15 of the Best Eye Creams

• Best eye serum for under-eye bags: Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum
• Best eye cream for dark circles: La Mer The Eye Concentrate Hydrating Cream
• Best eye gel for crow’s feet: Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Eye Lift Gel
• Best eye cream for puffy eyes: Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Eye Recovery Gel
• Best affordable retinol eye cream: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream
• Best eye cream for daily use: Image Skincare Ageless Total Eye Lift Creme
• Best overnight eye cream: Clinique Moisture Surge 96-Hour Hydro-Filler Concentrate
• Best vegan eye serum: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B-5
• Best firming eye cream: m-61 Hydraboost Eye Cream
• Best brightening eye cream: Advanced Diamond Extract Eye Cream
• Best eye cream for men: Geologie Nourishing Eye Cream
• Best hydrating eye cream and makeup primer: Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment
• Best eye cream for wrinkles: Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
• Best sustainable eye cream: Youth to the People Superberry Dream Eye Cream
• Best inexpensive eye cream: E.L.F. Holy Hydration! Eye Cream

The muscles under and around your eyes are constantly moving, and the skin in the under-eye area is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your face. That makes the area especially prone to:

• puffiness
• wrinkles
• dark circles

That’s why some experts recommend making eye cream a part of your regular beauty routine. These specialized products help moisturize and tighten the skin under your eyes. They can also prepare the skin for makeup, even skin tone, reduce puffiness, lessen the appearance of dark circles, and minimize wrinkles.

But with tons of products to choose from, how can you decide on an eye cream that’ll benefit you the most?

Narrow down your list by thinking about the results you want your eye cream to deliver. Then, look for a product with ingredients to target those concerns.

Got a specific goal in mind? Read on for our top picks for several common concerns.

The products on this list were hand-selected by dermatologists, makeup artists, skin care experts, and our medical review team. Each product contains powerful ingredients that have a proven track record for delivering the results people want from their eye cream.

All the products below have been vetted to ensure that they meet Healthline’s medical and business standards. Read more about our process.

Pricing guide

• $ = under $30
• $$ = $30–$50
• $$$ = over $50

Best eye serum for under-eye bags

Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum

• Price: $
• Size: 0.5 ounces (oz.)
• Pros: affordable, good for anti-aging
• Con: some reviewers say it burned their under-eye area

Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum is rich in peptides and vitamins that encourage healthy circulation and skin cell turnover under your eyes. While it’s unlikely that a cream can truly eliminate under-eye bags, this one promises to hydrate the skin around the eyes while lifting and plumping for a brighter appearance.

The fragrance-free formula is also lightweight and absorbs quickly into your skin. It promises fast results with twice-daily use.

Best of all, this beauty favorite won’t break the bank. Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum is not only available to buy online, but it’s also readily found in drugstores.

Reviewers love how quickly the serum works and how little product is needed per application. Be cautious when applying, as some reviewers complain the product stings if you accidentally get it into your eyes.

Best eye cream for dark circles

La Mer The Eye Concentrate Hydrating Cream

• Price: $$$
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pros: good for wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness
• Con: high price point

La Mer skin care products are considered the holy grail of boutique brands for many beauty enthusiasts and celebrities. As with every La Mer product, the main ingredient in this cream is what they call Miracle Broth, a fermented mixture of sea kelp, vitamins and minerals, citrus oil, eucalyptus, sunflower seed, wheat germ, and alfalfa. There are no parabens, phthalates, or sulfates.

Reviewers love the included applicator and say the cream reduces swelling. Many also mention how hydrating the cream is and how luxurious it feels.

While many positive reviews are from people with sensitive skin, some negative reviews mention sensitivity to the ingredients, which caused swelling and milia. It’s always best to read the ingredient list and do a patch test before using a new product.

La Mer products are available at department stores, beauty supply stores, and directly from the La Mer website. This is a pricier product, so be sure to purchase from a trustworthy vendor to make sure you’re getting the real thing.

