The 25 Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles, Vetted by Dermatologists, Editors and Makeup Artists
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Whether you're running on four hours of sleep, dealing with seasonal allergies or it's simply genetics, dark circles can make an uninvited appearance. While we all consider piling on some concealer to cover the area, maybe it's time to try out some eye cream instead. Ahead, a few experts share their picks for the 25 best eye creams for dark circles—plus, some helpful tips for implementing one into your skincare routine.
The Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles at a Glance
Meet the Experts
How I Chose the Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles
I asked dermatologists, makeup artists and editors to share the best eye creams for dark circles. From there, I looked into each of their key features and core ingredients. I also combed through popular retailers like Amazon, Sephora, Ulta and Dermstore and read countless reviews to find eye creams that truly brighten, firm and hydrate the delicate area.
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1. Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème
This eye cream is at the top of my list for tackling dark circles. Formulated with a triple vitamin C complex, it aims to brighten and improve elasticity around the delicate eye area. The formula also includes bioflavonoids (a citrus antioxidant that protects against environmental aggressors) and orange extract that promises to reduce the look of dark shadows. Whether I'm using it underneath my makeup or on its own, I appreciate the lightweight texture and how it subtly improves my dark circles over time.
2. SkinCeuticals A.G.E Advanced Eye
Bartlett swears by this SkinCeuticals pick to treat her clients’ dark circles. “The science behind this eye cream is incredible. Its mixture of peptides and flavonoids actually do reduce the blue and red look of tired, stressed, dark circles,” she explains. Also formulated with caffeine, this eye cream promises to brighten skin and reduce puffiness. Bartlett recommends mixing a small amount of it into your concealer to smooth the skin under your eyes.
3. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Gel-Cream
Bartlett is also a fan of this best-selling formula from Estée Lauder. The brand claims it can brighten dark circles after just three weeks of use, and Bartlett attests, “It really does the job if you use it consistently.” The eye cream aims to reduce fine lines, puffiness and dryness with its combination of hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Bartlett suggests applying it to the entire eye area (even on the lids) to reap all of the benefits.
4. Omorovicza Reviving Eye Cream
This cream is Aharon’s favorite to use on her celeb clients (who include Gwyneth Paltrow and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, BTW). “When choosing an eye cream to put in my kit, there are a few things that I look for: hydration, smoothing, brightening and de-puffing, but I also need something that won’t pill under concealer or be too greasy,” she explains. According to the makeup artist, this one from Omorovicza checks all the boxes. Formulated with vitamin K, arnica and cucumber extract, this eye cream visibly reduces the appearance of dark circles, while tackling other common under-eye concerns like dryness and puffiness.
5. Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream
With over 12,000 5-star reviews, this eye gel-cream is a crowd favorite. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, the product locks in moisture around the eyes as soon as you apply it. Shoppers say it absorbs quickly into the skin and many of them swear by it for sensitive skin. "I’m a 37-year-old with severely sensitive skin. Every other hyaluronic acid, retinol or anti-wrinkle cream always [gives] me a rash and [causes swelling] around my eyes. This is the only product that doesn't irritate my skin. Wrinkles are coming, and who knows if this will end up helping, but I feel better knowing I took an extra step to protect the fragile skin around the eyes," shares one reviewer.
6. Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream
First and foremost, our former Commerce Director Nicole Briese adores the sleek blue packaging of this eye cream. Aesthetics aside, this luxury find also tackles her most pressing under-eye concerns. Powered by the brand's signature blend of amino acids, vitamins and peptides, the formula aims to reduce puffiness, eliminate dark circles and improve the appearance of fine lines. The creamy texture absorbs nicely and refreshes the delicate eye area, though she notes it might not be ideal for folks with sensitive eyes, as it did cause her eyes to water up at times.
7. Hero Cosmetics Bright Eyes Illuminating Eye Cream
This eye cream from Hero Cosmetics is an absolutely dream for tackling dark circles. Assistant Editor Delia Curtis appreciates its lightweight texture, and its potent niacinamide and caffeine blend. "I've been using it for the past couple of weeks and it's a DREAM. It's very nourishing to the delicate skin under my eyes," they share. The stainless steel applicator also makes it easier to glide under the eyes and offers an instant tint to improve the look of dark circles. Plus, it has a cooling effect, which helps soothe any puffiness and further hydrate the eye area.
8. Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Eye Cream
According to Solomon, sometimes dark circles are caused by aging, not fatigue. Luckily, this eye cream tackles both issues, so you're covered either way. “It contains a potent dose of vitamin C to help the body’s own synthesis of collagen and hydrate the outer layers of the skin,” she explains. You'll also find caffeine to reduce the look of puffiness around the eye and vitamin E to support the other ingredients.
9. CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
Looking for a budget-friendly find to minimize the appearance of your dark circles? Solomon suggests this $12 option from CeraVe, which is the number one best-selling eye cream on Amazon, FYI. She explains that the loss of ceramides in our skin can “leave it vulnerable to sun damage, aging and dehydration.” Enter this hydrating cream, which is formulated with three types of ceramides and hyaluronic acid to abate dryness, puffiness and dullness.
10. Revision Skincare Teamine Eye Complex
“Revision’s Teamine Eye Complex has been a favorite of dermatologists for many years. It’s formulated with three different antioxidants—vitamin C, green tea extract and grape seed oil—as well as skin brighteners including mica, silica, and titanium dioxide,” says Dr. Levin. Enough said, doc. We're sold. Plus, many shoppers say it's a game-changer for dark circles, especially when used consistently.
11. Clarins Total Eye Lift
Our Fashion Editor Abby Hepworth's sister loves this eye cream so much that she's been begging for a refill. After trying it herself, Hepworth discovered it was very lightweight, fast-absorbing and felt smooth going on. A little goes a long way, so you'll definitely get your money's worth from this $92 bottle. Formulated with harungana extract (a retinol alternative), cassie flower wax and albaizia extract, she notes that it visibly reduced the severity of her dark circles over time.
12. Neocutis Lumière Firm Eye Cream
Senior Editor Dana Dickey was shocked to see a noticeable difference after trying this Neocutis pick. The active ingredients—vitamin C and caffeine—quickly reduce any puffiness and brighten up her tired skin, while peptides boost the production of collagen and improve elasticity around the eyes. "I was shocked at how much of an instant difference this made when I tried it the first time. And a long-term bonus: I really appreciated the collagen boosting ingredients that seem to be reducing the fine lines around my eyes," she says.
13. Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector
Briese recommends this eye cream, which she uses daily to target her dark circles. "While I can't definitively say that it made my dark circles lighter, I can confirm that I instantly look more awake the moment I swipe it on. It has a gold shimmer that almost works like a concealer to banish dark shadows immediately, and I notice a big difference when I don't use it. I keep two in my cupboard at all times for this reason!"
14. No.1 De Chanel Revitalizing Eye Cream
This Chanel eye cream earns high praise for its decadently creamy formula. Despite being so rich it absorbs nicely into the skin without feeling too greasy. Formulated with red camellia flower extract, the gel-cream works to refresh and depuff the eyes to give them a brighter appearance. One reviewer shares, "I use this as my nightly eye cream, and it takes away any dark bags and [it] makes my under-eye look hydrated and full!"
15. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream
Need a reason to pick up this budget-friendly find? Here's a rave review from one of our experts: "Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream contains hyaluronic acid, dimethicone and glycerin to hydrate and plump the skin, along with ingredients to lock-in that moisture. It also contains antioxidants like vitamin A (what retinol is derived from) and vitamin E, as well as vitamin C for brightening. Plus, it's oil-free, paraben-free and fragrance-free, so it’s another great choice for sensitive skin," explains Dr. Murphy-Rose.
16. First Aid Beauty Retinol Eye Cream
Another go-to for Dr. Murphy-Rose? This retinol and squalane eye cream, which the dermatologist explains "builds collagen and hydrates the eye area." She says the combination also helps to minimize fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Plus, the gentle formula works to soften skin and lock in moisture.
17. Provence Beauty No Baggage Eye Cream
Dr. Mack recommends this soothing eye cream to anyone who is looking for a quick refresh. "This is one of my favorites. It has a number of ingredients that I find useful to help with under-eye dark circles including caffeine and niacinamide. This eye cream also contains hyaluronic acid, which provides enough hydration to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles," she says.
