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As I’ve said many times before, eye creams are just fancy moisturizers that tend to be thicker than the ones we slather all over our faces. So why use them? Well, the eye area is the thinnest skin on the body and prone to things like dark circles and loss of elasticity, especially as we age. Because the under eye also has very little structural support in the way of muscle and bone, it’s one of the first places to lose elasticity; therefore, it’s common to experience wrinkles, crows feet, and under-eye bags. All of this is part of the body’s natural processes, but if you’re at all concerned about these changes, eye creams, especially one with active ingredients, can help. A good eye cream, used consistently, can dramatically smooth and tighten the area, but it’s important to note that topical creams won’t help with every kind of under-eye concern. If you’ve had the same dark circles since you were a teen, for example, those are likely hereditary and a cream designed for hyperpigmentation might improve things but likely won’t have a dramatic effect. Under-eye bags can be tricky too. In some cases it’s a bit of fluid, and a depuffing eye cream and cold compresses might work, but it could also be a fat pad, which may require a consultation with your dermatologist. In situations where eye creams can be helpful, I’ve spoken to dermatologists about the ones they use and recommend, along with the improvements that you can — and can’t — expect to see.
What we’re looking for
Active ingredients
Eye creams are rarely one-size-fits-all, so the best formula will be one with ingredients tailored to your specific skin concern. If the goal is to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, a good retinol will be your best bet. The vitamin-A derivative is the gold standard in anti-aging because it stimulates collagen production, which helps skin appear plumped and smooth. If you’re dealing with hyperpigmentation, then you’ll want an antioxidant like vitamin C, which has been shown to inhibit melanin production, the substance responsible for skin pigment.
Texture
The word cream is loose, because many of these formulas have varying thicknesses. A richer formula tends to be better for dry skin types, while a thinner, lighter-weight cream would work well for oily skin types. Choosing a cream with the right thickness will help to ensure you get the maximum benefit without clogging your pores.
Best overall eye cream for mature skin
Active ingredients: Proxylane, wild fruit flavonoid, glycyrrhetinic acid, caffeine, matrixyl 3000 | Texture: Rich cream
When I asked dermatologists about their favorite under-eye cream, as well as the eye cream their clients liked best, three recommended SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye. While no eye cream is one-size-fits-all, this one comes pretty close, addressing everything from dark circles to wrinkles. It even brightens, thanks to inclusive optical effects, which disperse light and make dark circles seem less apparent. “Clients love that it’s both good for their skin and instantly visibly helps brighten the area,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anna Chacon. Then there’s the texture. It’s deeply moisturizing without being heavy and won’t clog pores or sit uncomfortably on the skin. “It helps lock in much-needed moisture,” says Chacon. It’s a good option for most people, and if you’re looking to generally improve the area while also seeing some immediate results, this will do the trick.
Best eye cream for mature skin with retinol
Active ingredients: Retinol, AHA, antioxidants | Texture: Lightweight cream
Retinol can be incredibly effective for improving the under-eye area. The vitamin-A derivative is known for smoothing and brightening by way of increasing collagen production and cell turnover, which helps to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a hydrated, plump look. “When I’m trying to stimulate some collagen, retinol is the gold standard,” says Michelle Henry, MD, a New York dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. The original Skin Better Science AlphaRet face cream picked up all kinds of awards for its synergistic blend of retinol plus an AHA; we have similar expectations for the eye cream. I’ve also used the retinol for a while, and despite having reactive skin, I’ve only seen benefits in the form of fewer breakouts and less dark marks. But it’s still retinol (and other actives), which is notoriously drying and sensitizing. I’d give even more consideration to sensitive, thin eye skin, and go slow in adding it into your routine. I’d skip it altogether if you’re already using another retinol in your routine. Henry also suggests the “sandwich method”: a simple, moisturizing eye cream directly on your skin, then your retinol, then a moisturizer on top.
Best less-expensive eye cream with retinol for mature skin
Active ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide | Texture: Cream
“Not many retinol creams are well tolerated around the eye, but the Olay retinol eye cream is really nice,” says Henry. That’s because it’s packed with hydrators to counteract retinol’s drying effects. It also eliminates other irritants like fragrance and synthetic dyes. The niacinamide in the formula tag-teams with the retinol to tackle fine lines and wrinkles, while peptides help firm the skin.
Best eye cream for sensitive, mature skin
Active ingredients: Bladderwhack algae, green microalgae, dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline, horse chestnut, squalane | Texture: Cream
While I’m healthily skeptical of any beauty product that claims to be “clean,” as there’s no good definition for this, the benefit is that these products tend to be formulated without ingredients that could inflame sensitive skin. That’s where the Advanced Repair Eye Cream from Osea comes in. It comes recommended by Chacon, who says it’s a “great eye cream that’s making waves,” noting that it’s a standout in a sea of clean beauty products. The main ingredients are seaweed and sugarcane-derived squalane. The seaweed has a brightening effect and the squalane offers deep hydration without feeling heavy — it’s one of the few oils tolerated by most because it naturally occurs in skin.
