Ok, so I’m just going to serve it to you straight, because (as you know) I’m not in the business of sugarcoating anything: an eye cream will never be the answer to all of your under-eye concerns. Anyone who tells you about a “magic cream” that “completely gets rid of dark circles” is, like, definitely lying to you.
But the good news is that using an eye cream daily and nightly can help with a lot of the issues you’re probably struggling with…as long as you choose the right one. Below you’ll find a list of the best eye creams according to MOI, as well as others that beauty industry insiders love for anti-aging, depuffing, and more.
BEST OVERALL EYE CREAM:
It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream
If you’re looking for a solid, trust-worthy eye cream that doesn’t cost a million dollars, IT Cosmetics is your best bet. I’ve been using it for years, and I often feel it outperforms eye creams that are way more expensive.
Editor’s note: since this story was originally published, Confidence in an Eye Cream has been the best seller on the list amongst readers.
BEST EYE CREAMS FOR DARK CIRCLES:
Caudalie Permier Cru Dark Circle Correcting Eye Cream
This eye cream is a recent favorite of mine. It has such a rich and creamy texture that applies smoothly to your skin. I’ve noticed that it helps minimize the appearance of my dark circles and it can help firm up your delicate eye area (aka those those pesky crows feet and fine lines.)
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream
Even though I can’t stand the sight, sound, and smell of bananas (it’s an actual phobia)—I’m able to put that aside for this eye cream. It has Vitamin C (which has been scientifically proven to help with brightening) and collagen (which helps to maintain the skin’s elasticity.)
This combination is a great way to counteract dark circles, but keep in mind that since dark circles are hereditary, an eye cream will never be able to remove them completely.
BEST EYE CREAM FOR DRY UNDER EYES:
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
This is the richest, creamiest eye cream EVER. I like to use it in the winter, or any time my under eyes feel dry, flakey, or irritated. It’s a great option for anyone with sensitive skin.
BEST EYE CREAM TO WEAR UNDER MAKEUP:
Elemis Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream
I’d had this sitting unopened on my shelf for months, and decided to give it a go after I noticed that one of my favorite celebrity makeup artists (Katie Jane Hughes) was using it in almost all of her makeup tutorials.
A lot of eye creams can feel too heavy or cakey when applied in the morning underneath concealer, but this one feels just right. (BTW, have you read my post on the best concealers? If not, check it out.)
BEST “CORRECTOR” FOR DARK CIRCLES:
Becca Undereye Brightening Corrector
Ok so technically this isn’t an eye cream, but I had to give it an honorable mention because it’s pretty f-ing awesome. My mom uses it every single day and she got me hooked on it too, although I only reserve it for mornings when I’m looking REALLY rough.
It’s meant to be used underneath concealer (it pairs nicely with Tarte Shape Tape) and will make dark circles virtually disappear within seconds. Keep in mind, this is only a surface-level fix—it’s a makeup product, not an eye cream.
BEST PREVENTATIVE EYE CREAM:
Amore Pacific Time Response Eye Reserve Cream
AmorePacific is one of the top-selling luxury beauty brands in Korea—where beauty is basically a religion. I personally think AP’s products are incredible, and this eye cream is a new favorite. It’s pricey, for sure, but because it’s so intensely concentrated, a tiny bit goes a VERY long way.
BEST FOR DE-PUFFING:
Kopari Starry Eye Balm
I’m adding this as a new addition to the list because as soon as I got my hands on it, I was in love. Unlike traditional eye creams, this one is a “balm” consistency, which I really enjoy. The balm has caffeine in it for de-puffing, and also “natural pearlescent minerals” that create an almost illuminating effect on your under-eyes.
The texture is super hydrating but not heavy, and melts into your skin without leaving behind a sticky residue. I’ve also been wearing it on my lids during the day, which is not technically what it’s meant for—but a little dab creates a cool glossy look. (Just don’t wear it on top of eyeshadow because it’ll crease.)
BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY:
Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream
If you haven’t tried any beauty products from Cocokind yet then you need to get on it—stat! The brand makes super affordable creams, cleansers, oils, and balms that offer up great results, and their eye cream is no exception.
The cooling metal tip instantly soothes puffy, tired eyes and the buttery consistency leaves your skin feeling hydrated and soft. Another added bonus: the eye cream is under $20.
A few honorable mentions that I haven’t personally tried (but are top rated among beauty experts):
FAB Skin Lab Retinol Eye Cream with Triple Hyaluronic Acid
DERMALOGICA MultiVitamin Power Firm Eye Cream
Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
Looking for more of my beauty tips and tricks? Check out my post about the right way to use Vitamin C serum—plus a list of the best ones on the market.
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10 Comments
ananewyork
February 8, 2019 at 8:48 pmI love your recommendations!! Always the best!!
Lindsay Silberman
February 8, 2019 at 9:11 pmaww thanks!!
Cyntia
May 17, 2021 at 8:29 amLindsay, You are doing amazing work ❤️! Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts. I definitely recommend Retin-A Tretinoin cream for aging skin, firstly recommend to use low-tretinoin consistency 0.025% and after go deeper with 0.05% and 0.1% creams and gels. My skin became more youthful, without pigmentation, brighter, wrinkles and fine lines became less visible and its only within first 2 months of usage, i’m pretty impressed! Thanks Retin-A! Will use it all my life, would recommend it to everyone who have signs of aging, wrinkles, color fading, discoloration etc problems. My doctor said that he doesn’t prescribe Retin-A for aging. So I got it, thanks google 😊. You can Google ‘Ret247get’ to find it. Hope this helps!
Lindsay Silberman
July 23, 2021 at 6:25 pmYESSS really is the best!
Jowhit
February 11, 2019 at 3:44 amI’ve been looking forward to this post, thank you for all the recs!!!
Heather Hartmann
February 19, 2019 at 6:11 amI’ve used and loved Clinique All About Eyes for years. Which of these would you say that compares most closely to if I’m looking to try something new/potentially better but not deviate completely, since I’m not unhappy with that?
Lindsay Silberman
February 20, 2019 at 9:36 pmHmm I haven’t tried All About Eyes so hard for me to say for sure. But sometimes I think if you love something, you might as well just stick with it 🙂
Nahali
March 6, 2019 at 6:36 pmBest I have ever used is Monsia.
Caitlin
May 27, 2019 at 10:31 amMy eyes always have dark circles and look very puff for these problems I always using dermalmd under eye serum and it is lightweight and does reduce the puffiness and dark circles significantly. It goes on smoothly and does not sting or burn. My only quibble with this serum is that the dispenser gives out too much of the product at one time and the excess hardens if it is not cleaned off. I can see using this serum for years to come.
Louis chilton
November 23, 2020 at 5:07 pmThanks a lot for this great information,am looking forward to get one