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You’ve been together for a while, but your partner just isn’t living up to your expectations. How long will it take to start using eye cream? Is it a case of “it’s me, not you” or is it time to ditch the eye cream? And who will get back together? Let the experts answer your most common eye cream questions to help you set your skincare game up for success.
Featured Experts
Tina Alster, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, DC.
Doris Day, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
Daniel Schlessinger, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Omaha, Nebraska.
How long should I use the eye cream to see results?
When it comes to skin care, how long it takes for a product to work has a lot to do with what it’s trying to do, but in any case, it’s important to start small.
“A patch test involves applying the product to the back of your wrist (where the skin is relatively thin) for several consecutive days,” explains Tina Alster, MD, a dermatologist in Washington, D.C. “This allows you to initially assess the product’s irritation potential.”
Think of patch testing as being like speed dating: You’re just trying to see if your skin and the product are a good match. Then you need to know how long you want the trial period to be.
“It really depends on what you’re trying to treat,” says Daniel Schlessinger, M.D., a dermatologist in Omaha, Nebraska. “If an eye cream is made to treat puffiness, you should see results much quicker than a product aimed at addressing wrinkles or other signs of aging.”
Bloating is usually addressed in one of two ways: cooling and hydrating products reduce inflammation, which tends to be immediate, while anti-aging takes longer and has more to do with cell turnover.
“Because skin turnover occurs every 30 days, new products should be used for a month before assessing early clinical responses,” Dr. Alster explains.
Is my eye cream working?
“These products require consistent use over a period of several weeks to see the results they advertise,” explains Dr. Schlessinger. Eye creams made to address discoloration should steadily lighten the area, and your skin should appear softer and brighter over time.
“With skin-lightening products, if the pigment you’re trying to lighten is on the surface, it may disappear in a week or so,” says New York City dermatologist Doris Day, M.D. “But if the pigment is deeper, it can take months due to the process of skin cell turnover and pigmentation. So, while you may start to see changes sooner, it could take months for real, more lasting, or complete changes to appear.”
The same can be said about anti-aging eye creams: if you have fine lines and wrinkles, you may see a moderate improvement after a few weeks of use. While time can be an issue, it’s also important to remember that eye creams have limitations.
When eye cream doesn’t work
There are a few reasons why your eye cream might not be working, which is why it’s helpful to talk to a board-certified dermatologist about your skin care routine.
“That’s when it’s best to consult a dermatologist,” Dr. Day says, “You might not be using the right product, you might be using the wrong concentration, you might be applying it in the wrong order. You might be using the wrong formula. There’s a whole bunch of different things that go into it. That’s why we get three years of dermatology training, and we just look at the skin.”
“There are a lot of great products out there, but there comes a point when they no longer serve their purpose,” says Dr. Schlessinger, “so you need to set your expectations for how much of a difference you can or will see from using an eye cream.”
Visiting a board-certified dermatologist can also help determine whether products can help you achieve your goals, or if in-office treatment or surgical intervention is required.
“Especially when it comes to the eye area, you really need a qualified professional, such as a board-certified dermatologist or eyelid surgeon, to evaluate your complaints and determine what needs to be done to achieve your goals,” says Dr. Schlessinger.
Eye cream for dark circles under the eyes
1/3
Shiseido White Lucent Anti-Dark Circle Eye Cream ($65)
With over 700 positive reviews, this formula uses Shiseido’s exclusive Dark Circle Diminisher to address discoloration in three ways: Targeting the root cause of pigmentation, preventing future pigmentation, and improving circulation to the sensitive under-eye area, this eye cream softens skin and visibly reduces the appearance of blue and brown dark circles over time.
“I’m a middle-aged woman with dark circles under my eyes and I’m African American,” one five-star review wrote. “I’ve been using this product in the morning and before bed for two months now and I’m amazed at how my dark circles have decreased so much that I can now just use under-eye concealer without foundation.”
Buy on Amazon – $65
Purchase at Nordstrom – $65
2/3
Skin Medica Instant Bright Eye Cream ($92)
This eye cream uses Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum to hydrate and correct dark spots with marine extracts and hyaluronic acid. Instead of harsh retinol, this formula brightens with phenylethyl resorcinol, an antioxidant found naturally in pine trees.
With the perfect blend of caffeine and pigment-balancing antioxidants, it invigorates under-eye areas and brightens overall.
Buy on Amazon – $92
Buy on DERMSTORE – $92
Eye cream to reduce swelling
Four/6
Murad Targeted Eye De-Puffer ($64)
Inspired by microcurrent technology, Murad’s De-Puffer relieves under-eye puffiness in just five minutes. The peptide-infused formula is designed to massage with a cooling tip for instant de-puffing benefits. Light-Reflecting Complex also helps instantly treat the look of tired eyes, while Ginseng, Lily and Caffeine help improve the appearance of under-eye area over time.
Buy on Amazon – $64
Buy on DERMSTORE – $64
Five/6
SkinCeuticals AGE Advanced Eye Cream ($116)
With nearly 1,000 positive reviews on Dermstore, this SkinCeuticals eye cream is the real deal. This dry finish balm is formulated with concentrated flavonoid blend Proxylane, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, and Matrixyl 3000. Powerful peptides work with caffeine to reduce puffiness for instant relief and 24-hour hydration.
SkinCeuticals’ clinical trials showed a 24% reduction in under-eye puffiness in just eight weeks.
Buy on SKINCEUTICALS – $116
Buy on DERMSTORE – $116
6/6
iS CLINICAL Youth Eye Complex ($115)
This powerful eye cream improves skin hydration by 86 percent and reduces the appearance of puffiness and under-eye bags. Hyaluronic acid works with retinol and palmitic acid to smooth skin and even out skin tone while addressing dark circles under the eyes.
“It provides intense, long-lasting hydration around the eye area and plumps up fine lines,” reads one five-star review. “It’s a little pricey, but a little goes a long way. One bottle lasts me about five to six months, so it’s well worth it.”
An eye cream that targets fine lines and wrinkles, with optimized surface-release Retinol to ensure your skin gets the most out of the formula. Rambutan and Hibiscus Fruit Extracts work together to promote firming and hydration, increasing skin’s moisture intake and elasticity.
The metal applicator helps depuff without pulling on skin, and the formula is gentle enough to use twice daily. After eight weeks, users saw a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Buy on Amazon – $79
Buy on STRIVECTIN – $79
8/9
Tatcha Ageless Revitalizing Eye Cream ($144)
This botanical-based formula uses peony and honeysuckle to improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while this hydrating eye cream uses Okinawan red algae and hyaluronic acid for long-lasting hydration and three anti-aging superfoods to restore radiance to skin.
The emollient formula is designed for the delicate under eye area, is not heavy or oily and, like all Tatcha products, is perfect for those with sensitive skin.
Buy on Amazon – $144
Buy on TATCHA – $144
9/9
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Bag ($42)
Dubbed an “instant eye lift,” this eye cream won the 2023 NewBeauty Award for Best Instant Under-Eye Smoother for its powerful, much-talked-about de-puffing and firming benefits. The culmination of over a decade of skincare research, this eye cream leaves no white cast and pairs perfectly with makeup.
“It smooths and hides the look of fine lines and puffiness. I use it with or without makeup, but after I apply my concealer. Pro tip: I also use it to smooth out laugh lines.” —Tatiana Bido, Beauty Content Manager
