25 Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles, Dermatologist-Approved

• Benefits: The eye cream in question is this option by Furtuna Skin, formulated to quell discoloration and puffiness.
• Key ingredients: Wild organic Nigella damascene, wild organic hawthorn, organically farmed lilac stem cells.
• Who it’s for: Those seeking a soothing antidote to puffiness will want to keep this eye cream constantly stocked.
• Product features: Organic, paraben-free, fragrance-free.
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Best Tightening Eye Cream: Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel

• Why we love it: “This is a new favorite, and I’m obsessed with how hydrating this eye gel is. If you’re someone who can handle a rich eye cream, this is the perfect one for you,” says Garrette.
• Benefits: “The gel is packed with antioxidants that help combat free radical damage and brighten the under-eye,” Garrette explains. It also fades uneven pigmentation and plumps the skin under the eye.
• Key ingredients: Chromabright, hyaluronic acid, peptides.
• Who it’s for: The addition of chromabright helps balance skin with uneven pigmentation.
• Product features: Vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, gluten-free, oil-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free.
• Size: 0.67 fl. oz.

Best Clean Eye Cream: Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel

• Why we love it: “[The Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel] contains niacinamide, a B vitamin that helps improve discoloration and is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient, so it’s safe for the delicate eye area,” explains Wu.
• Benefits: “An added benefit: It also boosts skin hydration. This is one of my favorites for patients with sensitive skin.”
• Key ingredients: Caffeine, sugarcane-derived squalane, acetyl tetrapeptide-5, acetyl hexapeptide-8.
• Who it’s for: It’s well suited for sensitive skin.
• Product features: Vegan, fragrance-free.
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Most Viral Eye Cream for Dark Circles: Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream

• Why we love it: With a powerful blend of five forms of vitamin C, eight peptides, ceramides, and cucumber extract, it’s no surprise Drunk Elephant’s eye cream is one of our go-to products for dark circles.
• Benefits: This quickly firms and brightens without irritation—making it dependable for daily use.
• Key ingredients: Power 5C vitamin complex, eight-peptide blend, cucumber.
• Who it’s for: Those looking for a day-to-day cream can confidently add this to their routine.
• Product features: Vegan, cruelty-free.
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Best Under Makeup: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream

• Why we love it: Neutrogena Hydro Boost’s impressive gel-cream texture is only half the draw of this top-rated formula. Led by hyaluronic acid and glycerin, this is like a drink of water to awaken tired eyes.
• Benefits: Its quenching blend keeps the under-eye supple and moisturized all day long, whether under makeup or on its own.
• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid.
• Who it’s for: Anyone seeking an extra dose of moisture will appreciate the hydrating surge of the hyaluronic-acid-soaked formulation.
• Product features: Fragrance-free, dye-free, non-comodogenic.
• Size: 0.5 fl. oz.

Best Night Eye Cream: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Gel-Cream

• Why we love it: “This is a clinically proven formula with hyaluronic acid and tripeptide-23 to instantly hydrate and brighten dark circles,” says Adazeh Shirazi, a board-certified dermatologist.
• Benefits: After clinical trials, “92 percent of subjects reported their eyes looking more rested and less tired,” Shirazi shares.
• Key ingredients: Hyalorunic acid, tripeptide-23.
• Who it’s for: Those seeking an eye-soothing addition to their nighttime routine will appreciate waking up with a brighter outlook. “I favor applying this to damp skin at bedtime,” Shirazi notes.
• Product features: Phthalate-free, oil-free, paraben-free, recyclable packaging.
• Size: 1 oz.

Best Eye Mask for Dark Circles: SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Mask

• Why we love it: Although a traditional eye cream will do the work to reduce dark circles over time, according to Rabach, the SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Mask is an excellent supplement to your routine.
• Benefits: She says that the mask “contains rhodiola rosea root extract, which is high in antioxidants to brighten skin.”
• Key ingredients: Rhoiola rosea root, baker’s yeast extract, golden herb extract.
• Who it’s for: If you like the luxury of a multistep skin-care routine, this makes a handy addition to a typical eye treatment.
• Product features: Oil-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free.
• Size: Two single-use patches per pouch.

Dermatologist-Approved Eye Cream for Dark Circles: Skinbetter InterFuse Treatment Cream Eye

• Why we love it: Both Hartman and Idriss recommend the Skinbetter InterFuse Treatment Cream Eye because of its blend of peptides, vitamin C, and caffeine to brighten and depuff.
• Benefits: Even more, Hartman explains that this “also gives skin a huge boost of moisture with its use of humectants. It’s my go-to reliable eye cream that will protect the skin and make it look even better.”
• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, squalane, chamomile extract.
• Who it’s for: Those seeking an all-in-one solution for crow’s-feet, wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles.
• Product features: Dermatologist tested, cruelty-free, made without dyes, fragrance, and parabens.
• Size: 0.5 fl. oz.

What causes dark circles under eyes?

She explains that the pesky dark circles could be the result of pigmentation or underlying redness and vasculature. “If the dark circles are due to pigmentation, then you want to look for ingredients with brightening effects. Products containing vitamin C, hydroquinone, and kojic acid work best. Also, look for products with retinol in them because retinol can help a person even out pigmentation over time. However, if the dark circles are due to underlying redness or puffiness, then you want to look for eye creams with caffeine or vitamin K, which is an ‘underdog’ and not used as frequently as I wish it were.”

Like many other skin conditions, dark circles can be reduced with lifestyle changes as well. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach, “good sleep, hydration, low salt, and sunscreen under the eye” can make a positive difference because “factors are genetic and environmental.” (On the makeup front, consider layering your tinted moisturizer with SPF beneath your concealer of choice to temporarily veil dark under-eye circles.) For more intensive treatment, Rabach often uses “fillers made from hyaluronic acid to mask the bags and also sometimes under- eye surgery (called a lower blepharoplasty) to remove the eye bag.”

Ingredients to Look For In Dark Circle Treatments

While eye creams tend to make grand promises—advertising their ability to firm, lift, and brighten—sussing out certain ingredients is the surest way to determine a cream’s eye-brightening efficacy. “There are so many factors that contribute to dark circles, including thin, translucent skin from collagen loss, hyperpigmentation, blood vessels and venous pooling, eye bags and puffiness, and lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of sleep, and dehydration,” says Dr. Adazeh Shirazi, a board-certified dermatologist who’s based in California. “Different ingredients help address different causes to reduce the appearance of dark circles.” Herewith, find a cheat sheet of the most powerful ingredients for combatting under-eye circles.