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Best for Brightening
Korres Apothecary Wild Rose Bright-Eyed Cushion Cream
Pros
- Makes eyes noticeably brighter
- Product dispenses fully, leaving no product waste
- Easy to layer beneath makeup
- Plumps and lifts the skin
Cons
- Limited retailers
- Small tube
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Wild rose oil, super vitamin C
- Fragrance: Yes (but not very detectable)
- Night/day/both: Unknown (directions do not say)
- SPF: None
Puffy eyes can be accompanied by dull skin and dark under-eyes, making you look drawn and tired. The ingredients in Korres Apothecary Wild Rose Bright-Eyed Cushion Cream aim to make you look bright-eyed and awake.
The Korres cream has a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly into your skin, “making it great to wear during the day, even with my glasses on,” said Everyday Health writer Jill Di Donato. ”This product aims to brighten, and it does add instant glow; the skin beneath my eyes appears more supple and less dull.” We just wish it came in a larger tube.
Best for Nighttime
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme Synchronized Multi-Recovery
Pros
- A non-sticky gel with no residue
- Available at a variety of places
- Fast results
- Reduced under-eye circles
Cons
- Pink sheen may blend better on light skin
- An overwhelming number of ingredients
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Night peptide, sodium hyaluronate, tocopheryl acetate
- Fragrance: None
- Night/day/both: Night
- SPF: None
Writer Grace Gallagher liked the lightweight texture and noticed it felt cooling on her skin during testing. Her skin felt well-hydrated, and after using it for a short time, she was thrilled with the results. “I noticed my under-eye circles were less pronounced,” she said. She concluded: “It works better than most other eye creams I've found.” This is a definite bonus with a brand as widely available as Estée Lauder. Gallagher did note that the pink sheen may not blend in as well for those with darker skin.
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Best for Mature Skin
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye
Pros
- Noticeably and drastically softens skin
- Works quickly to reduce wrinkles and puffiness
- A little goes a long way
- Plumps and firms
Cons
- Limited availability
- Small container
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Proxylane, flavonoid blend, Matrixyl 3000
- Fragrance: None (mild lotion smell detected)
- Night/day/both: Both
- SPF: None
“Once applied, I felt a little bit of a tingling feeling,” said writer Raki Swanson. “[It was] a good tingling feeling around my eyes. It almost felt like the skin was tightening, if that is even possible.” She said five minutes after applying the cream, her skin was soft and hydrated. After use, she noticed that “the wrinkles aren’t as deep, the circles aren’t as dark, and less puffy.”
Even with the very high price point and small amount, Swanson swears by the product. “This works. There are a lot of products out there that say they will do this, do that, and they may do just as they state, but in time. I have never, ever, tried a product that will work as fast as this one does. In one week, the results are showing.” The downside is that the product is only available through the manufacturer and an online dermatology store.
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Best for Young Skin
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel
Pros
- Cooling
- Lower price point
- Transparent about all-natural ingredients
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Greasy ointment texture that sits on skin
- Color of gel is unappealing
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Yerba mate, caffeine, acetyl tetrapeptide-5, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance: None (a natural scent detected)
- Night/day/both: Both
- SPF: None
“The outer package clearly lists the ingredients and percentages, which is transparent and helpful,” said writer Marisa Olsen. The gel itself is easy to apply and dispenses easily from the tube. “My eyes felt pretty moisturized in the morning when used at night.” The gel isn’t the most visually appealing. (“Looks like little yellowish-green soft pebbles,” said Olsen.) But using a little of it goes a long way. However, Olsen said that the product didn’t seem to do much to help with her eye puffiness during testing. Still, she said she'd recommend it to a younger friend.
