The smorgasbord of eye creams I tested, from 111skin to Youth To The People. Victoria Giardina
Are you tired of looking tired? Your skincare routine isn't complete without a good eye cream. While some may consider eye creams as miniature moisturizers, these small but mighty formulas are designed specifically for the delicate skin under your eyes. Dr. Libby Rhee recommends applying an eye cream after your serum to brighten, depuff, and disguise those tired eyes, even after a night of less than eight hours of sleep.
As an experienced tester who has spent years rigorously evaluating eye creams, I can confidently say that I have found the 29 best options for every skin type. These eye creams have been dabbed and dolloped en masse, and I have carefully curated a list of pros and cons for each one. So, whether you have dry, sensitive, or aging skin, or if you struggle with dark circles or puffiness, I have the perfect eye cream for you.
How We Tested
The eye creams I tested, from 111skin to Youth To The People. Victoria Giardina
To ensure the credibility and reliability of our testing, I followed a strict set of criteria when evaluating each eye cream. Here are the key factors I considered:
Consistency: I noted the consistency and weight of each eye cream to determine if it was lightweight or more gel-like. This helped me assess their performance as true eye creams.
Absorption: Easy absorption is crucial for an eye cream. I paid attention to how quickly each product seeped into my under-eye area. While some required additional patting, it didn't necessarily make them less effective; it simply meant they took a bit longer to apply.
Fragrance: As someone with sensitive skin, I avoided eye creams with strong fragrances. Eye creams on this list have subtle fragrances or are fragrance-free, ensuring they won't irritate your skin.
Hydration: Moisturizing the delicate under-eye area is essential. I took note of how nourished my skin felt after using each cream.
Dark spots: Whether you have subtle dark circles or want to brighten your under-eyes, a good eye cream should rejuvenate the skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Puffiness: Morning puffiness is a common issue, and I tested each eye cream multiple times to assess their effectiveness in reducing puffiness.
Value: Eye creams come at different price points, but the quality is what truly matters. I considered both the price and the quality of each eye cream to provide you with the best options for your budget.
Best Eye Creams Overall
Revision Skincare D.E.J. Eye Cream
Revision Skincare
Coming in as a close second, the Revision Skincare D.E.J. Eye Cream is one of the most elegant eye creams available. With its stainless steel pump-out applicator, this travel-friendly eye cream allows you to target specific areas of your under-eye region. Its luminous and moisturizing formula smooths lines effectively while remaining lightweight and gentle on the skin. Plus, it contains hyaluronic acid to provide extra hydration.
alpyn beauty PlantGenius Line-Filling Eye Balm
Sephora
The alpyn beauty PlantGenius Line-Filling Eye Balm is one of my most-used eye creams. Its easily blendable consistency and clean formula make it a go-to option. This eye balm contains bakuchiol, a retinol alternative that helps target anti-aging concerns. It also features vitamin C and caffeine to brighten and de-puff the under-eye area. With its brightening effects, antioxidant-rich ingredients, and dewy finish, it's a must-have for your skincare regimen.
Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles
La Mer The Eye Concentrate
Sephora
If you want to feel like a million bucks, try La Mer's The Eye Concentrate. This luxurious eye cream is a natural highlighter that moisturizes and smoothes the skin. Its indulgent consistency and key ingredients, including clarity ferment, lime tea concentrate, and concentrated Miracle Broth, help reduce the appearance of dark circles and rejuvenate the under-eye area.
Youth To The People Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate
Sephora
The Youth To The People Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate is another excellent option for dark circles. Its lightweight serum-cream consistency brightens and de-puffs the under-eye area. With vitamin C, caffeine, and antioxidants, this eye concentrate not only prevents aging but also illuminates and refreshes tired eyes. Its pump applicator makes it easy to use, and the fragrance-free formula ensures it won't irritate sensitive skin.
Best Drugstore Eye Creams
Hero Cosmetics Bright Eyes Illuminating Eye Cream
Amazon
From the makers of the renowned Mighty Patch, Hero Cosmetics brings you the Bright Eyes Illuminating Eye Cream. This eye cream is a dupe for more expensive options but offers the same quality and efficacy. With its stainless steel applicator, it helps wake you up while blending, highlighting, and soothing the skin. It contains caffeine and niacinamide to de-puff and tackle dark circles, making it a reliable choice for your daily skincare routine.
Olay Collagen Peptide 24 Eye Cream
Amazon
For those looking for a gentle and fragrance-free option, the Olay Collagen Peptide 24 Eye Cream is a standout drugstore choice. This nourishing eye cream contains peptides and niacinamide to help rejuvenate the skin. While it may not provide immediate dramatic results, it offers long-term benefits and is ideal for those with dry or sensitive skin. With its affordable price tag and reliable quality, it's worth considering for your skincare routine.
Best Eye Creams for Puffiness
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Eye Cream
Sephora
The Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Eye Cream is a dream to apply with its built-in applicator. Its silky texture and cooling effect help de-puff and refresh the eyes. This eye cream offers nearly instant results and a travel-friendly tube, making it perfect for on-the-go use. It also brightens the skin and is free from fragrance, making it suitable for those with dull or sensitive skin.
ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Vitality Eye Cream
Amazon
The ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Vitality Eye Cream is a nourishing and revitalizing option for puffy eyes. Its rich formulation helps awaken dull skin and leaves you looking more refreshed. This eye cream features hawthorn and Arabian jasmine flower essence, Japanese artemisia capillaris, upcycled elderflower extract, and padina pavonica to firm and soothe the skin. While it may be slightly heavier than others, it offers excellent results in reducing puffiness and targeting dark circles.
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Yeux Anti-Dark Circles Eye Cream
Amazon
Don't let the price fool you—La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Yeux Anti-Dark Circles Eye Cream rivals more expensive options. This eye cream offers a luxurious stainless steel applicator and effectively de-puffs and addresses dark circles. Its tinted formula, although lightweight, requires some patting but does a remarkable job in brightening the under-eye area. It's a great choice for those with dull skin and is void of any fragrance that may irritate sensitive skin.
Best Anti-Aging Eye Creams
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment
Sephora
The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment stands out as a unique eye cream with its anti-aging properties. Its firming abilities, combined with a touch of radiance, make it perfect for nighttime use before your night cream. This treatment contains lactic acid and vitamin C to brighten and firm the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines. For a youthful complexion, this eye treatment is a must-have.
Tatcha The Silk Peony Eye Cream
Kohl's
The Tatcha The Silk Peony Eye Cream offers a unique formulation and consistency. It has a whipped texture that feels luxurious on the skin and provides a second-skin-but-better type of radiance. With its blend of whey proteins, this eye cream nourishes and plumps the skin. While it is on the pricier side, the quality and originality of this eye cream make it an excellent investment for those who take eye care seriously.
Best Eye Creams with Retinol
Editor's note: It's important to use retinol-enriched eye creams only in the evenings, as retinol is sensitive to light and can cause sun damage.
bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Eye Cream
Amazon
The bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Eye Cream is an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin or those who are new to retinol. This eye cream offers a plant-based alternative to traditional retinol, making it gentle yet effective. With the inclusion of hyaluronic acid and protein peptides, it provides hydration and a subtle firming effect. It's a great option for anyone looking to incorporate retinol into their skincare routine.
Peach & Lily Pure Peach Retinoic Eye Cream
Ulta Beauty
The Peach & Lily Pure Peach Retinoic Eye Cream is a standout retinol-alternative eye cream, particularly suitable for dry skin. It offers multiple benefits, including brightening, soothing, moisturizing, and anti-aging effects. With 0.5% bakuchiol, a low-dosage alternative to retinol, it prevents breakouts and redness. This eye cream combines rosehip seed oil, superfoods, and a Retinoic Complex to rejuvenate the skin. It offers a refreshing and glowy finish, making it a great choice for dry or sensitive skin.
Best Eye Creams for Sensitive Skin
EltaMD Renew Eye Gel
Amazon
EltaMD is not only known for its sunscreen but also for its Renew Eye Gel, which is ideal for sensitive skin. This gel-to-cream eye cream provides intense hydration without causing any irritation. Its gentle formula gives your skin a more youthful appearance, making it an excellent choice for those with dry or sensitive skin.
Skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen Brightening Eye Treatment
Sephora
The Skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen Brightening Eye Treatment is another fantastic option for sensitive skin. Approved by the National Eczema Association, this eye treatment offers a refreshing glow and nourishes the skin effectively. While slightly thicker than other eye creams, it's still easily absorbed and provides excellent care for sensitive skin.
Best Eye Creams for Dry Skin
111skin Black Diamond Eye Cream
Bergdorf Goodman
If you're ready to invest in luxury skincare, the 111skin Black Diamond Eye Cream is one of the best choices for dry skin. This eye cream offers a pillowy soft finish and is incredibly moisturizing. It excels at smoothing lines and correcting hyperpigmentation, making it worth the splurge for those seeking noticeable results and ultimate hydration.
Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm
Sephora
Drunk Elephant's Ceramighty AF Eye Balm is a favorite in the skincare community. Its emollient texture provides intense hydration, making it perfect for dry skin. With its blend of nourishing ingredients like chia seed oil, flax seed oil, avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, and marula butter, it's excellent at moisturizing and soothing the skin. This eye balm is a go-to option for a dewy finish and a boost of hydration.
Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream
Sephora
If you're looking for a budget-friendly option for dry skin, the Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream is a must-have. Its whipped consistency provides a moisturizing feel and leaves a translucent peach color that absorbs beautifully into the skin. With the inclusion of niacinamide, this eye cream plumps and hydrates the skin, making it ideal for dry skin types.
Best Korean Eye Creams
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Eye Cream
Sephora
Dr. Jart+ offers a standout eye cream with its Ceramidin Eye Cream. With its travel-friendly pump applicator, this eye cream combines brightening and de-puffing properties. It targets uneven texture and balances your overall look. The Ceramidin Complex, a blend of five ceramides, helps prevent water loss and plump up the skin. This eye cream is a great choice for anyone looking for effective Korean skincare.
innisfree Orchid Youth-Enriched Eye Cream with Orchid
Unfortunately, this article does not mention the innisfree Orchid Youth-Enriched Eye Cream with Orchid.
