25 Best Eye Creams for Eliminating Dark Circles And Reviving Tired, Dull Eyes

Whether you’ve developed dark circles from stressors like lack or sleep or they’re just genetic, you don’t have to live with them forever. “The skin around your eyes is the thinnest skin on your body, with fewer oil glands and hair follicles to keep it protected and hydrated,” explains Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist Jessie Cheung, MD. “This thin skin has to support underlying fat, veins, muscles, and bone, so it is more prone to show the signs of aging, with wrinkles, laxity, discoloration, and bags.”

Dark circles can appear more intensely on different people, due to a variety of factors—and sleep is just one of them. “Dark circles can be due to genetics, lifestyle, or the environment,” explains the derm. “They can appear due to thin, translucent skin, or visible blood vessels, or from pigment deposition from rubbing, or poor blood circulation from allergies, congestion, dehydration, or lack of sleep.”

Luckily, a great eye cream can help counteract a number of those factors. Keep reading on to find out why eye creams are an essential part of any skincare routine, particularly when looking to treat dark circles. Plus, we’ve cherry-picked 25 of the best eye creams for diminishing the look of dark circles, decreasing puffiness, filling in fine lines, and more—so you don’t have to.

Which Eye Cream Should I Use?

Finding the right dark circle eye cream is especially important, as you'll want to both address existing skin concerns and prevent new ones. But don't stress: We've done all the work for you! Whether you're just looking for a brightening eye cream, a depuffing one, or one that has both moisturizing and anti-aging properties, read on for a complete list of the best eye creams for dark circles, ever.

1. Best With Vitamin C:

OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright™ Eye Crème

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Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, collagen
Best For: Next-level brightening.

The “banana”-yellow pigments in this eye cream have a brightening effect under-eyes and on our eyelids, helping to neutralize blue-ish under-eye circles without a thick layer of concealer. Plus, the collagen helps plump up fine lines and wrinkles, while vitamin C brightens and provides antioxidant protection. It’s a winner, just ask the pros. For brightening, Dr. Cheung says to look for “hydroquinone, kojic acid, azelaic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, and arbutin will fade unwanted pigment.” If puffiness is an issue (which it often is), Dr. Cheung adds that “Caffeine and vitamin K will address the leaky, dilated blood vessels that add to under-eye darkness.”

2. Best Serum:

KIEHL’S Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum

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Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, hyaluronic acid
Best For: Major vitamin C power in a lightweight formula.

Prefer serums to heavier creams? Consider this potent formula, which contains 10 percent vitamin C for serious brightening power, while a trio of peptides and hyaluronic acid fills in lines. For double the benefits, we like to layer another eye cream on top to seal everything in. In addition to skincare products, some self-care can help too. “Getting more sleep, drinking more water, applying sunscreen, and being gentle to the delicate under-eye skin are all easy lifestyle tweaks,” says Dr. Cheung. Plus, she adds, “Facial rollers will help to mobilize lymphatic drainage to de-puff the eyes. LED lights help to stimulate collagen production and circulation.”

3. Best for Hyperpigmentation:

GLOW RECIPE Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream

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Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, peptides, green caffeine
Best For: Brightening dark circles.

GLOW RECIPE is one of our favorites for gentle, effective formulas, and this eye cream is no exception. Made with green caffeine to help depuff, and niacinamide to soothe and even skin tone, it has under-eyes covered. Dr. Logerfo is a fan of the cute packaging and the way the “eye gel hydrates my eye area and makes it look smooth and tighter,” she says.

4. Best Drugstore:

NEUTROGENA Rapid Wrinkle Repair® Retinol Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid
Best For: Getting rid of wrinkles and dark circles in one fell swoop.

We love a good deal, and this wrinkle-reducing eye cream is one of the best to be found at the drugstore (and beyond). Thanks to the retinol SA—a.k.a. the brand’s combination of retinol, glucose complex, and hyaluronic acid—it delivers on all fronts, from brightening dark circles to hydrating to fading the look of wrinkles.

