17 Best Eye Creams for Wrinkles, According to Dermatologists

This serum “has retinol and Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant,” explains Dr. Jaliman. “It lightens dark circles and helps improve fine lines and wrinkles.” Plus, reviewers rave that the lightweight, non-greasy formula goes on “silky smooth” and leaves skin feeling “velvety soft.”

What an Editor Says: Our digital director, Allie Early, tested it out, noting that it’s “moisturizing and affordable for the amount of benefits it offers, and you only need to use a little bit of it each time.” However, the retinol product is not ideal for her sensitive skin, she adds.

Amazon’s best-selling eye cream, this product from CeraVe offers serious results at an affordable price. It contains hyaluronic acid to moisturize skin, niacinamide to soothe skin, and three essential ceramides to restore and maintain skin’s natural barrier. What’s more, it uses MVE delivery technology to continually release ingredients for long-lasting hydration. It’s even accepted by the National Eczema Association.

What the Reviews Say: “It works, ladies! If you are on a budget, try this. Even if you are not on a budget, try this,” wrote one Amazon reviewer.

Taking the spot as the best overall eye cream, according to the Good Housekeeping Institute, Lancôme’s Absolue Revitalizing Eye Cream is a great option if you’re willing to splurge on a pricier product. Multiple GH Beauty Lab testers saw a noticeable difference after using the ultra-moisturizing and firming eye cream, which contains vitamins C and E, along with botanical extracts.

What a Lab Tester Says: “The creamy-yet-lightweight formula seemed to disappear into my under-eye skin, leaving it smooth and younger-looking from the very first use,” said a tester.

Those who have excessive wrinkling around the eyes may want to consider a retinol cream. Joshua Zeichner, M.D., dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital recommends this moisturizing option because it minimizes dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles without being too harsh on the delicate under-eye skin.

What the Reviews Say: “If you are willing to apply this daily you will see results. I have just begun noticing some actual reduction in my fine lines and wrinkles,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “I really didn’t think over-the-counter retinal creams could work, but this cream has proven me wrong.”

This hydrating eye cream is gentle enough for your under-eyes and contains hyaluronic acid to plump and moisturize the skin. “It acts like a sponge to pull in hydration from the deep skin layers and even the air,” says Dr. Zeichner. It’s also a popular customer favorite, boasting over 13,000 five-star ratings from Amazon shoppers.

What an Editor Says: “I love that this eye cream feels so refreshing and hydrating on my skin,” says Prevention’s associate commerce editor, Hannah Jeon. “It has a really nice gel-like consistency that goes on super lightweight and soaks into my skin immediately.”

This eye cream helps reduce the look of wrinkles and puffiness with a blend of retinol and caffeine. It remains gentle on the sensitive eye area, as it contains soothing thermal spring water and is fragrance-free.

The Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab put it to the test and found it absorbs quickly into the skin. Testers also noted that it didn’t irritate their skin despite containing retinol, which sometimes causes redness and other reactions.

What a Lab Tester Says: “The skin around my eyes looks better and feels firmer; my eyes look younger,” said one Lab tester.

The retinol, niacinamide, and peptide blend in this drugstore eye cream make it a winner for dark circles, fine lines, and dull-looking skin without irritation. Just a dot of this rich formula delivers skin-smoothing radiance for a well-rested look. It also comes with a trial size Olay Regenerist Whip moisturizer as an added bonus!

What the Reviews Say: “The product has a great consistency. It absorbs quickly and provides a lot of moisture and hydration to the eye area,” wrote one reviewer. “My lines looked smoother after using it. The quality is equivalent to much pricier eye creams I have used in the past.”

This rich cream is a dream if you’re prone to dryness in your under-eye area. Your skin will drink up its antioxidants to combat fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles. The heavy-duty formula feels ultra-nourishing and creamy on the skin, making this a great nighttime pick.

What the Reviews Say: “This eye cream is a game changer! I’ve used some of the most expensive eye cream out there, and this blows them out of the water. You almost see a change the next day,” wrote one reviewer.

With over 9,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this eye gel is definitely worth adding to your skincare lineup. Designed for use morning and night, this eye gel helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles. It has a lightweight texture that glides smoothly over the skin, and it includes vitamin E for moisture and elasticity. Plus, jojoba oil and an amino acid blend offer smooth hydration.

