The Very Best Eye Creams That’ll Help You Look Rested (Even If You Aren’t)

Puffiness? Darkness? Wrinkles? There's an eye cream for that.

best eye cream

by Georgia Scott |
Updated on

Finding the best eye cream divides the world of beauty. For some, the idea that a pot of cream - which, they'd say, is just a smaller version of the the best moisturiser - will treat your skin differently, is absurd while others refuse to go a day without applying eye cream. What's undeniable though, is that if you're running low on your eight hours of sleep, or haven't drunk enough water during the day, your eyes are often the first place to show it.

Finding the perfect eye cream isn't an easy task - especially when there are so many variations available that promise to tackle different concerns. From the vast range of ingredients to different price points, finding the right eye cream can seem nearly impossible. Luckily, we're here to find the perfect eye cream for your skin.

Grazia's Best Eye Creams At A Glance:

Best eye cream to brighten: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème, £37 on Boots

Best colour correcting eye cream: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening And Depuffing Eye Contour Cream, £60 on Cult Beauty

Best anti-aging eye cream: Beauty Pie Super Retinol Anti-wrinkle Eye Cream, £15 on Beauty Pie

From solving any dark circle drama to firming any unwanted fine lines, adding the best eye cream to your existing skincare routine is a good idea. It might be time (if you haven’t already) to switch out your standard moisturiser for a specifically formulated eye cream instead. Whether it's dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles or dryness you want to target, there are many formulas and ingredients out there that seek to tackle them including the best cheap eye creams to save you some money.

Looking to fall in love with a new eye cream? Keep scrolling to shop the best eye creams to tackle and target your eye concerns from some of our favourite brands:

SHOP: The Best Eye Creams For Your Skin Concern

Best eye cream to brighten

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye CrèmeOle Henriksen

Description

With a bucket load of vitamin C, this eye cream will brighten the skin and even tone and firm over

Pros

  • Instantly brightens
  • Firms and evens skin over time

Cons

  • Quite a small tub

Best colour correcting eye cream

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening And Depuffing Eye Contour CreamSunday Riley

Description

With ingredients including caffeine, horse chestnut and Brazilian ginseng root extract to smooth

Pros

  • Product treats multiple concerns
  • Lightweight formula

Cons

  • Glass bottle hard to travel with

Best anti-ageing eye cream

Beauty Pie Super Retinol Anti-wrinkle Eye CreamBeauty Pie
Price: £15 (with a membership)

www.beautypie.com

Description

This anti-ageing eye cream works wonders for those even with super sensitive skin. This

Pros

  • Gentle formula is suitable for sensitive skin
  • Great price point for members

Cons

  • Hard to tell when product needs replacing

Best eye cream for dark circles

StriVectin Super-C Dark Circle Brightening Eye SerumStriVectin Super-C Dark Circle Brightening Eye Serum

Description

StriVectin is a frontrunner in skincare innovation, backed by science. You'll find a super

Pros

  • Works well to target dark circles
  • Product is easy to travel with

Cons

  • Hard to tell when product needs replacing

Best eye cream for boosting collagen

Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye CreamSummer Fridays

Description

Powered by a potent blend of vitamin C and peptides to help support the skin's natural collagen

Pros

  • Radiant finish
  • Brighter appearance over time

Cons

  • Some reviews say product pills under make-up

Best firming eye cream

Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye CreamDrunk Elephant

Description

A little goes a long way with this balm-like eye cream, formulated with potent antioxidants,

Pros

  • Restores radiance
  • Moisturising formula

Cons

  • Hard to tell when product needs replacing

Best depuffing eye cream

Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye MassageClinique

Description

A little goes a long way with this balm-like eye cream, formulated with potent antioxidants,

Pros

  • Product targets a variety of concerns
  • Applicator cools and soothes

Cons

  • Product may need regular cleaning

Best cooling eye cream

Fenty Skin Flash Nap Instant Revival Eye Gel-Cream Massage ToolFenty Skin

Description

While Fenty might not necessarily be your go-to for skincare, don't overlook this smart eye

Pros

  • Instantly depuffs
  • Primes the eyes before concealer

Cons

  • None!

Best gentle anti-ageing eye cream

The Inkey List Retinol Eye CreamThe Inkey List

Description

This super affordable retinol eye cream from Inkey List is for you if you're looking for a gentle,

Pros

  • Great price point
  • Gentle formula

Cons

  • More suitable for dry skin types

Best pluming eye cream

Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinol And Niacinamide Eye SerumSunday Riley

Description

Sunday Riley's five-star eye serum truly lives up to its name - packing a punch with a 6% retinoid

Pros

  • Plumps and treats the skin
  • Easy to apply

Cons

  • Might not suit those with sensitive skin

Best eye cream for sensitive skin

Kiehl's Super Multi Corrective Eye Zone TreatmentKiehl's

Description

Kiehl's recognises that the delicate skin around your eyes requires a little extra TLC from your

Pros

  • Provides multiple benefits
  • Can be used day and night

Cons

  • Not ideal for oily skin

Best nourishing eye cream

CeraVe Reparative Eye CreamCeraVe

Description

People love CeraVe. Everything the brand creates includes their signature ceramide complex,

Pros

  • Nourishing formula
  • Great price point

Cons

  • Not ideal for those looking for anti-aging properties

Best hydrating eye cream

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 EyesLa Roche-Posay

Description

La Roche-Posay is well known for its sensitive-skin-friendly formulas. For a soothing effect, this

Pros

  • Hydrating formula
  • Great for sensitive skin

Cons

  • Hard to tell when product needs replacing

Why do I need an eye cream?

‘Under the eyes, skin lacks the fatty cushioning you see on the rest of the face, making it far more delicate and susceptible to fine lines, dryness, dark circles and puffiness,’ explains skincare specialist, Debbie Thomas. Because it's so thin and delicate, this area does not require the high dosage of actives found in your average face moisturiser, or the thick, heavy texture. In fact, too much product can cause irritation and increase sensitivity. 'Eye creams tend to be formulated with smaller molecules that will penetrate deeper,' adds aesthetician Joanna Czech.

When do I apply an eye cream?

'Always apply eye cream before your final moisturiser, unless you’re applying some form of vitamin A (aka, retinol)’ says Czech. ‘If this is the case, apply eye cream first and then apply your active, steering clear of the eye area. If you apply eye cream last, as many people do, it will prevent the product from penetrating the skin as it has to work through a layer of moisturiser.'

What should I look for in an eye cream?

Sadly, it's as easy as just grabbing one on offer in Boots (although you can't go wrong with a hydrating formula), but if you're really looking to get the most out of an eye cream you first need to prioritise what results you're after. This totally depends on your concern - from de-puffing to brightening and even wrinkle-reducing, these are the key ingredients you need to look out for and the very best eye creams that tackle every eye concern imaginable.

Georgia Scott is a beauty and fashion product writer writing for heat specialising in all things lifestyle and trending. Before starting at Bauer, Georgia completed her degree in Journalism at University and worked as a retail beauty advisor and make-up artist.

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