13 best eye creams for dark circles, fine lines and puffiness

This rich eye cream was the best all-rounder that we tested. A deeply restorative treatment, this has a dense, buttery ure and instantly comforts tired eyes. Founder of Skin Rocks, Caroline Hirons, is a facialist with years of experience and has tried many products before offering her formula.

The texture of the cream has enough slip to massage the delicate eye area with no pulling or tugging. There are only two issues. The first is that the packaging is opaque, so it's hard to tell when you need to top up with a new bottle. It’s also fairly expensive, but we think it’s worth every penny.

As one of the UK’s most trusted beauty experts, Sally Hughes set out to create a skincare line that was affordable, cruelty-free, vegan and made in the UK. Ringlight is a lightweight cream that hydrates and brightens the eye area with a translucent, pearly sheen.

It can be used twice per day as part of your skincare routine, or used over makeup to resurrect a dry or tired-looking finish. When used in this way, it helps to soften existing concealer and gently rehydrate it, allowing you to press any dry or cakey makeup back into place for a fresher finish. However, if you want to target dark circles, we’d recommend opting for an eye cream containing vitamin C or retinol.

Nothing ruins a holiday like getting sunscreen in your eyes. With this in mind, this lightweight, quick-drying SPF30 eye treatment from Ultrasun is a must for hot holidays.

We tested this on even the hottest and sweatiest of days and found no dreaded spill whatsoever.

This cream is fantastic, especially when you consider the price. Though it works well to hydrate and smooth the appearance of the skin, it excels at reducing the appearance of puffiness.

The caffeine in the formula works to target water retention, alleviating the appearance of tired eyes. I found that it didn’t pill under my makeup. However, if dryness is your main concern, you might have better results with a richer formula.

Another potent formula from Murad, this brightening treatment focuses on reducing the appearance of dark circles. On initial use, the brightening particles illuminate tired and dull eyes, and with continued use, an improvement in overall skin tone was visible. And a quick scroll of the customer reviews gives further support to the brand’s claims of targeting various tones of discolouration.

With that said, it is important to manage expectations when targeting dark circles. There are many ways an eye cream can brighten the skin around the eyes and, in turn, reduce the appearance of dark circles. For full colour correction, however, you may prefer to use makeup.

Though we tested a vast number of eye treatments from various brands, the two we selected from Murad simply could not be beaten when it came to merging potent actives with comfort. If targeting fine lines and wrinkles is your main concern, this cream will deliver a noticeable reduction in line depth. What’s more, these results were fast. Though it’s a powerful formula, the cream has a creamy texture that still feels hydrating and comforting to apply.

There are only two slight drawbacks. The first is that if you aren’t used to using retinol, you’ll find some slight irritation in the early stages of using this cream, but that’s perfectly normal. The second is the price; £80 is a lot to spend on an eye cream.

We all know that maintaining a regular skincare routine is the best way to look after our skin, but sometimes you need a quick fix. This eye mask from Elemis is ideal when you need results as quickly as possible.

You can use this in the morning to brighten tired eyes, before party makeup to plump the skin around the eyes, or, for best results, sleep after applying this as a deeply restorative treatment.

This eye cream was genuinely innovative. Upon impact with the skin, the metal applicator detects your face and gently vibrates. It has plenty of power, so will last the duration of your cream, though you can replace the battery if you run out of juice.

This eye cream launched years ago, when I worked a a personal shopper on the beauty floor of a luxury retailer. I clearly remember it as a popular choice among people of all ages, races and skin types. Years later, it remains a fail-safe option to hydrate your skin, ease the appearance of wrinkles and brighten the eyes. During testing, it worked quickly to deliver visible results. On top of that, if products easily seep into your eye area or you have more deep-set eyes, then you will like the firm, dense texture of this gel.

For those who suffer from irritated, puffy or hay fever-prone eyes, this is the most cooling eye cream we tried. The unique ure is incredibly lightweight but spreads easily, meaning that the tiniest amount is ample for the entire eye area.

If you have dry skin, you may find that this isn’t rich enough for you. However, we felt it instantly soothed the skin on impact, and it will last you a long while

Though La Mer’s eye cream is excruciatingly expensive, there is something to be said for the timeless appeal of this cult classic. From the large, heavy jar to the weighted wand ball applicator and the rich, balmy feel of the cream, it is an extravagant treat. It feels like a special skincare purchase.

The ure is like a runny icing, melting into the skin quickly and providing deep hydration. However, you may wish to find an alternative from the list if targeting fine lines is more of a priority.

This lightweight balmy gel leaves a very sheer golden sheen on the skin. The metal applicator makes a remarkable difference to its cooling effect, and helps to massage the eye area.

However, it has a pretty strong scent – it’s not unpleasant, but it’s one to avoid if you don’t like fragrance.

Eye creams aren’t just for anti-ageing, and this Bubble star dew hydrating eye cream is a case in point.

It performs well, doesn't include any active ingredients that are suited to more mature skin (that could potentially be damaging if misused), and allows for a teen to enjoy exploring their self-care. It has an accessible price point and the packaging feels age-appropriate.