Best eye cream for mature skin with dark circles
Active ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol, ferulic acid, and rambutan | Texture: Serum
Before you treat dark circles, it’s important to pinpoint the cause, because there’s more than one: It could be that the area under your eyes is dark because the skin is thin and you can see dark blood vessels showing through. You could have hyperpigmentation darkening the surface of your skin. Or it might be because you’ve lost volume underneath your eyes, leaving you with a hollowed-out look that creates dark shadows. Or maybe it’s all three! The first two scenarios can be improved with an eye cream; but according to all of our docs, the not-so-lovely-sounding tear-trough deformity (under-eye hollows) is beyond a cream’s capabilities. According to Dara Liotta, MD, FACS, a dual-board certified facial plastic surgeon in New York, “You need filler for that.” Board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp likes this serum from Dr. Dennis Gross, which contains two types of retinol, trans-retinol and encapsulated retinol; bakuchiol, a retinol alternative; ferulic acid, a natural antioxidant; and rambutan, another antioxidant that helps with collagen production. In the case of hyperpigmentation, the combination of antioxidants and collagen-production-encouraging ingredients is particularly helpful. The retinol will address the present surface hyperpigmentation and the antioxidants will help prevent new pigment from forming. The formula is also serum-light and will sit nicely under makeup and in combination with heavier products.
Best eye cream for under-eye puffiness
Active ingredients: Plant-based EGF, hyaluronic acid, glycerin | Texture: Serum
Googling “how to get rid of puffy under eyes” will likely surface recommendations about caffeine-packed creams and cooling compresses. That’s because cooling the area and restricting blood flow is the best way to create a smoother surface. With that in mind, esthetician and founder of Stalle Studios Elizabeth Hand recommends the BioEffect EGF Eye Serum, which contains plant-based epidermal growth factor — a polypeptide that helps to maintain cell and tissue health — and uses a metal rollerball as an applicator. “The cooling, stainless-steel rollerball applicator supports the formula in easing puffiness, while the ingredients diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Hand.
Best less-expensive eye cream for under-eye puffiness
Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine| Texture: Serum
To address under-eye puffiness, Penzi recommends eye creams that contain caffeine. “It’s a vasoconstrictor that helps to cut down on underlying vessel dilation and puffiness,” she says. “This leads to a smoother, tighter look to the under eye.” Her favorite eye cream for this is the L’Oréal Revitalift Serum. The main ingredients are hyaluronic acid and caffeine, which, in addition to depuffing the under-eye area, offers a dose of hydration that improves the area’s overall look.
Best eye cream for crepey, mature skin
Active ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, caffeine | Texture: Cream
On his own eye area, board-certified dermatologist and founder and director of the Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery David E. Bank uses this multitasking cream with caffeine, brightening vitamin C, collagen-boosting peptides, and the special sauce that Bank looks for: growth factors. “Growth factors are proteins that promote the growth, development, and maturation of cells, and play a role in maintaining the firmness and elasticity of skin,” he explains. “Around the eyes they help with wrinkles, laxity, and pigmentation.”
Best eye cream for sagging skin
Active ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, caffeine | Texture: Cream
Laxity, or sagging skin, can be addressed with elastin-boosting ingredients. Dermatologist Dendy Engelman, assistant clinical professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, likes the lift she sees from this cream, which boasts a 35 percent increase in elastin production within 24 hours thanks to an active form of vitamin C. The formula has the whole lineup of top eye-area ingredients, including peptides, vitamin K for dark circles, and natural retinol alternative bakuchiol, plus blue-light protection for when you’re squinting at your screen.
Best eye cream for mature skin with milia
Active ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, allanoin, aloe vera | Texture: Serum
One of the most annoying, if not immediately apparent, eye-area issues is milia: little white dots that resemble whiteheads, but are actually keratin trapped under the skin. “Milia is common in mature skin because our cells don’t turn over as quickly and layers of dead skin cells can build up on the surface, trapping keratin underneath,” says Bank. While a doctor can remove milia, don’t go on an excavation mission at home. AHAs, like the ones found in this serum, will chemically exfoliate the surface cells so the milia can work their way out. It’s balanced with calming aloe and allantoin to minimize irritation.
Best brightening eye cream for mature skin
Active ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, allanoin, aloe vera | Texture: Serum
This is the treatment you’ll want on those “Oof, I look tired” mornings. Topical brighteners make your eyes instantly look more awake while caffeine depuffs, hyaluronic acid plumps, and a hint of menthol gives your skin a comforting, cooling sensation. The prebiotics and probiotics in the formula help restore your skin’s barrier function to minimize irritation in case you also want to bring in some of the bigger ingredient guns.
Our experts
• Dr. David E. Bank, dermatologist and founder and director of the Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery
• Dr. Brendan Camp, dermatologist
• Dr. Anna Chacon, dermatologist
• Dr. Dendy Engelman, dermatologist and director of dermatologic surgery, Metropolitan Hospital
• Elizabeth Hand, esthetician and founder of Stalle Studios
• Dr. Michelle Henry, dermatologist and Mohs surgeon
• Dr. Dara Liotta, facial plastic surgeon
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