We've Tried Hundreds—These Are, Without Question, the 17 Best Eye Creams for Visible Results
Whether you're targeting dark circles or puffiness, these are the best eyes creams to smooth, firm and brighten.
The best eye creams are one of those skincare products most of us still aren't sure we actually need in our skincare routine. Can't we just use our usual moisturisers all over our face? While eye creams might seem like a marketing ploy to add yet another product into your routine, skincare experts do still recommend them, especially if you want to address (or prevent) concerns like dark circles or fine lines around the eyes.
"Eye creams can be helpful to target several concerns," says SkinCeuticals expert and aesthetics doctor, Dr Ana Mansouri. "They help to slow down the ageing process and target hyperpigmentation, dark circles and dehydration," she says. "The skin around the eye area is the thinnest on the body and therefore requires particular attention and a specific product that won’t cause irritation and is gentle enough for use on this delicate part of the skin."
What to Look for in an Eye Cream
"Depending on your main concerns, you may require brightening and [fine line-reducing] ingredients in your eye cream, such as antioxidants—my recommendation being the SkinCeuticals AOX Eye Gel (£100)— or hydrating ingredients such as vitamin E and glycerin," says Dr Mansouri.
Generally speaking, vitamin C, licorice root and retinoids are best for dark circle treatment, while retinoids, peptides and hyaluronic acid can help to address fine lines.
However, it's important to remember that eye creams can only do so much—they won't deliver comparable results to aesthetic treatments or injectables such as Botox.
"Eye creams work in a much similar way to other serums and creams formulated for the face or neck, but generally are made with a gentler formulation to ensure they’re suitable for the delicate eye area," says Dr Mansouri. "Their benefits are dependent on the ingredients specific eye creams contain. When it comes to tackling dark circles, these are caused by hyperpigmentation. The surface of the skin may improve with brightening eye products (and caffeine formulations); however, if the main cause is hollowness, then injectables are required to reduce the shadow effect," she says.
It's also important to consider the texture of your eye cream. Creamy formulations tend to be thicker and more nourishing, while eye gels will sink in more quickly and are ideal for makeup prep.
How to Use Eye Cream
Okay, so where does eye cream fit into a simple skincare routine? "Eye creams are best applied after cleansing, toning and followed by serums in the morning and/or evening. SPF may be applied on top in a morning skincare routine," says Dr Mansouri. "A very small amount goes a long way; you can use your little finger to very gently dab the product along the bony areas surrounding the eye."
You don't need to use too much or go too close to the eyes themselves. So now that we know that our delicate peepers could do with a special cream to care for them properly, which eye creams are actually worth the money? Keep reading to check out the ultimate edit of the best eye creams beloved by our beauty team and Who What Wear UK editors.
The Best Eye Creams
- Best Eye Cream Overall: Skin Rocks The Eye Cream (£65)
- Best for Fine Lines Beauty Pie Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream (1% Retinol Complex) (£15)
- Best for Dark Circles: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye Cream (£105)
- Best for Brightening: Tatcha The Brightening Eye Cream (£64)
- Best for Puffy Eyes: Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum (£23)
1. Skin Rocks The Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Tripeptides and microalgae blend, winter cherry and cucumber seed blend, Persian silk tree bark extract
Pros
- Contains peptides to plump fine lines
- Silky texture
- Immediately sinks into skin
- Hydrating
Cons
- On the expensive side
"This newly launched eye cream from skincare expert Caroline Hirons' skincare brand, Skin Rocks, has become a fast favourite of mine. Not just because the silky texture instantly sinks into the skin, but it also has some impressive clinical studies behind it. It immediately improves fine lines and under-eye bags on contact with the skin, but it also reduces eye bag volume and eye wrinkle depth in four weeks. So impressive. If you want to invest in a great eye cream, make it this one." — Who What Wear UK beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden
2. Beauty Pie Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream (1% Retinol Complex)
Price shown is member price.
Key ingredients: Slow-release retinol (1%), hyaluronic acid, allosteris, bioflavonoids
Pros
- Contains retinol to plump fine lines
- Hyaluronic acid hydrates eye area
- Lightweight formula sinks in quickly
Cons
- You need a membership to access discounted prices
"If it's fine lines and wrinkles that are troubling you, then reach for Beauty Pie's Super Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream—in my opinion, it's one of the best Beauty Pie eye creams. It's one of the few retinol eye creams I've actually seen results from. In fact, I postponed a Botox top-up because it was that good. Retinol is one of the only proven ingredients to help plump fine lines and wrinkles, so it's ideal to use around the eye area. This one from Beauty Pie is not only affordable but also has retinol and hyaluronic acid to help plump and hydrate the skin around the eyes, too. If you're new to using retinol, you'll want to start slowly by using it a couple of times a week, gradually building up to every day as your skin tolerates it," says Vousden.
3. SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye
Key ingredients: ProxylaneTM, glycyrrhetinic acid, Matrixyl 3000, caffeine, optical diffusers
"Dark circles can be tricky to treat and no eye cream will ever completely banish them (any brand that says it can is just using marketing tactics), but there are certain eye creams that can certainly help with their appearance. I trust anything from Skinceuticals, which you'll find in some of the best skin clinics around. It helps to brighten dark circles and improve collagen production, which helps to plump out fine lines and deeper-set wrinkles around the eyes. It also helps to de-puff and contains optical diffusers to reflect light, so you get both immediate brightening and blurring for dark circles while treating them in the long run, too," says Vousden.
Pros
- Helps to improve the appearance of dark circles
- Contains peptides to plump the eye area
- Helps to de-puff eye area
Cons
- One of the more expensive eye creams on our list
4. Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye
Key ingredients: Twin-encapsulated retinaldehyde, hyaluronic acid, cermides, chamomile extract
Lifting the eye area is only really achievable by in-clinic aesthetic treatments. However, if you want to slow down skin ageing in this area, then this eye cream is a good fit for you. It contains peptides, which help to regenerate the eye contour and keep the skin around the eyes sculpted. Like Medik8's award-winning Crystal Retinol serum for the face, the eye cream version also comes in varying strengths as your skin adjusts, so you can keep building on the results over time.
"I'm usually terrified of using retinol or retinal around my eyes, because I do find my skin to be quite reactive, but Medik8's Crystal Retinal is one of the few formulas I'm prepared to slather on. Whenever I'm looking (and feeling) drab, this stuff brightens things up in no time at all." — Who What Wear UK beauty director, Shannon Lawlor
Pros
- Retinal helps to firm and plump fine lines around the eyes
- Comes in different strengths to suit your skin
Cons
- All retinol/retinals take some time to see results
- Might not be the best for very sensitive eyes
5. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Thermal spring water, squalene, shea butter, niacinamide, probiotics
Pros
- Great for sensitive eyes
- Hydrating formula
- Contains shea butter and squalane
Cons
- Won't have much effect on dark circles or fine lines
We always turn to La Roche-Posay for both affordable and hypoallergenic formulas for sensitive skin, and this eye cream is no exception. Often recommended by dermatologists, this gentle eye cream is ideal for easily irritated eyes or those with sensitive skin that still want to treat their eye area. Squalene and shea butter help to nourish and hydrate, while the addition of probiotics helps to strengthen the skin's barrier to leave your eye area looking and feeling more comfortable.
"I have very sensitive skin around my eyes, so I don't usually use an eye cream as I'm afraid of irritating my skin. However, this winter the skin around my eyes has been incredibly dry, so I've been keen to add one into my routine. Enter La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream. This hydrating formula has been designed with sensitive skin in mind, and is infused with the brand's thermal spring water to soothe the eye area. I've definitely noticed a difference since using this." — Who What Wear UK junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay
6. The Ordinary + Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Key ingredients: Caffeine, epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside (EGCG), which is derived from green tea
For under £10, it doesn't get much better than The Ordinary's Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG if you want to address tired eyes, dark circles or puffiness. Much like the caffeine in our latte gives us a boost, it works the same way on the skin to wake up tired-looking eyes and help reduce eye bags. "Thanks to the serum texture, it sinks straight in, which makes it great for busy mornings when you need a quick fix," says Vousden.
Pros
- Contains caffeine to help de-puff and brighten dark circles
- Serum texture sinks in quickly
- Affordable
Cons
- Dropper bottle can be fiddly to get the right amount
7. Summer Fridays Jet Lag Overnight Eye Serum
Key ingredients: Retinol, retinyl linoleate, licorice root extract, glycerin, ceramides
Pros
- Contains retinol to help plump the skin
- Helps to brighten dark circles
- Lightweight serum texture sinks in quickly
Cons
- A little more expensive than most eye creams
This lightweight gel sinks in on contact with the skin, delivering weightless hydration while targeting a whole host of concerns. The inclusion of two types of retinoids helps to target dark circles and fine lines, while the cooling gel instantly helps to de-puff tired eyes. It's also seriously hydrating, which instantly makes dehydrated skin look plump and well-rested.
