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We updated this article in May 2022 to add more information about each featured product as well as three additional picks, based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute.
When it comes to eyes, fine line and wrinkles are the biggest concern for 85% of women, followed closely by lack of firmness, dark circles and undereye bags, according to a Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab survey of over 1,000 readers. Eye-area skin ages faster than the rest of the face, which can make you look up to 20 years older, Olay research found. Because the area around the eyes has the thinnest skin with the lowest elasticity and moisture, it’s important to invest in an eye treatment tailored to address these stubborn issues.
The GH Beauty Lab tests thousands of skincare products every year, including eye creams (over 5,900 in our most recent eye treatment test!). These tests consist of weeks-long Lab and consumer tests across several price points to help you find the most effective products on the market. Many of the eye creams below are so great that they also earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, our guarantee that they work as claimed. Here, more on the GH Beauty Lab’s best-tested and dermatologist-recommended eye creams that really make a difference for everything from dry skin to dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness, whether you’re in your 20s, your 50s or beyond.
Our top picks:
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Best Overall Eye Cream
Absolue Revitalizing Eye Cream
- Highly moisturizing
- Measurably firms skin
Lancôme’s luxe, vitamin-packed cream won the GH Beauty Lab’s latest anti-aging eye cream test, proving worth the splurge for hydrating and firming. The formula, which contains vitamin C and E, scored highest for increasing skin moisture, by 41% over six hours and boosted firmness by 29% over four weeks of use. Several testers said they could see a noticeable difference: “My bags are almost gone,” one said. “The creamy-yet-lightweight formula seemed to disappear into my undereye skin, leaving it smooth and younger-looking from the very first use,” another marveled.
• Size: 0.7 ounces
• Key ingredients: Vitamins C and E, botanical extracts
• Primary benefits: Moisturizing, firming
Best Value Eye Cream
SkinActive Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
- Effectively firms skin
- Increases skin hydration
- Bargain price
- May not reduce wrinkles significantly
The most affordable winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging eye treatment test, Garnier’s silky shea butter and caffeine cream was a tester favorite as well as a fantastic skin firmer and softener. The formulation came in second for firming, with a 32% increase, and hydrating, with a 31% uptick, though it didn’t visibly reduce wrinkles in Lab assessments. It got great scores from testers for its pleasant scent. “Others noticed and asked what I’d done,” one noted. “It seemed to help with firmness,” another said.
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Caffeine, retinol, peptides
• Primary benefits: Firming, moisturizing
Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles
TimeWise Age Minimize 3D Eye Cream
- Visibly improves dark circles
- Decreases bags and puffiness
- Hydrates and firms skin
Brighten up and deflate bags with this GH Seal star Mary Kay cream containing skin tone-evening niacinamide, also a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s eye cream test. It received the highest marks in Lab digital imaging analysis for improving the look of dark circles and among testers for decreasing puffiness and undereye bags. The treatment also upped hydration 24% and firmness 20%. “No more morning puffiness,” a tester revealed. “A magical product!” Another reported: ” I do feel like my under eyes look smoother and less dark.”
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Peptides, resveratrol, vitamin B3
• Primary benefits: Reduces dark circles, minimizes puffiness
Best Retinol Eye Cream
Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum
- Firms skin and minimizes bags
- Reduces wrinkles
- Effectively hydrates
Infused with collagen-stimulating retinol, Murad’s serum was the strongest in GH Beauty Lab testing at tightening slack skin around the eyes. The light formula raised skin’s firmness by 33%, more than all other products in the Lab’s test, and moisture levels by 18%. It also reduced wrinkles by 7% and improved the appearance of bags. Users rated the formula nearly perfect for lack of irritation. “Finally, an eye treatment that actually delivered on its promises,” one tester raved. “The best I’ve ever used.” Another said: “It really tightened my skin, smoothing it out.”
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Retinol, amino acids
• Primary benefits: Firming bags, hydrating, wrinkle smoothing
Best Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin
Age Perfect Eye Renewal
- Measurable anti-aging effects
- Gentle on skin
- Good value
L’Oréal’s affordable eye cream performed well across the board in GH Beauty Lab testing, moisturizing, firming, and decreasing the look of fine lines over four weeks. Testers loved that ithe formulation with caffeine and botanical oils was so gentle that it didn’t cause any redness or irritation. “I’ve never had an eye cream work as effectively as this one,” a tester said. “My skin is very sensitive and most eye products irritate it. This one didn’t bother my skin at all!”
