The 10 Best Eye Creams For Every Concern

The skin around your eye area is 40 per cent thinner and more porous than that of the rest of your face, making it more susceptible to environmental damage—which may explain why so many of us seem to be on an endless hunt for the best eye cream to hydrate, smooth, plump or brighten. When it comes to eye products, our demands are manifold—and so they should be, when you consider these little pots are often the smallest (and most expensive) formulations in our beauty arsenal.

But despite constant innovation in the industry, no one formula will erase wrinkles, brighten dark circles and abolish crepiness in one fell swoop, so it pays to do your research beforehand (or let us do it for you).

For example, the best eye cream for wrinkles will contain cell-regenerating ingredients—studies have shown retinol to excel in this area. A formula for dark circles will focus on targeting pigmentation (keep an eye out for vitamin C) and reflecting the light, helping to make your under-eye area look fresher and brighter. And the best eye cream for dry, sallow skin will be packed with powerful hydrators—here, hyaluronic acid is your hero.

Above, discover the leading eye creams we've discovered for dark circles, fine lines, and more.

Photos: Courtesy

This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR UK. 

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Best for fine lines

Clinical brands often linger outside of the mainstream, but Harvey Nichols has cleverly scooped up the excellent Environ, placing it front and centre of its innovative Beyond Beauty curation. This water-weight eye gel is one of many brilliant, no-nonsense products in the line: it contains the retinol ester retinyl palmitate alongside a host of vitamins and peptides, and can minimise both fine lines and sun damage within weeks.

1 of 10

Environ Youth EssentiA

Best for sensitive skin

This incredibly gentle eye cream won't make you look ten years younger overnight (nor will any other, for that matter), but it will do a stellar job of soothing and hydrating dry, sensitive skin. The 98 per cent natural formula is full of plant-derived oils, and totally free from fragrance (chemical or otherwise). It's a fail-safe choice for highly sensitive skin that's been burned before.

2 of 10

Lumene Arctic Hydra Care [Arktis] Moisture & Relief Rich Eye Cream

Best for SPF

3 of 10

Skinceuticals Mineral Eye UV Defence SPF30

Best for a natural option

Tata Harper's globally loved line is proof that natural skincare doesn't mean compromising on efficacy. This outstanding eye cream relies on buckwheat, arnica and plant-sourced hyaluronic acid to gently restore dry, crepey skin around the eyes. The base is loaded with aloe vera too – great news for sensitive skin.

4 of 10

Tata Harper Restorative Eye Creme

Best for signs of ageing

Smile lines can be beautiful, but if you're concerned that wrinkles around your eyes are cropping up too quickly, halt the clock with this potent (yet gentle) eye cream. Containing anti-ageing hero retinol, it smooths out the under-eye area over time.

5 of 10

La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eyes

Best for dark circles

Cult beauty brand The Ordinary has done it again with this honestly priced product that delivers visible results. Targeting pigmentation and puffiness, the formula harnesses caffeine and antioxidant polyphenols from green tea leaves.

6 of 10

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

Best for a serious reboot

If you're looking to brighten, tighten and practically turn back time on your under-eye area, few things can compete with the potency of Medik8's latest launch. The star ingredient is a fast-acting, non-irritating derivative of vitamin A that can be used on even the most sensitive eyes. Use it consistently, day and night, for a month to start seeing results.

7 of 10

Medik8 R-Retinoate Eye Serum

Best for puffiness

Possibly London's most sought-after oculoplastic surgeon, Dr. Maryam Zamani is perfectly placed to create one of the most effective eye creams on the market. One of two eye treatments in her MZ Skin line, Depuff and Define contains a combination of hyaluronic acid, caffeine and peptides to shift the fluid that contributes to puffiness and bags. With lymphatic circulation boosted, the under-eye area is left bright, smooth and supple.

8 of 10

MZ Skin Depuff and Define

Best for brightening

‘Glow’ is an intensely overused word in today’s beauty marketing, but Filorga’s latest eye cream delivers just that. The texture is truly unique: it’s a lightweight, pearly-pink cream with a radiant finish that illuminates without leaving behind any giveaway pigment.

9 of 10

Filorga Oxygen-Glow Eyes

Best for dry skin

In a sea of new, science-y launches, few of the classics still stand tall – but La Mer's The Eye Concentrate remains a holy-grail product for so many. Signature algae extracts pull hydration into the skin, while hematite reduces discolouration and darkness. Keep the accompanying applicator in the fridge – when cold, the metal tip will help settle puffiness.

10 of 10

La Mer The Eye Concentrate