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9 best eye creams to combat dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles

Brighten up your peepers with these cooling, balancing and hydrating formulas

Helen Wilson-Beevers
Friday 08 March 2024 12:15
<p>These formulas are designed for the delicate skin around eyes, which can be more sensitive and prone to dehydration </p>

These formulas are designed for the delicate skin around eyes, which can be more sensitive and prone to dehydration

Our Top Picks

Shopping for skincare means looking at different parts of a daily routine, whether you’re in the market for a new moisturiser, face oil, serum or face mask. When it comes to eye creams, they contain a formula specifically designed for the delicate skin around your peepers, which can be more sensitive and prone to dehydration.

Products for your eyes cover a multitude of skincare concerns, from looking at fine lines and wrinkles to being a priming base under make-up. The main under-eye issues most of us will be looking to counteract are puffiness and dark circles. Should you be burning the candle at both ends, have young kids, or you’re going through a more stressful time than usual, these are all signs of tiredness.

As well as being exhausted, dark circles can be caused by pigmentation, genetics and ageing. It’s worth pointing out that, while some creams can help improve their appearance, no product can completely eradicate them – particularly if dark circles are part of your natural skin tone.

Similarly, puffiness might be down to fluid retention, allergies and your delicate under-eye skin simply getting older. Cooling products can offer relief, while brightening or balancing ingredients may help counteract the puffy appearance, too.

With all this in mind, we’ve been on the lookout for the best eye creams to soothe puffiness, add hydration and brighten dark circles. From lightweight formulas to rich balms, and refreshing, moisturising and radiance-boosting buys, keep scrolling to find out our favourites.

How we tested the best eye creams

We reviewed a selection of eye creams over several weeks. We explored ingredients, formula and effects, as well as how our skin looked and felt after use. For testing consistency, we kept our other make-up and skincare routine the same throughout. Read on to see our tried-and-tested list of the best eye creams for tired eyes, puffiness and dark circles.

The best eye creams for 2024 are:

  • Best eye cream overall – La Roche-Posay pigmentclar eyes: £32.68, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best budget eye cream – No7 protect and perfect intense advanced eye cream: £14.49, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best brightening eye cream – Ren brightening dark circle eye cream: £33, Renskincare.com
  • Best hydrating eye cream – CeraVe reparative eye cream: £14.50, Boots.com
  • Best for refreshing tired eyes – The Ordinary multi-peptide eye serum: £19.90, Theordinary.com

La Roche-Posay pigmentclar eyes

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: Eye cream overall
  • Product size: 15ml
  • Key ingredients: Niacinamide, shea butter and caffeine
  • Perfume-free: Yes
  • Formula: Midweight and gentle on sensitive skin
  • Why we love it
    • Cooling applicator
    • Improves puffiness quickly
    • Light and gentle
    • Colour correcting

Formulated specifically with dark circles in mind, ingredients include niacinamide, shea butter and caffeine. Plus, this tube of eye cream comes complete with a cooling applicator. When we popped the metal tip straight onto our skin, we felt and saw an initial improvement to puffiness. Meanwhile, the midweight hydrating formula itself is light and gentle on skin, which would appeal if you’re not a fan of thick eye creams.

The peachy-coloured cream has a correcting element for brightening blue and brown dark circles, and we noted this product did help improve their appearance.

  1. £32 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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No7 protect and perfect intense advanced eye cream

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: Budget eye cream
  • Product size: 15ml
  • Key ingredients: Shea butter, hyaluronic acid, ginseng extract and an antioxidant complex
  • Perfume-free: No
  • Formula: Lightweight, lotion-like consistency
  • Why we love it
    • Aids in dark circle and puffiness relief
    • Smoothed fine lines
    • Layers well under makeup
    • Absorbs easily
  • Take note
    • A lot of product comes out at once

This eye cream comes in a tube and has a pointed tip for precise application. The No7 product was created to help with dark circles and puffiness, with ingredients that include shea butter, hyaluronic acid, ginseng extract and an antioxidant complex.

We found the cream subtly smoothed over fine lines, especially ahead of applying make-up. Quite a bit comes out at once, and the lightweight cream is more like a lotion, but it does absorb easily. Skin felt supple and softened after application, thanks to this cream’s lightly moisturising effects.