"I’ve been very disappointed with eye creams and serums in the past, but this product surpassed expectations. Over the past couple of years, I’ve developed sensitivity in the eye area, but this serum is incredibly gentle and didn’t exacerbate my symptoms. I’ve always suffered from dark circles, but I have noticed they’ve been much less predominant since I started using this. My husband even told me I 'didn’t look so tired', which is a major plus. It makes my eye area feel extra hydrated and the product itself is smooth to apply—glides on with ease and leaves the skin feeling cool and extremely soft. A little goes a long way, too, so I know the product will last a long time, which goes some way to justifying the price tag, too." — Who What Wear UK deputy editor, Maxine Eggenberger
8. Tatcha The Brightening Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Slow-release vitamin C, bioferments, niacinamide, Japanese plum, pro-glutathione antioxidant booster
Pros
- Helps to brighten dark circles
- Nourishing cream texture
- Gentle enough for sensitive eyes
Cons
- Expensive price tag, but a little goes a long way
Tatcha is renowned for its luxurious formulas and innovative textures, and this new eye cream ticks both boxes. Vitamin C is a great ingredient for brightening dark circles and imparting radiance to lacklustre skin, while niacinamide works in tandem to brighten pigmentation around the eyes for a more well-rested appearance. The whipped, bouncy cream texture absorbs into the skin quickly, and the peachy hue also helps to instantly brighten dark circles, making it great for wearing underneath makeup too. Trust me, your concealer won't have to work as hard with this one.
“I’m going to be honest here, I’m not much of an eye cream person. Despite the fact that I have incessant dark circles and dry(ish) skin in the corners of my eyes, I just really struggle to find the right product for me," says Lawlor. "You see, I’m also prone to milia (those little white spots that crop up around your eyes from using creams that are too thick and rich for your skin). I want an eye cream that brightens my dark circles, is lightweight, sits well under the heaps of concealer I slather on, and doesn’t cause irritation. Is that so much to ask? Up until this year, I hadn’t religiously used an eye cream for a really long time, but some new launches have totally changed that—one of them in particular. Tatcha The Brightening Eye Cream contains a load of time-release vitamin C to reap all of those brightening benefits for longer—and it’s suitable for sensitive skin. It also contains niacinamide to help with hyperpigmentation and fruit ferments to tackle puffiness. From the minute I put it on, my eye area looks rejuvenated—I truly can’t get enough.”
9. Sarah Chapman Skinesis Eye Recovery
Key ingredients: Peptides, vitamins A, C and E, hyaluronic acid
Whilst this may be one of the more expensive eye creams on our list, we think it's worth it. It contains five different kinds of peptides, which help to stimulate collagen production, helping to reduce fine lines. One of which, a peptide called syn-ake, helps to prevent the progression of deep wrinkles.
“I always find my under-eye area is super sensitive, so I don’t switch out my eye cream very often. The Sarah Chapman Skinesis Eye Recovery is so smooth and soft and really helps with morning puffiness. It also lasts forever, and I am a very generous eye cream user, so that says a lot." — Who What Wear UK junior branded content editor, Humaa Hussain
Pros
- Peptides help to soften fine lines, as well as help prevent them over time
- Helps to brighten dark circles and de-puff the eye area
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- On the expensive side
10. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme
Key ingredients: Tripeptide-32, hyaluronic acid
You'd be forgiven for thinking that tired eyes need a heavyweight eye cream to revive them. However, a heavy eye cream can add to the puffiness around the eyes. Instead, choose a lightweight gel-cream like this one from Estée Lauder to give tired eyes a wake-up call. In fact, this eye cream is part of the Advanced Night Repair range, which is loved by beauty editors and helps to supercharge the skin with hydration, de-puff and plump out dehydration lines around the eyes.
"While my dark circles, sensitivity and fine lines mean I'm always on the lookout for treatment eye creams, this has long been my go-to for general upkeep. There is nothing in here that is going to upset your skin, and it's just a generally soothing, hydrating, depuffing delight," says Lawlor.
Pros
- Lightweight, gel-cream texture
- Hydrates and plumps the eye area
Cons
- May irritate sensitive eyes
11. The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Serum
Key ingredients: Caffeine, peptides, albizia julibrissin bark extract
Waking up with puffy eyes and dark circles is no fun. As one of The Inkey List's best sellers, this formula (as its name suggests) uses caffeine to perk things up in an instant by de-puffing the eyes and brightening dark circles over time. "It has a cooling gel consistency that melts instantly into the skin, making it great to use on busy mornings and as prep for makeup too," says Vousden.
