I don't know about you, but right now my under eyes could rival a zombie's (think, dark circles, puffy eye bags and dehydration lines creeping up around the edges). That's why I've been on a mission to find the best eye creams and serums — because I want to wake up looking like I've had 10 hours sleep, and not spent half the night watching Grey's Anatomy reruns.
If all of the above sounds familiar, I may be able to help. Yup, I've been busy testing out some of the industry's top rated eye creams and serums, including Drunk Elephant's C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, which is perfect if you're looking to avoid any harsh ingredients, but still want to see effective results. The formula is free from essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, fragrance and SLS. It contains five forms of vitamin C and cucumber extract, all of which brighten and firm the skin around the eyes.
Or there is CeraVe's Eye Repair Cream, which has built up a cult following across the internet thanks to it's budget-friendly formula. It's packed with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, making it perfect for sensitive eyes prone to dryness, and for just £8.25, it won't make too much of a dent in your wallet. Then, there's Clarins' Double Eye Serum. An eye formula inspired by the brand's bestselling Double Serum, this formula actually protects the eye area against skin-damaging factors such as pollution and blue light.
Finally, if you're looking for an eye cream that goes a little extra, it's worth picking up Vichy's . The lightweight formula works a little like a lash growth serum, containing eyelash-fortifying properties which will help hydrate and strengthen both the skin and lashes, for a fuller, healthy-looking flutter.
These are 20 of the very best under-eye creams and serums on the internet, with hard-working formulas that will refresh and restore ASAP.
1
Best eye cream for sensitive skin
CeraVe LookFantastic.com
Eye Repair Cream
Cera
£13.00
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This eye cream has amassed a cult following across the forums of Reddit (and so has the CeraVe Moisturiser, FYI). Why? Because the formula is loaded with hyaluronic acid, which is the best thing that's happened to skincare, since, well, ever. The ingredient is the magic key to moisture-boosting, thanks to it's ability to hold up to 1000 times it's weight in water. All of that, and the formula is free of anything too aggressive, making it perfect for sensitive eyes prone to dryness.
2
Best eye cream for tired eyes
Estée Lauderfeelunique.com
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex
courtesy of brand
£45.34
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There's a reason that this eye cream is always on top of the best-seller list... The clever formula helps repair the signs of tired eyes, UV, pollution and even blue light.
It hydrates thanks to the hyaluronic acid and brightens dark circles in just 3 weeks.
3
Best eye cream for a healthier skin barrier
Dr JartCultBeauty
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Eye Cream
courtesy of brand
£27.00
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Dr. Jart can do wrong in our eyes (or for our eyes), this powerful cream has fast become a fave across the Cosmopolitan beauty team. Not only does it brighten and help reduce the look for dark under eye shadows, but it also works to strengthen and hydrate the thin, sensitive skin barrier.
4
Best eye cream for smoothing and contouring
Clarinsboots.com
Clarins Double Serum Eye
Courtesy of brand
£56.00
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If you're a fan of Clarins' Double Serum, listen up. The iconic skincare brand has now released an eye serum iteration of its cult formula. It combines a range of skin-boosting plant extracts to leave your eye area looking smoother, while the Double Serum's star ingredient, turmeric extract, makes your skin appear brighter. Yes please.
5
Best eye cream for dark circles
Drunk Elephantcultbeauty.co.uk
C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand
Brought to you by the brand that really needs no introduction, if dark circles are your biggest under eye concern, this is your guy. A potent little pot, brimming with vitamin C to brighten eyes, it's also enriched with nourishing peptides, ceramides and antioxidants, to strengthen the delicate skin around the eyes. Expect, a dewy, brighter finish ASAP.
6
Best lightweight eye serum
L'ORÉAL PARISlookfantastic.com
L'Oréal Paris 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum 20ml
courtesy of brand
£24.99
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The potent eye serum is incredibly hydrating without feeling heavy or greasy on the skin. The formula is lightweight with hyaluronic acid and caffeine to help target dark shadows and brighten the area.
7
Best eye cream for preventing fine lines
Muradcultbeauty.co.uk
Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum
courtesy of brand
£65.00
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Arm yourself against crepiness, crows feet and fine lines with this super eye serum. Potent anti-ager, retinol, has been paired with swertia flower and red algae extracts to help give a lifting effect while enhancing the skin’s elasticity - together they work to smooth and even out skin.