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Caffeine, retinol, vitamin E
• Primary benefits: Hydrating, firming, reducing lines
Best Eye Cream for Bags
Redermic R Eyes Retinol Eye Cream
- Reduces lines and puffiness
- Absorbs quickly
- Not irritating
In GH Beauty Lab testing, this eye cream from dermatologist-recommended brand La Roche-Posay absorbed quickly, reduced the appearance of fine lines, and diminished under-eye puffiness with powerhouse anti-aging ingredient retinol. While the active can sometimes cause redness or irritation, Lab testers didn’t report any issues. “I didn’t really have much faith in eye creams until trying this one — very impressive,” and “The skin around my eyes looks better and feels firmer; my eyes look younger,” two commented. Be sure to only use this at night, then apply sunscreen every morning, since retinol can increase sun sensitivity.
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Retinol, caffeine, hyaluronic acid
• Primary benefits: Line reduction, depuffing
Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles
Restore & Renew Multi Action Eye Cream
- Measurably reduces wrinkle size
- Effectively firms and hydrates skin
- Good value
Made with smoothing peptides, No7 rose above the rest in the GH Beauty Lab’s test at diminishing crow’s feet and creases. In digital imaging with the Lab’s Visia Complexion Analyzer, the lotion minimized eye-area wrinkle size and severity by 13% in four weeks. It also ranked highly for making skin 28% firmer and more hydrated by 30%. “This visibly reduced the lines on and crepey texture of my skin,” a tester reported. “It noticeably decreased my fine lines,” another echoed.
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Peptides, retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
• Primary benefits: Reduces lines, firms, moisturizes
Best Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Eye Cream
- Firms and hydrates skin
- Measurably reduces wrinkles
- Brightens and depuffs
- Good value
Roc excelled at tackling every eye-area issue in GH Beauty Lab eye cream testing, increasing firmness by 19% and hydration by 20%, reducing wrinkles by 10%, brightening dark circles and depuffing — all with a price below the average treatment! Testers said the vitamin C and E formula also helped improve the look of crow’s feet and under-eye lines. “I noticed within days that the issues around my eyes (puffiness, dark circles and fine lines) were diminished,” one said. A second agreed: “This eye cream firmed the skin around my eyes and faded away my wrinkles.”
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Vitamins C and E
• Primary benefits: Firms, hydrates, reduces wrinkles, brightens, depuffs
Best Smoothing Eye Cream
TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Eye Renewal Cream
- Hydrates dry skin
- Minimizes dark circles
- Lightweight
This Good Housekeeping Seal star from Mary Kay reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and moisturizes dry, crepey mature skin for up to 12 hours. The tube also has a smart design; squeeze out some product and gently use its metal applicator tip to smooth onto skin. The immediate cooling sensation helps depuff eyes.
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Peptides, plant stem cells
• Primary benefits: Reduces crepiness, refreshing
Best Eye Cream for Delicate Skin
Retinol 24 MAX Night Eye Cream
- Non-irritating formula
- Non-greasy
- Fragrance-free
- Some users experienced burning
Retinol can be tricky to apply to the eyes due to potential irritation, but this GH Seal star Olay eye cream with retinol, part of the brand’s highly-rated Retinol24 line, was specially formulated for the delicate area. GH Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed that the fragrance-free formula produced visible benefits in those with moderate to severe eye area wrinkles and even kept skin hydrated for up to 24 hours. “Has done wonders for my fine lines around my eyes,” a Walmart reviewer said. “They’re all unnoticeable or gone.”
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Retinol, titanium dioxide
• Primary benefits: Smoothes lines and texture, reduces dark circles
Best Natural Eye Cream
Renewal Firming Eye Cream
- Rich formula
- Effectively moisturizes and firms
- Great value
A great drugstore buy packed with plant extracts, this Burt’s Bees formula is luxe-feeling and rich. GH Beauty Lab evaluations showed it improved skin’s moisturization by 21% and increased firmness by 18%. You’ll likely want to apply it overnight, since its thick texture takes some time to absorb into skin. “It was soothing and left my eye area much more moisturized,” one tester said. Another reported, “My skin did look smoother with less fine lines and puffiness.”