Best eye gel for crow’s feet

Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Eye Lift Gel

• Price: $$$
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pro: good for puffiness and hydration
• Con: expensive

Image Skincare is a favorite of dermatologists — and for good reason. This hydrating and cooling gel relaxes wrinkles and crow’s feet while boosting collagen synthesis under your eyes. The gel may be used both morning and night.

Reviewers love how moisturizing this gel is, thanks to the organic olive oil, aloe extract, and a plant-based peptide compound. Quinoa extract reduces puffiness, as it contains a natural peptide.

You can find Image Skincare products online or at some dermatology offices.

Best eye cream for puffy eyes

Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Eye Recovery Gel

• Price: $$
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pro: good for hydration and dark circles
• Con: may irritate sensitive skin

Another Image Skincare product, Vital C focuses on depuffing your skin and encouraging cell turnover. This makes your under-eye skin firmer and more resilient. Peptides help reduce the appearance of dark circles, while hyaluronic acid hydrates.

Reviewers love that this product is good for those with sensitive skin and feels rich yet not greasy when applied.

However, if you have extra dry skin, this may not be the product for you, as some users say it isn’t sufficiently moisturizing.

Best affordable retinol eye cream

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream

• Price: $
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pros: affordable, good for wrinkles and dark circles
• Con: may irritate sensitive skin

For a more affordable but still effective eye cream that targets wrinkles, try the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream. This retinol-rich formula claims to give users results in a week or less with regular use. Plus, it contains no parabens, mineral oil, or dyes.

Hundreds of happy reviewers say the cream absorbs quickly and completely, and the hyaluronic acid in the formula helps make eyes look wider and more awake.

As this product does contain retinol, start out using only once a day until your skin is able to tolerate more. Always use with sunscreen.

Best eye cream for daily use

Image Skincare Ageless Total Eye Lift Creme

• Price: $$
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pro: good for fine lines and dark circles
• Cons: may irritate the eye, may not be good for sensitive skin

This paraben-free formula gently exfoliates and encourages healthy circulation, making it ideal for everyday use.

Green tea and cucumber extracts soothe skin and boost antioxidants, while retinol promotes cell turnover. Glycolic acid helps reduce the look of fine lines. This cream is also rich in the brightening ingredient vitamin C, which means you can say goodbye to dark circles.

Reviewers love that this is nonirritating and that it glides onto skin gently.

Overall, this is a great option for your daily skin care routine.

Best overnight eye cream

Clinique Moisture Surge 96-Hour Hydro-Filler Concentrate

• Price: $$
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pro: good for puffy eyes and hydration
• Con: some users claim it’s sticky and irritated their eyes

This water-based moisturizing gel is ultra-light and absorbs quickly.

You can use it as part of your morning routine. But if you apply it at night, you can still see the effects when you wake up without reapplying.

According to online reviews, this product works best at plumping under-eye skin and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Some note that it has a tacky texture, but many like that this helps their makeup stay in place, while others say that the tackiness dissipates after a minute or so after application.

Algae extracts, green tea, and vitamin E are the foundations of this moisturizer, which claims to help your skin naturally lock in hydration for 3 days or more. It’s fragrance-, paraben-, and phthalate-free.

Best vegan eye serum

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B-5

• Price: $
• Size: 1 oz.
• Pros: cruelty-free, affordable
• Con: some users claim the product is too sticky

Several eye cream formulas claim to be vegan, but The Ordinary brand has demonstrated a consistent commitment to being cruelty-free. If you’re looking for a vegan alternative for eye cream, it’s hard to find one that’s better than this.

Vegan hyaluronic acid is the building block of this serum, which is remarkably affordable and praised by beauty influencers and dermatologists alike. It’s also super moisturizing, thanks to a vitamin B5 complex.

Reviewers love the nonsticky texture of this product and describe it as being best for dry, thirsty skin.

