Derms Are Begging Patients To Try This Brightening Eye Cream
- 1/20
Derms Are Begging Patients To Try This Brightening Eye Cream
Dark circles aren't just normal and natural—they're super common, too. The best eye creams for dark circles can do more than just brighten your skin. They can hydrate bags and smooth out wrinkles if you'd like them to, too.
“Dark circles are the result of aging, lifestyle choices, and genetics,” shares dermatologist Dr. Alexis Young, MD. “As we age, the bone and fat under our eyes shrink and become less voluminous, and the skin becomes less hydrated making it so you can see muscles and blood vessels below the surface.”
Peep a few of the best eye creams for dark circles, below:
So, while Dr. Young says that dark circles can be genetic, the good news is that there are tons of dermatologist-recommended creams that can help brighten the eye area on a wide array of skin types. But in addition to a good skincare regime, she also suggests getting more sleep while easing up on your salt and alcohol consumption.
This list of the best eye creams ticks all of those boxes and more. They treat dark circles, yes—but you can also find products that'll help soothe bags under the eyes while smoothing out wrinkles, too.
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1) Hydra 24 + Regard Glacon
Payot
amazon.com
$35.00
“Fatigue elevates cortisol levels which can swell blood vessels, making them more visible and resulting in dark circles,” says Dr. Young.
Payot's anti-fatigue roll-on contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid to reinforce the skin’s barrier, and vitamin C to boost cell energy.
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2) Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream
Cetaphil
amazon.com
$22.43
“When you’re constantly on your computer or phone, you’re straining your eyes, which could lead to dark circles,” shares Dr. Young.
So, a soothing eye cream that's suitable for sensitive skin is definitely a must-have if you love your screen time. Cetaphil's gel formula contains skin hydrating and soothing ingredients like vitamins B2 and E, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract.
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3) Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy
Colorescience
amazon.com
$79.00
“Ultraviolet radiation breaks down our skin’s collagen and elastin fibers, resulting in skin thinning, clumping of the fibers, and ultimately the appearance of dark circles," says Dr. Young. "It can also worsen existing hyperpigmentation under the eyes.”
She suggests this mineral-based sunscreen featuring a neutral peach tint. It works double-duty as a concealer with ultra light coverage.
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4) Confidence In An Eye Cream
It Cosmetics
amazon.com
$30.99
“Peptides can stimulate fibroblasts to produce collagen and can also act as antioxidants to reduce cellular damage, free radicals, and inflammation,” says Dr. Young. “They’re very gentle, which is ideal for the sensitive area around the eyes.”
This creamy balm contains a mix of rice and soy peptides, including tetrapeptide, known to help reduce the look of dark circles.
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5) Smooth Landing Advanced Retinoid Eye Balm
Versed
amazon.com
$17.99
The condition of your surface skin can contribute to under-eye circles. “Any inflammation there could result in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which is essentially a stain left over by the inflammation,” says Dr. Young.
To treat that, she suggests looking for an eye cream that contains a gentle form of vitamin A such as granactive retinoid, which is a less irritating form of retinol.
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6) PlantGenius Line-Filling Eye Balm
Alpyn Beauty
amazon.com
$62.00
Because the area under the eye can be sensitive, dermatologists often recommend products that are fragrance-free and contain gentle ingredients.
“This product has an excellent mix of effective, natural ingredients including licorice root extract for dark circles, caffeine to target puffiness, and bakuchiol to help combat fine lines,” says dermatologist Dr. Angela Lamb, MD.
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7) Redermic Retinol Eye Cream
La Roche-Posay
amazon.com
$47.99
“Retinol can shed pigment, allowing other topical ingredients to penetrate the skin barrier more easily,” says Dr. Young. “It’s also known to increase collagen production while preventing its breakdown."
She particularly like this cream because it contains caffeine, which helps reduce puffiness.
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8) Hydro Boost+ Caffeine Eye Gel Cream
Neutrogena
amazon.com
$19.57
“The skin around the eyes is about 0.5 mm thick, compared to the skin on the soles of your feet, which is around 12 times thicker at six mm,” says oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Kami Parsa, MD. “A thinner skin can translate into a greater chance of skin sensitivity.”
So, if you have particularly sensitive skin, he says to look for fragrance-free products that don’t contain parabens, phthalates, or dyes. This budget-friendly option from Neutrogena uses hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and peptides to reduce the look of dark circles, which is why it has the approval of dermatologist Dr. Dustin Portela, MD.
