The delicate skin around the eyes is more sensitive to stretching and sagging, which can even be caused by things like taking makeup off. All of this can contribute to the skin around your eyes being the first to show signs of ageing, so if maintaining a youthful complexion is important to you, using an anti-ageing product like an eye cream is essential.
The best eye creams will minimise fine lines and crow's feet, fight the dreaded puffiness, reduce the appearance of bags and dark circles, as well as offering compatibility with sensitive skin and drier skin alike. Check out our invaluable buying guide and top recommendations for every budget from Amazon, eBay, John Lewis and Boots, and you'll be a sight for sore eyes indeed!
Quick List - Top Eye Creams
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To choose an eye cream that really enhances your complexion, keep this guide in mind whilst shopping online. From their scent, texture and formula to any additional benefits, we're confident our guidance will make your decision a simple one.
The main purpose of most eye creams is to combat maturing skin, seeing as the delicate area around the eyes often shows ageing first. Luckily, there are some very effective key ingredients to help with this, which we'll dive into below.
Antioxidants are substances that can prevent damage to cells caused by free radicals, and their sources can be natural or artificial. When it comes to anti-ageing, some of the best to look for in skincare are vitamins A, C and E, as well as resveratrol and retinol.
Vitamin A can be found in fruit and botanical extracts, and can reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant able to neutralise free radicals, aiding skins regeneration, and vitamin E has moisturising and protective properties.
Resveratrol, on the other hand, has significant skin-calming abilities and can brighten a tired complexion. And finally, retinol stimulates collagen production and can even reverse some effects of sun damage. All worth looking out for!
Check out our articles on vitamin C serums and retinol serums for more ways to look after your skin!
Enter the magic skin ingredient that is hyaluronic acid! A sugar found naturally in our skin, hyaluronic acid draws and retains moisture from deeper levels within the skin, creating a plumping effect. It also protects and hydrates, and enables increased cell production which leads to smoother, younger looking skin cells.
Hyaluronic acid is the darling of the skincare world right now, and can be found in many different skincare products. If you decide to choose an eye cream containing hyaluronic acid, make sure that you aren't using too many products in your routine containing it, as this can have the opposite effect and dry out skin if used too heavily.
Get more information about the benefits of hyaluronic acid serums for your complexion.
Peptides work like glue, holding together collagen strands, which in turn facilitate skin cell repair and rejuvenation. Peptides have been shown to lighten dark circles and spots around the eyes and reduce puffiness, due to their lifting and firming effect.
There are a couple of types of peptides used in skincare products to look out for. Firstly, neuropeptides, which aid in reducing skin inflammation, wound healing, and boosting the skin’s immune system.
Check the ingredients list for hexapeptide-11, too – it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with its unique set of amino acids that allow it to manipulate collagen levels and boost elasticity in the skin.
Are you looking for the best peptide creams to smooth wrinkles?
There are also some other ingredients and formulations to look out for if you have other skin concerns around the eye area to focus on, especially if you're not quite ready to start using dedicated anti-ageing products!
Eye puffiness is actually fluid retention usually caused by things like lack of sleep, allergies, excess salt, or the three glasses of wine you drank last night. If you suffer with puffiness, caffeine is one of the ingredients that can do wonders for your puffy eyes as it constricts and tightens the skin.
We previously mentioned that antioxidants are great for anti-ageing, but certain ingredients with antioxidant properties can also relinquish puffiness. Some of the best examples of this are aloe vera, green tea, and alfalfa, which soothe the eye area and reduce swelling once applied.
There are many reasons why you might have dark circles around your eyes, from allergies, pigmentation irregularities and sun exposure to just downright not enough sleep. One thing's for sure though, once those dark circles appear they can be hard to get rid of!
Urban myths may have had you trying everything from cold spoons to teabags in an attempt to brighten and soothe, but one thing that does seem to work is cucumber. Proponents of natural healing suggest placing slices of cucumber onto your eyelids, but for a less messy and more convenient option, why not choose a cucumber-infused eye cream?
Look into other ways to relieve tired eyes and reduce dark circles with under-eye masks and under-eye concealers.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | REN Keep Young and Beautiful™ Firm and Lift Eye Cream | ![]() | An Ultra-Lifting Eye Cream That Does It All | |
2 | Evolve Organic Beauty Hyaluronic Eye Complex | ![]() | Hydrate and Cool With a Roll-On Hyaluronic Serum | |
3 | La Mer The Eye Concentrate | ![]() | A Luxury Cult Beauty Favourite | |
4 | Caudalie Firming Eye Gel Cream | ![]() | A Rebuilding, Repairing Gel | |
5 | Origins GinZing™ Refreshing Eye Cream To Brighten And Depuff | ![]() | Nature's Zingy Wake Up Cream | |
6 | Iduncare Firming Eye Cream | ![]() | A Brilliant Anti-Ageing Formula on a Budget | |
7 | Liz Earle Superskin™ Eye Cream | ![]() | Botanically-Blended For Youthful Eyes | |
8 | Dr Hauschka Daily Hydrating Eye Cream | ![]() | 100% Natural, Moisture-Rich and Super Soothing | |
9 | Olay Ultimate Eye Cream | ![]() | 3-in-1 Cream for Dark Circles, Puffiness and Wrinkles | |
10 | Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex | ![]() | A Rich Repairing Cream That Works Overnight |
Our number one choice, REN is a real favourite in the world of cult skincare. Additionally, REN creates cruelty-free, vegan products using 'clean' ingredients, and this eye cream contains some very effective yet natural ones. So, it's suitable for every skin and lifestyle type, and affordable, too.
