Since my early twenties, I've experienced intense dark circles and puffiness under my eyes. I'd spend countless hours caking on foundation, attempting to hide those unwanted shadows, only for them to reappear after I washed my face. Feeling defeated, I decided to introduce an eye cream for dark circles to my nightly beauty regime, and I finally started to see positive results.
According to Dr. Shari Lipner, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, “the goal of applying an eye cream is to moisturize, restore volume, brighten and constrict blood vessels." If you're anything like me and tired of spending a fortune on concealer, an eye cream may be just the solution you need.
Along with Lipner, we spoke with other board-certified dermatologists who shared do's and don'ts for finding the best eye creams to help eliminate dark circles. We also included a few Shop TODAY favorites that were tested by our editors.
Scroll down to find these expert-and editor-recommended formulas from Charlotte Tilbury, Sunday Riley, Summer Fridays and more.
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Expert-approved eye cream for dark circles
Dr. Brooke Jeffy, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, and founder of youth skin care brand BTWN recommends this lightweight eye cream from La Roche-Posay. She loves that it contains both retinol and caffeine with a depuffing applicator, which is great for easy application.
“I love Charlotte Tilbury’s Cryo-Recovery Eye Serum, which contains caffeine and the trademarked ingredients ICEAWAKE™ and REPLEXIUM™,” says Engelman. “This cooling eye cream works quickly to help depuff and wake up the under eyes, while helping to minimize signs of aging. I love that it comes with a metal applicator that further helps smooth and contour the eye area,” she explains.
Dr. Alison Ehrlich, a board-certified dermatologist in Washington, DC, swears by this rejuvenating cream that helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Enriched with retinaldehyde, this brightening eye cream helps with firming and plumping.
Jeffy is also a big fan of this eye contour cream, explaining that it "really brightens and improves the overall appearance of the under eye." This hydrating formula is enriched with vitamin K and hyaluronic acid, and it features a cooling ceramic applicator to help reduce unwanted bags and puffiness.
Jeffy refers to this Neocutis product as "an incredibly rich hydrating cream with caffeine and vitamin C that brightens, moisturizes and reduces puffiness."
Ehrlich also recommends this SkinCeuticals cream, as it "helps with hydration, improves hydration and has light reflector particles." This easily absorbed eye cream is also formulated with caffeine and designed to reduce the appearance of crow's feet and combat puffiness.
Editor-tested eye cream for dark circles
"I've been using this eye cream for months now and love the creamy (but not too thick) consistency," shares associate editor Lauren Witonsky. "I use a pea-sized drop every night before bed and it's lasted me a long time, but it also sits well under makeup during the day. I can't say I've noticed any reduction in under-eye puffiness, but I do think it helps prevent makeup from settling in fine lines and the brand says it targets dark circles too."
Not only is this lightweight formula a Shop TODAY Beauty Awards winner for best overall eye cream, but one of production coordinator Camryn Privette's favorite products as well. "Since it’s packed with vitamin C, it makes my skin feel so soft and smooth to the touch. It goes on like a dream before I catch my beauty sleep," Privette explains.
“I’ve started to use this specific eye cream recently due to the soothing, smoothing claims it made off the bat," shares senior editor Jess Bender. "So far, it’s really done a great job ironing out some finer lines that come along during my everyday. The thicker texture of this eye cream makes it a good addition to my nightly skin care routine," she says.
Editorial assistant Madison San Miguel never used to believe in eye cream until she tried this game-changing formula from Sunday Riley which quickly became her favorite. “I have dry skin, especially around my eye area, and found this incredibly hydrating, but not in a way that it feels heavy nor affects your makeup application.”
“I especially loved that over time, I noticed brighter under eyes. This might be because it contains caffeine and ‘light particles,’ so you might notice a slight difference on the first use,” she adds.
"Gone are the days when concealer alone would effectively mask up my dark circles stemming from sleepless nights," says Bender. "Nowadays I need to put a little extra effort into the area, and I’ve found that this tinted eye cream does an effective job instantly blurring the area while hydrating it," she explains.
