery Eye Serum This serum uses a cooling applicator to provide an instant calming effect and help reduce puffiness, says Garshick. It also has a blend of caffeine and peptides, which leaves the under-eye area looking smoother, brighter and more refreshed, she says.
Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Ge l This eye gel, which is a favorite of NBC Select editor Lindsay Schneider , is suitable for all skin types, according to the brand. “As an editor, I try out a ton of products — specifically eye creams quite regularly — and this Dr.
Loretta gel is the one I always come back to time and time again,” says Schneider. “I’ve never tried another product that matches the feel of this gel; it’s incredibly cooling and lightweight on the skin. It’s also not sticky so I can wear it on its own or layer on makeup or concealer on top with no issue.
” Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream For Malin, this cream (which also comes recommended by Garshick) is a staple for the winter season because of its thick consistency that helps seal in moisture and boost hydration. “I like that it’s a nongreasy formula made with oatmeal, I always find it soothing,” she says. The eye cream also has a cold metal applicator that Malin uses to help blend the product into her skin.
Belif Aqua Bomb Depuffing Eye Gel This eye cream is one of my newest obsessions, and my morning routine doesn’t feel complete without it. The pump dispenses a perfect, pea-sized amount of the product, and I massage it into my skin using the applicator; the ceramic tip and gel combination instantly depuffs, and my skin feels more awake because it has a cooling sensation. Biossance Squalane + Peptide Brightening & Depuffing Eye Gel This Biossance eye gel is another favorite of both Garshick and Schneider.
“I love the consistency of this gel — it’s thin enough to easily dab it onto the skin, but not too thick where it’s hard to blend,” says Schneider, who previously used it. With ingredients like squalane and caffeine, it moisturizes and depuffs the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines, according to the brand. Another key ingredient is niacinamide, which minimizes the appearance of discoloration under the eyes, according to Biossance.
L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine Eye Serum Malin recommends this fragrance-free eye serum because it absorbs quickly and brightens her under-eye area almost immediately. “The applicator is my favorite part of using this product,” she says. “The wand has three little metal balls that stay cold and help you roll the serum into your skin.
It’s like giving your under-eye area a little massage.” Avene Soothing Eye Contour Cream Safe for sensitive skin, this eye cream moisturizes skin and reduces puffiness using ingredients like hyaluronic acid, chamomile, spring water and vitamin E, according to the brand. “I have really dry, sensitive under eyes, so most eye creams irritate my eyes or don’t provide enough hydration,” says Godio.
“This is super gentle and lightweight, and moisturizes the skin under my eyes more than any other eye cream I’ve tried.” Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Puff Eye Roller This drugstore option is one of our favorite treatments for under-eye puffiness . It has caffeine to help reduce the appearance of under-eye bags by constructing the blood vessels, as well as vitamin C to brighten the under-eye area, according to Garshick.
The cool roll-on applicator also works to reduce puffiness, says Garshick. RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream “While [this] contains retinol, it is specifically formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes, making it a great option for all skin types as it is also hydrating on the skin,” says Garshick. Experts recommend using it at night and avoid pairing it with AHAs and BHAs because it may cause irritation.
Isdin Isdinceutics Vital Eyes Overnight Eye Cream Talakoub recommends this Isdin overnight eye cream because it’s hydrating and great for dry and sensitive skin. The rich cream has caffeine to minimize the appearance of fine lines, according to the brand. Plus, it also comes with a cooling applicator to help massage the product along the under-eye area.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream If you’re looking for a multipurpose eye cream that helps improve the appearance of fine lines and puffiness while still being gentle on the skin, consider this Cerave option recommended by Garshick. The lightweight cream has caffeine to target puffiness, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and peptides and niacinamide to help combat fine lines, says Garshick. Ilia Bright Start Retinol Alternative Brightening Eye Cream This Ilia formula, which is a personal favorite of mine, uses a plant-based retinol alternative to smooth the under-eye area, plus avocado extract and caffeine to depuff and brighten the skin around the eyes, according to the brand.
I use this cream every other morning because the retinol alternative is safe for my sensitive skin and does not make my under eyes more prone to sun damage like other retinol products do. I also like how cooling the ceramic tip feels. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Cream NBC Select managing editor Leah Ginsberg originally received this eye cream, which uses retinol to reduce the appearance of fine lines, as a gift from the brand and is now on her way to purchase a refill.