Best firming eye cream

m-61 Hydraboost Eye Cream

• Price: $$$
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pros: overall great reviews, each bottle lasts a long time
• Cons: expensive, some reviewers say it wasn’t worth the price

Firming up the skin around the eye is a common goal, and according to the reviewers of m-61 Hydraboost Eye Cream, this product delivers. Although it falls on the pricier side of our list, a little bit goes a long way. Some reviews say they have purchased this cream repeatedly, with each bottle lasting several months.

This thick cream glides on smoothly, and the peptide-rich formula strengthens the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and puffiness. It also includes aloe, which has healing properties.

Best brightening eye cream

Advanced Diamond Extract Eye Cream

• Price: $$$
• Size: 1 oz.
• Pro: reviewers say they saw quick results
• Con: expensive

This eye cream contains a combination of purified soy, rice, and yeast protein peptides to improve circulation and promote blood flow, which is essential for brightening skin tone. Hyaluronic acid helps skin retain hydration.

This cream also contains arnica and vitamin K, which are used to improve healing. In fact, you can use this cream on bruises or discoloration to promote healing, including from post-cosmetic surgery.

Advanced Diamond Extract Cream works fast. Reviewers say that within the first week of use, their dark circles had faded dramatically.

Best eye cream for men

Geologie Nourishing Eye Cream

• Price: $$
• Size: 0.34 oz.
• Pro: good for under-eye circles
• Con: some users didn’t see results

A combination of kojic acid, commonly used to prevent browning on fruit , hyaluronic acid, and caffeine work together to target signs of aging around the eye area.

While this product can be used by anyone, Geologie specifically markets their no-frills skin care products to men, with the Nourishing Eye Cream being the final step of a nighttime three-step routine.

Reviewers appreciate that Geologie’s eye cream is affordable and accessible, and that it helps reduce dark circles, fine lines, and the overall look of tiredness.

Best hydrating eye cream and makeup primer

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment

• Price: $$
• Size: 0.51 oz.
• Pro: good for sensitive skin and fine lines
• Cons: may be too thick for some people

Hydration is the focus of Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment. Avocado oil and shea butter work to restore suppleness of the skin around the eyes and to protect against dehydration.

Reviewers love that this product works on sensitive skin, and many praise the cream for reducing the appearance of fine lines around the eye area.

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment is a luxurious cream at a lower price point.

Best eye cream for wrinkles

Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream

• Price: $$$
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pros: great hydrating ingredients, good for sensitive skin
• Cons: may turn waxy over time, expensive

Vegan, paraben-free, and cruelty-free, Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream is full of wrinkle-busting ingredients.

Paracress extract and marine algae are naturally occurring plant ingredients that lift, tighten, and plump the under eye area, providing an ideal canvas for makeup application.

According to reviewers, this eye cream goes on lightly yet velvety, and those with red and flaky skin say they experienced a marked improvement.

Best sustainable eye cream

Youth to the People Superberry Dream Eye Cream

• Price: $$
• Size: 0.5 oz.
• Pros: recyclable packaging, vegan
• Cons: may not be moisturizing enough for dry skin types, turns waxy over time

Without sacrificing quality, Youth to the People creates sustainable beauty products like the Superberry Dream Eye Cream. Made in the United States with all vegan ingredients, this cream is free of parabens, fragrances, sulfates, and phthalates. It arrives in a recyclable glass jar.

Superberry Dream Eye Cream is meant to be applied as the final step to a bedtime routine. Hyaluronic acid moisturizes and plumps the appearance of the skin, while vitamin C brightens. Goji stem cells round it off with reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Best inexpensive eye cream

E.L.F. Holy Hydration! Eye Cream

• Price: $
• Size: 0.53 oz.
• Pros: low cost, overall great reviews
• Con: some users claim it was irritating to the skin and eyes

At this price point, it’s hard to believe that an eye cream could have an impact, but reviewers love E.L.F. Holy Hydration! Eye Cream. Users wax poetically about how pleasantly surprised they are by this eye cream, even suggesting it blows the pricier competition out of the water.