5. Best Time-Released Formula:

ROC RETINOL CORREXION® Line Smoothing Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Retinol, glycerin, panthenol
Best For: Strengthening crepey skin (on a budget).

According to Dr. Cheung, this best-selling drugstore buy “has a gentle time-released retinol to strengthen the delicate eye skin.” In other words: The more you use it, the less visible not only dark circles will be, but also the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

6. Best for Fine Lines & Wrinkles:

DRUNK ELEPHANT Shaba Complex™ Eye Serum

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Key Ingredients: Copper peptides, niacinamide, edelweiss stem cells, black tea ferment
Best For: Tackling fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage.

We’re big fans of this lightweight eye serum for the way it tackles signs of aging and sun damage with gentle ingredients. The combination of edelweiss stem cells and niacinamide helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while antioxidants in Co-Q10 help prevent signs of aging while also helping to fade age spots. We mix it with the DRUNK ELEPHANT C-Tango™ Multivitamin Eye Cream for extra brightening power.

7. Best Fast-Absorbing Formula:

CLINIQUE All About Eyes™

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Key Ingredients: Mulberry root Extract, caffeine, linoleic acid
Best For: Lightweight hydration for all skin types.

This lightweight, fast-absorbing formula touts an ingredient list that’s great news for your skin and not-so-great news for your dark circles. It’s loaded up with mulberry root extract, caffeine, and linoleic acid to hydrate, improve elasticity, and plump skin. It’s a favorite of Dr. Logerfo’s because it “really moisturizes without being too greasy and gets along well with makeup.” It even helps to depuff a bit, too, she says.

8. Best Brightening Cream:

HERBIVORE MOON DEW 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides Retinol Alternative Firming Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, plant peptides, honey locust seed
Best For: Instant brightening with bonus skincare benefits.

Brightening, hydrating, firming, and treating—this baby does it all. “The purple tint in this eye cream helps instantly brighten the under eye area, while the honey locust seed contains polysaccharides that temporarily and instantly lifts and tightens the skin,” Koestline says. “Bakuchiol helps give a more long-term smoothing and firming effect by stimulating collagen production without the sensitivity of retinoids.”

9. Best Vegan Formula:

BIOSSANCE Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Squalane, pink marine algae, jojoba esters
Best For: A refreshing base under makeup.

Consider this eye cream a one-stop shop to fix all your under-eye issues. Not only is it 100 percent vegan and chock full of good-for-skin ingredients, it's a cult-favorite with real results that are undeniably good. Squalane and marine algae peptides in this brightening eye treat help plump, lift, lighten, and hydrate skin, creating the perfect base for your eye makeup. Even better, it’s safe for sensitive skin so you can smooth it on a.m. or p.m.

10. Best When You’re In a Hurry:

MURAD Renewing Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Retinol, peptides, mango butter
Best For: Using day and night for more rested-looking under-eyes.

Playing for team “No Sleep”? This lightweight cream provides instant relief to tired, puffy eyes. It’s made with a mix of peptides and retinol to boost collagen production, Iris root extract to improve elasticity and smooths skin, and an eye-brightening complex which helps illuminate under-eye skin and reduce the appearance of dark circles.

IPSY members are loving it. “This is a great product for me. I noticed a difference right away, and that is exciting for me because I am not patient enough to wait weeks. I also love that it only takes a small amount, so while the bottle is small, it lasts a while. I will definitely buy this product when mine runs out,” says one fan.

11. Best Cooling Formula:

BELIF Moisturizing Eye Bomb

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Key Ingredients: Squalane, oat kernel extract, calendula extract
Best For: Waking up tired eyes with lightweight hydration.

This cooling cream feels like a glass of water for dry, tired eyes, but has a refreshingly lightweight texture (meaning it doesn’t get greasy, either on its own or underneath makeup). It’s also packed with extra nourishing ingredients like squalane, oat extract, and elasticity-boosting pennywort herb.

12. Best With Retinol:

SUNDAY RILEY 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum

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Key Ingredients: Retinoids, niacinamide, centella asiatica
Best For: Instant and long-term under-eye effects.