  1. £14 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Ren brightening dark circle eye cream

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: Eye cream for brightening
  • Product size: 15ml
  • Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, elderberry flowers and glycogen
  • Perfume-free: No added fragrance
  • Formula: Lightweight, silky cream
  • Why we love it
    • Mess-free use
    • Eyes look refreshed
    • Vegan formula
    • Layers well with concealer

This tiny bottle of eye cream has a pump-release applicator for mess-free use, and we found the smoothing formula absorbed quickly into the skin. The silky-soft cream had a lustrous sheen that felt lightweight and comforting on the delicate under-eye area.

Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, elderberry flowers and glycogen, which focus on hydrating, brightening and balancing the skin tone.

We saw refreshed-looking peepers immediately after application, with the vegan-friendly cream being a brilliant primer under concealer too. The skin around our tired eyes appeared perked up with wear, which in turn helped with the appearance of those pesky dark circles.

  1. £33 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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CeraVe reparative eye cream

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: Eye cream for hydration
  • Product size: 14ml
  • Key ingredients: Ceramides and hydrating hyaluronic acid
  • Perfume-free: Yes
  • Formula: Lightweight lotion
  • Why we love it
    • Protects skins natural barrier
    • Lightweight lotion
    • Good for dry skin
    • Hydrating

An eye cream to help protect the skin’s natural barrier – which is more compromised in this area – it contains three ceramides and hydrating hyaluronic acid. When the cream came out of its squeezy tube, it reminded us of a soothing salve, before rubbing into skin like a lightweight lotion.

The calming formula felt gentle and comforting, and we reached for this product whenever our skin felt particularly dry. It helped counteract tired-looking eyes by giving this delicate area a softening layer of hydration.

Our sensitive skin didn’t see any irritation either. So, if you’d rather opt for a simple formula over strong active ingredients, this could be the eye cream for you.

  1. £14 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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The Ordinary multi-peptide eye serum

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: For refreshing tired eyes
  • Product size: 30ml
  • Key ingredients: Peptides, caffeine, acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide and ash-bark extract
  • Perfume-free: Yes
  • Formula: Transparent, lightweight and cooling serum
  • Why we love it
    • Brightening hydration boost
    • Calms puffiness
    • Good for sensitive skin
  • Take note
    • Serum instead of a cream

Although it’s a serum rather than a cream, this is a refreshing concentrate that offers an alternative option for tired eyes. Key ingredients include four peptides, caffeine, acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide and ash-bark extract.

We really enjoyed using the brightening serum for a hydration boost. The transparent skincare layer soaked in quickly and its cooling formula helped calm puffiness.

The lightweight formula is suitable for sensitive skin, and we think this is an ideal product to use in a rush or when you need a quick moisturising and brightening pick-me-up.

Read our full The Ordinary multi-peptide eye serum review

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Burt’s Bees 98.9% natural hydrating daily eye cream

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: Eye cream for sensitive skin
  • Product size: 14.1g
  • Key ingredients: Cotton extract and aloe vera
  • Perfume-free: Yes
  • Formula: Glossy, balm-like cream
  • Why we love it
    • Perfect for sensitive skin
    • Smooths and soothes under eye area

This eye cream is for sensitive skin and contains soothing cotton extract and aloe vera. When we dabbed the glossy, balm-like cream around our eyes, we instantly felt a comforting skin effect. We also found the cream gradually absorbed after simply dotting it onto skin, so there was no need for rubbing in.

We saw a smooth-looking under-eye area but, most of all, our skin felt significantly soothed. We also like the chunky bottle with a pump applicator and Burt’s Bees logo-emblazoned lid.

  1. £17 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Mantle the eye smoother

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: CBD eye cream
  • Product size: 15ml
  • Key ingredients: CBD, hyaluronic acid, squalane and vitamin E
  • Perfume-free: No
  • Formula: Midweight and hydrating cream
  • Why we love it
    • Leaves skin soft and radiant
    • Under eyes felt super supple
    • Great for early morning puffiness
  • Take note
    • A little pricey

Presented in a white bottle with minimalist branding, this eye cream contains CBD, hyaluronic acid, squalane and vitamin E. This is a midweight formula that has a glossy finish when sliding across skin, and we saw a gentle shine as it soaked in. After the cream absorbed, we had softened skin with an added subtle radiance. Plus, our under-eye area felt supple, and the hydrating cream helped soothe early morning puffiness.

