Get Rid of Baggage With the 12 Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles — Picked by Testers

In testing, the brightening effects were impressive. “I’ve tried many eye creams, but I’ve never found one that did anything about dark circles,” says wellness writer and editor Lili Ladaga. “This is the only one that has worked for me. My under-eye area looks brighter and lighter.” The rich cream takes about 30 seconds to absorb completely, it but doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. “My skin looks and feels super hydrated, and I was able to apply lightweight cream concealer over it without any pilling,” Ladaga adds.

“I saw improvement with my wrinkles within minutes of use,” says editor Nicole Bonaccorso. “A lot of times, I feel like I’m just putting on skin products and hoping something good is happening. But with this one, you can actually see results — it leaves your eyes looking younger, fresher, and well-rested.”

The lightweight, gel-like formula is cooling and absorbs into the skin quickly. The only drawback is a faint chemical smell, although Bonaccorso notes that the smell doesn’t linger after it’s applied.

For getting rid of dark circles, this retinol-based cream is a favorite of Julie de la Cruz, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist at Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute in Florida. Retinol helps to boost collagen production and cell turnover for smoother, more radiant skin. This lightweight formula is thinner than many creams and absorbs almost instantly. “It works quickly on circles and fine lines, leaving an overall more youthful eye,” says women’s health writer Sarah Stankorb.

While retinol does most of the heavy lifting in this product, the second ingredient is glycerin, which helps to lock in moisture. The cream also contains a blend of zinc and copper to protect and repair the skin.

While Stankorb used this product twice a day during testing without any irritation, if you haven’t used retinol products before, you may want to ease in. “Start slowly, just a few times per week, and gradually increase to daily use as tolerated,” says Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, PhD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Dermatology Circle in New York City.

The silky formula is easy to apply, absorbs quickly, and delivers noticeable results. “This accessibly priced eye cream is packed with caffeine, so I can feel good about knowing the formula actually helps reduce the look of puffy skin beneath your eyes,” says beauty writer Jill Di Donato. “After two weeks of consistent use, I noticed that the skin around my eyes was more hydrated, softer, and less puffy.”

Overnight eye creams tend to be a bit heavier than daytime creams, but this one has a silky texture that doesn’t leave behind any stickiness. One of the key ingredients is hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant that draws moisture into the skin. According to the product claims, a single application can lock in moisture for up to 100 hours.

The formula also contains a blend of peptides to help renew your skin while you sleep, along with vitamin E to protect against free radical damage that can lead to dark circles. “During testing, I was up at night feeding my baby, and it really helped tamp down the bags,” says women’s health writer Grace Gallagher. “I noticed my under-eye circles were less pronounced.”

Just be sure to read the ingredient list carefully, because some ingredients — like lavender extract and chamomile flower oil — are common allergens. And while there’s no synthetic fragrance in the formula, you may notice a slight natural scent from some of the botanical ingredients.

“It’s really gentle and smooth,” says editor Ashley Ziegler, noting that the lightweight formula was perfect for daytime wear and delivered moisture to the dry skin around her eyes. While the ingredients help to correct dark circles over time, the cream also creates an instant brightening effect, thanks to its light-reflecting pigments. It may not eliminate dark circles quite as quickly or dramatically as a retinol cream, but it’s a solid alternative for those with dry or sensitive skin.

Out of the tube, the lightweight formula was slightly greasy to the touch. But as soon as the product was fully absorbed, the greasy feeling went away and the skin felt “instantly hydrated and smooth,” says writer Raki Swanson. “Right away, the skin around my eyes felt awake, like it could feel the caffeine in the product.”

This cream was slower to absorb than others on our list, but the hydrating formula fills in fine lines and wrinkles, making it easy to layer under makeup or concealer. A light-reflecting pearl effect brightens skin and is “shiny, but not too shiny,” Swanson says.

This drugstore pick brightens the eyes without stretching your beauty budget. Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin around the eyes hydrated for hours, which can lessen the appearance of dark circles by plumping fine lines and soothing irritation.

The gel-cream formula combines the best of both textures — it’s lightweight and fast-absorbing like a gel, but it moisturizes like a cream. “It felt refreshingly cool right after I applied it to my skin, with no residue or stickiness,” says Ladaga. “It helped reduce the appearance of fine lines by hydrating and moisturizing the delicate skin under my eyes.”

Its skin-smoothing benefits also make it the perfect primer for makeup or concealer. And while it didn’t dramatically lighten dark circles during the testing period, Ladaga notes that it delivered similar results to eye creams that cost three times as much.

At more than $300 per fluid ounce, this is one of the priciest picks on our list. But a little goes a long way, and the small tube should last around two months with twice-daily use. It also checks off three steps in your skin-care routine — eye cream, sunscreen, and tinted under-eye corrector — which may make it a bit easier to justify the splurge. (There’s also a small subscribe-and-save discount if you buy directly through the Colorescience website.)

The SPF 35 formula features a blend of peptides, vitamins, and plant-based ingredients to help lock in moisture and prevent puffiness. “This reduced the puffiness and under-eye bags almost immediately,” says Swanson. “My skin feels tighter, and with the color tint of the lotion, the darkness is reduced.”

Just be aware that the tinted formula is currently only available in four shades. If you have darker skin or warmer or cooler undertones than what’s available, you may need to add a layer of concealer for a closer color match.

Antioxidant-rich mandarin orange and grapefruit extracts help to minimize dark circles by protecting against free radicals that can break down collagen and cause discoloration. But one fruit you won’t find is banana — the product’s name is actually a nod to banana powder, a popular yellow-tinted highlighting powder that inspired the light-reflecting minerals in this eye cream.

While this cream layers well with makeup, it doesn’t completely melt into the skin. “The product feels like a primer,” says Bonaccorso. “It’s not sticky, but you can tell it’s there when you’re wearing it.” Still, it does a flawless job of blurring fine lines and provides a smooth base for makeup.

As can be expected from a mineral sunscreen, the formula is thick and borderline goopy, says editor Katie Tuttle. But it absorbs surprisingly well into the skin, and the pinkish tint helps to offset the white cast that zinc oxide sometimes leaves behind. “I think this is my favorite daytime eye cream,” Tuttle says. That pink tint, however, may not be the best for all skin tones. “Though it’s thick and a bit expensive, I like the tint, and I like that it provides sun protection — something you really need for the delicate skin under your eyes,” she adds.

Designed to be the first product you apply after washing your face, this daily serum can be used in the morning, at night, or both. It hydrates the skin with niacinamide, a topical form of vitamin B3 that helps to boost collagen production, smooth out wrinkles, and reduce discoloration. Vitamin C brightens dark circles and protects the delicate skin under the eyes, while peptides help the skin look firmer.

“It was easy to apply and feels soft and supple around my eyes,” says lifestyle writer Marisa Olsen, who was pleasantly surprised by the luxe packaging and silky texture of this drugstore staple. “Fine lines appeared to be diminished, and my crow’s-feet felt plumper,” she adds. The hydrating formula helps eyes look less tired and puffy, and while it’s advertised as fragrance-free, it does have a naturally fresh, milky scent. Those interested in this product should note that the added mica, which gives the serum a bit of shimmer to mask dark circles, may be a little too glittery for some.