Pros
- Affordable option
- Helps to de-puff and wake up tired-looking eyes
- Lightweight texture
Cons
- Packaging doesn't feel as luxurious as other brands
12. Vichy Minéral 89 Eye Brightening Serum
Key ingredients: Caffeine, hyaluronic acid, thermal spring water, adenosine
Dryness and dehydration around the eye area can be a real pain and also prevent makeup from gliding on as smoothly. This super-hydrating eye gel sinks right into the skin to quench parched skin with moisture while instantly plumping fine lines that often go hand-in-hand with dehydration. "It works wonders for makeup application, sinking in within seconds and leaving skin plumped. The addition of caffeine also helps to address my persistent dark circles, too," says Lawlor.
Pros
- Hydrating
- Great for sensitive eyes
- Caffeine helps to address under eye concerns
Cons
- Won't make a huge difference on fine lines
13. Chanel Le Lift Smoothing and Firming Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Alfalfa concentrate, phyto-active complex
"Let me preface this by saying that no eye cream will ever compare to the effects of an in-clinic firming or lifting treatment. However, if you do want to lift and firm the area around your eyes with skincare, this is a great eye cream for restoring elasticity to the area. Alfalfa concentrate acts as an alternative to retinol to encourage collagen production, while the phyto-active complex stimulates microcirculation around the eye area to depuff. The results speak for themselves," says Vousden.
Pros
- Helps restore elasticity to the eye area
- Firms and hydrates
- Retinol helps to encourage collagen production to plump fine lines
Cons
- Luxurious formula has a luxury price tag to match
14. Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum
Key ingredients: Caffeine, green tea, hyaluronic acid
Pros
- Rollerball is cooling on tired eyes
- Massaging head helps to depuff under eye bags
- Contains green tea and caffeine to help boost circulation and wake up tired eyes
Cons
- Won't do much for fine lines
If you often wake up with puffiness around your eyes, then you'll really like the cooling rollerball applicator that helps to depuff by massaging away fluid build-up that can cause under-eye bags. The serum texture contains caffeine, which helps to wake up tired eyes, whilst the addition of five types of hydrating hyaluronic acid floods the skin with moisture to rehydrate and plump fine lines. "I've been using this every morning and have noticed my eyes looking less tired and my concealer applies better without creasing so much," says Vousden.
15. Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Ceramides, panthenol, blumilight
Korean skincare formulas are known to be elite, and this particular eye cream is great for those with dry skin who also want to address fine lines and under-eye bags. "Everything in the Ceramidin range is brilliant for dry or compromised skin, and the creamy texture of this eye cream is extremely hydrating and nourishing. I always reach for this during the winter months as it instantly hydrates, plumps fine lines and helps to de-puff with just a few taps of your fingers," says Vousden. This is also a great addition to wear underneath concealer if you find you get dry patches during the day.
Pros
- Buttery texture helps to hydrate and nourish
- Great for dry skin and dehydrated skin types
Cons
- Not the best for dark circles
16. Refy Eye Balm
Key ingredients: Caffeyelike vita, floral water, hyaluronic acid
"I get it, sometimes you don't want a heavy eye cream, which is why I always recommend an eye balm or stick to those who prefer something more lightweight. This stick formula feels cooling on contact with the skin, and the balmy texture perfectly primes the eyes for makeup by hydrating and plumping fine lines while giving makeup something to grip onto rather than sliding around. Whilst it might not work miracles on dark circles or firm, it helps to de-puff the eyes and acts as a quick win on busy mornings when you want to swipe on and go. It's also a great way to refresh your undereyes throughout the day," says Vousden.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Ideal underneath makeup
- Great way to refresh eyes throughout the day
Cons
- Won't do much for dark circles or fine lines
17. Naturium Multi-Peptide Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Matrixyl 3000, argireline, squalane
"Whenever I get asked about affordable yet effective skincare, I always recommend Naturium. I initially tried the serum version and was so impressed that I quickly added the eye cream version to my routine. It's creamy, really moisturising, and has made a noticeable difference to the lines around my eyes. It contains multiple peptides, including argireline, which helps to soften muscle contractions so you end up with fewer expression lines over time," says Vousden.
Pros
- Contains peptides to plump fine lines
- Nourishing texture
- More affordable than most eye creams on this list
Cons
- Takes a while to see results
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