Like many other eye creams, E.L.F. uses hyaluronic acid and peptides with other vegan and cruelty-free ingredients to fade dark circles and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

When you’re looking for an eye cream, first figure out what you want the product to do. Do you want to decrease under-eye circles? Are you looking for a product that depuffs?

Then, think about your skin type. Is your skin super sensitive, oily, or dry? If you have sensitive skin, look for something that’s fragrance-free or hypoallergenic. If you have dry skin, look for products with moisturizing properties. And if you have oily skin, look for a lightweight product.

Next, keep in mind which ingredients do what. For example:

• Antioxidants. Antioxidant ingredients like green tea extract and blackberry leaf extract help reduce the effects of oxidative stress on your skin. They can help prevent wrinkles from developing.
• Peptides. Peptide ingredients encourage collagen production under your skin, which firms and brightens your skin’s appearance.
• Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid gently exfoliates your skin while helping moisture penetrate the skin layer.
• Vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts your skin’s brightness and can help correct pigments and toning inconsistencies in your skin.

Keep in mind that eye creams vary widely in price. You can buy a product that works for less than $10, or you can splurge and spend over $200 for a medical-grade product. Price points vary according to brand-name recognition and the quality of the ingredients used.

Be realistic about your expectations, and know that no product can do it all, no matter how much it costs.

Most eye creams are meant to be applied twice per day. For quick-absorb formulas, it’s common to apply the cream once when you wake up and once before bed.

Some formulas have more specific instructions, and many products work best in a beauty routine that includes other products, such as moisturizer, cleanser, and toner.

If you wear contact lenses or are prone to dry eye, be aware that certain eye cream ingredients, including retinoids, can make your eyes feel drier.

Make sure to store eye cream in a cool, dry place. And remember that skin care products, like eye creams, don’t last forever. After 6 months, products should be replaced.

Eye cream is great for tackling puffiness and dryness. It can help slow down wrinkles and keep skin firmer.

The benefits from your eye cream will vary slightly depending on the type you choose and how the ingredients interact with your skin.

Here are some of the potential benefits of eye creams:

• Slow the signs of aging with ingredients like peptides and retinol.
• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with ingredients like retinol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid.
• Minimize puffiness with ingredients like caffeine, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid.
• Lighten the appearance of dark circles with ingredients like vitamin C and peptides.
• Prep skin for makeup with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides.
• Protect skin from environmental damage with antioxidants like vitamins C and E.
• Refresh tired eyes with ingredients like caffeine and hyaluronic acid.

Finding the right skin care products for you can be tricky. So, it’s best to talk with a dermatologist if you have any questions about what products to include in your skin care routine.

If you experience any reactions, like redness, rash, or irritation, after using a new skin care product, stop using it and consider talking with your dermatologist. They may be able to help you figure out what caused the reaction and recommend a better product for your skin.

Is it important to use eye cream?

Eye cream can be helpful to minimize the look of fine lines, dark circles, and reduce puffiness. If you’re just looking for a little hydration you may be able to use your moisturizer instead, but it may not work the best. Really the importance of eye cream depends on what you’re hoping it will do.

How often should I apply eye cream?

Typically, eye cream is applied every 12 hours. It’s usually applied once in the morning and after washing the face in the evening.

When should I use eye cream?

Eye cream can be used in the morning, evening, or both. The skin around the eye area is more fragile and more likely to show the early signs of aging. Depending on the type of eye cream you use, it could help reduce puffiness, hydrate the skin, and slow the development of fine lines.

Some skin care lovers swear by having a specific product to apply to their under-eye area. But many people claim plain old moisturizer works just fine.

When you’re purchasing an eye cream, try to keep your expectations realistic. Remember that no one product can solve all of your skin care needs.

Read ingredient lists, and be open to trying a couple of different products before you find the one that works right for you.