Since my early twenties, I've experienced intense dark circles and puffiness under my eyes. I'd spend countless hours caking on foundation, attempting to hide those unwanted shadows, only for them to reappear after I washed my face. Feeling defeated, I decided to introduce an eye cream for dark circles to my nightly beauty regime, and I finally started to see positive results.
According to Dr. Shari Lipner, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, “the goal of applying an eye cream is to moisturize, restore volume, brighten and constrict blood vessels." If you're anything like me and tired of spending a fortune on concealer, an eye cream may be just the solution you need.
Along with Lipner, we spoke with other board-certified dermatologists who shared do's and don'ts for finding the best eye creams to help eliminate dark circles. We also included a few Shop TODAY favorites that were tested by our editors.
Scroll down to find these expert-and editor-recommended formulas from Charlotte Tilbury, Sunday Riley, Summer Fridays and more.
Expert-approved eye creams | Editor-tested eye creams | Affordable drugstore eye creams | What to look for | What to avoid | How we chose | Meet the experts
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Expert-approved eye cream for dark circles
Great for sensitive skin: La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Dark Circles Eye Cream
- Lightweight
- Gentle on skin
- May cause itching
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Caffeine, retinol
Dr. Brooke Jeffy, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, and founder of youth skin care brand BTWN recommends this lightweight eye cream from La Roche-Posay. She loves that it contains both retinol and caffeine with a depuffing applicator, which is great for easy application. This brightening formula is paraben-free and good for sensitive skin, according to the brand.
Helps with puffiness: Charlotte Tilbury Cryo-Recovery Eye Serum
- Reduces puffiness
- Easy to apply
- Mixed reviews on effectiveness
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Caffeine complex, iceawake, Swiss ice wine essence
“I love Charlotte Tilbury’s Cryo-Recovery Eye Serum, which contains caffeine and the trademarked ingredients ICEAWAKE™ and REPLEXIUM™,” says Engelman. “This cooling eye cream works quickly to help depuff and wake up the under eyes, while helping to minimize signs of aging. I love that it comes with a metal applicator that further helps smooth and contour the eye area,” she explains.
Brightening and firming: Eau Thermale Avène RetrinAL Intensive Cream
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Doesn't cause breakouts
- May feel dry
Size: 1.1 oz. | Key ingredients: Retinaldehyde
Dr. Alison Ehrlich, a board-certified dermatologist in Washington, DC, swears by this rejuvenating cream that helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Enriched with retinaldehyde, this brightening eye cream helps with firming and plumping. It's also great for sensitive skin.
Cooling and de-puffing: ISDIN ISDINCEUTICS K-Ox Eyes Dark Circles Cream
- Super hydrating
- Not greasy
- Pricey for amount of product
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Vitamin K oxide, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid
Jeffy is also a big fan of this eye contour cream, explaining that it "really brightens and improves the overall appearance of the under eye." This hydrating formula is enriched with vitamin K and hyaluronic acid, and it features a cooling ceramic applicator to help reduce unwanted bags and puffiness.
From morning to night: Neocutis LUMIÈRE FIRM Illuminating & Tightening Eye Cream
- Very moisturizing
- May be greasy
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Vitamin C, caffeine
Jeffy refers to this Neocutis product as "an incredibly rich hydrating cream with caffeine and vitamin C that brightens, moisturizes and reduces puffiness." According to the brand, this moisturizing eye cream should be applied to the eye area every morning and night for best results.
Formulated with caffeine: SkinCeuticals A.G.E Advanced Eye Cream
- Absorbs easily
- Reduces puffiness
- Good for sensitive skin
- May feel heavy
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Concentrated ProxylaneTM, matrixyl 3000, caffeine, glycyrrhetinic acid
Ehrlich also recommends this SkinCeuticals cream, as it "helps with hydration, improves hydration and has light reflector particles." This easily absorbed eye cream is also formulated with caffeine and designed to reduce the appearance of crow's feet and combat puffiness.
Editor-tested eye cream for dark circles
Beauty Awards winner: Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream
- Lightweight
- Hydrating
- May cause burning
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C
Not only is this lightweight formula a Shop TODAY Beauty Awards winner for best overall eye cream, but one of production coordinator Camryn Privette's favorite products as well. "Since it’s packed with vitamin C, it makes my skin feel so soft and smooth to the touch. It goes on like a dream before I catch my beauty sleep," Privette explains.
“I’ve started to use this specific eye cream recently due to the soothing, smoothing claims it made off the bat," shares senior editor Jess Bender. "So far, it’s really done a great job ironing out some finer lines that come along during my everyday. The thicker texture of this eye cream makes it a good addition to my nightly skin care routine," she says.
Brightens skin: Alpyn Beauty Bright Eye with Peptides & Niacinamide
- Instantly brightening
- Helps hide circles
- Doesn't pill with makeup
- Pump can get clogged
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Niacinamide, peptides
"Gone are the days when concealer alone would effectively mask up my dark circles stemming from sleepless nights," says Bender. "Nowadays I need to put a little extra effort into the area, and I’ve found that this tinted eye cream does an effective job instantly blurring the area while hydrating it," she explains.
A little goes a long way: Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum
- A little is enough
- effective
- Can cause itchiness
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Retinol, caffeine and Copper tripeptide-1
"This is the only eye cream I’ve found that works to reduce bags and puffiness. It truly does last a long time (I’m still on my first bottle from 3 months ago!) and it has a light texture that doesn’t leave any sorts of residue" says Shop TODAY associate editor, Sierra Hoeger. The added 3% of caffeine works to help reduce puffiness and give you a more awake look.
