19 Best Eye Creams For Dark Circles In 2023 To Combat Wrinkles And Puffiness, Per Dermatologists

“Fatigue elevates [stress hormone' cortisol levels which can swell blood vessels, making them more visible and resulting in dark circles,” says Dr. Young. Payot's eye cream contains vitamin C to brighten the skin and "neutralize free oxygen radicals, which are unstable oxygen molecules that can contribute to the process of photoaging, namely the formation of dark spots," says Dr. Camp

"This roll-on applicator makes it easy to use and helps to address puffiness while also moisturizing the skin," says Garshick. She recommends using it once or even twice daily.

Rave Review: "Super easy to use and shockingly super moisturizing! Absolutely awesome!"

A soothing eye cream that's suitable for sensitive skin is a must-have if your undereye area dries out from time to time. Cetaphil's gel formula contains hydrating and soothing ingredients like vitamins B2 and E, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract.

Rave Review: "This was a hit with my uber-dry perimenopausal winter skin. I use it morning and night. It's fab and lightweight...This was my first purchase and I’ll definitely repurchase. Very happy skin."

“Ultraviolet radiation breaks down our skin’s collagen and elastin fibers, resulting in skin thinning, clumping of the fibers, and ultimately the appearance of dark circles," says Dr. Young. "It can also worsen existing hyperpigmentation under the eyes.” She suggests this mineral-based sunscreen featuring a neutral peach tint. This product works double-duty as a concealer with ultra light coverage.

Rave Review: "I apply this product under one eye and the another on the other eye and asked eight people which was better. Seven chose this one. I was surprised but happy :D"

This cream can be used once or twice a day, says Dr. Garshick. "By combining peptides, including rice peptides and tetrapeptides, this eye cream helps to firm the skin while also helping to address dryness," she says.

Rave Review: "OMG. I can't believe how amazing this eye cream is. I'm in my 60s and concealer has always creased under my eyes...so frustrating! With this product, there are no creases! I'm so thrilled!"

The state of your skin's surface can contribute to undereye circles. There's a chance that any inflammation in the area can leave hyperpigmentation, or a stain, resulting in the appearance of dark circles, says Dr. Young.

To treat that, she suggests looking for an eye cream that contains a gentle form of vitamin A called retinol, which will help produce collagen to thicken the skin and reduce fine lines, Dr. Camp adds.

Rave Review: "I am skeptical about cosmetic promises but at this price, I figured I would give it a try. I have puffy spots on the top of my cheek bones. Within two days, they were gone. GONE. I don't know what else to say except if you have this problem, it works."

Since the area under the eye can be sensitive, derms often recommend fragrance-free, gentle products like this one. “This has an excellent mix of effective, natural ingredients including licorice root extract for dark circles, caffeine to target puffiness, and bakuchiol to help combat fine lines,” says dermatologist Angela Lamb, MD.

Rave Review: "I am really impressed by this eye balm. I have been using this product for a couple of months. It lightens dark circles and minimizes lines and wrinkles around the eyes. It does not irritate the eyes at all, and I can really see an improvement."

"Retinol is known to increase collagen production while preventing its breakdown," says Dr. Young, so it'll help with fine lines, wrinkles, and even discoloration. She particularly likes this cream because it contains caffeine, which helps reduce puffiness, too.

Rave Review: "My goodness, the change in my undereyes has been remarkable! Just use it every night. I noticed a huge difference in about a week. This doesn’t leave your skin in that awkward dry stage before the skin peels off. You just slowly notice it gently exfoliating. Love it!"

The skin around the eyes is super thin at just about .5 mm according to oculoplastic surgeon Kami Parsa, MD. “A thinner skin can translate into a greater chance of skin sensitivity,” he adds. If you have particularly sensitive skin, look for fragrance-free products that don’t contain parabens, phthalates, or dyes.

This budget-friendly option from Neutrogena uses hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and peptides to reduce the look of dark circles, which is why it has the approval of dermatologist Dustin Portela, MD.

Rave Review: "I have mild-to-moderate dark circles under my eyes depending on how much sleep I get. This is the first product I’ve used that I can actually see a difference before I put on the concealer. Buy it, you won’t regret it. A great product and a reasonable price. Win-win."

Both Dr. Young and Dr. Garshick are fans of caffeine in skincare because it can tighten skin, lighten pigmentation, and reduce puffiness—all while stimulating collagen growth, reducing inflammation, and improving the texture of the skin. "I love that this lightweight cream can do all that while absorbing easily,” says Dr. Garshick. "It helps to reduce dark circles by constricting the blood vessels, helping reduce redness, puffiness, and inflammation."

Rave Review: "This eye cream is lightweight and works well for puffy eyes. I have tried so many eye creams over the years and this works just as well as many of the more expensive anti-puffy eye creams I’ve used. Great value for a great product!"