“It is by far the most moisturizing one I have tried, which is tricky with under-eye skin since it doesn’t absorb product as easily as other areas,” says Ginsberg. “It also has such a luxurious texture.” Versed Smooth Landing Advanced Retinoid Eye Balm This solid-to-liquid eye balm uses a granactive retinoid, a more gentle and less irritating retinoid than most traditional options like retinol, says Garshick.
The balm also has hydrating ingredients such as vitamin E, shea butter, glycerin and black currant seed oil, according to Versed. The following morning after applying this eye cream, make sure to apply an SPF because retinoids may cause sun sensitivity, according to experts in our guide to building a skin care routine . Jones Road Eye Cream This Jones Road eye cream comes recommended by Schneider, who says it has a creamy, easily blendable consistency.
“Unlike some other options I’ve tried, you don’t have to try too hard to pat it into your skin,” she says. “It absorbs quickly, so it’s great in the morning when I’m in a rush.” Dermalogica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream While many of the eye creams on our list are safe to apply on your eyelids, this option heavily prioritizes this area.
The thick cream minimizes the appearance of fine lines all around the eye while simultaneously lifting the eyelid to reduce eyelid folds, according to the brand. The eye cream has a 4.8-star average rating from over 200 reviews at Sephora.
When shopping for an eye cream, our experts recommend looking for formulas that are hydrating. Below, I break down how to decide which eye cream is best for you based on your specific skin concern. One factor that most eye creams have in common is they add hydration so when targeting dryness, look for an option that is thick and creamy, according to Talakoub.
When any moisturizer has a thicker consistency, there are more lipids in the formula that lock in moisture, experts told us. When it comes to other eye cream formulations for very dry under eyes, you may also want a thicker balm that will help lock in moisture rather than a lightweight serum, says Garshick. These creams and balms tend to have ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin to add hydration, draw in moisture and maintain a healthy skin barrier, according to Garshick.
Because you’re preventing dryness from worsening, the increased moisture and hydration from an eye cream will prevent the skin from becoming crepey, according to Talakoub. Other ingredients that may be helpful to soften and moisturize the skin include squalane and vitamin E, says Garshick. For those hoping to brighten the under-eye area, look for vitamin C — it’s a lightening agent that can help prevent discoloration and dark circles, according to Talakoub.
For those with purple and blue undertones around the eyes, Talakoub recommends products with vitamin K since it can brighten and improve the skin’s elasticity making it firmer. Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is another key ingredient to look for since it helps reduce hyperpigmentation by brightening the skin and improving its overall appearance, according to Woolery-Lloyd. However, it can be drying, so make sure there are other moisturizing components like a humectant or emollient in it, she says.
Various factors, including allergies, fluid buildup and dietary reasons can all cause puffiness around the eyes, says Talakoub. One of the main ingredients to depuff is caffeine, which helps keep the skin taut so it doesn’t get stretched, she says. It also constricts the blood vessels — by doing this, it increases circulation and acts as an anti-inflammatory to reduce puffiness under the eyes, according to Woolery-Lloyd.
An eye cream with retinol can help smooth fine lines by increasing collagen production and decreasing collagen breakdown, according to our experts. It can also increase cell turnover by replacing dead skin cells with newer and healthier ones, our experts say. However, eye creams need to have a very mild and micronized version of retinol to actually smooth out these lines.
Otherwise, it can irritate the under-eye area or make these fine lines worse, says Talakoub. Eye creams can address specific concerns, but are not the answer to everything, according to our experts. “You can expect between 10% to 30% improvement in dark circles and improvement in textural changes,” says Woolery-Lloyd.
Speak with your dermatologist about alternate solutions if you find your eye cream is not addressing your concerns. For example, if you have dark circles, which may be due to genetic vascular issues, or are struggling with hollowing or sunken skin, experts say. Eye creams can show improvement, but specific concerns sometimes require additional assistance.
An alternative solution like filler may be an option for issues with hollowing or sunken pockets. You may need a procedure like a lower blepharoplasty if an eye cream cannot help the puffiness around your eyes. If an eye cream is not improving your dark circles, it may be because the discoloration or vascular issue is due to genetics and may require alternative treatments done by a dermatologist, according to experts.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. I am an associate reporter at NBC Select who has been covering beauty, wellness, gift guides and sales for over a year.
For this piece, I interviewed three dermatologists and researched many eye creams on the market. I also included expert recommendations, NBC Select staff favorites and highly rated options that align with the dermatologists’ guidance. Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
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