Best for Tired Eyes
Dermalogica Awaken Peptide Eye Gel
Pros
- Firming
- Mini eye-lift effect
- Creamy gel
- Cool and refreshing
Cons
- Faint chemical smell
- Pricey product
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Caffeine, tetrapeptides, rosemary leaf extract, alpha hydroxy acid
- Fragrance: None (though a faint smell was detected)
- Night/day/both: Day
- SPF: None
Editor Nicole Bonaccorso found it to be cool, lightweight, and fast-absorbing during testing. This eye gel “immediately shows results,” she said. “I saw improvement with my wrinkles within minutes of use.” She noticed the difference each time she used the product and felt it was like getting a mini eye-lift. “This is one of the best eye creams I've tried. It delivers noticeable results quickly, works well under makeup, and doesn't pill or leave residue behind.”
“A lot of times,” she added, “I feel like I'm just putting skin products on and hoping something good is happening. With this one, you can actually see results.”
Best for Morning Puffiness
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Doesn’t pill or clump under makeup
- Melts into skin
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not vegan
- May not work on dark circles
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Caffeine, Matrixyl 3000, Albizia julibrissin bark extract
- Fragrance: None
- Night/day/both: Both
- SPF: None
Preorbital hyperpigmentation, or dark puffy eyes, can be caused by a variety of factors. It may be ongoing, indicating a genetic predisposition, or situational. Sleep deprivation, stress, dehydration, or seasonal allergies are all possible causes.
I like that the Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream provides clear instructions on when to apply it for optimal effectiveness. It’s meant to be applied after other serums (if you have any) but before moisturizer.
Di Donato appreciated the light and silky texture, as well as how well it spread and absorbed. “I loved that this cream was rich but not sticky or hard to absorb. It was lightweight yet still hydrating,” she said. Her favorite part of the product was the texture and its feel. She also noticed a difference in her under-eyes, saying that “after two weeks of consistent use, I noticed that the skin around my eyes was more-hydrated, softer, and less puffy.”
Best for Dark Circles
Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Care
Pros
- Four tint shades to match skin
- Results after the first use
- Fully absorbs into skin
- Vegan and paraben-free
Cons
- Color might transfer to pillow at night
- Tint may not match darker skin
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide
- Fragrance: None
- Night/day/both: Day
- SPF: Yes
Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Care purports to get rid of pesky under-eye circles and dark spots while being paraben-free. Colorescience uses a form of titanium dioxide that helps lighten darker areas of the skin, leading to an overall brighter look for those dull, dark circles.
The product is tinted and available in four shades. Swanson expressed concern that darker-skinned people would not have an option to use this product with their current color options. She noticed her dark circles looked less intense, though she said that some of the effect may come from the way the product sinks into the skin rather than sitting on top. It also made her skin tingle. Swanson said that it took her a few minutes to figure out how to use the product for the first time, because there were no instructions, which left her frustrated.
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Best for Sensitive Skin
Eucerin Radiant Tone Eye Cream
Pros
- The application tip has a cooling effect
- Absorbs in under a minute
- Doesn’t contain harsh ingredients
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- May not reduce dark circles as well
- Results may take a while to notice
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Thiamidol, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance: None
- Night/day/both: Both
- SPF: None
Editor Ashley Ziegler enjoyed the cooling sensation that the metal application and the lotion provided. She liked the silky texture, too and concluded, “I would say it does slightly brighten the under-eye area.” She experiences dry skin around her eyes, and usually resorts to using a balm to help smooth things over. She said that “even though this is lighter, I still felt like it delivered a bit of moisture. It's super-gentle but still effective.”
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Best for Crow’s Feet
Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX Temporary Eye Tightener
Pros
- Quick-absorbing
- Fills in crow’s feet and creases
- Long-lasting
- Tightens skin
Cons
- Can clump if too much applied
- Water-based makeup may reduce effect
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: “Firm-A-Tite,” peptides
- Fragrance: None
- Night/day/both: Day
- SPF: None
Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX Temporary Eye Tightener uses a blend of ingredients that may minimize puffiness, crow’s feet, and deep wrinkles for a short time.