18. The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream
Caffeine is a key ingredient in many eye creams because it's been shown to reduce the appearance of dark circles—and this formula is chock full of the brightening ingredient. The rich cream also includes matrixyl 3000 (a peptide blend) that plumps and firms, along with albizia julibrissin bark extract that exfoliates and smoothes the under-eye skin. As Dr. Mack shares, together these ingredients "work to gently reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots."
19. ISDIN K-Ox Eyes
Dr. Wolinsky swears by this ISDIN pick for reducing puffiness and dark circles. She praises the formula, stating, "The eye cream has vitamin K as a powerful antioxidant and hyaluronic acid, which hydrates to reduce the appearance of fine lines. The ceramic applicator is also soothing and helps additionally with any puffiness by constricting the blood vessels [near the eyes]," she adds.
20. Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel
OK, this technically isn't an eye cream (it's a gel), but Dr. Ciraldo believes it's just as effective at fading dark circles. Infused with antioxidants and peptides, the gel promises to reduce the look of dark circles, crow's feet and fine lines. The formula also helps with puffiness and protects the eyes against blue light. The derm recommends applying one pump to cover both eyes and tapping it onto the upper and lower lids.
21. Alpyn Beauty Instant Bright Eye
This Alpyn Beauty pick promises instant brightness—and our SEO Associate Editor Marissa Wu can attest to its claims. It's packed with niacinamide to target tone and texture, peptides to firm and tighten, as well as reneseed (a retinol alternative) to reduce the appearance of fine lines. Wu has been using it consistently and says it's very moisturizing. She also likes that it has a peachy-pink hue to it, which helps blur dark circles (though because of this, she notes that it might be best suited for those with fair to light skin tones).
22. The Ordinary Caffeine Eye Serum
Again, this serum isn't an eye cream but it gets the job done in vanishing dark circles. Assistant Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera swears by it. " I absolutely love this super affordable option from The Ordinary! I use it anytime I've been up late and my eyes are dark and puffy in the morning," she says. "I definitely see a difference afterwards!" Formulated with caffeine and green tea, I see why it works so well.
23. Freeman Depuffing Eye Cream
Although Freeman is popular for their face masks, this eye cream is definitely one of their sleeper hits. It has hyaluronic acid to hydrate and lock-in moisture, along with magnesium to calm and depuff the under-eye area. VP of Editorial Candace Davison swears by it, stating, "I use this for days when my eyes ache and I haven't slept a wink. It's so cooling and soothing, and it really leaves my eyes feeling refreshed. It doesn't eliminate my dark circles entirely, but does any cream, honestly? It seems to reduce them a bit, and then I dab on a little concealer, especially if I feel like wearing makeup that day."
24. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Cream
I'll let our Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay tell you why this Charlotte Tilbury eye cream is her favorite. "This eye cream is fantastic (I even like it better than the original Magic Cream it's inspired by). It's lightweight, incredibly hydrating and instantly brightens up my dark circles—sans any pigment or (ugh) sparkles. It's jam-packed with nourishing ingredients including plant stem cell extract, retinol and red algae as well as two tried-and-true heavy hitters: coconut oil and shea butter. My under eye area is also prone to milia (a common skin condition that causes small cysts under the surface of your skin) but I've used this cream for months and haven't had any breakouts."
25. RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream
This eye cream is ready to tackle fine lines, dark circles and puffiness. It has retinol, which has been clinically proven to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, while evening out and firming the under-eye skin. The brand recommends applying the treatment every other day for your skin to acclimate to the product before using it daily. One reviewer shares, "I took a picture before I started using because I know it’s hard to compare when you don’t remember what the start looked like. After using it for a month and feeling like it wasn’t making a difference I decided to take an after picture to compare. [I] definitely see a difference now. [The fine] lines have become less defined, darkness has lessened and [my] under-eye looks overall rejuvenated. [I] definitely would say I look less tired."
What to Look For in an Eye Cream for Dark Circles
While I compiled an extensive list for you already, you can also keep some of these tips in your back pocket the next time you're shopping for eye cream.
Additional Experts
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
