The 9 Best Eye Creams For Men That Experts Actually Use

When it comes to combatting dark circles, crow’s feet, and puffiness, reaching for one of the best eye creams for men is an easy solve for just about any concern. And while you may think using an eye cream is unnecessary in your routine, a number of top experts would beg to differ.

“These creams help moisturise and protect the skin around your eyes, which are among the most delicate part of your face,” Jeremy Brauer, board-certified dermatologist at Spectrum Skin and Laser in New York City tells Bazaar. “Eye creams also help to prevent dark circles, fine lines, and signs of aging in the area.” Board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman agrees, noting that ingredient formulations within these skincare staples is especially important. “It’s a sensitive area, so you want to choose products specifically designed for the eyes to ensure they’ve been tested for safety and efficacy in the eye area,” he adds.

For men especially, trying to decide which eye cream to use means keeping a few things in mind. “It depends on individual skin needs, but an eye cream can help add additional nourishment and hydration if a man is experiencing dry/dehydrated skin,” says licensed esthetician and Dior skincare expert and ambassador, Sean Garrette. “Most men will benefit from an eye cream with retinol and vitamin C in it as it will help protect and encourage collagen production in that area.”

Below, we’ve listed some of the best eye creams for men that the experts recommend and actually use themselves, from coveted brands like CeraVe, Revision Skincare, and more.

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Shop The Best Eye Creams for Men

BEST ALL-AROUND

PROS

• Addresses puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles

Here’s a beloved eye cream hero among editors, experts, and beauty lovers alike. It’s also one of Hartman’s favourites for reducing dark circles due to its formulation of retinol, glycerin, vitamin E, and vitamin B5. “It delivers an immediate boost to the skin by adding moisture,” he says. “With continuous use, you should see improvement in fine lines and dark circles around the eye.”

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “I’m a 65 year-old man who has recently formed bags under both eyes. I bought and have been using your rye cream for about six weeks. There has been significant improvement. I use the cream twice a day and even though my skin is sensitive, I’ve had no irritation.” —Anonymous

Best for: Fine lines, dark circles, puffiness, smoothing

BEST FOR DARK CIRCLES

PROS

• Hydrating

CONS

• Reviewers say that pilling is possible

Brauer recommends this brightening eye cream from SkinMedica that also hydrates and de-puffs at the same time. “It features a powerful mix of ingredients, including phyenylethyl resorcinol, marine extracts, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and more, to help the skin around the eyes look brighter and younger,” he says.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “Purchased this product at the recommendation of my dermatologist (among other SkinMedica products). My primary problem was dark circles around my eyes that were not age-related. I have fair Mediterranean skin and the skin around my eyes is pretty thin- thus a dark eye look. This product has brightened up my eyes but also added a bit of plump. I highly recommend.” —Sarah

Best for: Crow’s feet, fine lines, under eye bags, dark circles

BEST LUXE

PROS

• Features a cooling applicator tip

CONS

• Scent may be off-putting to some

This luxe eye serum from Dior is one of Garrette’s favourites to give the area a more lifted appearance. It uses a concentrated formula of 22 micro-nutrients from the Rose de Granville flower to help restore and smooth skin and boost radiance around the eye area. Plus, the ergonomic applicator makes it super easy to use.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “Of course the applicator is a pleasure to use and enhances the serum’s benefits, but the serum really does work on its own, as proven by the sample I used first. I have tried many eye serums over the years, and at 57 I am so glad to find one that truly works.” —Saray

Best for: Dark circles, sagging skin

BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

PROS

• Hydrating
• Smooths fine lines

CONS

• Some reviewers say it’s a heavier consistency than they would prefer

Another expert eye cream favourite, Brauer recommends this slow release retinol version from First Aid Beauty that targets fine lines without irritating your skin. It also contains hydrating ingredients like squalane and ceramides to soothe while strengthening the moisture barrier. “It’s both affordable and effective, so it’s a win-win in my book,” Brauer notes.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “I’m on my second tube of this eye cream and absolutely love it! It goes on smoothly with just a small amount and it helps with a bunch of issues like puffiness and fine lines.” —jjmr