Niacinamide, otherwise known as vitamin B3, can calm redness and inflammation while stimulating collagen and fatty acid production in the skin to improve hydration, says Dr. Young. That's where CeraVe's niacnamide, ceramide, and caffeine-packed eye cream can help reduce puffiness while thwarting dark circles.

Rave Review: "Very nice eye cream. I’ve used it both before bed and in the morning under makeup or concealer. You will be happy with this. It does not leave a greasy feel and works well under makeup."

This cream has antioxidants that can potentially reduce the formation of dark spots, but Dr. Camp loves that it also has blurring agents like mica and silica to brighten skin. Revision Skincare's cream is also formulated with collagen boosters like antioxidants and vitamin C.

Rave Review: "I very easily get dark circles and dull skin under my eyes, and I’ve tried a number of different brands over the years. This is the best one I’ve ever used. I did not experience any irritation whatsoever. I dab a small amount morning and evening and it works great."

L'Oreal's eye cream is formulated with super hydrating flavonoids that are known to possess both antioxidant and skin-soothing properties to reduce the look of dark circles. Plus, the peachy tint has an instant blurring and color-correct effect on them too.

Rave Review: "Great product. I love the silky feel of this under my eyes. This is the second time I have purchased this and will buy it again once I use this jar up."

"Incorporating peptides, hyaluronic acid and a highly purified algae extract, this helps to plump the undereye area while also incorporating antioxidants within the algae extract to brighten the undereye skin," says Dr. Garshick.

Yes, it's pricey, but reviewers say it literally makes them look like they got Botox after just one use.

Rave Review: "After using this daily for a couple months now, the skin under and around my eyes looks and feels so much better. It's the last product I use at night, and I can tell I wake up with a lot less puffiness and dark circles. I'm pleased with how long the little bottle has lasted!"

This eye cream has all the ingredients dermatologists recommend to reduce the look of dark circles: three types of hyaluronic acid, a peptide complex, and vitamin C. And since it's fragrance-free, reviewers with sensitive skin are fans.

Rave Review: "It certainly perks up my eye area and makes it appear brighter. It goes on easily and cleanly. There is no obnoxious scent, it absorbs well, and just gives my eyes a boost."

“This eye cream is one of my favorites, as it’s packed with vitamin K and a hydrolyzed form of hyaluronic acid that's ideal for absorption into the skin,” says dermatologist Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD. She says that with long-term use, vitamin K helps promote blood flow, diminishing puffiness and discoloration.

Rave Review: "This really worked! The change was like night and day. I love the cooling effect, subtle scent, and the instant effect it has. I recommend it, especially to those for whom nothing else seems to work!"

Some eye creams need time to absorb into the skin before you can apply makeup—not this one by Ole Henriksen. Even though it's hydrating, the vitamin C-packed formula was designed to be crease-resistant, too. "Ole Henriksen's eye cream has an orange tint that balances the purple appearance of dark circles," says Dr. Camp. "It also contains vitamin C, which helps address the oxidative stresses that contribute to photoaging."

Note: While there was a class action lawsuit in 2020 against this particular cream, Dr. Garshick says it's been reformulated from the prior version that was said to cause irritation in the skin around the eyes, so it can now be used by those with sensitive skin.

Rave Review: "I love the immediate highlight and shine this product provides. The texture is also nice. It definitely helped brighten my undereyes long-term.!"

No, this isn't lipstick—but it's just as travel and purse-friendly. Dr. Garshick recommends RoC's eye balm stick for refreshing the eye area. "With vitamin C and peptides, this balm helps brighten and reduce puffiness, improving the overall appearance of dark circles," she says. Just apply it once or twice daily.

Rave Review: "I was worried the stick formula would tug on my delicate undereye skin, but thankfully, it glides smoothly. Immediately upon application, I feel a cooling sensation. I massage the balm back and forth under my eyes and it helps eliminate all my puffiness. It also deposits a sheer yellow color that melts into my skin and brightens my eye area, minimizing the dark circles. I like to use this for color correction and hydration prior to concealer."

"The niacinamide in this product helps calm skin and treat skin discoloration," says Dr. Camp. She approves of this product because the caffeine in it reduces any background blue or purple tones, and the cooling metal applicator helps reduce swelling and puffiness.

Rave Review: "I've been self conscious of my undereye circles since seventh grade, and after using this product for a couple months, they have lightened significantly. I use it every day and night after serum and before moisturizer. It's been four months and I still have maybe a quarter of it left. I highly recommend it for anyone with dark undereye circles."

Not technically a cream, this waterproof concealer can go far to cover dark circles while treating them. It brightens the undereye area with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, and vegan collagen. The doe-foot applicator makes it easy to put on, too.

Rave Review: "I have tried so many concealers and this is possibly the best for my skin. My skin type is normal/combination and I found that so many concealers before had collected on the corners of my eyes and the fine lines. This concealer goes on beautifully, lasts all day, and matches my skin tone perfectly."