The 17 Best Eye Creams of 2024

Designed to brighten, depuff, and firm—and everything in between.

Collage of eye creams from Olehenrikson, Ilia, CeraVe, RoC, and Kiehl's overlaid pink and purple painted background
(Image credit: Future)

Maybe it’s just me, but eye creams feel so adult. Despite being a beauty fan for most of my life, I didn’t think about the skincare product until just recently. Once I hit 25, I realized my skin is nowhere near where it used to be in my teenage years. With perpetual dark circles and new fine lines cropping up, I knew it was time to amp up my skincare routine with one of the best eye creams. 

After coming across dozens of variations, I found that not all eye creams are created equal. Sure, most formulas are hydrating, but different ingredients make for different results. Some eye creams help puffy eyes, some combat dark circles, others tackle fine lines and wrinkles, and some even do it all. No matter what your skin concerns are, however, understand that eye creams are formulated especially for the skin around your eyes, so don’t be tempted to use any ole moisturizer sitting on your counter. “The skin around your eyes is more delicate, thin, and sensitive than the rest of the skin on your face,” says board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Nazanin Saedi. “Many facial creams can be a little irritating around the eyes, which is why it's nice to use eye creams that are specifically formulated for this area.” 

Ultimately, the best eye cream for you is going to come down to skin concerns, which is why we rounded up the best options for all skin types. Ahead, you’ll find 17 of the best eye creams on the market, including a favorite retinol eye cream from RoC, the TikTok viral OLEHENRIKSON Banana Bright+ Crème, and a few vetted picks by our editors and dermatologist friends. We’ve also included exactly what to look for when you're strolling the aisles of Sephora, plus answers to all of your burning eye cream questions.

What to Look For in an Eye Cream

Eye creams are not one size fits all, unfortunately. Different products are going to target different concerns with different combinations of ingredients. When looking for an eye cream, it’s best to consider what exactly you need, and then look for ingredients that tackle those concerns. To make it easy on you, Dr. Saedi and Dr. Sobel break it down for you, here.

  • Dark circles: To combat pesky dark circles, Dr. Sobel recommends looking for clean, energizing ingredients that brighten and promote glow. “Caffeine, peptides, green tea, and antioxidants will help to shrink blood vessels and brighten the area,” he explains. Meanwhile, Dr. Saedi says antioxidants like vitamins C and E will help to brighten the skin. She also notes that if your undereye darkness is caused by veins, an eye cream won’t help. Instead, you can try undereye concealers for coverage or ask your dermatologist about laser treatments that effectively target and treat these veins.
  • Puffiness: To minimize puffiness, Dr. Sobel says to look for eye creams that use natural ingredients like cucumber, chamomile, and hyaluronic acid that will nurture the delicate area around your eyes. Caffeine is also a star ingredient that will also work to de-puff your under-eye area. Another pro-tip? Put your eye cream in the fridge. “The cold will cause vasoconstriction, helping to reduce any puffiness or congestion,” explains Dr. Saedi.
  • Dryness: While Dr. Sobel says most eye creams contain humectants that will combat dryness, a few other ingredients will help as well. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are hero ingredients when it comes to fighting off dryness as they will help increase the absorption of moisture in the skin. During the dry, winter months, Dr. Saedi says you can even add a thin layer of Vaseline over your eye cream to help lock in the moisture.
  • Wrinkles and fine lines: Wrinkles are a bit tricker concern to tackle and you’ll more active ingredients that can smooth and tighten the area, says Dr. Sobel. “Peptides, collagen, gentle retinol esters,  and vitamin C are all effective at targeting the signs of aging around the eyes and best applied in the evenings for maximum penetration and treatment.”

The Best Eye Creams

When to Start Using Eye Cream

While there’s no definitive age to start using eye cream, the earlier the better. “Your collagen production slows as early as your mid-20s, so I tell my patients that it's time to up your skincare game starting in your 20s,” Dr. Saedi says. “This includes eye creams, especially because one of the first places my patients notice aging is around their eyes.”

How to Apply Eye Cream

As previously mentioned, the skin around your eyes is much different than the rest of your face (i.e. thinner and more sensitive), so you can't treat it the same. To incorporate eye cream into your routine, Dr. Saedi recommends adding it to your nightly routine and applying it as gently as possible. It’s best to use your ring fingers in gentle, patting motions using little pressure. “A small amount goes a long way—a pea-sized amount should be more than enough for both eyes,” she adds.

Meet the Dermatologists

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Dr. Nazanin Saedi

Dr. Nazanin Saedi is a leading board-certified dermatologist serving patients throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. She is a clinical associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University and the Department Co-Chair of the Laser and Aesthetics Surgery Center at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting. Dr. Naz specializes in a wide variety of cosmetic, medical and surgical procedures, offering the latest, cutting edge technology and services to her patients. Dr. Naz graduated cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B in Anthropology. She attended The George Washington University School of Medicine, where she graduated with distinction and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical society. She completed her residency at the University of California, Irvine where she served as chief resident, followed by her fellowship in Cosmetic Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery at SkinCare Physicians in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

Dr. Howard Sobel, dermatologist at Sobel Skin and Dermatologic Surgeon
Dr. Howard Sobel

A leader in the industry, Dr. Howard Sobel is a board-certified dermatologic cosmetic surgeon at Sobel Skin. He encompasses over 25 years of experience, knowledge, and commitment to providing exceptional patient care.

Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Sobel brings his passion for dermatology and cosmetic surgery to Park Avenue on the Upper East Side. He has been recognized by both Castle Connolly and New York Magazine for 21 consecutive years as the area’s top Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon.

Brooke Knappenberger
Associate Commerce Editor

Brooke Knappenberger is the Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she writes across the board from fashion and beauty to books and celebrities. As a pop culture junkie, Brooke obsessively consumes and writes about the latest movie releases, streaming TV shows, and celebrity scandals. She has over three years of experience writing on fashion, beauty, and entertainment and her work has appeared on Looper, NickiSwift, The Sun US, and Vox Magazine of Columbia, Missouri. Brooke obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with an emphasis on Magazine Editing and has a minor in Textile and Apparel Management.

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