• Size: 0.58 ounces
• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, botanical extracts
• Primary benefits: Hydrating, firming
Best Lifting Eye Cream
Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream
- Brightens eyes
- Gentle
- Smoothes and depuffs
No7’s cream, a GH Seal star, visibly improves three of the top signs of aging in the eye area: wrinkles, lack of firmness, and uneven skin tone. Loaded with active ingredients like peptides, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid, a study showed that consumers noticed improvements in as little as two weeks. “I have been using this for about 1 week and it has already started fading my crow’s feet and tightening the drooping skin under my eyes,” an Ulta reviewer said.
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, hibiscus
• Primary benefits: Reduces fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness, nourishes skin around the eyes
Best Brightening Eye Cream
Eyes Brightening Eye Cream
- Instantly blurs and illuminates eye area
- Effectively firms skin over time
- Good value
- Less hydrating than other formulas
With its makeup-like effects (thanks to light-reflecting minerals), GH Beauty Lab test winner and GH Seal star Olay blurs eye-area imperfections in seconds. “This was like a primer, quickly diminishing the wrinkles at the corners of my eyes that can interfere with makeup,” one reported. “It even lifted my upper eyelids, which had started to sag,” another said. The most-liked formula among testers, it firmed skin long-term by an impressive 29%, though it wasn’t as hydrating as others in Lab calculations. Plus, the vitamin C-infused cream has over 1,600 five-star reviews on Amazon!
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Peptides, vitamins C and E, niacinamide, caffeine
• Primary benefits: Brightening, firming
Best Eye Cream for Dry Skin
Le Lift Crème Yeux
- Highly hydrating
- Gentle formula
- Great texture
With this rich, luxurious Chanel eye treatment, you get what you pay for: A GH Beauty Lab test winner, the gentle formula with hyaluronic acid and peptides was the most hydrating of all eye creams evaluted. It increased eye-area skin moisturization by an impressive 34% over six hours and earned near-perfect scores for texture and fragrance. “This is flat out amazing,” a tester raved. “I love the way it made the lines and wrinkles soften from around my eyes — my skin there feels baby smooth.”
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid
• Primary benefits: Moisturizing, smoothing
Best Dermatologist-Recommended Eye Cream
K-Ox Eyes Cream
- Contains proven active ingredients
- Minimizes dark circles
From a dermatologist go-to brand, this Isdin formula one of Dr. Mraz Robinson’s favorites thanks to a potent combination of ingredients. “I suggest this for my patients concerned with undereye circles, as it contains peptides to help build collagen, vitamin K to help with darkness and visible blood vessels, and antioxidants to help protect the delicate eye skin in a hydrating hyaluronic acid base,” she says.
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Peptides, vitamin K, hylauronic acid
• Primary benefits: Minimizes dark circles, smooths, hydrates
Best Eye Cream for Puffiness
Eye Serum
- Softens and plumps skin
- Depuffs eye area
- Cooling applicator
A GH Sustainable Innovation Award winner, this featherweight BL+ serum formula helps minimize eye area puffiness, thanks ingredients like caffeine, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C, plus a built-in rollerball disepenser. “So light and hydrating, it keeps my skin plump and tight during the day,” GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann reports. “I also like the roller applicator as it cools the undereye and helps depuff eyes.”
• Size: 0.33 ounces
• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, caffeine
• Primary benefits: Depuffing, cooling
Best Hydrating Eye Cream
For Your Eyes Only Cream
- Makes skin feel moisturized
- Soaks in fast
- May not reduce dark circles and puffiness
Quench dehydrated eye area skin with GH Seal Star SeeMeBeauty’s mild, moisturizing eye cream, enriched with softening glycerin and botanical oils. In GH Beauty Lab testing, 95% of testers agreed the cream hydrated the skin around their eyes, 98% said it absorbed quickly, and 93% agreed that it didn’t irritate or cause redness. “This eye cream was perfect — I am now an eye cream convert,” a tester commented. “It is so much better than using my moisturizer around my eyes.”
• Size: 0.5 ounces
• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin
• Primary benefits: Moisturizing, soothing
Best Sunscreen Eye Cream
Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50
- Gentle on skin
- Mineral SPF
- Sheer tint blurs dark shadows
- Some users complain about the tube design
Formulated specifically for the delicate eye area, this SkinCeuticals sunscreen, a past GH Beauty Award winner, is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin. The gentle zinc oxide and titanium dioxide mineral formula not only offers UVA and UVB protection, but also helps hide dark circles with its sheer tint. “No stinging, tears, or irritation,” GH Beauty Lab evaluators reported. “It makes the skin around my eyes appear brighter,” a reviewer said.