In terms of beneficial ingredients, there's hexapeptide-11, sourced from yeast, to improve skin's firmness, rosehip oil for rejuvenating vitamin A, and the ceramide-like carthame which nourishes skin's barrier. It has everything you need and the packaging is 100% recycled too!
This hyaluronic eye complex comes in a roll-on form which not only is kind to the skin around the eyes but is fun to use too. The rollerball creates a soothing and cooling effect, improving microcirculation and skin tone.
It has a slightly watery texture similar to a serum, and cucumber extract adds to the relaxing and soothing experience. However, don't be fooled – it's also great for dry or sensitive skin and hydrates perfectly whilst being gentle.
If utter decadence is what you are looking for in an eye cream, La Mer is unmistakably the one for you. The Eye Concentrate is one of the most expensive eye creams out there, but if it is within your budget, it's definitely worth it!
Formulated with a triple concentration of Miracle Broth™ this fast-absorbing treatment strengthens, stabilises and softens the delicate eye area. Algae (seaweed) extract is the first ingredient on the list, and the cream comes with a sleek applicator/eye-roller.
Powered by a complex of resveratrol and hyaluronic acid, this amazing gel-cream lifts and plumps the skin around the eye area, whilst reducing the appearance of lines. The formulation includes plant extracts and firming peptides, which effectively reduce under-eye puffiness and leave you looking as fresh as a daisy.
The texture of the gel feels wonderful on the skin, and a firming feeling can be felt immediately with results lasting for the whole day. Made with 97% natural ingredients, ophthalmologist tested and fragrance-free, this gel does it all!
Wake up and smell the coffee with this fabulously refreshing, brightening eye cream. Especially effective for those with a busy lifestyle of late nights or long flights, its natural formula instantly restores radiance to tired eyes.
Applying the cream, you'll notice it has a gorgeous pearlescent quality, which in turn brightens the eye area creating a dewy glow. Not only do Origins use ingredients powered by nature, but their packaging is also satisfyingly minimal by design. Meaning you get to do your bit for the planet, too!
The combination of highly-concentrated hyaluronic acid, caffeine and double peptides are truly a wonder trio in the fight against fine lines, eye bags and puffiness. Add into that a string of botanical ingredients and vitamins and it's no surprise this stuff works so well!
After a few days of use, this firming eye cream shows noticeable effects in terms of reducing circles and puffiness around the eyes. Reminiscent of famed French pharmacy skincare, the scent is fresh and light without any overpowering tones.
Liz Earle have created a wonderfully hydrating cream enriched with their own Superskin™ blend of botanical ingredients including rosehip, borage and cranberry seed oils, plus lots of other lovely plant extracts. Particularly formulated to help with dark circles, it also visibly lifts and firms, banishing puffiness too.
With a light, easily-absorbed texture that's also very moisturising, a little really goes a long way! It's a great pick for all skin types, and this gem leaves eyes looking beautifully soft and well-rested.
As a 100% natural (and often organic) skincare range, Dr Hauschka's products are made from medicinal plant extracts, oils and waxes, and are the perfect treatment for your delicate eye area. Light and gentle, you can trust in using this eye cream on a daily basis for youthful skin that's healthy from the inside out.
Its botanical ingredients, including rose distillate, calendula and avocado, amongst many others, assure that your skin is hydrated and sufficiently nourished. Be mindful, however, that the fragrant oils it contains could irritate some people with very sensitive skin.
Give your eyes a boost with this cream from a reputable brand that has a multi-action formula which works to reduce dark circles, wrinkles, and de-puffs simultaneously for instantly younger-looking eyes. Not only that, but it also could serve as a concealer for all skin types.
It's hydrating and leaves the eyes feeling soft and nourished. However, although this product is advanced in many ways with a nice and thick consistency, it might not be suitable for use during the summer months.
This treatment is supercharged with Estée Lauder's '10X Concentrated Repair Technology', which boasts the ability to repair the skin from lack of sleep, UV rays, pollution and blue light. Its multi-action defence technology also prevents free radical damage with antioxidant power that lasts for 8 hours.
This product is popular online due to its ability to make the eye area clearer, brighter and preventing ageing. It contains some brilliant ingredients, however, it is only intended for use at night so those wanting a cooling cream for tired mornings will have to double up on purchases.
Now you have our list of amazing eye creams bookmarked, hopefully you can clearly see the perfect one for you with all the right ingredients. Whichever formula you have your eye on, you're guaranteed to be a vision!
Author: Melanie McPhail
No. 1: REN|Keep Young and Beautiful™ Firm and Lift Eye Cream
No. 2: Evolve Organic Beauty|Hyaluronic Eye Complex
No. 3: La Mer|The Eye Concentrate
No. 4: Caudalie|Firming Eye Gel Cream
No. 5: Origins|GinZing™ Refreshing Eye Cream To Brighten And Depuff
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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