8
Best eye cream for your early 20s
The Inkey Listfeelunique.com
The INKEY List Caffeine Serum
courtesy of brand
£8.99
£7.60 (15% off)
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If you know anything about ageing, you'll know that prevention is better than cure. Which is why it's imperative you start caring for those eyes ASAP - really once you hit your 20s it's the green light to go. Rather than dropping a hefty load of cash on a super luxe formula, save your pennies for a later date and cop this caffeine rich serum from The Inkey List. It will reenergise tired eyes, and protect them against future damage, which, let face it will be coming later down the road.
9
Best overnight eye cream
LANEIGElookfantastic.com
LANEIGE Eye Sleeping Mask 25ml
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£28.00
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Pop a little of this eye mask on before bed and leave it to get to work whilst you sleep. Formulated by Korean skin care brand, Laneige, the serum-like gel is packed with all the hydrating essentials you need to lock in moisture and promote firmer and brighter-looking under eyes. It helps to smooth and plump the skin for an awakened effect.
10
Best eye cream for hydration
Vichyfeelunique.com
Vichy Minéral 89 Eyes Hyaluronic Acid Eye Fortifier 15ml
courtesy of brand
£20.00
£15.00 (25% off)
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Do not sleep on the Vichy mineral 89 range, the formula is light and so soothing under tired peepers. The hyaluronic acid makes your eye area feel more supple and the Vichy Thermal Mineralizing Water is super-hydrating while brightening the skin.
11
Best eye cream for makeup prep
Bobbi Brownlookfantastic.com
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base 15ml
courtesy of brand
£37.00
£33.30 (10% off)
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Bobbi Brown have crafted the best eye cream for smoothing and plumping the dry skin around the lids and under eyes. It's enriched with vitamins that nourish the skin and prep it for flawless makeup application.
12
Best eye cream for both lips and eyes
Evolve Beautyfeelunique.com
Evolve Beauty 360 Eye and Lip Contour 15ml
courtesy of brand
£26.00
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Evolve Organic Beauty is one of those brands that are known for delivering exceptional products - and this eye cream is no exception. The formula works a treat for smoothing and making the eyes appear brighter over time. Hyaluronic acid rehydrates the skin, whilst green tea, pomegranate and caffeine help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles around the eye and lip area.
13
Best eye cream for high-tech formula
Augustinus Badercultbeauty.co.uk
Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream
courtesy of brand
£260.00
£150.00 (42% off)
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Ok, I know what you're thinking - £150 for an eye cream sounds a bit ridiculous, but hear me out... Augustinus Bader is a world-leading expert in stem cell research, he spent 30 years studying the body's innate processes to self-heal, and has now channeled that knowledge into an award-winning skincare line.
The eye cream formula gives intense hydration, antioxidants protect the skin against free radicals (molecules that break down your collagen and encourage ageing), all the while it works to boost radiance and fade the appearance of fine lines.
14
Best eye cream for does-it-all formula
olayboots.com
Olay Eyes Ultimate Eye Cream
courtesy of brand
£24.99
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Named the 'ultimate eye cream' for a reason, this affordable formula targets everything from fine lines to dark circles and puffiness. Massage a tiny dot below each of your peepers to refresh the skin and leave it looking bright and hydrated.
15
Best eye cream for a deep treatment
Versedlookfantastic.com
Versed The Fix Emergency Eye Mask 30ml
courtesy of brand
£16.50
£13.20 (20% off)
Keep this potent little eye mask in the fridge and whip it out for any eye emergencies - I'm talking serious puffiness, hangover-induced dark circles and parched skin. With cucumber juice and caffeine it helps soothe the appearance of bags, inflammation and redness.
16
Best eye cream for vegans
Antipodeslookfantastic.com
Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand
£32.00
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When a product has 40 5-star reviews, you know it lives up to the hype. This little pot of vegan goodness holds some firm faves in the eye-care ingredient list: avocado oil, vitamin C and antioxidant rich vinanza grape. Users are shouting about its dark circle fighting ability and deeply hydrating consistency. Plus, it's all-natural - enough said.
17
Best eye cream for de-puffing
Originslookfantastic.com
Origins GinZing Eye Cream
courtesy of brand
£28.00
£22.40 (20% off)
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If you want to hide a late night, this will be you new bestie. The tinted formula instantly perks up shadows whilst the anti-inflammatory magnolia extract helps minimise the appearance of dark circles, bags and puffiness long-term. The gel formula cools on contact, to refresh sore, sleepy eyes.
