Nobody wants to look like a sleep-deprived person who roams around with creepy puffy eyes, making other people want to ask if you’re doing alright. While getting your beauty sleep might seem the easiest and quickest way to fix deep dark circles, sagging skin, and under-eye bags. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, as there is a high chance that genetics, allergies, and pigmentation can also be contributing factors.
The skin around your eyes is thinnest than the rest of your face and ages faster. Since the eye area has delicate skin, it’s more prone to sensitivity and irritation as it has the lowest elasticity and moisture. Therefore, many eye concerns arise, such as pigmentation, shadows, puffiness, wrinkles, crow’s feet, and much more.
To help you restore the glory to your eyes you’ve always dreamed of; we scoured the Internet in search of picks that tailors to all your needs. Ahead, find top-notch under-eye products with high-tech, active ingredients that help constrict blood vessels, brighten pigmented areas, and refresh tired eyes.
Comparing the Most Functional Eye Care Products
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream — Best Overall
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream is a star-studded pick for all under-eye concerns. This ultra-rich cream is easy to apply, fast absorbing, and non-greasy making it perfect all year around. Formulated with three essential ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, marine, and a botanical complex, it calms the skin, reduces the appearance of bags, and smooths fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. It also effectively hydrates and brightens your under-eye area.
Moreover, this powerhouse cream contains patented MVE technology, continuously releasing moisturizing ingredients that make your under-eye skin plump and supple all day. Being non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, it’s suitable for all skin types. Dermatologist favorite and allergy-free, this moisturizing eye cream is a one-stop shop for all eye concerns. It’s available easily at all drugstores at an affordable price, which makes it the best overall product on our list.
Pros
- Phthalate free
- Great depuffing agent
- Restores the protective barrier around the eyes
Cons
- Results take time
RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream — Best for Line Smoothing
This is another one of our favorites, the all-rounder eye cream that deserves all the praise in the world. Dermatologists rave about this lightweight cream from time to time as it delivers what it promises. Infused with superstar retinol – a vitamin A derivative, this gentle cream is highly effective. It caters to puffiness, dark circles, uneven texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet.
The active formula stimulates collagen production, which speeds up cell turnover. This leads to more elasticity, ensuring firmer, smoother under-eye skin that you’ll fall in love with. What’s more impressive, this pick is wallet-friendly and is an excellent bang for your buck. Remember to slather sunscreen if you use this cream in the daytime.
Pros
- Ophthalmologist tested
- Brightens the under-eye area
- Hyaluronic acid offers an instant hydration boost
Cons
- Might not be suitable for sensitive skin
Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel Cream — Best for Sensitive Skin
A combination of hyaluronic acid that deeply hydrates, licorice extract to brighten, and vitamin complex to smoothen out the skin, this Hydrating Eye Gel Cream by Cetaphil is phenomenal. Suitable for all skin types, it draws moisture into the skin, keeping it plump for 24 hours.
Despite its thick and heavy texture, this unique gel cream absorbs into your skin quickly without making your skin greasy. The highly nourishing formula is dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested and defends the delicate skin against five signs of sensitivity. It’s incredibly gentle on the skin and offers a cooling sensation that brightens the mood and delivers a well-rested appearance.
Pros
- Super refreshing
- Hypoallergenic
- Lightweight formula
Cons
- Contains fragrance
The Ordinary Caffeine 5% + EECG Serum — Best for Puffiness
The Ordinary Caffeine 5%+EECG Serum is a cult favorite for all the right reasons. Infused with research-backed ingredients such as caffeine, it helps to flush away water retention. It also constricts the blood vessels stimulating skin circulation, thus being a fantastic depuffing agent and a dark circles fighter serum. The EGCG – made from green tea- has anti-aging and antioxidant properties that help reduce wrinkles and fade hyperpigmentation.
