I may aim to get eight hours of sleep every night, but even if I do, I still rely on the best eye creams for dark circles to help with discoloration—I blame my genetics. And although I’ve found the best concealers to brighten this area, sometimes makeup just doesn’t cut it.
To help you find products that help address under-eye shadows, I spoke with dermatologists and Glamour editors for their tried and true eye creams. Our winning pick is Farmacy’s Wake Up Honey Eye Cream because it’s formulated with powerful vitamin C to brighten and caffeine to wake up the undereye area. We also love SkinCeuticals AOX Eye Gel which doubles as an excellent eye wrinkle cream, and Biossance Squalane & Algae Eye Cream for sensitive eyes and puffiness. Below, find all our dermatologist-approved picks below for a variety of skin concerns.
The best eye creams for dark circles, at a glance
How we chose the best creams for dark circles
How we chose eye creams for dark circles
We evaluated eye creams based on their consistency, how well they absorbed into the skin, and if they were able to lighten the discoloration under our eyes. We also looked for eye creams that included antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E to help even out skin tone, plus skin-plumping ingredients like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to help soften skin, plump fine lines and diminish puffiness. Bonus points if these eye creams sat well under makeup and gave our under eye area an immediate brighter, more glowy appearance.
- Brooke Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Arizona
- Hope Mitchell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Mitchell Dermatology
- Anar Mikailov, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Burlington, Massachusetts, and founder of skin care brand Skintensive
- Kseniya Kobets, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Montefiore Einstein
- Kim Nichols, MD, a dermatologist and founder of NicholsMD in Greenwich, Connecticut
- Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New Jersey
Best Overall: Farmacy Wake Up Honey Eye Cream with Brightening Vitamin C
Original image by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Tested and reviewed by Glamour commerce editor Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Tested and reviewed by Glamour commerce editor Alanna Martine Kilkeary
- Pros: Silky smooth formula
- Cons: Pricey
This potent eye cream contains exactly the ingredients that many of the dermatologists we spoke with recommend, including vitamin C, encapsulated caffeine, and cranberry peptides to plum, smooth out and brighten the under-eye area. In fact, this little cream has been a total game changer for Glamour’s commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary who has seen quite an improvement after using it for about three months. “Not only are my dark circles less apparent then usual, I actually see a difference. My under-eyes look softer, more plump, and radiant. It actually does ‘wake me up.’ I love that the formula is super silky to the touch, absorbs quickly without too much tugging or rubbing at the skin, and feels cooling and fresh upon application. If you need a cup of coffee for your dark circles, this is the one.”
Best for Brightening: Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Eye Cream
Tested and reviewed by Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine
Tested and reviewed by Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine
- Pros: A cooling effect makes this a delight to apply.
- Cons: It’s on the pricier side for a drugstore brand.
For sensitive skin types, Olay’s eye cream is made without phthalates, parabens, or added fragrances. It packs powerful actives including soothing niacinamide (vitamin B3). “It’s true: Olay’s ‘fast-absorbing formula feels silky and smooth to the touch.’ My skin feels like velvet after I put it on, and the cream absorbed extremely quickly. I applied the cream for three days and nights, and I did notice a brightening effect from the cream. You can see that a little bit in the photo—the dark circles around my eyes are not as noticeable. However, the directions said that the brightening effect would be more noticeable after a month, so I look forward to seeing how it looks then,” says Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine.
Best K-Beauty Eye Cream: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream
Tested and reviewed by Glamour contributor Brittany Loggins
Tested and reviewed by Glamour contributor Brittany Loggins
- Pros: The metal tipped applicator makes it a cold, refreshing treat to apply
- Cons: Pricey
Don’t be fooled by Sulwhasoo’s delicate packaging—the Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream packs a serious punch against dark circles. Ginseng helps calm, repair, and fight signs of aging skin as well as licorice root extract which can help revitalize and brighten the skin. Peptides help boost collagen production while ingredients like squalane hydrate dry skin.
“This was definitely the best Korean eye cream I’ve ever used, and for that price, it had better be. That said, a minuscule amount of product truly goes such a long way. It comes with a little metal applicator that’s cooling and refreshing, and makes it easy to apply the correct amount. I noticed that it really helped with my dark circles, which I accredit to the ginseng retinol, which is a naturally-derived version of retinol that is as gentle as it is effective. I would apply it at night, and each morning after using it my skin would feel plumper and more moisturized. It even made it easier to put on concealer and makeup in the morning as I feel I had a smoother surface to start on. Overall, I would definitely use this again and I think it will last long enough to justify the cost,” says Glamour contributor Brittany Loggins.
Best for Dark Circles and Puffiness: La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eye Cream for Dark Circles
Tested and reviewed by Glamour contributor Brigitt Early
Tested and reviewed by Glamour contributor Brigitt Early
- Pros: The cooling metal applicator helps reduce puffiness.
- Cons: It’s on the pricier side for a drugstore brand.
“Ideal for sensitive skin, this eye cream contains caffeine to help boost circulation and constrict blood vessels to reduce dark circles,” says Dr. Mikailov. Niacinamide helps address pigmentation, he says. In addition to addressing hyperpigmentation over time, it also helps instantly mask any discoloration thanks to the addition of silica and titanium dioxide, which help reflect light for an immediate brightening effect. Finally, glycerin and dimethicone help draw water into the skin and seal in moisture to address dryness.
“I was really impressed with this eye cream, especially given the price compared to some other products on the market,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley. “The metal applicator has a significant cooling effect that instantly revives a tired under-eye—great for morning application. I also noticed immediate brightening effects. However, even though it says it’s safe for contact lens wearers and doesn’t contain any fragrances, my skin did feel slightly irritated shortly after application. I think this was due to the tightening effect, but since my skin isn’t usually very sensitive, I’d advise against this option for those with very sensitive skin.
Best Eye Gel for Dark Circles: Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream
Original photo by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing the Glow Recipe Guava Bright Eye Gel Cream
Tested and reviewed by Glamour commerce editor Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Tested and reviewed by Glamour commerce editor Alanna Martine Kilkeary
- Pros: Slightly tightens and helps minimize discoloration under eyes
- Cons: Small bottle for the price
