The skin around your eyes is some of the thinnest skin on your body, making it more susceptible to the visible signs of aging. Since there’s some debate on whether eye creams are necessary, we asked dermatologists who assured us that eye creams do work. Eye creams are specifically formulated to support thin, crepey skin while addressing common issues like fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. “Under eye skin is more delicate, thin, and fragile than the skin on the rest of the face and is the first area to show the signs of aging,” says Richard Lucariello, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. “For this reason, it’s beneficial to use an eye cream that targets your specific concerns.”
Eye creams & treatments to smooth fine-lines & wrinkles; hydrate skin; brighten dark circles; and treat puffy eyes. From the experts at Est¨¦e Lauder. If you’re hoping to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles, dry undereyes and other eye care concerns before they surface, it’s best to add eye treatment products to your skincare regimen sooner rather than later. Start by incorporating a gentle eye cream formula into your routine in your 20s¡ªone with ingredients that are focused on keeping the skin surrounding your eyes hydrated, firm and protected.
Key Ingredients to Look For
- Hyaluronic Acid: Dealing with dry skin under the eyes? Hyaluronic acid can help skin retain water and keep it hydrated while attracting extra moisture.
- Vitamin C: Dark circles as well as fine lines and wrinkles are no match for Vitamin C, a radiance-boosting anti-oxidant that can even out your skin tone and reduce signs of aging.
- Retinol: If you’re looking for the gold standard ingredient for anti-aging, there’s no contest ¡ª it’s retinol, a derivative of vitamin A. Retinol is an antioxidant, and it’s been studied for its beneficial effects on skin. It has all sorts of topical applications, from clearing acne to fading the appearance of dark spots.
- Caffeine: Caffeine has also been proven to promote apoptosis of damaged cells. Caffeine’s metabolites have antioxidizing effects against reactive oxygen species. A 2018 study showed that caffeine has protective effects from oxidative stress-induced senescence by activation of A2AR/SIRT3/AMPK-mediated autophagy.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a powerful ingredient that works as an anti-oxidant for skin, helping to defend it from free radical damage. Many over-the-counter antiaging creams consist of 0.5 to 1% vitamin E due to its effective reduction in dark eye circles.
- Niacinamide: The serum’s active ingredients are niacinamide and plankton extract, along with ash-tree bark, a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps with bags and dark circles.
Top Eye Contours for Wrinkles and Dark Circles
We spent months testing the best eye creams to find effective formulas to treat wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. Here, find the winners that delivered the best and brightest results that make eyes look younger from brands like Tatcha, CeraVe, L’Or¨¦al Paris, and more.
RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
Why it’s worth it: RoC’s Retinol Correxion Eye Cream targets lines, dark circles, and puffiness without making a huge dent in your bank account. “I love this one as it provides so many benefits of pricier products at a fraction of the cost,” Dr. Malik says. He points to its inclusion of gentle retinol, which helps promote collagen production, boost firmness, and reduce the appearance of crow’s feet. (Just be sure to wear sunscreen to avoid irritation as retinoids can increase sun sensitivity.) It also allows this incredibly lightweight formula to help diminish discoloration over time, adds David Li, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boston. Shop on Amazon
- Benefits: Reduces fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness
- Active Ingredients: Retinol, panthenol, vitamin C, vitamin E
- Best For: Mature skin
- Drawbacks: Some users find the texture too thick; requires sunscreen due to retinol sensitivity
CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream
