Recently, Iâve started to notice some fine lines around my eyes. As a beauty writer I got straight to work on finding the best eye creams for wrinkles. In fact, dermatologists say it’s okay to start incorporating one into your routine in your early 20s. Wrinkle eye creams can be used âas part of a pre-juvenation regimenâ says Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. Diane Madfes, MD, a board-certified dermatologist says to look for ones with hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin. As we age our skin becomes dry and this helps reduce the appearance of crow’s feet. Also, scan the ingredient list for peptides (an antiaging hero) and vitamin C for brightening.
To help you find the very best ones, we asked dermatologists and our resident Glamour testers for their recommendations. After testing them for several months, these are the ones they say worked to smooth out their skinâs texture. Our top pick is Farmacy Wake Up Honey Eye Cream because it’s backed by experts and sensitive-skin friendly, decreases eye puffiness, and brightens dark circles while spot-treating wrinkles.
The best eye creams for wrinkles, at a glance
How we picked the best eye creams for wrinkles
What to look for in an eye cream for wrinkles
Dr. Camp says that youâll want to look for an eye cream that has ingredients like retinol or vitamin Câthe latter of which is in our top pick from Farmacy. He says that retinol can improve collagen production, which helps to tighten and firm wrinkled skin around the eye area. âVitamin C has antioxidant properties that protect skin from the damaging effects of free oxygen radicals, which contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,â he says. Howard Sobel, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon, adds that niacinamide and hyaluronic acid help to improve hydration, which makes fine lines less visible.
We tested over two dozen eye creams for wrinkles. We started by looking at their ingredients (hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamin C, or niacinamide), and making sure that dermatologists approved. We evaluated the textures, how quickly they absorbed, and if they made a difference over time. Of course, it takes some time to see results so we’ve been updating this story based on tester’s feedback.
The wrinkle eye creams that stood out were the ones that helped soften crowâs feet and creases and left our under-eyes looking brighter and less dull. They also made a difference in our dark circles, were velvety smooth in texture, and absorbed quickly after application. The ones below lived up to the hype and made fine lines around our eyes look less apparent and deep, for a more radiant, youthful look.
Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles Overall: Farmacy Wake Up Honey Eye Cream
Best for: Dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, irritation
The aptly named Wake Up Honey Eye Cream from Farmacy is one that Dr. Madfes likes for treating the delicate skin around the eye. âWith longterm use, the peptides in this increase collagen and antioxidant production in the skin,â she says, adding that she likes that honey is the moisturizing base for this lightweight cream. It helps to soothe irritation and puffiness, making this a great option for sensitive skin types.
Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary says it evened out her skin tone and texture in the undereye area. âIâve been using this eye cream for about two months now and notice that the area under my eyes looks a lot firmer, and my usually very dark circles look a bit more even toned and brighter. I also really love the texture of this eye cream because itâs super creamy and absorbs really quickly. My undereye area looks silky smooth and hydrated after application every single time.â
Best Drugstore Eye Cream for Wrinkles: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Under Eye Cream
Best for: Dry skin, sensitive skin
This drugstore eye gel has hyaluronic acid and glycerin to plump and moisturize the under eye area, plus retinol to zap lines and even out skin tone and texture.
âI’m huge on texture, and this eye cream really hit the mark there. It’s soft and silky and goes on very smoothly with no piling. It does take a few minutes to fully absorb, but I liked that because it felt nice and cool on my tired eyes during this time. Once it dried down, it did leave a slightly tacky finish, but the traditionally dry (and sometimes itchy) skin around my eyes felt super hydrated,â says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley.
Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles and Dark Circles: CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream
Best for: Wrinkles, dry skin, dark circles
CeraVe is renowned for its gentle formulas, and this is a favorite of Dr. Madfes. Ceramides lock in moisture while caffeine treats puffiness. Niacinamide then brightens and tightens skin as it reduces inflammation. âThis is an excellent product for darkness under the eyes,â she says.
âAfter trying this CeraVe eye cream for a few weeks, Iâve noticed a definite improvement in the appearance of my undereye area,â says Glamour senior analyst Loneeja Talukdar. âThe formula is lightweight and nongreasy, and it absorbs quickly, which makes it easy to use every morning and night. The blend of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide feels soothing and moisturizing, and Iâve found this eye cream really helps with puffiness and hydration. While I didnât see a drastic change in dark circles, my undereye area definitely looks a bit brighter and feels more refreshed overall. Plus, itâs gentle enough for my sensitive skin, which is a big plus.â
Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles and Puffiness: Innbeauty Project Extreme Cream Eye Firming & Contouring Eye Cream
Best for: Crowâs feet, eye wrinkles
If youâre looking for something soothing, we love this silky-textured cream that helps rejuvenate and depuff the under eye area. It has a blend of bio-retinol, peptides and amino acids that help retexturize and firm sagginess.
âWhen I say Iâve tried dozens of eye creams on the market, and this is by far one of the best, Iâm not kidding. After using it for about two months now, this creamy formula has managed to minimize the appearance of fine lines around my eyes, and has also made my dark circles way less apparent. I have a hunch that it has something to do with the peptides and amino acids which work to de-puff and lift, and compared to other picks on the market that promise to do the same thing, this one actually works. The texture of this eye cream is also dreamyâitâs soothing, instantly hydrates and serves as a great base for primer and under eye concealer. I canât stop using it, and neither will you,â says Glamourâs Kilkeary.
Best Firming Eye Cream: Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Firming & Lifting Eye Cream
Best for: Sagging skin, dryness, wrinkles, crow’s feet
Dr. Madfes is also a big fan of this luxe whipped eye cream because it combines hydrating squalane with skin-tightening algae, along with other ingredients designed to smooth the skinâs texture.
âI always find myself going back to this luxe-feeling eye cream whenever my undereyes are looking particularly dry or cracked. It always smooths out the area and helps even my skin tone so that my eyes look extra bright when I add a touch of concealer overtop. I also love that itâs quite soothing as well. I reach for it when my eyes are looking a little red and puffy when I first wake up, and it seems to immediately calm everything down. Iâd recommend this to anyone who is looking to address dark circles but also has a lot of sensitivity in the area. Itâll make a huge difference,â says Glamour‘s Kilkeary.
Best Wrinkle Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin: Tata Harper Bio-Barrier Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Best for: Sagging skin, puffiness, wrinkles, brightening
According to Dr. Madfes, this cream helps balance the skinâs microbiome and puffiness. âThis will improve the texture of skin, but the power of this product is in its blend of nonirritating botanicals such as shea butter, evening primrose oil, and calendula flower extract.â
âI was seduced by Tata Harper Superkind BioBarrier Eye Crème from the moment I opened the tasteful packagingâinside was an expensive-looking, weighty glass bottle with a green cast that looks like stained-glass. The âcrèmeâ is more of a silky, slippery liquid with a wonderful scentâan earthy, maple-y, woodsy smell that makes me think of the concoctions used by, say, an amazing facialist at an exclusive spa. I really enjoy taking a moment to enjoy the scent and put it on. Yes, itâs priceyâ$130 a bottle. But trust me, a little goes a long way. And it’s so worth it. The product seems to glide on. The directions say to let it absorb then put on moisturizer, and when I did, my moisturizer seemed to go on super smoothly. And my skin felt so firm and smooth afterward. I do see a reduction in the web of lines and crepiness under my eyes. Iâm a very happy customerâIâll just make sure to make the bottle last as long as I can,â says Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine.
Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles and Bags: Olay Renewing Retinol Eye Cream
Best for: Under eye bags, mature skin