18 Best Eye Creams for Every Skincare Routine

This brightening and firming eye cream uses a blend of peptides and retinol, two power ingredients when it comes to remedying the under-eye area. Retinol promotes cell turnover, which can help firm and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. It's also a proven antioxidant, which means it protects against free radical damage, brightens the skin tone, and boosts collagen production. Meanwhile, peptides can minimize the look of dark spots and depuff tired eyes.

"Since the pandemic, I have been focusing more on skincare and this eye cream has helped with my dark circles and helps me look refreshed without makeup," says one Ipster.

After those nights when you just didn't get enough sleep, use a dab of this eye cream to perk things up around the eye area. This light, airy cream comes with a soothing, cooling sensation, making it particularly invigorating to use during your morning routines. Niacinamide works to minimize the appearance of dark circles while hyaluronic acid pulls moisture from the air into your skin to plump fine lines.

"I really like this eye cream," writes one Ipster. "I’m a new mom so I lack sleep every night and this product keeps the tired look away."

Here's another formula that uses trusty hyaluronic acid to hydrate, plump, and protect. It also incorporates botanical ingredients like chamomile, cucumber, witch hazel, and aloe vera. Aloe and witch hazel team up to create a de-puffing eye treatment while cucumber and chamomile soothe the sensitive area.

"I've never used an eye cream before, but I naturally have darker bags under my eyes, and let me tell you, within seconds of applying this I actually saw results–less darkness and puffiness," writes Ipster oceanalaidlaw.

If you're mainly looking for anti-aging benefits to help boost elasticity around the delicate eye area, this eye cream is for you. This cream combines collagen-boosting peptides with an adenosine complex, an ingredient that can energize skin and fight signs of aging by helping skin look smoother and younger. Squalane and jojoba oils also come into play here, acting as a plumping and moisturizing power pair. Apply it at night for brighter eyes come morning, or lather a little on after you wake to perk skin up before concealer.

"My eyes are visibly lighter underneath," says Ipster gmcappa3. "I look awake on my sleepiest days and don't need to supplement with extra makeup."

This eye concentrate is a solid everyday option that'll leave your under-eye area looking brighter, plumper, and smoother (three things we know we’re always looking for). The four primary ingredients here are hydrating hyaluronic acid, de-puffing arnica, firming soy peptides, and vitamin-rich apricot kernel oil. Together, these ingredients have got all your under-eye needs covered. If you're new to under-eye treatments, this is a great place to start.

"My allergies have been at an all-time high," writes one Ipster. "I put it in the fridge and in the morning I dab it under my eyes and voila! In minutes, my huge bags undereye bag have disappeared. I highly recommend it!"

Like most of the formulas in this list, you'll find hyaluronic acid listed here as a primary ingredient. This fan-fave skincare ingredient is also paired with lipids and ceramides, both of which work to strengthen the skin's moisture barrier, helping to keep the under-eye area plump and hydrated for longer.

"I love the moisture this product provides," writes Ipster tuzenew. "I tend to have dark under-eyes, but not with this eye cream. It helps a tired mom have a rested, refreshed look."

This winning formula has a lot going for it: Its star players are hyaluronic acid, squalane, collagen, and peptides. Hyaluronic acid and squalane are both effective hydrators that your skin knows and loves, while collagen and peptides are two ideal ingredients for firming skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Additionally, you'll also find licorice root, avocado oil, ginseng, and green tea here, all of which combine to further firm, energize, and hydrate all skin types.

"I've actually noticed a difference in the redness and wrinkles since using this daily," writes Ipster beka0302. "My eyes are brighter and less tired looking."

This collagen-rich formula from an up-and-coming K-Beauty brand is all about hydrating dry skin and keeping it as plump as possible. While collagen improves the elasticity of the skin, there are a handful of other ingredients also at work. Niacinamide brightens up dark spots; fatty acids, squalane, and camellia seed oil provide rich hydration; and antioxidant-rich cocoa extract acts as an anti-inflammatory.

"Very cooling and hydrating on my eyes," writes Ipster k_adkins_23_14. "I use this before primer. It helps my eye makeup stay on as and keeps my skin smooth."

The hero ingredients in this velvety smooth eye cream are made from Finland's mineral-rich herbal peat water and peat extract. If you've tried many eye creams and haven't had much luck, give this unconventional formula ingredient a shot. Peat is a natural antioxidant with astringent and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to regulate cell turnover while also improving skin elasticity. Another bonus: This formula is super fast-absorbing, making it ideal for a.m. use before your makeup. 