CeraVe is renowned for its gentle formulas, and this is a favorite of Dr. Madfes. Ceramides lock in moisture while caffeine treats puffiness. Niacinamide then brightens and tightens skin as it reduces inflammation. “This is an excellent product for darkness under the eyes,” she says. It has thousands of five-star reviews from shoppers who love how soft it makes their skin feel, and two Glamour testers (plus, one of their husbands) love it too. Amber Sabri says she really likes CeraVe’s formula because it’s the only eye cream that doesn’t irritate her eczema. “My skin needs a thicker moisturizer a lot of times with my eczema and dryer skin, so I struggle to find something that wears well under my makeup, but this eye cream is the only one I’ve found to work,” she says. Shop on Amazon
- Benefits: Brightens dark circles, reduces puffiness, hydrates
- Active Ingredients: Ceramides, caffeine, niacinamide
- Best For: Sensitive skin, eczema-prone skin
- Drawbacks: Slightly thick texture may not suit oily skin
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream
Sunday Riley’s Auto Correct expertly brightens, depuffs, and smooths through caffeine, ginseng root extract, and a handful of other botanicals. With such a well-rounded ingredient list, it’s no surprise this line-smoothing eye cream has reached cult-favorite status among beauty insiders. We love how smoothly this eye serum glides onto your skin, leaving a satin finish behind. Its results last for up to 10 hours, too, so you can go all day without worrying about dark circles, wrinkles, or other signs of aging. Shop on Amazon
- Benefits: Brightens, depuffs, smooths fine lines
- Active Ingredients: Caffeine, Brazilian ginseng root extract, horse chestnut extract
- Best For: Puffy eyes, dark circles
- Drawbacks: Higher price point
SkinCeuticals A.G.E Advanced Eye
Allure’s best eye cream lists consistently include the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. After a recent reformulation, “The inclusion of caffeine, a higher concentration of Proxylane, and additional brightening agents creates even greater visible results with consistent use,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green previously told Vogue. Dr. Berry is also a fan: “SkinCeuticals’s eye cream is designed specifically for mature skin experiencing collagen loss and glycation-related aging,” she says. “It targets fine lines, dark circles, puffiness, and crepey skin with a combination of ingredients, including proxylane, glycyrrhetinic acid, peptides, and antioxidants.” Shop on Amazon
- Benefits: Reduces fine lines, dark circles, puffiness, crepey skin
- Active Ingredients: Proxylane, glycyrrhetinic acid, peptides, caffeine
- Best For: Mature skin, anti-aging
- Drawbacks: Premium price
Comparison Table of Top Eye Contours
| Product | Key Ingredients | Benefits | Best For | Price Range | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RoC Retinol Correxion | Retinol, Panthenol, Vitamin C, Vitamin E | Reduces fine lines, dark circles, puffiness | Mature skin | $20-$30 | Thick texture, requires sunscreen |
| CeraVe Skin Renewing | Ceramides, Caffeine, Niacinamide | Brightens, reduces puffiness, hydrates | Sensitive skin | $15-$25 | May feel heavy for oily skin |
| Sunday Riley Auto Correct | Caffeine, Ginseng, Horse Chestnut | Brightens, depuffs, smooths | Puffy eyes, dark circles | $60-$70 | Higher cost |
| SkinCeuticals A.G.E | Proxylane, Peptides, Caffeine | Reduces fine lines, dark circles, crepey skin | Mature skin | $100-$120 | Expensive |
Testing Scenarios and Results
Real-World Testing Insights
We spent months testing a selection of eye creams and serums said to improve the look of dark circles and fine lines. We looked at the key ingredients included in each product, as well as texture, skincare results and price point. Our trusted panel of 1,000 beauty testers tried a range of hydrating, anti-wrinkle eye creams for a month, and the products listed below all made a noticeable difference. Over a month-long trial, they assessed the effect each cream had on fine lines, deep wrinkles, moisture levels and firmness. Back in the Good Housekeeping Institute beauty lab, our experts measured exactly how much of an impact each eye cream had on our panel’s fine lines and wrinkles with the help of a VISIA Complexion Analyser, which is able to measure the health of the skin, looking at fine lines, wrinkles, texture, pores, pigmentation and more.
- RoC Retinol Correxion: Testers said: “I noticed within days that the issues around my eyes (puffiness, dark circles and fine lines) were diminished,” one commented. A second agreed: “This eye cream firmed the skin around my eyes and faded away my wrinkles.” In digital imaging with the Lab’s Visia Complexion Analyzer, the lotion minimized eye-area wrinkle size and severity by an impressive 13% in four weeks.
