Whether you're working from home or have already started traveling into the office, it seems like the days are just as long as they ever were (if not longer). It can be hard to carve out time for some much-needed R&R, but you never want your face to betray how tired you are. The right products can help keep you looking fresh-faced at all times, and the right eye cream will have you looking like you got much more sleep than you actually did.
To keep our eyes looking photo-ready, we asked makeup artists, estheticians and plastic surgeons about the best eye creams for dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles. The best part? You won't have to travel too far to find them because they're available at your local drugstore (and Amazon!).
The best drugstore eye creams for wrinkles, according to experts
RoC Retinol The Anti-Aging Eye Cream Treatment
“This is great because of retinol, which helps organize the collagen in your skin to reduce fine lines and uneven texture," explained Dr. John Paul Tutela, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and New Jersey. "It even helps fade dark spots, but give it about four weeks to start seeing results."
Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
"I love this thick cream for hydrating and revitalizing the skin around the eyes," said esthetician Cinthia Lomeli. "This cream will help lift droopy eyelids, smooth under-eye wrinkles and brighten the skin. Plus, the caffeine in the eye cream will help increase circulation, which helps reduce dark circles and puffiness."
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Eye Swirl
"This gel-and-cream combination includes skin-firming peptides and regenerating niacinamide and mica to deflect light and smooth the appearance of fine lines," said esthetician Lora Condon. "The eye area will be hydrated but not greasy, so you can still use your favorite moisturizer and makeup for flawless skin."
The best drugstore eye creams for dark circles, according to experts
NYX Professional Makeup Gotcha Covered Concealer
"Another great tip for maintaining a well-rested, healthy look is to always have a good concealer on hand — ideally one that looks seamless and blends effortlessly," noted makeup artist Geoffrey Rodriguez. "This is formulated with coconut oil and blends beautifully and is also very long-wearing. It even comes in a convenient squeeze tube."
Physicians Formula Concealer Twins 2-in-1 Correct and Cover Cream
"One of the makeup artists on my team turned me onto this under-eye concealer from Physicians Formula, which I now consider a staple in my own makeup bag," explained Marie Watkinson, the founder of Spa Chicks On The Go in New York City.
"This dual-sided product has a yellow corrective cream that helps neutralize dark under-eye circles and glides on smooth. On the other side, you have a light-colored concealer to help blend in the yellow color and give it a velvety finish. It’s a great drugstore find at an amazing price point."
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The best drugstore hydrating eye creams, according to experts
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
“This has hyaluronic acid which hydrates the skin cells better than regular moisturizing cream," said Tutela about Neutrogena's popular water gel. "It allows the skin to absorb water from the air. It doesn’t work as well in drier months, so a more humidified room helps it take action."
No7 Lift and Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream
"When I need extra love around the eyes, this shea butter-based eye cream gives long-lasting hydration," said Condon. "The added peptides give extra firmness and if you keep this in the refrigerator, you’ll also diminish under-eye puffiness."
Other bestselling drugstore eye creams to shop
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Eye Cream
Neutrogena's popular Rapid Wrinkle Repair comes in different forms such as a moisturizer, a cream and now an eye cream! At less than $20, it's a budget-friendly pick that shoppers say delivers impressive results. "The dark circles under my eyes are noticeably brighter with a single day use, and I look so much better too!" one reviewer raved.
Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream
A bestseller on Amazon, this Cetaphil eye gel-cream has a lightweight formula designed to absorb quickly into the skin and moisturize deeply, according to the brand. One person even said they saw "immediate results" after using it.
Vichy Mineral 89 Eyes Serum
Made with ingredients like caffeine and hyaluronic acid, this highly-rated serum boasts benefits like 24-hour hydration and smoothing fine lines. According to the brand, it's suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Several reviewers claim that it worked well to brighten dark under eye areas.
Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel
Even if you didn't wake up on the right side of the bed, you won't look that way after applying this soothing eye gel. Loaded with essential ingredients like peptides, Pro-Vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid and a quenching cucumber extract, it'll plumps the area's delicate skin while leaving you with 24-hour hydration.
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