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Sunday Riley, Eight Saints, La Roche-Posay, and Alchimie all make excellent eye creams for dark circles and wrinkles. See the other products we recommend.
Nothing makes a face look tired like having dark circles under the eyes. Whether they’re caused by lack of sleep, allergies, or other factors such as aging or genetics, there are products that may help reduce their appearance.
The best eye creams for dark circles include ingredients to help moisturize, plump, and brighten delicate under-eye skin. Other ingredients can constrict blood vessels that may be contributing to a dark hue or reduce swelling and puffiness from things like seasonal allergies.
We spoke with dermatologists to help us understand under-eye circles and to guide our selections. Here are the best products we found, plus tips on how to choose the right under-eye cream for your needs.
Pricing guide
Eye creams that address dark circles can range in price from a few dollars for easy-to-find brands to hundreds of dollars for specialized, physician-formulated products. Our list contains a range of price points, but all the products contain ingredients known to help the appearance of dark circles.
- $ = under $25
- $$ = $25 to $65
- $$$ = $66 to $100
- $$$$ = over $100
of firmness
dark circles
Pf= Paraben-free, Ff= Fragrance-free
To create this list of recommendations, we:
- interviewed dermatologists around the globe for their personal favorites and top recommendations for patients
- only considered bestselling products with customer ratings of 4 stars or more
- chose products that include ingredients dermatologists recommend for targeting dark circles
Learn more about how we vet recommended products.
Dark circles are a vascular issue, according to Dr. Luigi L. Polla, the founder of Forever Institut and Alchimie Forever. The skin under the eye is very thin, making blood vessels more visible. The most effective treatment will also address the root cause, which may include:
- Genetics: Both your facial anatomy and hereditary skin pigmentation under the eyes (also known as periorbital hyperpigmentation) can make you predisposed to under-eye circles that can appear as early as childhood.
- Allergies: Seasonal allergies don’t just irritate your nose. “Inflamed sinuses lead to swollen blood vessels, which dilate and darken the veins in the under-eye area,” says Dr. Mraz Robinson. Also known as allergic shiners, these circles can become more pronounced if you rub your itchy eyes.
- Lack of sleep: Not getting enough sleep causes blood vessels to dilate around your eyes, which makes dark circles look more prominent.
- Eyestrain: When your eyes feel strained and tired, like from looking at screens for an extended period of time, this also causes the blood vessels around the eye to dilate.
- Aging: The skin under your eyes is extremely thin and often shows the first visible signs of skin aging. “As we age, the collagen and elastin in our skin break down, which makes our skin thinner and more translucent to the vascular structures below,” Dr. Robinson explains. Also, fat loss, which often occurs with aging, can create a hollowness around the eyes that casts a shadow.
The skin around the eyes is delicate and thin, so any application to this area should be gentle. Consider using your fingertip to apply a pea-sized amount of the cream, and patting, not rubbing, it, around the eye.
“The ring finger is the weakest finger and is best for eye cream application, as it puts less pressure on delicate skin,” says Dr. Alberto de la Fuente Garcia. “Be sure to avoid tugging or stretching the skin.”
You might also consider doing gentle massage around the eyes, to help remove excess lymph that may have accumulated, says Dr. Erum N. Ilyas. The resulting puffiness may be exacerbated by conditions including:
- allergies
- rosacea
- high blood pressure
- hormonal changes
Meanwhile, the longer the fluid sits there, the more likely it is to change the texture of the skin on your face.
“Many people will note that their skin starts to look like the peel of an orange or the bags under their eyes seem more prominent,” Ilyas says.
After applying a dab of eye cream, gently massage from the center of the face outward around the eyes, in an arc, she says.
Illyas adds that cooling your eye cream in the refrigerator can promote the narrowing of blood cells (vasoconstriction), which may also prevent your skin from drawing in more fluid.
Just check your product label carefully before doing so, in case your cream of choice needs a certain storage temperature for best use.
You can also gently use a cooling applicator, like a jade roller or gua sha stone, around the eyes, to take advantage of their coolness.