Good for dry skin: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream
- Hydrating
- Not heavy
- Small amount for price
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Cocoa and shea butter, watermelon extract
Editorial assistant Madison San Miguel never used to believe in eye cream until she tried this game-changing formula from Sunday Riley which quickly became her favorite. “I have dry skin, especially around my eye area, and found this incredibly hydrating, but not in a way that it feels heavy nor affects your makeup application.”
“I especially loved that over time, I noticed brighter under eyes. This might be because it contains caffeine and ‘light particles,’ so you might notice a slight difference on the first use,” she adds.
The "real deal": Murad Retinal ReSculpt Eye Treatment
- Moisturizing
- Very gentle
- Small amount of product
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Encapsulated retinal, gentian root extract, oat-firming film
"This new launch from Murad is the real deal!" shares Privette. "During the summer I definitely get less sleep than usual, and this treatment helps with dark circles, wrinkles, you name it since it’s formulated with good ‘ole retinal. It’s great for all skin types, too, which is always a plus!" she says. Along with Privette, production associate Audrey Ekman is a major fan of this gentle formula as well.
Affordable drugstore eye cream for dark circles
Tried and true: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
- Helps reduce dryness
- Not greasy
- May cause irritation
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide
Anyone who knows CeraVe products knows they're ideal for skin needs all across the board. This eye cream contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and marine botanical complex, claiming to help reduce puffiness and under eye bags with just a pea-sized amount.
3-in-1 option: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
- Very gentle on skin
- Easy to apply
- Moisturizing
- Mixed reviews of puffiness
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Retinol
This three-in-one eye cream works to depuff skin, reduce dark circles and reduce under eye wrinkles. Additionally, the brand claims this product is highly effective (yet gentle!) as it was tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists.
For nighttime: Olay Retinol 24 MAX Night Eye Cream
- Makes skin soft
- Not greasy or oily
- May cause burning
Size: 0.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Ceramide, retinol, peptides
The retinol complex within this fragrance-free eye cream works to visibly reduce wrinkles while smoothing texture and hydrating the skin. Apply this product before bed to wake up with a transformed under eye complexion that looks and feels fresher.
Super hydrating: No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream
- Lightweight
- May take time to see results
Size: 1.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid
This firming eye cream is packed with mega-hydrating ingredients like shea butter and hyaluronic acid, and it's formulated to help brighten the under-eye area. The result? Skin that appears to have less fine lines and dark circles. According to a study noted by the brand, it only takes about two weeks to work.
Brightening ingredients: PUR Rescue C Brightening Vitamin C & Peptide Eye Cream
- Jar lasts a long time
- Lightweight formula
- Some say it feels heavy
Size: .5 oz. | Key ingredients: Vitamin C, caffeine, peptide and ginseng
This cream by PUR is packed with nourishing ingredients that work together to help brighten the under-eye areas while reducing dark circles as well as fine lines. According to one reviewer, the formula has an "orange" scent reminiscent of vitamin C.
What to look for in eye cream
When it comes to finding an eye cream that will help get rid of those pesky dark circles (which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, are caused by factors such as fatigue, aging, genetics and more), be sure to pay extra attention to the ingredients.
“Products containing retinol can decrease hyperpigmentation and stimulate collagen production,” suggests Lipner. “Glycerin and hyaluronic acid can help hydrate the under-eye area and make the area look more full. Caffeine can reduce redness and hyperpigmentation by constricting blood vessels. Niacinamide and green tea are good brightening ingredients,” she recommends.
Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York City, agrees: “Ingredients that hydrate, depuff and constrict the blood vessels in the under-eye area are great for combating dark circles.” She suggests looking for antioxidants, such as vitamin C, “which address damage caused by free radicals and boost blood circulation and collagen production to help brighten and firm the under eyes.”
“Caffeine and vitamin K are two other great eye cream ingredients; both cause the blood vessels under the eyes to constrict, which helps reduce the visibility of shadows beneath the skin,” suggests Engelman. “Plumping and hydrating the under eyes with peptides, ceramides and hyaluronic acid can also help prevent shadows from occurring,” she explains.
What to avoid in eye cream
“As with any skin care product, you want to avoid harsh synthetic chemicals that can cause irritation,” recommends Engelman. “Formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasers, synthetic fragrances and alcohols are all ingredients that you should steer clear of. This is especially true for eye cream, which is applied close to the eyes and on thin, sensitive under eye skin, making an adverse reaction more likely.”
“Always avoid topical steroids to the under eye area,” adds Lipner. “The under eye skin is incredibly thin and topical steroids, particularly potent ones, can thin out the skin and cause development of broken blood vessels.”
“Also avoid use of fragrances, salicylic acid, and alcohol, which can cause dryness, irritation and redness,” Lipner suggests.
How we chose the best eye creams
Shop TODAY enlisted the recommendations of trusted skin care experts, including three board-certified dermatologists who shared what to look for in proper eye creams. We also asked our editors to share a few of their tried-and-true formulas as well.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Shari Lipner, MD, Ph.D, is an associate professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine.
- Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York City.
- Dr. Brooke Jeffy, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona and founder of youth skin care brand, BTWN.
- Dr. Alison Ehrlich, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist in Washington, DC.
