Our eyes give away a lot. Had a rough night? Stressed? Been crying? Your eyes are likely to spill all the secrets, because the skin around them is incredibly thin. That’s also why it’s also one of the first facial features to show signs of aging. Therefore, the sooner you start showing your undereyes some extra love, the better. According to Dr. Pearl E. Grimes, Medical Director at the Grimes Center for Medical and Aesthetic DermatologyTM, eye cream becomes an important skincare step as early as your twenties.
“Many women begin using eye creams once they notice fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area, often in their thirties,” she says. “But this important habit can begin with a gentle eye cream [before fine lines appear].”
If you’re already noticing fine lines in the undereye area, Grimes suggests incorporating retinol creams into your routine. “Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, boost the production of collagen, which plumps out the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” she explains. She also notes that retinol can improves skin tone and color, and helps even out the complexion — an added bonus if you have any discoloration around your eyes.
[Editor’s note: Retinol shouldn’t be used by those who are pregnant, considering getting pregnant, or nursing. Please consult with your doctor before use.
As far as dark circles, there’s been much debate on whether or not you can actually get rid of them. Grimes says that it all depends on their root cause. “Sometimes dark circles can be genetic, other times it is due to sun exposure, allergies, environmental and lifestyle factors, such as lack of sleep, dehydration, poor circulation, smoking, stress, etc.” According to Dr. Rachel Nazarian of Schweiger Dermatology GroupTM in NYC, undereye circles caused by pigment (such as blood vessels near the surface of the skin) can often benefit from an eye cream.
However, circles caused by shadowing will not. If you’re not sure which category your circles fall into, Nazarian recommends applying a thick concealer to the area. “If the darkness improves, then it will likely respond to the right cream,” she explains. “If the darkness doesn’t improve, it’s likely shadowing.” (Topical treatments won’t do much to correct this, but you can discover other options for treating shadowy undereyes here.)
If your eye concerns can be resolved with a new cream — and you’re ready to slather it on religiously — keep reading. We’ve collected nine of the most top-rated, eye-opening favorites from Sephora® to simplify the shopping experience.
Fresh Créme Ancienne Supreme Eye Serum
It may be meticulously handmade in a monastery, but what makes the Fresh Créme Ancienne® Supreme Eye Serum so beloved are the potent ingredients. A blend of botanicals and silk tree bark work to repair any visible signs of aging and also protect against damaging free radicals.
AMOREPACIFIC TIME RESPONSETM Eye Reserve Creme
- A nourishing eye cream powered by Green Tea that visibly improves the look of skin’s firmness and delivers intense hydration for younger-looking eyes.
The hefty price tag of the AMOREPACIFIC TIME RESPONSETM Eye Reserve Creme just might make your eyes widen, but the product boasts rave reviews to back it up. Shea butter, jojoba, olive, and sunflower oil are paired with the brand’s exclusive Chrono-TTM and beauty green tea extract, which has higher concentrations of amino acids and catechins than regular green tea.
Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
- Long lasting hydration: Avocado protein extract improves the appearance of lines and wrinkles while nourishing and soothing skin.The Hyaluronic Acid of the Brightening & Firming Eye Cream helps provide long-lasting moisture to the skin and acts as a humectant.
- Brightening formula: Eye treatment creams added 7 peptide mix technology nourishes the delicate skin around the eyes and brightens the complexion, so it stays hydrated and moisturized for the fresh and bright look.
Date seed extract, avocado protein, and a mix of potent peptides are the power players in this Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream ($46) that helps refresh a tired, dehydrated, roughly textured eye area.
Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Eye Serum
According to fans, Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Eye Serum is another formula worth saving your coins for. If brightening and erasing fine lines is what you’re after, take notes from reviewers who said that after years of trying other brands, this is the only thing that truly worked for them.
Obagi Clinical Vitamin C Eye Brightener
Harnessing the power of adaptogens, Obagi Clinical Vitamin C Eye Brightener melds plant growth factors, fermented yeast, and Vitamin C for a formula that helps blur fine lines and hide shadows around the eye area.
Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream
- Formulated with 10% Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) to revitalize dull, lackluster skin and improve tone and elasticity
- Enriched with rosehip seed oil to nourish and hydrate skin for a glowing, more youthful-looking complexion
When moisture loss leads to dry, crepey skin around the eyes, the Mario Badescu® Hyaluronic Eye Cream can help fill in the gaps, smooth things out, and calm down any puffiness with cooling aloe, hyaluronic acid, and safflower seed oil.
Bioeffect EGF Eye Serum
- COOLING EYE PUFFINESS REMOVER: A refreshing, revitalizing eye treatment with a built-in stainless steel depuffing roller-ball applicator, best dark circles & puffy eyes reducer.
- TOP RATED ANTI-AGING SERUM: EGF proteins, found naturally in our skin at birth, keep skin young & healthy but disappear as we age. Replenish your skin's supply with our highly concentrated Barley EGF that mimics natural EGF to lift, tighten & rejuvenate your eyes.
Use the metal rollerball applicator on the Bioeffect® EGF Eye Serum ($90) to bring down any puffliness, while the barley-based plant growth factors work to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.
Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb
- Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily
- Skincare Concerns: Dryness, Loss of Firmness and Elasticity
In the same way that the face version of this cream fills skin with a burst of moisture upon application, the Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb ($48) does the same, but in the most gentle way needed for delicate under eye skin.
One Essential Dior Eye Serum
- Features a fresh quick-absorbing texture
- Enriched with Red Hibiscus extract from the Dior Garden in Burkina Faso
Fans of the One Essential Dior Eye Serum ($72) say it has a rich and creamy texture without being oily. Red hibiscus is the star that helps detoxify and stimulate cells, which also improves circulation to fade dark circles.