I often wonder if eye cream is really necessary or if it’s just a marketing ploy to get everyone hooked on expensive beauty products. Sure, slathering that juicy cream on the delicate area under your eyes feels great, but is it really any different from your regular face cream?
The answer is yes, says Bradley Grodney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Park Avenue Dermatology in New York City. He explains that eye creams not only tend to have gentler ingredients, but they’re also often specifically chosen to treat common under-eye issues. “For example, eye creams contain caffeine to reduce eye puffiness and vitamin K to help treat dark circles,” he says.
Grodny says anti-aging eye creams contain many of the same ingredients as facial serums and creams, such as AHAs, BHAs, retinols, and retinoids, but they’re formulated in a way that doesn’t harm the highly sensitive skin around the eyes. To find the right eye cream, look for key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, collagen-boosting peptides, growth factors, and retinol.
While there’s no right or wrong age to start using an eye cream, Grodny recommends incorporating one into your routine by your early 30s, adding that “certain concerns, like under-eye puffiness, can occur at any age, so a caffeinated under-eye cream could be helpful at any age.”
Luckily, you don’t have to spend a fortune on an under-eye cream: You can find countless high-quality options with effective anti-aging formulas for under $50. However, he says, “certain ingredients are more expensive to produce in their active form (like ascorbic acid), so these eye creams will likely cost more than $50.”
With Grodny’s recommendations in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best and most effective anti-aging eye creams at a range of price points. It includes two of Grodny’s favorites, two editors’ picks, and a few tried-and-tested favorites. Along with a serum packed with active ingredients, a powerful moisturizer, and a good sunscreen, eye cream is an essential part of any anti-aging skincare routine. Choose the one that best suits your budget and needs, and watch your skin improve.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. All products are independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Price and availability are subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, experts consulted for this article do not necessarily endorse the products featured.
Amazon
Rock Retinol Correction Line Smoothing Eye Cream
This cult-favorite eye cream is super popular on Amazon, boasting over 16,135 five-star reviews from satisfied customers. Thanks to its hydrating formula with dermatologist Dr. Bradley Grodney-approved ingredients, including retinol and antioxidants, it helps address common eye concerns like puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles. Reviewers say it’s incredibly effective, especially for dark circles.
Sephora
Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Eye Cream
Paula’s Choice products are mid-priced options perfect for those looking for truly effective skin care with powerful anti-aging ingredients. Enriched with Vitamin C, this eye cream also contains hyaluronic acid and polypeptides to help firm, brighten, and smooth the sensitive eye area. This product is suitable for all skin types and is also great for those looking to address dark circles, skin texture, and sagging skin. This product is a favorite among beauty writers and editors (like me) who rely on the brand for high-quality, affordable products.
Sephora
Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream
If you’re looking for a silky smooth, soft eye cream that will leave your under-eye area feeling hydrated, check out this option from cult-favorite beauty brand Laneige. It’s infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, skin-brightening niacinamide, and energizing caffeine, making it a great choice for those who are just getting started with eye creams and want to invest in their skin.
Sephora
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
You can’t beat the prices on The Ordinary’s skin care products, including their Multi-Peptide Eye Serum, which helps reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and other typical signs of aging. The lightweight serum formula is perfect for breakout-prone or oily skin types. And best of all, it comes in at under $30. Despite its affordable price tag, beauty enthusiasts and editors alike consistently swear by The Ordinary for the efficacy of its products.
Derm Store
Skinceuticals AGE Eye Complex
For those willing to spend a bit more, you can’t go wrong with any SkinCeuticals product, including their celeb-favourite eye cream, which is packed with light-diffusing agents to instantly reduce the appearance of dark circles, and its peptide-rich formula works to improve the look of puffiness and other signs of aging. It’s nourishing and hydrating, improving the appearance of skin over time and boosting elasticity and skin health.
Derm Store
Isdin Isdin Ceutic K-Ox Eye Cream
This luxurious eye cream from Isdin is a favorite of Grodny. “It utilizes vitamin K oxide to effectively target dark circles under the eyes,” he says. “For patients with darker skin tones, this is my go-to.” The eye cream has a ceramic applicator that provides a soothing cooling sensation while applying, which refreshes and relieves puffiness. The formula also firms the skin, protecting it from future moisture loss and leaving the area smooth.
Amazon
L’Oreal Eye Defense Eye Cream
Sometimes a classic cream is the best choice. There’s a reason this L’Oreal cream has over 10,800 five-star reviews on Amazon: proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune on an effective eye cream. Its lightweight, non-greasy gel-cream formula is infused with caffeine and hyaluronic acid to help prevent premature aging and keep your under-eye area supple and smooth.
Derm Store
iS Clinical Use Eye Complex
Sephora
Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum
If you’re a fan of Korean beauty products, you’ve probably heard of Innisfree and their green tea-infused skin care products. This hydrating eye serum is an Editors’ Pick because it not only reduces the typical signs of aging, but also hydrates and strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier thanks to squalane and ceramides. It also comes with a cooling roll-on applicator that soothes and massages the skin as you apply it. Keep it in the fridge for an extra refreshing feel.
Ilia Beauty
Ilia Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
If you’re concerned or sensitive to retinol, but still want to enjoy the many benefits this powerful ingredient has to offer, this eye cream is for you. It’s infused with light-reflecting pearls to instantly brighten skin, while ingredients like caffeine and peptides target issues like puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles. It also has a cooling ceramic tip that soothes the skin upon application. A favorite among those who prefer “natural” beauty and skincare products, skincare enthusiasts in general love the brand’s beautifully formulated and effective products.
Derm Store
Ampere Eye Cream
This premium eye cream is another Grodny favorite for mature skin, which she says can “reduce under-eye bags and other signs of aging.” It’s designed to not only reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles, but also address the loss of collagen that comes with aging. Mango seed butter and hyaluronic acid firm and hydrate, while caffeine and antioxidants help revitalize and heal the skin.
Sephora
Drunk Elephant CeraMighty AF Eye Cream
Drunk Elephant’s popular cream is packed with ceramides and plant-based lipids to nourish skin, infusing it with skin-strengthening ingredients to maintain elasticity. Oat extract helps soothe the under-eye area. Join the ranks of Drunk Elephant-obsessed beauty lovers and give this creamy balm a try.
Sephora
Augustinus Bader TFC8 eye cream
Generally, it doesn’t get any more luxurious (or expensive) than Augustinus Bader, but if you’re willing to invest in your skin, it’s an absolute must. The brand’s powerful formula contains niacinamide and vitamin C, which, coupled with TFC8 technology, support cell renewal and collagen production to brighten skin and calm inflammation. It’s a celeb-loved, beauty-editor-approved product.
