The 14 Best Eye Creams, According To A Beauty Expert & Dermatologist

This dermatologist-tested formula (and a Dr. Hirsch recommendation) may be sold at your local drugstore, but that doesn’t mean it’s formula is any less potent or effective. In fact, it’s clinically proven to visibly reduce crow’s feet in 12 weeks, thanks to its star ingredient, retinol. Eye creams with retinol — just like any retinol product — are proven to stimulate collagen production, targeting and reversing visible lines around your eyes (which are the result of smiling, so don’t hate on them too much!). So, if you do want to minimize them, this eye cream will work to smooth over fine lines.

This eye cream was formulated for menopausal women, who deal with a loss of elasticity and firmness in the skin, but anyone can benefit from its smoothing powers. The key ingredient in this eye cream is bakuchiol, a gentler alternative to retinol, and HYACLEAR 7, the brand’s patented form of hyaluronic acid, a potent hydrating molecule. It’s also not sticky, absorbs quickly, and come with cooling metal-tip applicator, so a little goes a long way. Bonus: The formulation is EU compliant, which means the standards are even higher when it comes to ingredient safety.

I use this one a lot in the mornings under my Dieux Forever Eye Masks — honestly, it’s like shrink wrap for my under-eyes on nights my son Sandro doesn’t sleep. I also keep it in the refrigerator to keep it cold, which also helps minimize puffiness. As for ingredients, it uses Chromabright, the brand’s proprietary ingredient created to help fade uneven pigmentation and protect skin cells from UV damage and HEV/blue light exposure (as in, the light from our phones). It also uses lipochroman, an antioxidant derived from vitamin E, to ward off environmental aggressors, like pollution, which can bring about fine lines and age spots. It also absorbs quite fast, which is a must for busy mornings.

This baby has been out for a while now, but it’s still one of my faves. It’s made with caffeine for tightening and de-puffing, light-reflecting particles for all of the mothers who got two hours or sleep (or anyone going out til wee hours in the morning), watermelon extract for plumping and hydration, and antioxidant-rich lutein to fight the effects of blue light, which can bring on tired-looking, dehydrated skin and speed up the aging process (fun!). I highly recommend it.

What’s cool about this eye cream is yes, it contains retinol, but it also contains bioretinols, a compound derived from babchi edible seeds that mimic the effect of retinol, but lower the chance of skin sensitivity, making it the perfect choice for anyone whose skin turns pink after using retinol. This unique cream also has hyaluronic acid and sunflower seed oil to plump the skin. You apply it to your eye area with a cooling tip that doubles as a little massager — I use it to create tiny circles going inward toward my nose, up and below my brow bone, and back around again.

This cult-favorite eye cream from Glow Recipe uses the vitamin E and C found in avocados to give your eye area a much-needed dose of hydration (my husband is a fan of this one!). The creamy texture helps to plump up crepey skin, while the coffeeberry works to de-puff, and encapsulated retinol releases over time for a gentler smoothing effect.

I know I shouldn’t pick a favorite child, but when it comes to eye creams, this is mine. It’s the most gorgeous, hydrating texture and so, so creamy — even when I wake up my skin is still soft and dewy to the touch. It also contains brightening niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, that’s proven to soothe and brighten.

Dr. Hirsh is a fan of this eye cream because of how it helps firm up sagging skin, thanks to the Dermal-Epidermal Junction (DEJ) ingredient; it’s clinically proven to target and even subtly lift drooping eyelids with continued use.

If you’ve ever searched the term “eye cream,” this formula from Ole Henriksen has probably come up (there’s a reason it’s gone viral on TikTok). Its peach-tinted formula is packed with vitamin C, which helps to brighten, and collagen, to boost your skin’s natural elasticity. As you age, the collagen in your skin decreases — and without a strong foundation of collagen and elastin in your skin, your under-eye area may appear more hollow and sunken. This eye cream helps plump up your under-eyes, and the peachy tint gives you an instant brightening effect.

Beware any product that promises to zap away dark circles. These can be genetic and, in that case, almost impossible to get rid of. Not all hope is lost though: If discoloration is the result of the veins under your eyes, which are more visible because they are closer to the surface of your skin, vitamin C can help. This eye cream from BeautyStat contains five percent of pure vitamin C to help brighten the skin and also hyaluronic acid to draw in moisture.

This is another one of Dr. Hirsch’s go-to eye creams. If your issue is dry skin around your eyes, this one can help hydrate rough patches, without causing those small bumps around the eye area, also known as milia.

I started using this balmy formula from Jessica Alba’s brand the Honest Company when winter hit and the skin around my eyes started feeling especially dry. It’s made with a mix of shea butter, argan oil, and aloe, which work together to keep the skin’s barrier intact and healthy. It’s also gentle enough to be used on your upper eyelid as well as, which I definitely do. I used it this morning and my skin still feels moisturized .

This brand-new gel-cream from Chanel relies on the antioxidant-packed red camellia extract to soothe and brighten your under-eyes. This ingredient is said to help strengthen skin (by maintaining your skin’s barrier, which is crucial to overall skin health) and minimize the appearance of dark shadows (since thin skin equals more visible veins under the eye area). It also claims to keep your skin’s cell renewal process moving (it can slow down due to age, stress, and hormonal changes). Plus, the mica in the eye cream gives an instant brightening effect. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I’m a big fan so far!

Summer Fridays, created by influencer Marianna Hewitt, is known for products that hydrate the skin (the Jet Lag Mask and Butter Lip Balm are two of my favorites), so I was excited when they dropped their eye cream. The peach-toned formula instantly works to mask the appearance of dark shadows around your eyes, while vitamin C brightens, peptides firm, and caffeine de-puffs. It also has moisturizing shea butter to keep the thin skin around your eyes from looking crepey — a real win. This baby just launched, so I’m still testing it… but so far, I like its finish: it doesn’t pill under makeup and my under-eye area looks brighter instantly after applying it.

Resting Mom Face is a column from Romper contributor and beauty expert Carly Cardellino.