The cream easily smoothed over the skin beneath our fatigued peepers, offering a moisturising layer for tight dryness, too.

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Skinceuticals eye balm

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: Thick formula
  • Product size: 15ml
  • Key ingredients: Aloe vera and vitamin E
  • Perfume-free: Yes
  • Formula: Rich balm
  • Why we love it
    • Rich balmy texture
    • Soothes parched skin
    • Extra hydration
    • Glides onto skin
    • A little goes a long way
  • Take note
    • Expensive

What we liked most about this cream is its rich, balmy texture, which feels suitably soothing on parched skin. Created for dry skin, ingredients include aloe vera and vitamin E to help offer comforting moisture. As such, we saw this extra hydration help the appearance of any puffiness, as it added a smoothing effect.

The softening formula glides onto skin without the need for much rubbing in, which is ideal for the delicate under-eye area. Plus, a tiny bit goes a long way, so this premium-priced pot would last ages. If you’re looking for an intense hydration boost, this is the eye cream for tired peepers.

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Teoxane R(II) eyes

best eye creams for dark circles bags wrinkles and puffiness uk 2023
  • Best: Cooling eye cream
  • Product size: 15ml
  • Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, sunflower-seed oil, glycerin and peptides
  • Perfume-free: Yes
  • Formula: Tinted cream
  • Why we love it
    • Tinted
    • Cooling wand
    • Feels luxurious
    • Improves early morning puffiness
    • Smooths fine lines

This tinted cream contains key ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, sunflower-seed oil, glycerine and peptides.

We pushed down the tall bottle’s pump-release applicator, while pressing the cooling wand tip to our eye area. Application felt luxurious, and our tired eyes appreciated the refreshing relief, which helped improve early morning puffiness too. We saw a subtle smoothing of fine lines after applying the cream, and gentle illumination to dark circles.

Because it’s tinted, this product is particularly effective on bare-face days, or if you prefer not to wear a lot of make-up.

  1. £45 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Eye cream FAQs

How is eye cream different from face cream?

Because eye cream is designed to target a smaller area, compared with covering the entire face, it may contain more concentrated ingredients for focusing on concerns, including fine lines and dark circles. Often, key components found in an eye cream formula are exactly the same as those seen in face cream, but they can be much richer for smoothing onto that delicate under-eye area.

Which is better, an eye gel or an eye cream?

An eye gel can feel refreshing on skin, particularly if you pop it in the fridge first, while a comforting creamy formula is often equally soothing. There’s no definitive answer as to which is better – like all beauty buys, it’s simply down to personal preference and skin type.

What to look for in an eye cream

An eye cream’s ingredients list will differ depending on what specific skin concern you’ve got in mind while shopping. So, for example, if you’re looking to brighten up dark circles, look for vitamin C and caffeine. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid promotes hydration and can help if you’re prone to dryness. Additionally, peptides are great for plumping and improving the appearance of fine lines.

What’s the best eye cream for mature skin?

Skin becomes fragile and loses elasticity as it matures, so opt for ingredients that plump up, hydrate and increase collagen production in the skin. Hyaluronic acid is known for hydration, while antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin A can speed up the regeneration of cells. Also look for products with retinol, which exfoliates the skin and ramps up collagen levels for a smoother complexion.

Do eye creams work?

Although they’re by no means an instant fix, eye creams are designed to improve the appearance of wrinkles and dark circles, and they can also soothe and repair skin.

When should I start using eye cream?

Most people start using eye cream from their 30s onwards, as this is when fine lines and wrinkles gradually begin to appear more noticeable. But there are benefits to be found in using eye cream from your 20s too, for preventive skincare purposes and to address existing puffiness or dark circles.

How to apply eye cream

As the skin around the eye is thin, delicate and prone to sensitivity, it’s best not to be too heavy-handed when applying product to the area. Use your ring finger to dab the product gently under the eye and around the orbital bone until absorbed, taking care not to tug or pull skin.

The verdict: Eye creams

For cooling, brightening and improving the look of our dark circles, La Roche-Posay’s pigmentclar eyes is our best overall buy. Meanwhile, Ren’s brightening dark circle eye cream is lightweight, hydrating and comforting for tired eyes. Finally, The Ordinary’s multi-peptide eye serum is a refreshing skin boost for less than £20.

Want to banish dark circles? Check out our review of the Fenty Beauty bright fix eye brightener

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