19 best eye creams of all time, tried & tested in 2024
When was the last time you upgraded your eye cream? Equipping your skincare arsenal with one of the best eye creams is non-negotiable – the reason we ask – whether your under-eyes call for a de-puffing, brightening or a firming formula. It's also about time that we, once and for all, drop the myth about eye creams only being beneficial for mature skin, as you most definitely don't have to be of certain age to introduce one to your skincare routine.
In fact, dermatologists often advice that you should ideally start taking care of the skin around your eyes as early as possible (yes, even in your early 20s). And no, using your regular moisturiser or face cream doesn't count. As it turns out, the skin that surrounds our eyes is very different from that of the rest of our bodies. For starters, it's where our skin is at its thinnest and closes to blood vessels, which is why it warrants a product that's been especially formulated to suit its delicate needs.
"It is thinner and thus more prone to sagging and to the darkening of the skin, it is drier since there are no sebaceous glands, it is easily stressed and it contains a large number of lymphatic vessels,” says Dr Michael Detmar, dermatologist and co-founder of IRÄYE Skincare. (Side note: for this reason, you should also remember to throw on a good sunscreen for face to keep the delicate skin nice and protected from the harmful UV rays all year round).
Whether you're after a lightweight eye gel, a plant-based under-eye cream or an eye serum to take care of your eye bags, we've got you covered. Here, we've put together a neat list of all the trending skin-barrier-friendly eye creams you need, hailing from powerhouse brands including Drunk Elephant to Estee Lauder. No filler needed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Is an eye cream necessary? | Why do you need a separate eye cream? | How to apply eye cream | What ingredients should we look for in our eye cream? | Our full reviews.
Best eye creams at a glance 2024:
- Best eye cream overall: Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye, £42, Medik8
- Best eye cream runner-up: Clinique All About Eyes Eye Cream Rich, WAS £31 NOW £24.80, LookFantastic
- Best eye cream for under £10: The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream, £9.99, LookFantastic
- Best eye cream for wearing under makeup: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base, WAS £40 NOW £36, LookFantastic
Meet the experts:
- Dr Michael Detmar, dermatologist and co-founder of IRÄYE Skincare
- Dr Dendy Engelman, skincare specialist and consulting dermatologist at Elizabeth Arden
- Kate Kerr, clinical facialist
Erase them or embrace them.
Is eye cream necessary for skin?
Eye creams and eye serums are unmatched in their ability to reduce the appearance of puffiness, under-eye circles and fine lines. Overall, they provide “a radiant and firmer appearing skin around the eyes,” shares Dr Michael Detmar, board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of IRÄYE Skincare. And despite popular belief, "effects of eye creams are observed independent of skin age.”
Still need convincing? We asked Dr Dendy Engelman, top skincare specialist and Elizabeth Arden's consulting New York dermatologist whether eye creams can really make a difference.
"I always say yes. Before you start thinking about injectables or anything like that, take a look at what you're doing with your skincare," says Dr Dendy. "You’re never too young for eye cream because we know it’s going to be the first area to really show crepiness, fine lines and wrinkles, so you do want to hydrate there." However, it's an area that can respond quickest to skincare, so you'll start to see results more quickly, which is encouraging.
What does eye cream do?
"The thin skin around the eyes is the first to show signs of ageing, but if you induce collagen and elastin formation in thin skin, it very much translates clinically," says Dr Dendy. However, thin skin can mean regular skincare products such as moisturisers can be too irritating. "We have to make sure that the cream is formulated for the eye area so that it's not too irritating," she adds.
It's not just the density of our skin, that's different. "There are fewer sebaceous glands around the eye area than in oilier areas like the T-zone," says Dr Dendy. "Less oil means increased risk of wrinkling so I think you absolutely need the separate step of an eye cream to nourish," she says.
How do I apply eye cream?
As well as under the eyes, Dr Dendy recommends going up on the brow bone and down to the crease. As for where to avoid? "If you put eye cream on your lash line, it’s going to transfer through into your eye while you sleep, which is irritating and then you’ll rub and scratch it," says Dr Dendy.
What ingredients should we look for?
If you do decide to incorporate an eye cream into your skincare routine, there's a wide variety of ingredients that can be called upon to tackle eye-related concerns like appearance of dark circles, crow’s feet, lack of elasticity, dry skin and puffiness.
Most skincare experts and dermatologists advise that the most common ingredients to look out for are hyaluronic acid (great for hydrating and nourishing tired eyes), vitamin C, which is a champion for brightening skin and diminishing pigmentation and dark circles, ceramides to plump skin, vitamin E, aloe vera, squalane and glycerin. They all work to give your under-eyes the proper TLC that they deserve.
The best caffeine eye creams are also great for reducing puffiness, while the best retinol eye creams are good for anti-ageing.
Speaking of retinol, clinical facialist Kate Kerr explains that “a retinol eye cream is necessary to help stabilise melanocytes [the cells that create pigment in skin] in order to prevent hyperpigmentation. It also thickens the dermis [which can mean veins appear less prominent], improves texture, smooths lines and wrinkles and hides purple skin tones."
Feeling inspired to upgrade your skincare routine? Shop the best moisturiser for dry skin, best moisturiser for combination skin, and the best moisturiser for oily skin. We can also help you pick the best face masks, anti-ageing creams, face cleansers, hyaluronic acid serum and vitamin C serums.
For more shoppable beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.