From swollen, puffy eyes to dark circles to crepey-looking skin, different eye cream ingredients target different problems. Some are some key ones to look for:
Hyaluronic acid
This naturally occurring
Caffeine
Caffeine constricts blood vessels under the eyes, which can reduce the look for dark circles, and leave the eyes looking more awake.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can brighten the under-eye area, strengthen thinning skin, and boost the the production of collagen, a protein that keeps skin plump and supple.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a popular ingredient in eye creams. “Vitamin K promotes cellular metabolism and has anti-inflammatory properties, with known effects to help with blood clotting,” says Dr. Jeannette Graf, a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Retinoid
As you age, the skin under your eyes may become thinner, and fine lines, often called crow’s feet, can form. Dr. Graf recommends using an eye cream with a retinoid, which can slow the body’s natural reduction of collagen production by helping with skin cell turnover.
One caveat is that retinoids are incredibly potent, so opt for a formula specially made for the under-eye area. When applying a retinoid cream, a little goes a long way.
Treatment for dark eye circles depends on the underlying cause, but a few home remedies could make a difference.
- Apply a cold compress.
- Elevate your head.
- Apply cooled caffeinated tea bags.
- Conceal with hydrating makeup.
- Aim for 7 to 8 hours Of sleep per night.
- Stay Hydrated.
- Eat a Balanced diet.
Medical treatments for under-eye circles
Some medical treatments that may help treat under-eye circles include:
- chemical peels to reduce pigmentation
- laser surgery to resurface the skin and enhance skin tightening
- medical tattoos to inject pigment into thinning skin areas
- tissue fillers to conceal blood vessels and melanin that are causing skin discoloration beneath your eyes
- excess fat and skin removal to reveal a smoother and more even surface
- surgical implants of fat or synthetic products
Before deciding on any cosmetic procedure, it’s best to discuss your options with a dermatologist as a first step.
No. You won’t find an eye cream to remove dark circles completely or permanently. An eye cream may help momentarily lighten and brighten the skin under the eyes, but it won’t cure dark circles.
Dark circles primarily develop due to:
- allergies
- genetics
- lifestyle factors, such as not getting enough sleep
Yes and no. Certain ingredients in eye creams, such as caffeine and vitamin C, can help brighten and depuff the under-eye area.
But if you have bags under your eyes, these might be hereditary. This means no amount of eye cream will minimize their appearance. Under-eye fillers may be of more help in that case.
You can try making small lifestyle changes, like reducing salt intake, but there’s no guarantee these methods will work.
You can apply eye cream at various times of the day. However, you’ll need a different eye cream for different times.
You can apply eye cream:
- In the morning: Use a lightweight formula, as it will feel more comfortable under makeup, if you wear any. Opt for products with SPF to help prevent sun damage.
- In the evening: When you apply eye cream in the evening, the ingredients can absorb into your skin overnight. Choose a richer cream with hydrating ingredients and no SPF.
- In the morning and evening: To enjoy all of the above benefits, use eye cream at both times. You’ll need two different formulas, so keep this in mind when shopping for products.
The ideal time depends on your preferences and goals. No matter when you use eye cream, only apply it once every 12 hours. There’s no need to reapply the same product throughout the day or night.
According to dermatologist Alberto de la Fuente Garcia, you can start applying eye cream as early as your mid-20s, even if you have yet to notice visible signs of skin aging.
“This is because the skin around your eyes is delicate and can benefit from some extra TLC,” he said.
However, he notes that if you do have signs of aging, like fine lines or wrinkles, you may want to start using an eye cream right away.
While most of the best eye creams for dark circles on our list are available online and in beauty stores, you can also find some in drugstores — and usually with a smaller price tag.
For example, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream and La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eye Cream are both highly rated eye creams for dark circles and available at stores including Walgreens.
Dermatologists recommend using an eye cream with certain active ingredients for dark circles, including hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin K, caffeine, or a gentle retinoid.
Keep in mind that retinoids don’t mix with vitamin C and may cause sensitivity to those who are new to it.
Dermatologists also recommend lifestyle changes to improve diet and sleep, and also suggest gently massaging the eye area to move out excess drainage.
For those looking for dramatic improvements to dark circles and bags, you may consider medical-grade treatments performed by licensed estheticians or board certified dermatologists, including chemical peels, laser resurfacing, or microneedling.
If you’re experiencing dark under-eye circles, determining the root cause can help you find effective ingredients to address your concerns.
These circles may be a nuisance, but you have plenty of options for eye creams to help minimize their appearance.
Adding eye cream to your morning and night routine can help you reduce the appearance of dark circles and prevent signs of aging.