The best eye creams for dark circles
Have you ever had a poor night’s sleep and woken to dark, under-eye circles that never want to brighten? We (and our customers) can relate!
Did you know that the delicate skin around our eyes is much thinner than the skin on the rest of our face? This is what makes pigmentation and dark circles more noticeable. As a result of being so delicate, the skin around our eyes is more vulnerable to the effects of dehydration, allergies and sleep deprivation. That's why the dark circles under our eyes are often the most noticeable tell-tale sign of a lack of sleep.
Choosing the right eye cream not only smoothens fine lines & wrinkles, but it can also work to minimise the appearance of dark pigmentation for a more refreshed, youthful and energised look. So, to help you get the most wide-awake looking eyes, we've rounded up 10 of our favourite eye creams and serums specially formulated to tackle all those things that make our eyes look tired, stressed and dull.
Our Top 10 Eye Creams Dark Circles
The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado VICHY Minéral 89 Eye Brightening Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Caffeine REN Clean Skincare Radiance Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream NIP+FAB Retinol Fix Eye Cream IT Cosmetics BYE BYE Under Eye Bags
What causes dark circles under eyes?
Although we usually connect dark circles to a lack of sleep alone, many of us suffer more so with pigmentation underneath our eyes because of our genetics. According to Mayo Clinic, one reason we have dark circles around our eyes may be because excessive pigmentation around the area is simply hereditary.
When should you apply eye creams in your skincare routine?
Much like most other skincare products, it is recommended to apply your eye cream morning and night before your moisturiser. This ensures that the area is cleansed and that the active ingredients in your eye cream can fully penetrate the skin and get to work.
What skincare ingredients work best for getting rid of dark circles?
The key things you want your eye cream or serum to do are to hydrate, brighten, smooth and de-puff your delicate skin. When it comes to achieving these goals, the secret is in the ingredients.
Look out for ingredients such as antioxidants and vitamin C.
Squalane and hyaluronic acid are the key players.
Collagen, peptides and ceramides all work to smoothen the look of fine lines and wrinkles on the surface.
Caffeine is packed with antioxidants, making it perfect for de-puffing tired eyes.
Check out our favourite eye creams and serums below, which all work to brighten and rejuvenate tired-looking eyes - and why our customers love them too!
The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Serum
Best for: early morning re-energising
This antioxidant rich eye serum helps to create a protective barrier around the delicate eye area, helping to increase the skins' natural defences against environmental aggressors and pollution. The key ingredient is caffeine which works to promote a more alert appearance, and to reduce puffiness while Matrixyl 3000 peptide encourages collagen production. The eye serum can be applied in the morning after cleansing, followed by your regular face serums or moisturisers.
Why LF customers love it:
"Absolutely love this eye cream. Has worked wonders with my dark circles. You don't see it straight away but after a couple of weeks / months you see a big difference. Absolutely love this eye cream. Has worked wonders with my dark circles. You don't see it straight away but after a couple of weeks / months you see a big difference." Read more reviews here.
352
£10.00
Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage
Best for: reducing the look of puffiness and dark circles
Clinique are well-loved by ‘skin-tellectuals’ and this de-puffing eye serum is easy to see why. Delivering intense hydration, the serum works to revitalise tired looking eyes. The oil-free formula is perfect for all skin types and contains key ingredients including caffeine and antioxidants which help to gently refresh the delicate eye area. To apply, use a gentle pressure, rolling underneath each eye from inner corner to outer corner.
Why LF customers love it:
"It’s lovely and cooling on the eyes and reduces my puffiness it feels so nice relaxing I’m enjoying using it"
20
£35.00
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme
Best for: minimising the appearance of crow's feet
The potent Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme works to target the signs of ageing and fatigue around the delicate eye area. With a lightweight water-gel texture that absorbs quickly into the skin, this cream works to smoothen skin and diminish puffiness using vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. The brand’s patented tripeptide-32 complex visibly creates a firmer and smoother-looking under-eye. Can be used morning and evening.
Why LF customers love it:
"Have purchased so many eye creams, this is the only one that hydrates and improves the look of lines around the delicate eye area."
74
RRP: £56.00Current price: £42.00
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Best for: stressed and tired-looking eyes
Target dark circles head-on with The Ordinary Caffeine Solution, a highly-concentrated solution made up of caffeine and epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside (EGCG) derived from green tea leaves. This potent, lightweight concoction helps to reduce the appearance of discolouration and alleviates signs of fatigue and stress. Use AM or PM for refreshed and hydrated skin.