What the Reviews Say: “Give it time and use it religiously—this thing really works,” wrote one Amazon customer. “As a mother of four in her 30s, I’m always running on minimal to no sleep, don’t eat right, and am always on the go. This actually helped take away the dark circles I was spending so much money on expensive makeup to conceal.”

This brightening eye cream includes three forms of vitamin C, lactic acid, and tranexamic acid (a brightening agent). The pump bottle dispenses a silky formula that’s fast absorbing, so you can apply it day or night and get on with the next step in your makeup or skincare routine right away.

What an Editor Says: “I rely on this eye cream to help me look more awake first thing in the morning. It instantly helps with dark circles and puffiness, and I love that the ingredients target wrinkles over time,” says Prevention’s senior commerce editor, Christie Calucchia.

“I like multitasking products, and this is three things: It’s a concealer and a sunscreen, and it has anti-aging properties,” Mona Gohara, M.D., assistant clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine, previously told Prevention. “Eyes age quickly, so when it is used as a concealer, you’re getting ample SPF in that area.” (That’s why it earned a spot in our 2020 Healthy Beauty Awards!)

What the Reviews Say: “Why didn’t I know about this sooner,” wrote one customer. “Not only does it cover my dark circles, but it doesn’t crease and even minimizes the appearance of fine lines!”

Packed with retinol, Swertia flower extract, and hyaluronic acid, this is one of the best eye creams for wrinkles. It’s effective at tightening loose skin around the eyes and improving the appearance of under-eye bags, according to GH Beauty Lab testing.

What a Lab Tester Says: “It really tightened my skin, smoothing it out,” said one tester.

Products from SkinCeuticals tend to be pricey, but they are effective, and this new release from the brand is no exception. An eye cream for dark circles and wrinkles, it delivers 24 hours of moisture while targeting elasticity, puffiness, tone, and wrinkles, according to the brand. It contains concentrated proxylane to address visible signs of aging, caffeine to reduce puffiness, and inclusive optical effects to disperse light and improve the look of dark circles.

What the Reviews Say: “The crows feet at the corners of my eyes have diminished. In addition, my under eyes are less puffy, and the dark circles have lightened,” wrote a reviewer after using the cream consistently for two weeks.

With 1.5% time-released microencapsulated retinol, this eye cream works to diminish the look of wrinkles and dark circles overnight. It also includes caffeine to target puffiness and shea butter, squalane, and vitamin E to moisturize the delicate skin near the eyes.

What an Editor Says: “I recently tested out a sample of this eye cream and found it offers immediate hydration and absorbs quickly into skin,” said Calucchia. “I like knowing that it’s working overnight to target wrinkles and puffiness.”

Glow Recipe is a cult favorite beauty brand. Among the greats is its Avocado Melt Retinol eye cream, a fluffy nutrient-rich eye cream made with potent ingredients like vitamin E, vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid. The formula works to reduce the appearance of dark circles while de-puffing the eye area. You’ll get brighter, smoother, more awake-looking eyes by morning.

What the Reviews Say: “It’s super moisturizing but lightweight and very lightly scented. I have seen a visible improvement in my fine lines and circles in just two weeks!” wrote one reviewer.

This velvety eye cream is luxuriously hydrating. Suitable for all skin types, its main benefits are moisturizing dry skin and taming puffiness around the eyes for an overall firmer look. The formula contains peony and honeysuckle extracts to boost elasticity, Okinawa red algae and hyaluronic acid to moisturize, and Hadasei-3, a blend of superfoods, to give skin a radiant glow.

What the Reviews Say: “I’ve tried many eye creams over the years, but this beats them all—hands down,” wrote a reviewer. “Very light and velvety but extra moisturizing at the same time, [it] soaks in nicely and feels great all day or evening.”

This brightening and tightening eye cream from Peach & Lily differentiates itself from other products with its retinoic complex containing 0.5% bakuchiol (a retinol alternative). Less likely to cause irritation than standard retinol, bakuchiol is naturally derived and plant-based, yet it still helps boost cell turnover to make room for new, healthy ones.

What the Reviews Say: “Smooth, melts into my skin, and is gentle enough my eyes do not itch or get red,” wrote one shopper. “I have sensitive skin and I am always hesitant purchasing eye creams, but the Retinoic Eye Cream is magic!”