“I have puffiness and fine lines,” says Di Donato. “When I applied this product, the gel-like texture immediately filled the creases and signs of crow's feet that form at the edges of my eyes.” She only needed a little bit of product and said that when she applied too much, “I experienced a sticky feeling.”
Still, the product created the perfect foundation for her makeup, smoothing the lines around her eyes and making it easier to apply concealer. But she cautioned that “this is the type of product that works the moment you use it, but you have to keep using it to experience the tightening results.”
Best for Natural Makeup Look
EltaMD UV AOX Eye
Pros
- Tinted
- Mineral sunscreen
- Great for sensitive skin
- Anti-inflammatory
Cons
- Limited shade range
- Takes time to soak in
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Zinc oxide, peptides, vitamin E & bisabolol, Persian silk tree extract
- Fragrance: None
- Night/day/both: Day
- SPF: Yes
I’m a fan of the natural look. I have sensitive skin and don’t like to wear a lot of makeup, but I also don’t want my eyes puffy or riddled with dark circles. When I tried this mineral sunscreen, it dispensed like a liquid foundation, but eventually absorbed into my skin. I dabbed it on to start, but eventually I had to blend it down from my eye to avoid an obvious line around my under-eye area.
The tint seemed to be fairly neutral for fair skin, at least. It isn’t a direct match at first, but within a couple of minutes, it disappears, leaving a smooth texture. It didn’t completely eliminate my dark circles, but it did enough to make a noticeable difference. I wouldn’t recommend using this under makeup; it might be too heavy. But the great news is you may not need anything but this. It has zinc oxide, a mineral sunscreen ingredient with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits. I could apply this and a little bit of mascara and look awake and ready to start my day.
Best for Retinol Users
Olay Regenerist Retinol24
Pros
- Lightweight
- Quick-absorbing
- Extra-moisturizing
- Contains retinol
Cons
- Contains oil
- May cause excessive dryness
Key Specs
- Main ingredients: Retinol, peptides, niacinamide, glycerin
- Fragrance: None
- Night/day/both: Night
- SPF: None
Why Trust Everyday Health
Jen Sinclair
Author
Jen Sinclair Is a freelance health and wellness writer who has spent the last two years writing feature articles and reviews of mental health and medical services and products. Her work has been published by Verywell Mind, Verywell Health, Health, and Parents. Prior to this, she worked for six years as a copywriter and blog writer for several legal and healthcare businesses, and as a paralegal for 15 years.
Jen currently lives with her husband and children in St. Augustine, Florida, where she enjoys spending time outdoors paddling waterways, driving around with the top off her Jeep, or trekking around with her writer hiker pals.
Susan Bard, MD
Medical Reviewer
Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her professional interests include Mohs micrographic surgery, cosmetic and laser procedures, and immunodermatology.
She is a procedural dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Bard has written numerous book chapters and articles for many prominent peer-reviewed journals, and authored the textbook The Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions.
Daniel Oakley
Fact-Checker
Daniel Oakley is a journalist, editor, and fact-checker. He has written, edited, taught, and produced media for Dow Jones, S&P Global, IHS Markit, Third Coast Studios Magazine, and 826 National.
Oakley's path has always been a health-and-wellness-focused one. A competitive triathlete and racing fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, he also spends summer weekends as an ISA-certified surf instructor and Red Cross professional water rescuer with Laru Beya Collective in Rockaway Beach, which helps kids master and delight in their own backyard — the ocean. It has taught Oakley that “optimizing body and mind” flourishes precisely at the wellspring of community.
Ally Hirschlag
Editor
Ally Hirschlag is an award-winning journalist with over 10 years of experience editing and writing health, fitness, beauty, lifestyle, and science content. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Weather.com, People, BBC Future, Audubon, Scientific American, and Smithsonian Magazine, among other publications. Hirschlag was most recently an associate editorial director for Byrdie.
She's an avid product tester with considerable experience testing skin care, hair care, fitness, fashion, and health-related products. She's also the daughter of an oral surgeon and can tell you about a long list of dental and gum-cleaning products you should be using.
