15 Eye Creams That’ll Correct Everything From Dark Circles to Wrinkles & Puffiness

When the muscles and skin of the upper and lower eyelid are compromised, it leads to aesthetic results that can make you look dull, tired, and aged. There are numerous factors that contribute to this problem including aging, medical conditions, and cosmetic treatments over the years.

Whether your eyes are in need of a small pick-me-up, or the decades have taken their toll with deep lines and wrinkles, it might be time to add an eye cream to your skincare routine. In this guide, I’ve taken a deep dive into best eye creams. Whether your eye area is in need of a major moisture surge, de-puffing, anti-aging benefits, or something in between, we’re highlighting the best of the best.

 

How to Choose the Best Eye Cream for Your Needs

Navigating the market for the right eye cream requires research and a little know-how. The odds of randomly arriving at the perfect choice based solely on what you see on a commercial are slim, especially considering all the great products available. Your unique circumstances must be taken into consideration. For example, do you want to combat dark circles, reduce puffiness, or smooth out fine lines and wrinkles? There are separate products out there designed to target each.

In this guide, we’re going to take a few minutes to walk through the most important factors to consider while you shop for your next eye cream. Throughout, I’ll reference some of our top-rated picks from today’s list to help you arrive at the best final decision.

What Is Your Main Area of Concern?

Before you can plan out where you’re heading, you have to know where you are. If there’s a primary skincare concern that you’d like your eye cream to address, this needs pinpointed. For some, dark circles are a problem. Others struggle with new lines and wrinkles. Maybe you just want a versatile product capable of postponing the signs of aging. Let’s take a look at the top three issues women in the United States are tackling and which types of eye creams would likely offer the best solution.

• Dark Circles: Be on the lookout for products targeting hyperpigmentation. Stubborn dark circles are no match for the relevant ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin B3, and caffeine. La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eye Cream for Dark Circles is a great product to get started with.
• Fine Lines and Wrinkles- Lines and wrinkles require powerful ingredients capable of restoring the skin’s elasticity and firmness like retinol and peptides. I’d recommend a proven eye cream for wrinkles to start your journey to more youthful-looking eyes with Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Wrinkle Resist Eye Cream.
• Eye Puffiness- If you’re anything like me, it takes a little while after waking up to really look awake thanks to puffiness. Look for an eye cream for dark circles offering deep hydration and ingredients like caffeine for a more rejuvenated appearance. I always reach for my Blu Atlas Eye Stick when I need a little pick-me-up to start the day off right.

Factor in Your Skin Type

Everyone has their own, unique skin type, and this should certainly be a significant determining factor as you seek out the anti-aging eye cream that’ll be best for your unique needs. Let’s take a look at four primary skin types and what products pair well with each.

• Oily Skin: The last type of eye cream you want to apply to oily skin is one containing heavy, greasy ingredients. This clogs pores and adds to the oily appearance. Rather, opt for lightweight formulas like Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream.
• Dry Skin: Intense hydration is the name of the game if you suffer with dry skin. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin are game changers. I’d get started by trying out a product like Firming, Hydrating Daily Under Eye Skin Repair Gel by Medik8.
• Combination Skin: If your skin can be both oily and dry, you have combination skin, and you want a lightweight product with peptides. Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream would be my top recommendation due to its balance of hydration and active ingredients without being too rich.
• Sensitive Skin: If you’re looking for an eye cream for sensitive skin, you want to aim to improve the appearance of your skin, not make it worse. If you have sensitive skin, harsh ingredients like synthetic fragrances and highly-concentrated retinol should be avoided. I recommend trying out Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Brightening Eye Cream.

Know Your Way Around the Ingredients Label

Understanding how to read the ingredients labels as you browse the thousands of eye creams on the shelves is the key to unlocking star products that can shine through your appearance. It’s like learning a new language to translate a mysterious text. No, you don’t have to earn a degree in chemistry, but becoming familiar with the key ingredients you’ll come across while shopping goes a long way.

• Retinol for fine lines and wrinkles
• Hyaluronic acid for hydrating and plumping tired eyes
• Peptides to boost collagen production, firm the skin, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Vitamin C to brighten and provide antioxidant properties for overall healthy skin

Consider Your Preferred Application Method

How you apply your eye cream is almost as important as the formula you choose. Since the skin around your eyes is thin and delicate, applying with a gentle touch is essential to avoid tugging and causing any irritation. Let’s take a moment to outline some popular application methods you might consider trying.