When it comes to fading fine lines and wrinkles, nothing works quite like retinol. This potent yet hydrating cream features a 6 percent retinoid complex and bioactive centella asiatica to support natural collagen production, as well as soothing poppy seed extract and ceramides. And if you’re worried all these anti-aging ingredients will dry out the delicate under-eye area, rest assured the addition of olive oil and shea butter rehydrate overnight.

13. Best With SPF:

COOLA SUNCARE Full Spectrum 360° Day SPF 30 & Night Organic Eye Cream Duo

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Key Ingredients: Shea butter, niacinamide, panthenol
Best For: Providing potent ingredients in a rich formula.

Hit refresh on your skincare routine with this anti-aging eye cream. Inside the tube: antioxidant-rich pink lotus extract and firming peptides, which together help brighten, plump, and smooth tired, crepey-looking skin.

14. Best Rich Formula:

YENSA BEAUTY PINK LOTUS Peptide Renewal Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Shea butter, niacinamide, panthenol
Best For: Providing potent ingredients in a rich formula. 

Hit refresh on your skincare routine with this anti-aging eye cream. Inside the tube: antioxidant-rich pink lotus extract and firming peptides, which together help brighten, plump, and smooth tired, crepey-looking skin.

IPSY members loved getting it in their Glam Bag. “Loved the way it helped to complete my day & night time skin care routine. I replaced my other eye cream for this one. I have seen the positive effects with the reduction of fine lines around my eyes since switching,” says one fan.

15. Best With Squalane:

SONÄGE SKINCARE Luster Eye Creme®

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Key Ingredients: Squalane, collagen, vitamin E
Best For: A sheer, lightweight consistency under makeup or other skincare.

Dark circles, fine lines, puffiness...this eye cream helps treat it all. It’s all thanks to a hydrating and brightening combo of squalane, bisabolol, aloe vera, and panthenol. And the sheer, lightweight texture? It wears perfectly under makeup without pilling or feeling tacky. “This was lovely. My eyes become irritated and itchy with many eye creams, but this absorbs quickly and feels light AND moisturizing without being heavy or greasy,” one IPSY member said in their product review.

16. Best for Sensitive Skin:

REN CLEAN SKINCARE Radiance Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Elderberry flower extract, glycogen, hyaluronic acid
Best For: A natural brightening boost sensitive skin and eyes will love.

Look like you slept a full eight thanks to this super-concentrated eye cream. It’s so insanely lightweight, you can dab it on and your skin will soak it right up (so it’s perfect to wear under makeup). Plus, it’s loaded with 95 percent plant-based ingredients your skin will love like elderberry flower extract, glycogen, and hyaluronic acid. We love adding a second layer for a luxe overnight mask.

Have sensitive under eyes but want to see serious results? This IPSY member gives this eye cream their seal of approval: “I was skeptical if this product would even phase the dark lines under my eyes but in just two applications, I could see not only the lines under my eyes but also a few other dark spots I applied the cream on, dramatically lighten.”

17. Best for Tired Eyes:

BEYOU. Caffeine Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine extract
Best For: Extra hydration and de-puffing properties.

This energizing eye cream plumps and hydrates with hyaluronic acid, while caffeine extract brightens and de-puffs. We use it before bed to wake up free of puffy eyes and also apply it before makeup for a morning boost.

IPSY subscribers who got it in their Glam Bag say it “Instantly wakes my eyes up and leaves my under eye area moisturized” and “This serum worked magic on my eyes.”

18. Best with Hyaluronic Acid:

VERIPHY SKINCARE 20/20 Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
Best For: A little bit of everything.

This powerhouse formula combines ingredients like niacinamide, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and phytoglycogen to create a well-rounded eye cream that hits all the bases. Niacinamide is an effective brightener that also nourishes skin, peptides firm, HA provides plumping hydration, and phytoglycogen helps to boost collagen production for smooth under-eye skin.

“Love this eye cream, it is refreshing for the under eye bags and it helps with wrinkles. One of my favorite creams,” says one IPSY subscriber after receiving the product in a Glam Bag.

