Eye Cream For Dark Circles
While there’s no one-size-fits-all eye cream for dark circles, dermatologists agree on a few formulas that really work. Look for brightening ingredients like vitamin C, color-correcting pigments and caffeine to reduce the appearance of puffiness and fine lines around the eyes.
This eye cream uses a blend of ceramides and niacinamide to help lighten the skin under your eyes over time. Plus, it contains soothing green tea and cucumber extract to depuff and refresh your tired skin.
1. Cosmedix Retinol Eye Cream
A great eye cream can work wonders when it comes to reducing dark circles, puffiness and fine lines around the eyes. Having the right skincare products can also reduce the appearance of milia and improve skin texture and absorption. A powerful serum with peptides and antioxidants will help boost collagen production, smooth lines and wrinkles, even skin tone and reduce signs of ageing around the eyes.
If you’re looking for an eye cream for dark circles, retinol is one of the most effective ingredients to look for. A derivative of vitamin A, retinol stimulates collagen, reduces wrinkles, clears environmental blemishes, minimizes pores and scarring and brightens the complexion. It’s not without its downsides, however; retinol can cause dryness and itching. It’s best to start with a lower strength retinol and increase the potency only when you can tolerate it.
Cosmedix Opti Crystal Eye Serum
It also contains a patented ingredient called spin trap, which, according to a Cosmetics & Toiletries article, “not only stabilises but actually captures fleeting free radicals before they react with the molecule and trigger further damage.” Another star is vitamin K, which increases circulation so that blood doesn’t stagnate in the veins under your eyes. This is particularly important as the skin around your eyes is thin and delicate. The result is an eye product that’s been lauded by users for its multitasking abilities, with some saying it’s better than La Mer.
2. Pixi Retinol Eye Cream
Retinol is the star ingredient in this cream that’s designed to tackle dark circles and wrinkles around the eyes. It helps to reduce fine lines, skin laxity and pigmentation – all of which can contribute to dark circles – and it’s one of the most effective anti-ageing ingredients out there.
It’s also a very lightweight cream that doesn’t feel heavy on the eye area. And it’s non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores and cause breakouts. Another plus is that it’s free of parabens, too.
Like the Cosmedix product, this Pixi eye cream is formulated to improve elasticity, smooth skin and protect the delicate eye area. It’s super nourishing, too, and it restores and renews to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The formula also contains a blend of other skincare goodies like hyaluronic acid, shea butter and cocoa butter to soothe the skin, plus peptides to firm and tighten. There’s even more good news: it’s hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested and free of fragrance.
This is a brightening eye treatment that’s perfect for those with sensitive skin. It’s formulated with retinol to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles, plus it has shea butter and vitamin E to soothe the skin. Plus, it has a refreshing, cucumber-like scent that makes it feel like a spa treatment every time you use it.
This cult favorite is a must-have for anyone who wants to banish their dark circles. The vitamin C and hyaluronic acid in this eye cream help to brighten the skin, while the peptides and caffeine help to depuff and energize the eyes. It’s also formulated with antioxidant-rich blueberry extract, which helps strengthen the delicate skin surrounding the eyes.
3. Origins Retinol Eye Cream
A few drops of this luxe cream under the eyes brightens and refreshes, making it a great option for banishing dark circles. The elixir also contains a high concentration of hyaluronic acid to hydrate, which makes the skin look plump and firm. It’s the kind of eye cream that you can feel good about incorporating into your beauty routine because it’s free from artificial fragrances and dyes, mineral oil, and other irritants.
This cult-favorite product has racked up more than 2,000 four-star reviews at Sephora and is a Strategist favorite. It’s a good option for all of the usual suspects (puffiness, dark shadows, fine lines) but it does a particularly impressive job with crow’s feet and under-eye bags thanks to a proprietary peptide complex, niacinamide, green tea extract, and a cross-polymer that diffuses light.
The formula is also infused with bakuchiol, which is a plant-based alternative to retinol that has been shown to reduce dark circles. It’s a lightweight cream that is suitable for all skin types and can be used during the day or at night.
Unlike most eye creams, this one works overnight and targets wrinkles, crow’s feet, puffiness, and under-eye bags with a blend of botanical ingredients. Organic harungana and Cassie Flower wax visibly lift and smooth, while a mix of horse chestnut, albizia, and plant-based caffeine tightens. The result is a refreshed, youthful appearance and an eye-lifting effect that gets better with each use.
Like the other products in this list, this one is free of synthetic dyes and fragrances, mineral oil, parabens, and phthalates. It’s also clinically proven to be effective at reducing the appearance of dark circles and hydrating the delicate skin around the eyes.
4. First Aid Beauty Brightening Eye Cream
Suitable for all skin types, this eye cream helps combat dark circles and puffy eyes with a blend of nourishing ingredients. The formula contains peach micro pearls to brighten and highlight the area while sodium hyaluronate plumps and smooths. Niacinamide, pumpkin seed extract and caffeine help reduce pigmentation and dark circles. The cream also features Licorice root, an effective brightening ingredient that is popular in K-beauty products.
The cream is free from a wide range of harsh ingredients, including silicones, parabens, phthalates and mineral oil, making it suitable for delicate skin. It does contain some synthetic fragrances and colors, but is otherwise free from drying alcohols, artificial colors, talc, urea, petrolatum, sulfates and coal tar.
It’s also dermatologist tested, so it should be safe to use. This product is also cruelty-free and vegan.
This illuminating eye cream from First Aid Beauty tackles brown and blue dark circles, fine lines and puffiness while boosting hydration and smoothing the complexion. The formula is enriched with peach micro-pearls that visibly brighten and revive the appearance of the eye area, while niacinamide, pumpkin seed extract and caffeine reduce pigmentation and dark circles. Sodium hyaluronate plumps, smooths and boosts moisture levels for a dewy finish. The cream is suitable for all skin types and is formulated without sulfates, fragrance, phthalates, petrolatum, mineral oil, formaldehydes, ethylhexyl oleate, ethanol and oxybenzone. It is also dermatologist and clinically tested.
5. The Ordinary Caffeine Eye Cream
This eye serum from The Ordinary features a high concentration of caffeine and EGCG, which is the green tea-derived antioxidant that’s known for its skin-soothing and anti-aging properties. It’s also a vasoconstrictor, meaning it will help decrease the appearance of under-eye bags. It takes about three weeks of use before the serum will show results, but you can expect to see a softening of eye contour pigmentation and less puffiness.
The serum is a light-tinted liquid with a watery consistency that feels refreshing when massaged around the eyes. It’s a great option if you’re struggling with dark circles caused by poor sleep or long hours spent in front of your computer and phone screen, which can lead to puffiness under the eyes. The formula is free of oils, fragrances, essential oil, and silicones, but it is formulated with natural ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C, which help plump the skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and boost collagen production.
It’s also a good option for those with sensitive skin, as it’s dermatologist tested and cruelty-free. It does leave behind a slight sticky residue, but it’s quickly absorbed after application and doesn’t feel uncomfortable on the eyes.
You can apply the serum twice a day after cleansing and toning, and it’s safe to use in conjunction with other products, such as retinol creams. It comes in a dark-colored bottle with a dropper to control the amount of product dispensed. The bottle is UV protected, which protects the EGCG from sunlight, as it’s sensitive to light.
If you’re looking for another option, try The Inkey List’s Caffeine Eye Serum
Purchase eye cream for dark circles from your local Avon Representative, Cascia Talbert here.