1. Dotting: Apply small dots of cream along the orbital bone starting from the inner corner of the eye and working outward. It’s good to use the ring finger since it’s the weakest as this will reduce stretching the delicate skin of this region.
2. Patting/Tapping: To help the cream absorb without irritation, pat or tap into the skin with the ring finger, paying attention not to drag it into the skin.
3. Circular Motion: To stimulate circulation and ensure the cream is distributed evenly, rubbing in a small circular motion starting at the inner corner and moving outwards can be beneficial.
4. Layering: If you’re focusing on multiple skin concerns that require more than one product, layering can provide the comprehensive care you need more effectively. If you’re using serums and oils, use your eye cream first, and allow it to fully absorb before applying your other products.
5. Gua Sha or Glade Roller: While an optional step, using a gua sha or glade roller can help improve absorption, promote blood circulation, and reduce puffiness. After applying your cream, use the gua sha or glade roller to massage the cream into your skin starting at the inner corner and moving outwards, just as you did upon initial application.
6. Timing: Since the body is in restoration mode during sleep, application before bed can be beneficial in advanced anti-aging and hydration benefits. You can also get away with applying a thicker layer. Before applying makeup in the morning, apply your eye cream a few minutes prior to prevent it from settling into the wrinkles. For best results, you’ll want to apply your eye cream on a regular basis. Most eye creams can be applied both morning and night. However, if you choose an eye cream made with retinol, it’s best to stick with only applying it in the evening. This is because retinol increases the skin’s sensitivity to the sun and also degrades when exposed to UV rays.

Budget Considerations

Whether you’re on a tight budget or have some wiggle room as you explore your options, knowing what you’re willing to spend is a good early step in the shopping process. The knowledge you’ve gained in this buying guide will help you pinpoint good deals, but there is a large range of prices. You don’t want to pay more for ingredients you don’t really need. Conversely, you don’t want to overpay for a cream that’s not going to get the job done.

• Breakdown of Price Points
  • High- $50+: Paying premium price can be worth it if you have pinpointed a product very likely to address your specific needs. These more advanced formulas should contain high-quality ingredients and can accelerate results. Before you buy, check to ensure the brand has a good reputation, and look for the inclusion of clinically-proven ingredients.
  • Mid- $25-$50: This range is a sweet spot where you’ll find great brands with appropriate, quality ingredients. Sure, they will likely lack the advanced formulation and technology of the high-price brands, but this is a great price range for the average person.
  • Low- Under $25: In this economy, who doesn’t benefit from a good deal:? Keep in mind, low-cost products can sometimes fail to deliver the results you desire. The key is to look for simple packaging and inclusion of the key ingredients that target your desired goals.

Learn From Others Using Reviews and Testimonials

There’s a lot to be learned from the experiences of others. Before you buy a product, take advantage of an online search to see what real customers have to say about their experience with a product you’re considering. Many reputable review sites will provide a verified checkmark to indicate the customer really has purchased the product, or you can rely on a professional review sites to get the most accurate, up-to-date scoop.

Think Long-Term, Not Quick Fix

Beware of products promising a quick fix. Issues like fine lines and wrinkles don’t develop overnight, and you shouldn’t expect them to go away like magic, either. It’s true that ingredients like peptides, retinol, and antioxidants can provide an immediate, noticeable improvement in your skin’s appearance, but the more pronounced improvements to texture take time and consistency to achieve. Good things come to those with patience.

First Steps to More Youthful Skin

Your unique skin type, issues, and preferences are all key considering factors as you shop. It’s been my goal in this roundup and shopping guide to help you head into your journey with the knowledge needed to make a good choice. For more great suggestions on products that will make the rest of your face look more youthful and rejuvenated, check out my recent roundup of the best vitamin C creams.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Eye Creams

Do I really need an eye cream?

An eye cream may not be quite as essential as the foundational cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen – but that doesn’t mean it’s not useful. In fact, when used consistently, a well-formulated eye cream has the potential to completely transform the eye area. If you have specific concerns you’d like to tackle such as fine lines, crow’s feet, puffiness or dark circles, I recommend adding a targeted eye cream to your routine.

What eye cream is best for dark circles?

The best eye cream for hyperpigmentation depends largely on severity and your skin type. In most cases, a quality product like La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eye Cream for Dark Circles has the ingredients to get the job done including caffeine and niacinamide. Along with fixing your undereye circles, it can also help you achieve a more even skin tone.

Do eye creams really fix fine lines and wrinkles?

When you find a formula featuring anti-aging ingredients like retinol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid, you can, indeed, reverse the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. By improving elasticity and firmness, your skin’s texture will become smoother. The key is to stick with consistent use for the long-term. Starting use early also puts the odds in your favor of aging gracefully.

What is the right eye cream for my skin type?

Your skin type will have a huge impact on the ability of an eye cream to produce desired results. Lightweight formulas like Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream are great for oily skin. Dry skin needs deep hydration like you’ll find with Firming, Hydrating Daily Under Eye Skin Repair Gel by Medik8. If you have combination skin, balance hydration and active ingredients with Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream. For sensitive skin, avoid fragrances and additives, similar to the formula used by Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Brightening Eye Cream.

Will I get better results buying a more expensive eye cream?

If you have a significant, specific issue you’re trying to target like deep wrinkles or dark pigmentation, investing extra in a product backed by clinical testing and formulation can be well worth the investment. However, if you are battling average issues for your age and lifestyle, you should be able to achieve results with a mid-range or even budget option.

What is the best way to apply eye cream?

Use your weakest finger, the ring finger, to avoid pulling or tugging at the delicate eye skin. Dab the product along the orbital bone starting from the inner corner of the eye working your way outward. In a circular motion, follow the same path to rub the product in gently.