Best for: Dryness, fine lines

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BEST WITH VITAMIN C

PROS

• Anti-inflammatory formula

CONS

• Reviewers say that it may feel heavier than expected

Ron Robinson, cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat, formulated this eye cream with 5% vitamin C to effectively brighten dark circles. It also contains other hardworking ingredients like caffeine, hyaluronic acid, and licorice extract, to quickly brighten under-eyes.

“This eye cream has a velvet-smooth texture that feels decadent when applied,” adds Ian Crumm, celebrity esthetician and co-host of BeautyCurious Podcast. “I love the light peach colour that softly helps cover dark circles, while the vitamin C in the formula works to overall brighten the appearance of the under-eye skin.”

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “I have never used a vitamin C that worked this great! I’m about out and can totally see a difference in my skin tone, it’s brighter and more glowy. Will definitely be grabbing more!” —Brandy

Best for: Dark circles, dull skin

BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY

PROS

• Great for puffiness
• Suitable for sensitive skin

CONS

• Reviewers say that it won’t completely brighten up dark circles

CeraVe’s Eye Repair Cream a solid choice for anyone looking for a streamlined formula at a wallet-friendly price, according to our experts. It contains plumping hyaluronic acid, hydrating ceramides, and niacinamide to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “I had a full breakdown the night before, you know the kind - you wake up, eyes are swollen and red with dark circles from endless crying and barely any sleep. I had to be at work within the hour so I figured I’d use some eye cream. Within 5 minutes, the swelling/puffiness was gone. My eyes looked totally normal. Not a hint that I’d been an overwhelmed mess 10 hours ago. This stuff was a godsend. 10/10.” —Cait

Best for: Dry skin, dark circles, under eye bags

BEST FOR DEEP WRINKLES

PROS

• Features a cooling applicator tip
• Clinically-proven to improve skin’s natural moisture barrier

Hartman personally uses this eye cream as it tackles many different skin concerns at once. “It targets drooping eyelids, crepiness around the eyes as well as crow’s feet and other wrinkles,” he says. “My skin looks smoother and firmer after use.” Its goji fruit extract, peptide, and amino acid copper complex also nicely works for the entire eye area.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “The only eye cream I have ever found to effectively improve small lines under my eyes. I naturally have dry skin, especially under my eyes. This cream not only locks in moisture all day, it also prevents cracking of my make up.” —Linda

Best for: Crepey skin, crow’s feet, fine lines, and wrinkles

BEST GEL FORMULA

PROS

• Lightweight
• Great for fine lines and puffiness

This lightweight under-eye gel contains antioxidants like grape seed extract to protect the skin from environmental aggressors while keeping it hydrated. Crumm loves its cooling applicator tip in particular, which he says creates a pleasant and fun experience when it’s applied.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “I’m not a huge believer in eye creams because most have the same ingredients your moisturiser should have. However, I bought this eye gel because of the applicator and thought it might be cool to try. I’m obsessed. The applicator is metal and it feels SO cold on my eyes so when I put it on it de-puffs and feels so good.” —Anonymous

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BEST WITH RETINAL

PROS

• Helps lift the appearance of eye contours
• Hydrating

CONS

• Can only be used at night

Crumm recommends this “super-charged” eye cream for those looking to brighten their complexion and restore the eye area. It uses retinal to turnover skin cells, which is available in three strengths depending on your needs: 3 (0.03% retinal), 6 (0.06% retinal), and 10 (0.1% retinal).

What the Reviewers Are Saying: “Love this eye cream—it’s soft and glides over the eye area. I have certainly noticed an improvement in fine fines around my eyes over the weeks I have been using it.” —Victoria

Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin

This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR US.