Jill Di Donato
Tester
Jill has over 15 years of experience writing about women's health, wellness, and beauty. She has deep knowledge of buzzy products and what makes them popular with consumers. She's tested hundreds of skin care products, tools, and medical aesthetics procedures throughout her career, and she has interviewed top dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and holistic physicians to stay on top of the latest in skin health and wellness.
Jill is the former associate editorial operations director of the beauty group at Dotdash Meredith, where she worked on brands such as Shape and Byrdie, editing health, fitness, skin care, wellness, and body care commerce content.
She's also a former sex and relationship writer, and has made national television appearances to discuss sexual wellness topics for women. In addition to anything beauty and sexual wellness, Jill specializes in writing about body neutrality and mental health.
Jill has a degree in sociology, with a focus on gender studies and she has taught sociology classes at Barnard and Columbia University.
Grace Gallagher
Tester
Grace Gallagher is a writer with nearly a decade of experience writing about health and wellness, focusing on hair, sexual wellness, pregnancy, and parenting. She also works full-time as the lead hair health writer for the Hims blog.
Grace received a bachelor's degree from Hobart William Smith College and an MFA in creative writing from Hunter College, and her work has appeared in Health, Shape, Verywell Mind and Verywell Health, Parents, Romper, Healthline, Greatist, and more.
Raki Swanson
Tester
Raki Swanson is a Minnesota-based freelance health writer and married mother to two adult children. She has experience covering mental health, fitness, food, and lifestyle topics, as well as significant experience reviewing and testing products for the Marketplace team, including online therapy, fitness gear, and food.
She received a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from St. Cloud University in Minnesota. She has also worked as a business development manager at a Fortune 500 company in Minnesota, and spent several years living in the south of France while growing up, which inspired her love of travel and food.
When she's not writing, you can find her reading, blogging, and enjoying being an empty nester with her husband, two dogs, and tabby cat named Kevin.
Marisa Olsen
Tester
Marisa Olsen is a seasoned food, health, and lifestyle writer as well as a product reviewer and tester. Her work has appeared in several print and digital publications, including EatingWell, Food & Wine, The Spruce Eats, Real Simple, and U.S. News & World Report's "360 Reviews." She also writes for local news websites Cohasset Anchor and Hingham Anchor. Marisa has also authored several food blogs, including Marisa Olsen Writes.
She received her Bachelor of Arts from Connecticut College, where she graduated cum laude with a major in art history and a minor in psychology.
Marisa lives south of Boston in Cohasset, Massachusetts with her two children and husband. When not writing, she enjoys traveling, cooking, exercising, and spending time at the beach and in her garden.
Nicole Bonaccorso
Tester
Nicole Bonaccorso is a writer and editor with more than 12 years of journalism experience. She has been writing for Everyday Health since 2025, and has also been published on NBCNews.com, Treehugger, Verywell, Mashable, and Upworthy, among other publications.
Nicole was also a senior editor at Weather.com for more than 11 years, covering everything from weather and climate change to health, science, and travel.
In addition to writing, Nicole has also found a passion in helping new parents reach their breastfeeding goals and is working towards becoming a certified breastfeeding specialist.
In her free time, Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her two young sons, husband, and dog.
Ashley Ziegler
Tester
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time writer with extensive experience covering women’s health, babies' and kids' health, mental health, and wellness. Her work has appeared on websites including The Bump, Health, Pregnancy & Newborn, People, Parents, Romper, Scary Mommy, and more.
Before transitioning into her full-time writing career, Ashley worked in the departments of pediatric cardiology and general medicine at Duke University Medical Center, and later at the North Carolina Medical Board. During undergrad, she majored in communications at Purdue University and then earned her master’s degree with a concentration in healthcare management from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Ashley lives with her husband and two young daughters in North Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys reading, walking, taking barre classes, and catching up on her favorite podcasts.