19. Best Splurge:

SK-II LXP Ultimate Revival Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Signature PITERA™ blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids
Best For: When you want to spend a bit extra.

SK-II products are formulated with its signature PITERA™ ingredient, which is the brand’s bio-ingredient that’s made up of 50 micro-nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and more. This eye cream contains its most potent form of the ingredient, and it will “revive” your eyes in as little as 28 days. Whether you’re using it as a preventative measure or to counteract existing lines, you’ll notice results after just a few weeks.

20. Best for Overnight Repair:

ESTÉE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme Synchronized Multi-Recovery Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Tripeptide-32, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
Best For: Additional nourishment overnight.

This gel-cream formula protects the eye area from free radicals (pollution) for up to eight hours and helps keep the eye area hydrated for up to 24 hours. Hyaluronic acid gets to work as you sleep to keep the skin looking revived when you wake up.

21. Best for Daytime:

PACIFICA BEAUTY Dreamlit Glow Undereye Brightener

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Key Ingredients: Vegan collagen, vitamin E, jojoba seed oil
Best For: No-makeup makeup days.

We’re in love with the way this under-eye brightener reflects light and reduces the appearance of fine lines and dark circles anywhere you put it. It’s like makeup and skincare in one thanks to the way it provides instant brightness and long-term results. We even like putting it on the “11s” between our brows.

IPSY members agree. “I was skeptical,” writes one fan. “I have super dark under eyes. Idk how this works but it’s the best thing I’ve ever used to conceal my dark circles. I put it on and dab it in then let it dry then brush a little powder on lightly. I have photo proof. I sent my bff the pics and she was floored.”

22. Best for On-the-Go:

JANSSEN COSMETICS Irresistible Eye Elixir

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Key Ingredients: Caffeine, silk acacia, hyaluronic acid
Best For: Travel and on-the-go moments.

When you’re traveling or applying skincare on-the-go (like on the plane), the roller ball on this peptide-infused eye serum comes in clutch. It’s one of Pekar’s favorites for a reason. “The rolling ball is so cooling and refreshing when you put it on and can help bring down puffiness, drain excess fluids while stimulating circulation, and reduce dark circles,” she says. Bonus: we like to put it in the fridge for extra cooling and de-puffing.

23. Best Peptide Eye Cream:

SANITAS PeptiDerm Eye Treatment

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Key Ingredients: Peptides, vitamins
Best For: Fine lines and wrinkles, aging skin.

“Peptides are the building blocks of proteins like keratin, collagen, and elastin,” Pekar says. “Topical peptides work by penetrating deep into the skin and aiding healing processes that stimulate collagen production to firm and revitalize the skin.” We use this repairing eye cream to help firm the skin around our eyes, minimize the appearance of wrinkles, and brighten dark circles. It doesn't burn our sensitive eyes, either. “Peptides are also gentle enough to use without the risk of irritation on delicate under-eye skin,” Pekar adds.

24. Best for Mornings:

KOPARI Niacinamide & Caffeine Eye Bright Cream

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Key Ingredients: Caffeine, cucumber extract, niacinamide
Best For: Dull, puffy under-eyes in the morning.

Koestline calls this lightweight eye cream “great for mornings when you’re a little puffy.” The cucumber helps to cool and soothe the under-eye area, while caffeine helps promote under eye circulation. It’s ideal for under makeup, too.

25. Most Luxe Feel:

SAHAJAN Radiance Eye Cream

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Key Ingredients: Triphala (a blend of three fruits), neem oil, niacinamide
Best For: Extra hydration and nourishment.

“This is a rich cream that’s great for nighttime,” Koestline says. “It has a mix of rich oils and butters like neem oil, coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, and mango seed butter.” What makes this eye cream unique is the inclusion of the Triphala fruits–Amla, Bibhitaki, and Haritaki. Together, these work to help brighten skin as it is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, she adds. It also works to reduce dark circles and puffiness by stimulating circulation.

Want to try the newest eye creams and best products for your skin type and needs? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started with your own beauty subscription. Already a member? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and TikTok @IPSY.

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