"I really struggle with darkness under my eyes but love this vitamin C eye cream from Tatcha," says associate editor Kamari Stewart. "I've been using it for the past year since it launched, and I feel like it really has made a difference for me. Before using it, my dark under-eyes were all I could ever notice when I didn't have makeup on. Now, I can go makeup-free comfortably because I'm not worried about how dark my under eyes are. It's also super gentle on skin."
"This is the only eye cream I’ve found that works to reduce bags and puffiness. It truly does last a long time (I’m still on my first bottle from 3 months ago!) and it has a light texture that doesn’t leave any sorts of residue" says Shop TODAY associate editor, Sierra Hoeger.
"This new launch from Murad is the real deal!" shares Privette. "During the summer I definitely get less sleep than usual, and this treatment helps with dark circles, wrinkles, you name it since it’s formulated with good ‘ole retinal. It’s great for all skin types, too, which is always a plus!" she says. Along with Privette, production associate Audrey Ekman is a major fan of this gentle formula as well.
Affordable drugstore eye cream for dark circles
Anyone who knows CeraVe products knows they're ideal for skin needs all across the board. This eye cream contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and marine botanical complex, claiming to help reduce puffiness and under eye bags with just a pea-sized amount.
This firming eye cream is packed with mega-hydrating ingredients like shea butter and hyaluronic acid, and it’s formulated to help brighten the under-eye area. The result? Skin that appears to have less fine lines and dark circles.
This three-in-one eye cream works to depuff skin, reduce dark circles and reduce under eye wrinkles. Additionally, the brand claims this product is highly effective (yet gentle!) as it was tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists.
The retinol complex within this fragrance-free eye cream works to visibly reduce wrinkles while smoothing texture and hydrating the skin.
This cream by PUR is packed with nourishing ingredients that work together to help brighten the under-eye areas while reducing dark circles as well as fine lines.
What to look for in eye cream
When it comes to finding an eye cream that will help get rid of those pesky dark circles (which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, are caused by factors such as fatigue, aging, genetics and more), be sure to pay extra attention to the ingredients.
“Products containing retinol can decrease hyperpigmentation and stimulate collagen production,” suggests Lipner. “Glycerin and hyaluronic acid can help hydrate the under-eye area and make the area look more full. Caffeine can reduce redness and hyperpigmentation by constricting blood vessels. Niacinamide and green tea are good brightening ingredients,” she recommends.
Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York City, agrees: “Ingredients that hydrate, depuff and constrict the blood vessels in the under-eye area are great for combating dark circles.” She suggests looking for antioxidants, such as vitamin C, “which address damage caused by free radicals and boost blood circulation and collagen production to help brighten and firm the under eyes.”
“Caffeine and vitamin K are two other great eye cream ingredients; both cause the blood vessels under the eyes to constrict, which helps reduce the visibility of shadows beneath the skin,” suggests Engelman. “Plumping and hydrating the under eyes with peptides, ceramides and hyaluronic acid can also help prevent shadows from occurring,” she explains.
What to avoid in eye cream
“As with any skin care product, you want to avoid harsh synthetic chemicals that can cause irritation,” recommends Engelman. “Formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasers, synthetic fragrances and alcohols are all ingredients that you should steer clear of. This is especially true for eye cream, which is applied close to the eyes and on thin, sensitive under eye skin, making an adverse reaction more likely.”
“Always avoid topical steroids to the under eye area,” adds Lipner. “The under eye skin is incredibly thin and topical steroids, particularly potent ones, can thin out the skin and cause development of broken blood vessels.”
“Also avoid use of fragrances, salicylic acid, and alcohol, which can cause dryness, irritation and redness,” Lipner suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Zinc oxide is an active ingredient often used in mineral sunscreen formulas, and Lipner says it offers sun protection while helping prevent further darkening and aging.
Jeffy advises against "rubbing your eyes due to irritating products or allergies because that also contributes to overall darkening in the eye area."
How we chose the best eye creams
Shop TODAY enlisted the recommendations of trusted skin care experts, including three board-certified dermatologists who shared what to look for in proper eye creams. We also asked our editors to share a few of their tried-and-true formulas as well.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Shari Lipner, MD, Ph.D, is an associate professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine.
- Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York City.
- Dr. Brooke Jeffy, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona and founder of youth skin care brand, BTWN.
- Dr. Alison Ehrlich, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist in Washington, DC.
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