18
Best eye cream with sun protection
Hello Sunday feelunique.com
Hello Sunday The One For Your Eyes SPF50 Eye Cream 15ml
courtesy of brand
£18.00
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Not only does this eye cream lift and smooth the eye area, but the formula is also infused with microbiome-friendly oatmeal prebiotics that hydrate, calm and illuminate.
With SPF 50, the eye cream also protects the delicate skin around the eyes from damaging UV rays.
19
Best eye cream for dry, flaky eyes
Kiehl'sfeelunique.com
Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Courtesy of brand
£25.72
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Finding an eye cream that helps to control dry eyes can be tricky, especially in Winter, when the temperature drops and the constant switch between icy air outdoors and stifling central heating indoors can wreak havoc on your skin. Loaded with super-nourishing avocado oil, this rich eye cream gently moisturises without leaving the skin greasy or overloaded.
20
Best eye cream for intense anti-ageing
Kate Somervillecultbeauty.co.uk
+Retinol Firming Eye Cream
courtesy of brand
£74.00
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Applying retinol on the delicate eye area might sound scary AF but this eye cream from Kate Somerville can be trusted to rejuvenate puffy, tired looking eyes. It uses a combo of retinols and bioretinols (a natural ingredient that mimics the effects of retinol) to improve texture and the elasticity of the under-eye area.
Victoria JowettDigital Beauty DirectorVictoria Jowett is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK overseeing all the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across print, digital and video.
FAQs
What product actually works for under eye bags? ›
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Eye Cream
Made with retinol, hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, Neutrogena's eye cream is an excellent drugstore option, Waldorf says. It not only works to diminish fine lines and dark, under-eye circles, but it also keeps your skin plump for a youthful dewy finish.
Overall, we recommend the Beautystat Universal C Eye Perfector for how it works double-duty to brighten the under-eye area and target visible signs of aging, like line lines and wrinkles. For a drugstore option, we recommend CeraVe's Eye Repair Cream because it's a gentle formula that protects the skin's barrier.
How do you permanently remove eye bags? ›A lower eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) is an outpatient procedure where the surgeon readjusts the fat in the lower eye area and tightens the muscle and skin to create a smooth appearance. In most cases, a lower eyelid lift gets rid of under-eye bags for life — it's rare for people to need future touch-ups.
Does Preparation H Work on eye bags? ›Yes, you read that correctly. "Preparation H is a vasoconstrictor," explained Dr. Sejal Shah, founder of Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York City. "By narrowing the vessels, it helps reduce puffiness.
How do you get rid of bags under your eyes in 5 minutes? ›Dermatologist Suneel Chilukuri recommends applying cold cucumbers over the eyes for five minutes. The cucumber juice and the cold temperature act as anti-inflammatory compresses. Dr. Jeanniton adds that chilled green tea bags make a great compress as well.
What causes puffy baggy eyes? ›Bags under eyes are caused when the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that's usually around the eye can move into the area below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can gather fluid, making the area look puffy or swollen.
How do I choose the right eye cream? ›- Check for Specific Ingredients to Get Rid of Dark Circles. Dark eye circles can be caused by a variety of factors. ...
- Look for Thick Creams for Wrinkles and Crow's Feet. ...
- Keep an Eye Out for Natural Ingredients to Reduce Puffiness. ...
- Look for Creams Formulated for Your Skin Type.
- Get enough sleep. ...
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine. ...
- Consider skin lighteners or bleaching agents. ...
- Check out injectable fillers. ...
- Look into laser treatments and vitamin K. ...
- Go a shade lighter in your concealer.
Eating vitamin K on a daily basis will particularly help with the disappearance of your dark circles. Turnip greens, cauliflower, pomegranate, and tomatoes are some rich sources of vitamin K.
How can I get rid of dark circles in 2 days? ›- Apply a cold compress. A cold compress may reduce swelling and shrink dilated blood vessels to lessen the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. ...
- Get extra sleep. ...
- Elevate your head. ...
- Stay hydrated. ...
- Soak with tea bags. ...
- Try eye creams. ...
- Conceal with makeup.
How can I get rid of wrinkles under my eyes naturally? ›
- Try facial exercises to tighten skin. Certain facial exercises have been shown anecdotally to be effective at tightening the skin under your eyes. ...
- Treat your allergies. ...
- Gently exfoliate. ...
- Moisturize with an eye cream. ...
- Avoid sun exposure — use sunscreen and a hat. ...
- Eat a balanced diet. ...
- Topical vitamin C. ...
- Retinoids.