- CeraVe Skin Renewing: Caitlin, tester: “I did not see any redness, irritation, or tingling while using this eye cream. The delicate skin around my eyes can get red with harsh products, but CeraVe Eye Repair cream is very gentle.”
- Sunday Riley Auto Correct: Our tester noticed a difference in her complexion after the first use, and it only improved with consistent use. She also saw a noticeable improvement in her skin texture, likely due to the cream’s hydrating formula.
- SkinCeuticals A.G.E: According to SkinCeuticals, in an eight-week clinical study, this eye cream improved the appearance of crow’s-feet, dark circles, wrinkles, and puffiness.
Buying Guide for Eye Contours
How to Choose the Right Eye Cream
- Identify Your Concerns: To properly care for the skin around your eyes, you’ll need to evaluate which eye care concerns you’re dealing with. Are you noticing puffiness under eyes, dryness, dull, tired-looking skin or dark circles? Once you narrow down your concerns, choose a targeted eye treatment product, such as an eye cream, gel, serum, balm or mask, to add to your skincare routine.
- Check Ingredients: Eye creams for brightening and smoothing might contain ingredients like vitamin C and retinol, while an eye cream to de-puff tends to include caffeine (it constricts the blood vessels and tightens the skin). Some eye creams (like our top pick) help with everything from dark circles to wrinkles to hydration.
- Consider Skin Type: While lines and wrinkles are a natural part of getting older, if you’re looking to firm and brighten the area around your eyes, introducing one of our experts’ best anti-ageing eye creams into your skincare routine could make a big difference. For sensitive skin, avoid ingredients like retinol or fragrance.
- Price vs. Value: Eye creams need to be used consistently in order to be effective. Choose a product you can afford to buy and replace regularly.
- Application Tips: The ideal time depends on your preferences and goals. No matter when you use eye cream, only apply it once every 12 hours. There’s no need to reapply the same product throughout the day or night. According to dermatologist Alberto de la Fuente Garcia, you can start applying eye cream as early as your mid-20s, even if you have yet to notice visible signs of skin aging.
Lifestyle Tips for Eye Care
While the best eye cream can be essential to keeping the skin around your eyes healthy, supple and bright, certain lifestyle practices can also play a factor. Avoiding rubbing your eye areas to prevent friction, drinking plenty of water and always using sun protection are a few essential eye care tips to follow. “Go back to basics,” Birchenough says. If you don’t have the funds ¡ª or the desire! ¡ª to spend your hard-earned cash on a fancy eye cream, Birchenough also has simple advice: “Eat healthy, take a multivitamin, and drink a lot, lot of water. Get exercise, get enough sleep, and wear sunscreen. Those are the ABCs of skin care.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do eye creams really work for dark circles and wrinkles?
Yes, eye creams can help reduce the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles, but results vary based on ingredients and consistency of use. Products with retinol, vitamin C, caffeine, or peptides show measurable improvements in clinical studies, such as reducing wrinkle depth by up to 13% in four weeks or improving skin hydration. However, hereditary dark circles or puffiness may not be fully eliminated by topical treatments alone.
How often should I apply eye cream?
Apply eye cream once every 12 hours, typically morning and night. Over-application can lead to irritation, especially with active ingredients like retinol. Always follow with sunscreen during the day if using retinol-based products.
Can eye creams be used with other skincare products?
Yes, eye creams can be layered with other skincare products. Apply them after cleansing and toning but before heavier moisturizers or sunscreen. For sensitive skin, ensure the eye cream is fragrance-free to avoid irritation when combined with other products.
Are expensive eye creams worth the investment?
Not always. Drugstore options like RoC and CeraVe often perform as well as luxury brands in clinical tests, offering similar benefits at a lower price. Choose based on ingredients and your budget rather than brand prestige.
What’s the difference between eye cream and eye serum?
Eye serums are typically lighter and more concentrated with active ingredients, ideal for targeting specific concerns like puffiness or dark circles. Eye creams are thicker, focusing on hydration and long-term anti-aging benefits. Both can be effective depending on your needs.