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The best eye creams to treat dark circles, puffiness and pigmentation
Brighten up your eyes with our favourites
Using an eye cream may appear superfluous, especially when you’ve already invested in a cleanser, serum and moisturiser. But trust us when we say that a tiny pot of targeted cream can make all the difference to the brightness of your under-eye area.
"Incorporating an eye cream into your skincare routine comes with many benefits, including delaying visible signs of ageing, like fine lines and wrinkles, and can prevent hyperpigmentation, dark circles and dryness," explains Dr Ana Mansouri, aesthetic doctor and SkinCeuticals brand expert.
As the skin around your eye is thinner and more delicate compared to other areas of the body, eye creams will often contain a lower concentration of ingredients to combat concerns without causing any irritation – even on the most sensitive skin types.
So, while it may be tempting to use your standard cream under your eyes, it’s worth investing in a targeted treatment if you want to see results.
But, just like your favourite face serums, not all eye creams are created equal. Each one will be formulated differently to tackle different skincare concerns, so it’s a wise idea to dive into the ingredients.
What types of eye creams are there?
“Ideally, an eye cream will have moisture-holding humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, as well as smoothing emollients, like ceramides and shea butter, to condition the skin,” explains Dr Justine Hextall, consultant dermatologist for La Roche-Posay. These rich and hydrating ingredients are your best bet if you’re looking to plump out fine lines or smooth the appearance of wrinkles.
While not a common name you see, Dr Hextall also praises ectoin – an ingredient found in nature to protect cells from extreme weather conditions – to hydrate the skin. “There is evidence to suggest that ectoin can protect against common external aggressors that damage the skin barrier, such as cold weather, dry air pollution and light exposure,” she says.
If puffiness is your biggest bugbear, consider an eye cream with caffeine. As a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, caffeine will boost blood circulation around the eye and, in turn, reduce puffiness. Apply each morning and it will perk up your complexion like an espresso shot.
You can also opt for an eye cream that’s formulated with active ingredients to target more specific concerns. “Retinoids can help to treat photodamage and, over time, they’ll also support collagen production,” explains Dr Hextall. As retinoids help to increase skin cell renewal, you may also see a more unified complexion under your eyes too.
Another active to consider is vitamin C; a topical treatment will provide antioxidant benefits to warn of pollutants and, in turn, prevent fine lines from forming in the first place.
Can eye creams get rid of dark circles?
Dr Hextall explains that there are a variety of reasons why dark circles may appear and a variety of ways to help tackle them – and this goes beyond getting a good night's sleep. While an eye cream cannot fully remove dark pigment, it can help to brighten and improve the appearance of the under-eye area.
“If darkness is a result of post-inflammatory pigmentation, then using a calming and hydrating cream might switch off the inflammation,” explains Dr Hextall. Dr Mansouri also advises using a caffeine-based eye cream on hyperpigmentation and puffiness.
However, there are some circumstances that an eye cream won’t resolve. “If hollowness is your main concern, you’ll have to look for a more intense treatment, like injectables, to reduce the sallow effect,” says Dr Mansouri.
How should you apply an eye cream?
The general rule of thumb is to apply an eye cream before face cream in the morning and before you go to bed at night. “Using an eye cream first will help to protect from potentially irritating ingredients that may drift into the area,” explains Dr Hextall.
With a gentle touch, she suggests sweeping the product from the inner to the outer eye area, as this motion will also help to reduce swelling, especially in the morning.
If your eye cream includes a retinoid, this should be reserved for night-time use. As retinoids break down in sunlight, applying it in the evening will keep the active potent and boost results. If vitamin C features in your routine, use this in the morning; it contains powerful antioxidants that will help defend your skin from environmental pollutants throughout the day.
Now that the ground rules have been covered, we’ve scanned the shelves – and tested many formulas – to present the best eye creams that deliver genuine results, along with the concerns they’re designed to address.
The best eye creams for every skin concern
Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye
Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye
It’s not easy to formulate an eye cream with retinoids, which is why you won’t find many on offer. But, once again, Medik8 has cracked the code with this hydrating and hard-working cream.
It contains encapsulated retinaldehyde to smooth the appearance of fine lines, while ceramides ensure hydration and prevent potential sensitivity.
