Best under eye creams for wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles

Cleansers, moisturisers and mineral sunscreen for your face may already be ingrained into your skincare routine, but it's surprising how many people neglect the all-important step of applying eye cream. Although it's another stage in the old skincare routine, it is an essential one. The best under-eye creams help target wrinkles, brighten your eyes and de-puff dark circles. As the eyes tend to be the first point of contact (and one of the first places to show signs of ageing), it is important they are nourished and cared for.

Unfortunately, standard serums and face creams aren’t formulated specifically for the delicate skin around your eye as they are too potent for this fragile area. This is why we have rounded-up eye creams that will level up your skincare routine and leave you looking more awake and radiant. Combined with a daily spot of eye yoga, your eyes will feel refreshed and awake in no time.

Before we take a look at our pick of creams, we talked toRosalba Martone, Director of Education at Perricone MD, to find out how to apply eye cream, how it works and what ingredients to look at depending on what you are targeting.

How does eye cream work?

Rosalba explains, "The skin around our eyes is much different from the skin on the rest of our face- it is much thinner and has far fewer oil glands, which makes the eye area more easily prone to skin sensitivity, irritation, dryness and discolouration. Eye creams should be a staple in a skincare routine, as they are formulated specifically for the type of skin around the delicate eye area."

When should you apply eye cream, and how long does it take to have an effect?

"Twice a day, after your face moisturiser. The eye cream should be applied to clean skin. Generally speaking, anywhere between 3-6 months; however, we see improvement in hydration with ours almost instantly and visible improvements in lines, dark circles and texture in as little as four weeks." Rosalba added, "It’s important to remember we can’t change cell function overnight, so it will work if you ensure to remain consistent with application twice per day."

What ingredients to look out for that target:

Wrinkles: peptides, vitamin Ester-C

Puffiness: peptides, caffeine

Dark circles: Peptides, vitamin Ester-C, biomimetic pat protein

Best under-eye creams

So with that in mind, let's take a look at the best under-eye creams that tackle wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles while making your skin glow.

Review: "I have been using this wonderful eye cream for years; now that I am 52, I use the rich one. I love everything about this cream, and does everything that it states. This is the one and only eye cream I will use. Thank you Clinique, good value for money too."

Review: "I purchased this eye cream on the review of others on the site and am so glad I gave it a try - it is very moisturising and sinks immediately into the eye area with no nasty residue - I have sensitive eyes, and there doesn’t appear to be any fragrance, and I have just had great results with no issues."

Review: "This is a great eye cream. It helps to hydrate and brighten the under-eye area and makes the perfect base for make-up, which lasts all day without caking or settling into fine lines."

Review: "They say it's botox in a bottle. I've not used this long enough to say for sure that it's definitely botox in a bottle, but hey, it's worth a try, right? My mom has been using it for longer than me and she says she definitely sees the benefits. Her skin always looks great, so I'll carry on using this for sure!"

Review: "I have very sensitive eyes under and lids, and this is very moisturizing. It feels like velvet, does not irritate my eyes, and goes well with my concealer. I definitely recommend it, I have purchased it many times, and the rest of the range, I'm very happy with the Omega Complex Range."

Tried and tested by Ellen Kinsey, Commercial Content Writer for Yours, "The lymphatic system is your body's natural toxin filter, almost invisible under the skin and is a vital system in the body. You may have heard of lymphatic drainage with practices such as gua sha or treatments, but this cream boosts lymphatic activation without even physically activating the area. This is truly an impressive technology that provides radiant results."

Review: "This is the absolute best for sensitive skin. I get pimples with normal skin sun protection; this works wonderfully. It's light, you barely need any, and it protects you from the sun. Just remember it washes off easily, unlike most suncream, which can be water-resistant. I don't get spots using this, and it's great to keep you protected every season."

Review: "This is my fourth purchase of this eye gel/ cream. I say gel/ cream because it’s consistency is in between the two, which I like.  Non-sticky glides on smoothly.  Gets rid of and keeps away eye bags for me, hydrates really well but is surprisingly light on the skin.  Keeps my fine lines to a minimum (I am 39 years old). A little goes a long way and one lasts me at least four months.  I love the wand it dips into; I use it as a little eye massager to help me glide in the product."

Review: "Amazing! Used other good-quality eye creams and noticed occasional small bumps on eyelids and wrinkles getting worse. So decided to give this a go. Wow! Only need a tiny amount, and I use the spatula. The results have been staggering. It plumps the area but smoothly so not small bumps and only been using a week and noticeable difference."

Review: "There are so many eye creams available it can be frustrating, not to mention expensive finding one that seems to work. I am now on my third pot of this eye cream and I wake up with zero puffiness and my eye area is smooth and feels hydrated. Also, it is not tested on animals. Each pot lasts me around three months so the hefty price tag is slightly mitigated by the fact it lasts a fair while. It's an absolute must in my night time skincare routine."

Review: "I have been using this Eye Cream for many years as well as Nivea Q10 Day and Night creams and have recently started using the 60+ range."

Review: "The smell of oranges is divine, and the texture is silky and rich, perfect for the more mature skin. I have never used this brand, but I'm 100 per cent converted."

Review: "First time I tried these capsules and simply loved it. Inside, you have dry oil, which is beneficial for the anti-ageing process. One capsule goes long way, so you can use it for your face and neck! Great product I use it a few times a week."

Best under-eye creams FAQS

Why is it important to apply under-eye cream?

We talked to Dermatologist Rachael Burns who explained why it's important to use under-eye cream. "The skin around our eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on our body. It’s also subject to constant micromovement," she says. "As we age, often starting in our 20s, the amount of collagen we produce starts to decrease – leaving our skin less elastic, full and firm.

"Additionally, the quality of the collagen in our face starts to deteriorate as the collagen and elastin become fragmented and thick (leading to 'crows feet' and wrinkles). Stereotypically, the breakdown of collagen is more prevalent in facial skin, which is why our face often shows signs of ageing before the rest of our body.

"Eye creams that contain Retinol help speed up the cell reproductive process and simultaneously improve our skin's elasticity, hydration and dermal density, leaving your skin appearing full, radiant and youthful. As a rule of thumb, applying eye cream should be the final step in your skincare regimen both morning and night."

How to apply cream

Looking for tips on how to apply your eye cream? The correct way to apply it is to begin by placing cream on both of your index fingers. You will then want to pat it underneath your eyes and along the top of your brows. Once the cream has been applied evenly, begin gently dabbing your eyelids.

Before applying eye cream, ensure that your hands are clean and that you’ve washed off any residue of previous skincare products before touching your eyes.

How to find the best eye cream for you

It is a good idea to explore different products to see which one gives you the best result. As with all skincare routines, everyone will respond differently, and it’s important to find a cream that gives you the desired outcome. Start by experimenting with creams that contain anti-ageing ingredients such as antioxidants and skin-replenishing ingredients.

Could the man in your life do with revamping their skincare routine? We've also rounded up the best anti-ageing creams for men to help their skin feel firmer and revitalised.