The serum is incredibly lightweight and sinks into your skin quickly. It’s super affordable and lasts longer, as only two drops are needed to cover the under-eye area fully. It is a great find if your eye concerns are due to lack of sleep, tiredness, or other environmental stressors. However, the brand claims it won’t work on hereditary dark circles.
Pros
- Gel-like consistency
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Helps tighten the under-eye skin
Cons
- Not very hydrating
Neutrogena Rapid Retinol Cream — Best Anti-ageing Cream
Trust us; this Neutrogena Rapid Retinol Cream is excellent for all skin types, especially mature skin. This wrinkle repair cream promises to improve the signs of aging thanks to powerhouse ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid. The fast-absorbing, lightweight formula smooths fine lines and dullness and rejuvenates the skin around your eyes.
The benefits of this great pick don’t end here, as it also evens the skin tone and fades dark circles. Its rich, thick texture helps to target and fade the look of crow’s feet. Squeeze a pea-sized amount on your finger and apply it gently on your under-eye area till it’s fully absorbed into the skin.
Pros
- Radiance boosting
- Helps with hyperpigmentation
- Softens your under-eye area
Cons
- May sting a little in the beginning
Demora 24K Gold Eye Mask Patches — Best for Dark Circles
You’ll want to add these luxe-looking Demora 24K Gold Eye Mask Patches to your beauty routine for days when you have a rough night, are feeling jet-lagged, or want to do some extra TLC. With a packed ingredient list that includes hyaluronic acid, collagen, and multiple vitamins, these masks hydrate, nourish, brighten and smoothen your under-eye skin.
The powerful ingredients work together to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. The packaging is safe and secure, which makes it a perfect travel accessory. Place them under your eyes, leave them for 20 minutes, enjoy the cool and calm effect and say hello to well-rested, brighter eyes.
Pros
- Affordable
- Fresh, calming fragrance
- Great value, 20 pairs
Cons
- Extremely slippery
Buying Guide: Eye-Care Products
As you know, the skin around your eyes is more delicate; it requires more care and attention to look soft, smooth, and supple. It’s often the first area of the body where the signs of aging appear. While it’s good to accept this natural transition and embrace your wrinkles, sometimes there is more to it. Apart from this, other factors come into play and mess with the skin of your eyes. Enter sleepless nights, fatigue, poor dietary and lifestyle habits, genetics, and much more. It’s crucial to address the issue to find treatments tailored to that concern. Read this buying guide to know what essential factors you must look for when shopping for an under-eye product.
Things to Look for
What makes an eye-treatment good? The right ingredients. But there are some other factors you should carefully consider to ensure dramatic results.
Ingredients
It’s great to stick with ingredients that are backed up by clinical research and have proven benefits. Classics like retinol, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and other vitamins are fantastic for treating pesky under-eye area issues. If you’re combating dry skin or fine lines, chances are your skin lacks moisture and needs ceramides and hydrating agents. Retinol is a star ingredient for improving the signs of aging and wrinkles. To reduce hyperpigmentation and dark circles, try looking for creams with niacinamide. If your eyes seem puffy or swollen, use products with caffeine in them, as it boosts circulation in the skin.
Fragrance
As the skin around your eyes is delicate, it’s more prone to irritants. Before spending your hard-earned money, ensure that the eye cream is scent-free to avoid any itchiness or redness. People with sensitive skin should be extra careful and look for picks that are free of dyes and perfumes.
Texture
Another important factor to pay attention to is the consistency of your under-eye product. Regardless of what you’re using, serum, mask, or cream, it’s essential for the pick to go well with your skin type. Lightweight serums and creams are great if your skin is on the oilier side. However, creams with thick consistency are great if it’s on the drier side.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you apply under-eye products?
Most treatments are used in the morning and night. Remember to apply the cream, and pat it gently till it fully absorbs to see the results.
How long does it take to vanish dark circles?
While eye creams, serums, and patches are effective, it requires consistency. You may notice the visible difference within a few weeks or months of application, depending on the product.