And, just like the Crystal Retinal Face Serum, the eye cream comes in progressive strengths so you can start at a low retinal percentage and work your way up.
Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream
The Paula’s Choice Super Boost eye cream is one of our favourite vitamin C products. It’s a powerful cream for brightening, thanks to the 5% vitamin C, while hyaluronic acid and peptides help to reduce puffiness.
The texture is silky and instantly slips into the skin for a plump and moisturised feel. It also sits beautifully under makeup and lends a slight glisten to the skin.
Kate Somerville Lifting Eye Cream
Kate Somerville Lifting Eye Cream
There’s an interesting assortment of ingredients within Kate Somerville's Lifting Eye Cream, including a type of peptide that mimics a compound found in snake venom.
If you’re interested in the technical term, dipeptide diamionbutroyl benzyamide diacetate causes a relaxing effect which helps to smooth wrinkles caused by facial movements like smiling and frowning.
The unique treatment also contains two other types of plumping peptides, squalane, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to give the eyes an all-round lifting treatment.
No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Eye Serum
No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Eye Serum
Many eye creams are designed to treat a particular concern, but No7’s eye serum promises to do it all. Affordable yet highly effective, this innovation is clinically proven to reverse visible signs of ageing, including fine lines and wrinkles, while also helping to refresh and hydrate.
This is all thanks to No7’s patented peptide blend, Pepticology, to plump the skin, alongside vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to brighten.
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
If you’re familiar with The Inkey List, you’ll know that the brand centres its products around single-ingredient formulas – and here, caffeine takes the stage. It behaves as a natural antioxidant which, when used topically, helps to reduce puffiness and dark pigmentation.
The formula also contains peptides that boost hydration and plump fine lines. Gentle and balanced enough to use morning and night, this is a great starting point for anyone new to eye cream.
Bioeffect EGF Eye Serum
Bioeffect EGF Eye Serum
EGF (or epidermic growth factor) is a protein that stimulates collagen and elastin production to keep the skin plump and firm. But as we age, EGF starts to deplete, which is where Bioeffect's EGF eye serum comes in handy.
Lightweight in texture, it seamlessly glides over the skin – thanks to the cooling rollerball applicator – while EGF, hyaluronic acid and Icelandic water work to reduce puffiness and the appearance of fine lines.
Fresh Black Tea Advanced Age Renewal Eye Cream
Fresh Black Tea Advanced Age Renewal Eye Cream
Fresh has harnessed the power of black tea for decades, with its latest launch using the antioxidant ingredient, alongside blackberry leaf and lychee seed extracts, to improve firmness while protecting against UV and pollution damage.
Rich in consistency, a small dollop glides over the skin to instantly alleviate dryness without any stickiness.
Transformulas Marine Miracle EyeZone
Transformulas Marine Miracle EyeZone
Transformula's Marine Miracle EyeZone harnesses the power of algae in its creamy formula. "Algae is rich in minerals, nutrients and antioxidants, which have many positive effects, including preventing ageing and promoting youthful skin," explains Rosi Chapman, founder of Transformulas.
The hydrating formula is well extolled too, but its benefits go way beyond this; algae can also help fade dark spots which will improve the overall uniformity and brightness of the skin. Use consistently and this hard-working eye cream will plump out fine lines and wrinkles while tackling dullness, pigmentation and dehydration.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream
It's wise to be selective when finding an eye cream for sensitive skin as, when applying anything around your eye, you want to ensure that it won’t upset your barrier. A great product to trust is the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Eye Cream – in fact, the entire Toleriane range has been approved by Allergy UK.
The nourishing cream contains the brand’s patented Thermal Spring Water to aid hydration, while squalane will prevent moisture from escaping. It's a simple formula but it will help to soften and soothe throughout the day.
The good news is that you don't need to be a Soho House member to enjoy Soho Skin; the hard-working collection can be purchased online and used in the the comfort of your own home.
The Eye Cream is one of our favourites from the range. It contains the brand's patented Soho Skin Concentrate – a unique combination of high-performing actives that work to activate collagen and elastin in the skin, promoting a plumper and more youthful under eye.
The tube is also equipped with a metal applicator that feels cooling on groggy mornings. Allow the cream to sink into the skin and gently massage under the brow bone to encourage a lifted result.
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