Why LF customers love it:
"I love this product. I suffer with really dark circles under my eyes and since using this product it has made them not as dark. I use it every morning and every night and it has made a difference. Great price as well." Read more reviews here.
588
£8.40
Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask
Best for: plumping out the look of fine lines
This innovative formula from skincare heroes Elemis, is a hybrid mask that has the light consistency of a gel combined with the richness of a serum. Hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin while watermelon snow algae extract firms the surface. The multi-functional formal can act as an over-night eye mask or moisturising primer, ideal for prepping your eyes before makeup application. Adding foundation to the mix will create a nourishing BB Cream giving you a flawless complexion. For best results, use daily or at least 3 times a week.
Why LF customers love it:
"I had seen this around on social media and wanted to try it to soften my under eye! This is magic- not only do my under eyes feel hydrated but my concealer sits so much better now than ever before. A little goes a long way- so definitely worth the money. " Read more reviews here.
81
£60.00
Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Best for: providing a burst of moisture
Kiehl’s bestselling eye cream nurtures your delicate under-eye skin, with the avocado-enriched formula working to provide intense moisture and leave the area feeling smooth, refreshed and moisturised. Featuring shea butter and beta-carotene, gently apply the treatment with your fingertips to allow the blend to work its magic and condition the skin.
Why LF customers love it:
" The best eye cream I have ever used it is a game changer! It's so creamy and light and tightens the skin and feels great. Your makeup will glide straight over the cream I have been using this for years!" Read more reviews here.
691
RRP: £30.00Current price: £23.95
VICHY Minéral 89 Eye Brightening Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Caffeine
Best for: reducing the appearance of under-eye bags
Powered by caffeine, and the brand’s famous 89% thermal mineralising water, this eye cream is the perfect formula to help reduce the look of under-eye bags, dark circles and fine lines. Natural origin hyaluronic acid moisturises the skin to create a dewy, plumping effect for up to 24 hours. What’s more, the cream also works as an eyelash serum to help achieve stronger, silkier-looking lashes with the help of the caffeine ingredient!
Why LF customers love it:
"Was given a sample of this by a friend. Only a small amount is needed but it makes a huge difference. The skin around my eye area is hydrated and feels soft, so now I have bought my own - it’s really lovely. " Read more reviews here.
227
RRP: £22.00Current price: £17.60
REN Clean Skincare Radiance Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream
Best for: brighter, wide-awake eyes
A gentle cream with soothing benefits, the REN eye treatment is suitable for sensitive skin and helps to create the illusion of brighter eyes by illuminating the look of dark circles with its weightless formula. Elderberry extract works to minimise puffiness while glycogen offers a boost of hydration to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Why LF customers love it:
"Been using this for a while now and really noticed a difference to my under-eyes after a few weeks of use. I can’t be without it now, gives me so much more confidence! " Read more reviews here.
83
RRP: £49.00Current price: £39.20
NIP+FAB Retinol Fix Eye Cream
Best for: softening the look of fine lines
A high-performance formula that’s designed to brighten dull under eyes and work on the delicate surrounding skin. The treatment is infused with bakuchiol, a vegan skincare ingredient found in the leaves and seeds of the psoralea corylifolia plant, to help visibly smoothen and plump the delicate contour. Vitamin C also works to minimise the appearance of dark circles and premature skin ageing for a bright, youthful-looking finish.
Why LF customers love it:
"I have noticed results from adding this into my skincare routine, the product is lightweight and sinks nicely into the skin! The product doesn't irritate my sensitive skin either which is great!" Read more reviews here.
20
£19.95
IT Cosmetics BYE BYE Under Eye Bags
Best for: an instant, temporary smoothing effect
Within just 15 minutes, discover a treatment that instantly de-puffs and delivers a temporary smoothing effect for your under-eyes. Formulated with IT Cosmetics’ multi-patented technology, the cream creates a filter-like, blurring effect that lasts up to 24 hours. Apply directly to bare skin, or on top of makeup for a transparent finish to see instant results and a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance.
Why LF customers love it:
"Really good under-eye cream. Makes my skin under eyes feel tight 5 min after applying it, and only takes small amount to make the difference!" Read more reviews here.
9
£34.00
My large family of mainly women has made me passionate about all things beauty from a young age: from routines passed down from my grandmother, to trying the latest products and trends. After training as an MUA at MAC Cosmetics, my love for makeup has now evolved into making sure my skincare creates the perfect canvas for any look. I love anything that can make my base feel fresh & bright while accentuating my features – Bobbi Brown's Face Base is my holy grail at the moment!
