While some people appreciate the natural look of a shadowy under-eye, many of us hope to find a solution—which is where the best eye cream for dark circles comes in. “Not all eye creams are created equal, because not all eye problems are equal,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss. “When a person is looking to treat dark circles, the question is “Why do you have dark circles?”
She explains that the pesky dark circles could be the result of pigmentation or underlying redness and vasculature. “If the dark circles are due to pigmentation, then you want to look for ingredients with brightening effects. Products containing vitamin C, hydroquinone, and kojic acid work best. Also, look for products with retinol in them because retinol can help a person even out pigmentation over time. However, if the dark circles are due to underlying redness or puffiness, then you want to look for eye creams with caffeine or vitamin K, which is an “underdog” and not used as frequently as I wish it was.”
Like many other skin conditions, dark circles can be reduced with lifestyle changes as well. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach, “good sleep, hydration, low salt, and sunscreen under the eye” can make a positive difference because “factors are genetic and environmental.” For more intensive treatment, Rabach often uses “fillers made from hyaluronic acid to mask the bags and also, sometimes under eye surgery (called a lower blepharoplasty) to remove the eye bag.”
With this guidance in mind, here are the best eye creams that target dark circles—according to beauty experts, and our own skin-care cabinets.
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex for Dark Circles
“SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex For Dark Circles is a great option, especially for mature skin,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. “This works well for anyone who suffers from severe dryness and lack of elasticity, which often happens with mature skin—it’s an intensely moisturizing cream with blueberry extract to pack an exfoliant punch. It makes the eyes look radiant right away and provides more youthful-looking skin in the long run with continued use.”
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex for Dark Circles
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream
New York City–based esthetician Sean Garrette tells Vogue that the Sunday Riley Auto Correct is one of the first eye creams he ever finished. “It helps to depuff, brighten, and hydrate the under-eye with ingredients like caffeine, horse chestnut, watermelon extract, and antioxidants like lutein. This also has very fine light-reflecting particles that help the eye look more lifted and awake.”
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream
Isdin Isdinceutics K-Ox Eyes
“The thin skin of the eyelids displays the prominent blood vessels and hemosiderin deposits that give the area a purple hue,” says Hartman. “Enter Isdinceutics K-Ox Eyes. It contains vitamin K to treat the darkness, haloxyl to improve firmness and tone, and hyaluronic acid to improve hydration as it moisturizes.” Idriss is also a fan because it helps with redness. “As a tip, I use it on other places on my face: around my nose that has occasionally endured redness to lighten up my appearance.”
Isdin Isdinceutics K-Ox Eyes
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
With a powerful blend of five forms of vitamin C, eight peptides, ceramides, and cucumber extract, it’s no surprise Drunk Elephant’s eye cream is one of our go-to products for dark circles. This quickly firms and brightens without irritation—making it dependable for daily use.
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eye Cream for Dark Circles
Powered by niacinamide, caffeine, and the brand’s thermal spring water, the La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar is an all-around solid eye cream to tackle your dark circles with ease. Even better: It features a cooling metal applicator to help soothe and decongest the under-eye after each use.
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eye Cream for Dark Circles
Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream
Another eye cream for dark circles that Idriss prefers is this option by Kate Somerville. “It can be hard to formulate retinol for the under-eye area as the skin is more sensitive, but this one works wonders, and I have personally never had a weird reaction from using it, so I really like it.”
Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream
Tata Harper Illuminating Eye Crème
Upon applying Tata Harper’s Illuminating Eye Crème, expect the included diamond dust to veil the under-eye with a pink-gold luminous tint. What’s more, a blend of 100% natural-based ingredients targets signs of aging from dark circles to wrinkles.
Tata Harper Illuminating Eye Crème
Skinbetter InterFuse Treatment Cream Eye
Both Hartman and Idriss recommend the Skinbetter InterFuse Treatment Cream Eye because of its blend of peptides, vitamin C, and caffeine to brighten and depuff. Even more, Hartman explains that this “also gives skin a huge boost of moisture with its use of humectants. It’s my go-to reliable eye cream that will protect the skin and make it look even better.”
Skinbetter InterFuse Treatment Cream Eye
Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Wrinkle Resist Eye Cream
Part of the brand’s Peptide 21 Collection, this Peter Thomas Roth eye cream is designed to reduce the look of fine lines and brighten the area for a youthful appearance—a thoughtful addition to anyone’s anti-aging skin-care regimen.
Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Wrinkle Resist Eye Cream
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Gel-Cream
Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair is a reliable pick to combat dark circles while you sleep. Formulated with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, expect the lightweight gel-cream to plumpen, moisturize, and protect against free radical damage, too.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Gel-Cream
Revision Skincare D.E.J. Eye Cream
“Revision Skincare D.E.J Eye Cream is a creamy, lush formulation that provides instant moisture and nourishment to the dehydrated skin of the eyelids,” says Hartman. “It does a little of everything providing antioxidant protection, retaining moisture, and fortifying skin’s microbiome with prebiotics.”
Revision Skincare D.E.J. Eye Cream
Dior Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Eye Treatment
If you find retinols to be too irritating to your skin, consider trying retinol alternatives like crithmum, a botanical that powers Dior’s Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Eye Treatment to soothe, brighten, and depuff.
Dior Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Eye Treatment
Furtuna Skin Cuore Visione Di Luce Eye Revitalizing Cream
“I’ve used so many different eye creams since I was like in my twenties, and I started earlier because, you know, why not for preventative reasons,” says Ashley Tisdale in her installment of Vogue’s beauty secrets. “And this has to be like the best one, I’m not kidding you.” The eye cream in question is this option by Furtuna Skin powered by lilac stem cells and natural botanicals to quell discoloration and puffiness.
Furtuna Skin Cuore Visione Di Luce Eye Revitalizing Cream
Bioderma Sensibio Gel Eye Contour
According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu, the Bioderma Sensibio Gel Eye Contour “contains caffeine, which has been shown to improve the microcirculation in the skin and therefore brightens dark discoloration.” She notes that “It’s a gel formula, so it’s less likely to clog pores and cause milia cysts (those white bumps that can appear on the eyelids from using eye creams that are too heavy).”
Bioderma Sensibio Gel Eye Contour
Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel
“[The Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel] contains niacinamide, a B vitamin that helps improve discoloration and is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient, so it’s safe for the delicate eye area,” explains Wu. “An added benefit: it also boosts skin hydration. This is one of my favorites for patients with sensitive skin.”
Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel
Eighth Day The Eye Renewal Cream
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Antony Nakhla, who specializes in the regenerative powers of skin, developed this vegan eye cream to target a multitude of eye concerns. To alleviate puffiness, dehydration and dark circles, this cream’s cocktail of peptides, kojic acid, berry extracts, and vitamin C, to name a few, work overtime to reveal youthful under-eyes.
Eighth Day The Eye Renewal Cream
RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream
Those searching for an eye cream packed with retinol, consider this option by RoC—a top pick of Rabach because it “contains retinol formulated for the thin skin of the under-eye which helps boost collagen production.”
RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream
SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Mask
Although a traditional eye cream will do the work to reduce dark circles over time, according to Rabach, the SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Mask is an excellent supplement to your routine. She says that the mask “contains rhodiola rosea root extract which is high in antioxidants to brighten skin.”
SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Mask
Allies of Skin Peptides Omegas Firming Eye Cream
For many, bakuchiol is a worthy retinol alternative for those with sensitive skin or who simply crave gentle formulas. If that sounds like you, consider this Allies of Skin eye cream, which features not only the plant-derived ingredient but also a blend of peptides, vitamin C, and ceramide to revive fatigued eyes.
Allies of Skin Peptides Omegas Firming Eye Cream
BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector
Crafted by cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson, the BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector is a beauty editor favorite to treat the delicate eye area. It’s formulated with 5% pure vitamin C, along with antioxidants, CBD, and hyaluronic acid to not only brighten but soothe and hydrate skin.
BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème
Certainly one of the most popular eye creams on the market, the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème won’t disappoint. Housed in a little orange jar lies a formula packed with vitamin C and collagen to illuminate the eye area and improve firmness over time.
Olehenriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème
Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel
“This is a new favorite, and I’m obsessed with how hydrating this eye gel is. If you’re someone who can handle a rich eye cream, this is the perfect one for you,” says Garrette. “[The gel] is packed with antioxidants that help combat free radical damage and brighten the under-eye, Chromabright that fades uneven pigmentation, hyaluronic acid, and peptides that hydrate and plump the skin under the eye.”
Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel
Paula’s Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Eye Cream
“This is a treatment eye cream formulated with retinol, vitamin C, and 5 skin-identical ceramides that help brighten and revive the under eye,” says Garrette of this Paula’s Choice eye cream. He explains that “retinol and vitamin C are two ingredients that are great at reducing fine lines and fading uneven pigmentation, which are most people’s concerns when it comes to their under eyes.”
Paula’s Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Eye Cream
Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream
The Licorice pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream, crafted in collaboration between Acewell and K-beauty marketplace Soko Glam, harnesses the power of licorice water and extract to brighten under-eye circles. The featured antioxidant-rich ingredients and peptides will combat puffiness and sagging, as well.