• Size: 0.3 ounces
• Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, ceramides
• Primary benefits: UV protection, evening skin tone
When testing eye creams and treatments, Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists recruit real women across the country to help evaluate formulas across price points, including drugstore products. Each consumer tests a label-masked product as part of their skincare routine for four weeks, then provides feedback on ease of use, performance and overall satisfaction.
Beauty Lab pros track changes in attributes like lines and wrinkles around users’ eyes using a Visia Complexion Analyzer after four weeks of eye cream use. Skin firmness is assessed using the Cutometer, a device that measures skin’s elasticity. Hydration effects are also measured over six hours using a Corneometer machine, which gauges skin’s moisture content. Finally, all the data points are compiled and results tallied to definitively find the best eye creams on the market.
Does eye cream actually work?
Yes! “Eye creams differ from face creams because they’re formulated specifically for the delicate eye area. It’s important to use one to keep skin hydrated and plump,” explains GH Beauty Lab chemist Danusia Wnek. “Plus, some also contain brighteners to mask under-eye darkness and help you look more awake.” That’s why it’s worth it to invest in a great eye treatment to prevent and treat signs of aging around the eyes, including lines and wrinkles.
How to find the best eye cream for you
It depends on the eye area issue you are aiming to address. To treat multiple eye area issues, look for a combination of ingredients targeted to your needs.
✔️ For wrinkles and sagging, look for formulas peptides and retinol; for dark circles, seek out niacinamide or vitamin C.
✔️ For puffiness, look for caffeine, advises Marnie Nussbaum, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City and clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
✔️ For dark circles, “vitamin K can help,” says Deanne Mraz Robinson, M.D., a dermatologist in Westport, CT and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.
✔️ For dryness, Dr. Mraz says to look for “hyaluronic acid [to help] with hydration.”
✔️ Apply eye cream every morning and night to clean, dry skin (using clean hands) to replenish moisture and treat the skin with problem-specific skincare ingredients, the GH Beauty Lab recommends.
✔️ Read your product directions thoroughly because not all eye creams are meant for eyelids. Reading the directions will ensure you are using the product correctly, notes Wnek.
✔️ Apply eye cream before your facial moisturizer, suggests GH Beauty Lab senior chemist Sabina Wizemann. Applying eye cream before moisturizer helps you reap all the benefits of the cream because it has direct contact with the skin around the eye. The only exception: swap the order if your product contains retinol and you are sensitive to the ingredient, says Wnek. “That way, it has a little bit of a base/buffer and can be released into the skin a bit slower.”
✔️ Be gentle: Pulling and tugging around the eyes when applying skincare products can promote wrinkles and sagging in the long term, explains Mona Gohara, M.D., a dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Instead, lightly glide or tap the formula over skin.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Good Housekeeping Beauty Director April Franzino has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing skincare-related content, utilizing the expertise of the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals such as dermatologists and aestheticians. She is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, from cleansers to toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more. April works closely with the GH Beauty Lab to coordinate skincare product testing and translate test results into best-in-class compelling, factually accurate science-backed content for Good Housekeeping.
Good Housekeeping Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to help deliver fact-based, science-backed beauty coverage. Over the years, she has interviewed experts, written product reviews and tested hundreds of skincare products including cleansers, moisturizers, serums, oils, toners, sunscreens, exfoliators, professional treatments and more.
Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann oversaw the testing of eye creams. Since joining Good Housekeeping, Sabina has touched, researched, tested and evaluated thousands of products for almost a decade. In addition to the eye cream tests, she has carried out various studies from sunscreens (including formulas for sensitive and oily skin and mineral types), night creams, makeup cleansers and more. She also lends a hand when it comes to explaining skincare ingredients, like occlusives, and verifies product claims.
Beauty Director
April Franzino produces and oversees all beauty editorial content for Good Housekeeping, including pitching, reporting, writing, editing and market work, culminating with the magazine’s yearly Beauty Awards special.
Beauty Assistant
Catharine Malzahn is the Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping where she works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to support, pitch and write beauty content.
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