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9) Renewing Eye Cream
Weleda
amazon.com
$23.66
Dr. Young says you risk skin thickening and dark circles if you’re rubbing your eyes due to lack of sleep or allergies. “We call it an ‘allergic shiner’.”
Practice hand control and look for products that are free from synthetic preservatives, fragrances, or colorants. Weleda's eye gel does all that, and comes in a convenient travel-friendly tube.
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10) Caffeine Eye Cream
Mario Badescu
amazon.com
$18.00
Like Dr. Young, dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, is a fan of caffeine in skincare. She says it can tighten and temporarily reduce skin darkness and puffiness—all while stimulating collagen growth, neutralizing free radicals, reducing inflammation, and improving the texture of the skin. "I love that this lightweight product can do all that while absorbing easily into the skin,” she says.
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11) Eye Cream
CeraVe
amazon.com
$17.99
Dr. Young says that niacinamide, otherwise known as vitamin B3, can calm redness and inflammation while stimulating collagen and fatty acid production in the skin to improve hydration. “It can also prevent pigment transfer to the surrounding skin,” she adds.
CeraVe's eye cream contains niacinamide as well as moisturizing ceramides and caffeine to help reduce puffiness while thwarting dark circles.
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12) Teamine Eye Complex
Revision Skincare
amazon.com
$58.99
“The skin under the eyes doesn’t have as much collagen as the rest of the face, making it more prone to discoloration and other signs of aging,” says Dr. Parsa. Revision Skincare's cream is formulated with collagen boosters like antioxidants and vitamin C, and it's been infused with ingredients that are supposed to make the skin look instantly brighter.
It's pricey, but a little goes a long way with the highly concentrated formula.
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13) Age Perfect Rosy Tone Eye Cream
L'Oreal Paris
amazon.com
$16.75
L'Oreal's peachy eye cream is formulated with imperial peony extract. The ingredient is packed with super hydrating flavonoids that are known to possess both antioxidant and skin-soothing properties to reduce the look of dark circles.
Plus, the peachy tint has an instant blurring effect on the skin.
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14) Banana Bright Eye Crème
Ole Henriksen
amazon.com
$40.00
Some eye creams need time to absorb into the skin before you can apply makeup—not this one by Ole Henriksen. Even though it's hydrating, the crease-resistant formula dries quickly and contains a triple action skin-brightening vitamin C complex along with color-correcting mineral pigments.
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15) 2-in-1 Instant Eye Lift Serum
Park Perfection
nordstrom.com
$90.00
"There are products that offer short-term results, but this one, with its purified algae extract, rich in vitamin C and B12, provides meaningful, long-term results that will improve the skin around your eyes over time while reducing the look of dark circles,” says dermatologist Dr. Ben Bogucki, MD.
Yes, it's pricey, but reviewers say it literally makes them look like they got Botox after just one use.
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16) Nordic C Glow Boost Eye Serum
Lumene
amazon.com
$26.00
This eye cream has all the ingredients dermatologists recommend to reduce the look of dark circles—three types of hyaluronic acid, a peptide complex, and vitamin C. It won't do much for crow's feet or wrinkles, so it's great if you really just want to target brightening.
Plus, it's fragrance-free so reviewers with sensitive skin are fans.
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17) K-Ox Eyes
Isdinceutics IT
amazon.com
$97.00
Congestion in your sinuses can lead to congestion in the small veins under your eyes. “This eye cream is one of my favorites, as it’s packed with vitamin K and a hydrolyzed form of hyaluronic acid that's ideal for absorption into the skin,” says dermatologist Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD.
She says that with long-term use, vitamin K helps promote blood flow, diminishing puffiness and discoloration caused by fluid buildup under the thin under-eye tissue.
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18) SkinActive Micellar Water
Garnier
amazon.com
$15.94
You’re doing your skin right by removing dirt and debris at the end of each day, but abrasive actions like scrubbing off eye makeup can contribute to dark circles.
“Anything too rough will cause inflammation which could lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and/or the thickening of the skin,” says Dr. Young. “Consider a micellar water that contains molecules to trap oil and dirt, making both easier to remove.” It's obviously not a cream, but it's still super important to have a gentle eye makeup remover.
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19) Beautiful Skin Concealer
Charlotte Tilbury
nordstrom.com
$33.00
Not technically a cream, this waterproof concealer can go far to cover dark circles. Charlotte Tilbury's brightens the under-eye area with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, and vegan collagen. The doe-foot applicator takes the guesswork out of applying.
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