"I absolutely loved this product," writes Ipster dbutrfly81. "My eyes instantly looked better. By the time I finished the little jar the fine lines around my eyes were barely visible and easily covered with concealer."

If most eye creams tend to feel too thick to apply under your makeup, try something like this luxe eye gel. 111SKIN's gel is packed with NAC Y2, a custom ingredient complex designed to stimulate strong antioxidant activity within the skin. The focus here is all about repairing and strengthening the skin—aka just what you want for the delicate eye area. Expect powerful anti-aging benefits in the form of minimized fine lines and visible plumping.

"My skin sucks this right up," says one Ipster. "Leaves it feeling plumped and makes my wrinkles less visible."

With a potent dose of de-puffing caffeine extract, this formula essentially acts as the skincare version of your morning cup of joe. It's perfect for instantly perking up tired eyes. It also includes peptides to tackle fine lines and wrinkles, oat extract to soothe, and hyaluronic acid to weightlessly plump and moisturize. The Hawaiian formula even features a special complex made with Hawaiian super-botanicals that restore delicate skin. You may not have just returned from beach vacay, but your plump, well-rested skin will be telling a different story.

If you tend to struggle with dark under-eye circles, brighten things up with a dose of vitamin C. This star ingredient is one of the most powerful and trusted antioxidants you can use to tackle discoloration. In addition to this trusted brightener, the formula includes echinacea, licorice, and grape seed extract, which soothe and comfort even the most sensitive skin types.

"The product really works," says Ipster ItsMemeway87. "I get so many compliments on how rested and refreshed I look after using this."

Sometimes getting a full eight hours of sleep just isn't going to happen. If you only got three hours of shut-eye, try this morning eye cream which not only uses depuffing and awakening ingredients like caffeine and hyaluronic acid but also ultra-fine illuminating pigments to brighten and boost glow. When the gentler eye creams just aren't enough to help you look fake-awake, this anti-fatigue eye cream really goes the extra mile.

"Love this product," says Ipster Smurffy_D68712. "Just before I started using it, my family commented how tired my eyes looked. After using it, I've gotten so many positive compliments on how much better I look."

Can't bear to shell out for a cream that can only be used on the eyes? We hear you. Here's a multitasking formula that can be applied to both the eye area and the lips. This nourishing formula uses trusted moisturizers like squalane and aloe vera to keep these two delicate areas of your skin hydrated, while organic extracts like frankincense, bilberry, and fennel work to brighten, boost elasticity, and calm inflammation.

"Loved that this is for both lips and eyes—great to take when you travel," one Ipster writes. Another adds, "Ipsy has gotten me hooked on this brand! I love their products. They're so nourishing and make my skin feel healthy."

Are you starting to notice more crepey and sagging skin around your eye area? This tightening eye cream will help to firm up the skin for a visibly younger-looking appearance. The formula's secret to success lies in a powerful ingredient trifecta: red marine algae extract, hydrolyzed proteins, and plankton extract. Together they increase cell turnover, boost elasticity, tighten the skin, and brighten up the eye area.

"You can actually feel this cream working and tightening as you put it on," says Ipster Jenniferterro1996.

Even if you're under 30 or don't currently have major concerns about your eye area, it’s still worth using an eye cream to ensure things stay that way for as long as possible. Rather than looking for an eye cream that actively targets fine lines and wrinkles, try one that's more hydration- and prevention-focused. This nourishing eye cream includes balancing probiotics and conditioning vitamin E to protect the delicate area around your eyes. Use it daily to protect, soften, and consistently keep your skin's elasticity at its best.

If your workday includes looking at a computer screen 90% of the time, reach for this cooling eye cream that's specially formulated to diminish the symptoms of chronic stress around the eyes. The unique blend of Icelandic glacial flower extracts and the creamy texture make this eye cream feel like a spa treatment on the skin while it actively fights off puffiness, eye bags, dark circles, and wrinkles.

"WOW this stuff is the best, I visibly noticed a difference in my eyes after a week," one Ipster says. "I bought the full size instantly!"

For those with mature skin looking to diminish the appearance of fine lines and deep-set wrinkles, try this treatment that uses a unique lifting complex to define and lift your eye contour. As you gently massage in this time-rewinding eye cream, you'll immediately see a reduction in crepey skin and eyelid sagging. It even includes a lash-enhancing complex that helps your lashes look more voluminous.

"I use this every morning and night. It seems to add color and life back to the skin around my eyes. It makes me look more awake," says Ipster kla_2006. "I don’t have trouble with puffiness so I can’t attest to that but the color has improved. BONUS: it has made my eyelashes grow longer and thicker. Love it!"

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