9 best eye creams to combat dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness

Formulated specifically with dark circles in mind, ingredients include niacinamide, shea butter and caffeine. Plus, this tube of eye cream comes complete with a cooling applicator. When we popped the metal tip straight onto our skin, we felt and saw an initial improvement to puffiness. Meanwhile, the midweight hydrating formula itself is light and gentle on skin, which would appeal if you’re not a fan of thick eye creams.

The peachy-coloured cream has a correcting element for brightening blue and brown dark circles, and we noted this product did help improve their appearance.

This tiny bottle of eye cream has a pump-release applicator for mess-free use, and we found the smoothing formula absorbed quickly into the skin. The silky-soft cream had a lustrous sheen that felt lightweight and comforting on the delicate under-eye area.

Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, elderberry flowers and glycogen, which focus on hydrating, brightening and balancing the skin tone.

We saw refreshed-looking peepers immediately after application, with the vegan-friendly cream being a brilliant primer under concealer too. The skin around our tired eyes appeared perked up with wear, which in turn helped with the appearance of those pesky dark circles.

An eye cream to help protect the skin’s natural barrier – which is more compromised in this area – it contains three ceramides and hydrating hyaluronic acid. When the cream came out of its squeezy tube, it reminded us of a soothing salve, before rubbing into skin like a lightweight lotion.

The calming formula felt gentle and comforting, and we reached for this product whenever our skin felt particularly dry. It helped counteract tired-looking eyes by giving this delicate area a softening layer of hydration.

Our sensitive skin didn’t see any irritation either. So, if you’d rather opt for a simple formula over strong active ingredients, this could be the eye cream for you.

Although it’s a serum rather than a cream, this is a refreshing concentrate that offers an alternative option for tired eyes. Key ingredients include four peptides, caffeine, acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide and ash-bark extract.

We really enjoyed using the brightening serum for a hydration boost. The transparent skincare layer soaked in quickly and its cooling formula helped calm puffiness.

The lightweight formula is suitable for sensitive skin, and we think this is an ideal product to use in a rush or when you need a quick moisturising and brightening pick-me-up.

Read our full The Ordinary multi-peptide eye serum review

This eye cream comes in a tube and has a pointed tip for precise application. The No7 product was created to help with dark circles and puffiness, with ingredients that include shea butter, hyaluronic acid, ginseng extract and an antioxidant complex.

We found the cream subtly smoothed over fine lines, especially ahead of applying make-up. Quite a bit comes out at once, and the lightweight cream is more like a lotion, but it does absorb easily. Skin felt supple and softened after application, thanks to this cream’s lightly moisturising effects.

This eye cream is for sensitive skin and contains soothing cotton extract and aloe vera. When we dabbed the glossy, balm-like cream around our eyes, we instantly felt a comforting skin effect. We also found the cream gradually absorbed after simply dotting it onto skin, so there was no need for rubbing in.

We saw a smooth-looking under-eye area but, most of all, our skin felt significantly soothed. We also like the chunky bottle with a pump applicator and Burt’s Bees logo-emblazoned lid.

This tinted cream contains key ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, sunflower-seed oil, glycerine and peptides.

We pushed down the tall bottle’s pump-release applicator, while pressing the cooling wand tip to our eye area. Application felt luxurious, and our tired eyes appreciated the refreshing relief, which helped improve early morning puffiness too. We saw a subtle smoothing of fine lines after applying the cream, and gentle illumination to dark circles.

Because it’s tinted, this product is particularly effective on bare-face days, or if you prefer not to wear a lot of make-up.

What we liked most about this cream is its rich, balmy texture, which feels suitably soothing on parched skin. Created for dry skin, ingredients include aloe vera and vitamin E to help offer comforting moisture. As such, we saw this extra hydration help the appearance of any puffiness, as it added a smoothing effect.

The softening formula glides onto skin without the need for much rubbing in, which is ideal for the delicate under-eye area. Plus, a tiny bit goes a long way, so this premium-priced pot would last ages. If you’re looking for an intense hydration boost, this is the eye cream for tired peepers.

Presented in a white bottle with minimalist branding, this eye cream contains CBD, hyaluronic acid, squalane and vitamin E. This is a midweight formula that has a glossy finish when sliding across skin, and we saw a gentle shine as it soaked in. After the cream absorbed, we had softened skin with an added subtle radiance. Plus, our under-eye area felt supple, and the hydrating cream helped soothe early morning puffiness.

The cream easily smoothed over the skin beneath our fatigued peepers, offering a moisturising layer for tight dryness, too.