Because the composition of the skin surrounding your eyes is different than the skin on the rest of your face, dermatologists believe that eye creams are actually beneficial to beauty regimens (especially if you have skin concerns in that area). "Eye creams and eye serums definitely have a role in skin care," says Dr.
What is a good eye cream for over 60? ›- Skinbetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream. ...
- Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Eye Cream. ...
- Pause Eye Renewal Treatment. ...
- Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector. ...
- MD Solar Sciences MD Restore Eye Gel.
They won't completely reverse any signs of aging, but they'll help your eyes look a little brighter and more refreshed. This gel-cream's hero ingredient is resveratrol, which is a powerful antioxidant that can firm and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Does retinol get rid of under eye bags? ›Does retinol help reduce bags under the eyes and puffiness? Absolutely. The retinol in Olay's Night Eye Cream not only makes the skin's texture appear more even, but it also makes the skin feel firmer.
› Skin › skin care ›27 Best Eye Creams of 2022 for Dark Circles & Puffy Eyes
The Best Eye Cream, According to Dermatologists
12 Best Under-Eye Bag Treatments of 2022, According to Experts
...
Method:
- Take two parts of aloe vera.
- Take one part of yoghurt.
- Take four parts of cucumber juice.
- Mix it all together to form a paste.
- Massage for 10 minutes and keep it on for 20.
- Rinse.
- Use daily for best results.
- Use a cool compress. Wet a clean washcloth with cool water. ...
- Cut down on fluids before bedtime and limit salt in your diet. ...
- Don't smoke. ...
- Get enough sleep. ...
- Sleep with your head slightly raised. ...
- Reduce allergy symptoms. ...
- Use cosmetics.
Dark circles under the eyes are usually caused by being tired. Sometimes, what appear to be dark circles under your eyes may merely be shadows cast by puffy eyelids or hollows under your eyes that develop as a normal part of aging. Dark circles under the eyes usually aren't a medical problem.
How can I look 20 years younger in 30 days naturally? ›- Use a moisturizer, then foundation. Veronique BerangerGetty Images. ...
- Try a collagen-based face cream. ...
- Use a concealer for dark circles. ...
- Keep your eye makeup simple. ...
- Curl those lashes. ...
- Apply SPF daily. ...
- Gently remove your eye makeup. ...
- Find a "happy medium" hair length.
What is the best homemade wrinkle remover? ›
HOMEMADE WRINKLE REMOVER SPRAY - Queen Of Clean - YouTube
How do you get rid of deep eye wrinkles? ›Botox. Botox is a very effective treatment of under-eye wrinkles. It involves an injection to the area under the eyes. This slows muscle movements and makes it appear as if there are fewer wrinkles.
Can Apple cider vinegar reduce dark circles? ›Brighten eyes with the powers of raw apple cider vinegar & probiotic extract. Brightens, Firms, Tightens & More: Brightening, Firming, Tightening, Detoxifying blend for under eye bags, wrinkling & lines such as Crow's Feet. Reverse the signs of aging with hydration, nourishment & caffeine.
How does coffee get rid of dark circles? ›To prepare this under eye mask, you will need 1 tablespoon of coffee powder and 10-15 drops of almond oil. Mix the ingredients in a bowl to make a smooth paste. Keep this mixture in the refrigerator for half an hour before applying it. Now, apply it under your eyes and leave it for 10 minutes.
Does Preparation H Work on eye bags? ›Yes, you read that correctly. "Preparation H is a vasoconstrictor," explained Dr. Sejal Shah, founder of Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York City. "By narrowing the vessels, it helps reduce puffiness.
Does hemorrhoid cream work on under eye bags? ›Hemorrhoid cream contains chemicals that reduce the size of blood vessels, which can ease pain and other symptoms of hemorrhoids. Reducing blood flow and making blood vessels smaller can also reduce the size of undereye bags and wrinkles.
Are dark circles related to liver? ›1.2 Signs of liver disease
Dark circles eyes are an external manifestation of chronic liver disease, especially when liver function is impaired for a long time or people have liver edema, the longer the eyes appear dark circles.
Bags under eyes are mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes. They're common as you age and the tissues around your eyes weaken, including some of the muscles supporting your eyelids. Fat that helps support the eyes can then move into the lower eyelids, causing them to appear puffy.
What causes bags under eyes and how do you get rid of them? ›Maintaining healthy habits like drinking water, quitting tobacco, reducing alcohol use, taking care of your skin and avoiding unnecessary exposure to the sun can make a noticeable difference in the appearance of under-eye bags.