The 12 Best Eye Creams for Wrinkles

It has optical effects that help brighten eyes on the spot, although commitment nets you the best long-term results. "With regular use, patients have definitely noticed a decrease in the appearance of fine lines around the eyes," says Dr. Penzi.

Key ingredients: proxylane, peptides, glycyrrhetinic acid | Who it's for: people with deep wrinkles and lines | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Fast-Acting Eye Cream: Dermalogica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream

Why it's worth it: Formulated to mimic a surgical-like lifting of the eyes—albeit to a much subtler extent—the Dermalogica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream is designed for use all around the eye area, including the upper lids, to reduce folds and tighten skin. It works through a blend of protein-rich quinoa extract as well as peptides and adaptogenic plants, and the brand claims that the lightweight, serum-like formula can lift the eyes after a single use. Despite its high content of active ingredients, it also includes squalane, green tea oil, and oat extract to soothe and nourish the area.

Key ingredients: quinoa extract, peptides, matcha butter | Who it's for: those with sagging or hooded eyes | Fragrance-free: no

Best Korean Eye Cream: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum

Why it's worth it: Two percent retinal liposome (also known as retinaldehyde) is the star of the show that is Beauty of Joseon's fine-line-targeting Revive Eye Serum. What is retinal, anyway? Compared to other over-the-counter retinoids, retinal is more powerful than retinol since it only requires a one-step conversion to the active form of retinoid acid. (Retinol, meanwhile, requires a two-step conversion.) That means slightly faster results—use consistently, as with any skin-care product—with less irritation, due to fewer chemical conversions. Another key ingredient is 10% ginseng root extract, a traditional Korean ingredient that helps boost hydration and elasticity.

This TikTok-viral (and affordable!) formula is an editor-favorite, too. "This eye serum has a slight balm-like consistency that absorbs quickly without spreading far from the specific eye area that I'm focusing on—which I find is harder to control with more fluid formulas," commerce editor Sarah Han says. "My undereyes feel smooth and refreshed each morning, and since I'm in my 30s, I'm definitely paying more attention (and treating) the crow's feet area as a precaution."

Key ingredients: retinaldehyde, ginseng root extract, glycerin | Who it's for: people who can't tolerate traditional retinol or have sensitive eyes | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Luxury: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream

Why it's worth it: Despite its high price point, David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City, says this thick, rich eye cream is great for people who need lots of hydration around the eyes. One swipe of this luxurious formula, and you'll understand why: In addition to classic soothing ingredients such as squalane and glycerin, Dr. Kim calls out ginseng and retinol, which help with fine lines and wrinkles—as well as licorice for a brightening effect.

Key ingredients: ginseng, retinol, licorice | Who it's for: people with a rough, crepey texture | Fragrance-free: no

Best Drugstore: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream

Why it's worth it: The RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream is a fragrance-free best-seller that's won multiple Allure Best of Beauty Awards (our highest accolade) for its intensive formula. "Retinol helps boost collagen production, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes," says Dr. Penzi, who considers it one of her favorites. "It also contains hydrating ingredients like glycerin and panthenol that immediately provide hydration and plumpness to the eye area." Meanwhile, a mineral complex of zinc, copper, and magnesium provides antioxidant benefits to your eye skin and aids collagen formation.

Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Minneapolis, also backs this particular retinol eye cream, pointing out "The brand has over 25 patents, so it's well-respected in the retinol space."

Key ingredients: retinol, glycerin, panthenol | Who it's for: anyone who can tolerate retinol | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Daytime: Senté Labs Illuminé Eye Cream

Why it's worth it: Once available only through derms and other medical professionals, Senté Labs' Illuminé Eye Cream is now available to the masses. "This uses the same heparan sulfate analog used in their other products to enhance growth-factor formation and decrease lines and wrinkles around the eye," says Dr. Nazarian. (For reference, heparan sulfate analog is a version of a molecule naturally found in skin that helps dial down inflammation.) It also contains niacinamide and peptides to brighten and firm the eye area over time, but you'll also see an improvement ASAP: Dr. Nazarian calls out its light-reflecting sheen that immediately lends a bright-eyed look, making it a good option for daytime.

Key ingredients: heparan sulfate analog, niacinamide, peptides | Who it's for: everyone | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Nighttime: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex

Why it's worth it: Having a separate eye cream for your nighttime routine seems extravagant, but allow us to make a case for Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme (which, we might add, took home an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022). "The combination of extracts, antioxidants, and peptides helps improve signs of aging such as crepey skin and fine lines, while the hyaluronic acid hydrates and softens the appearance of skin," says Dr. Nazarian. The ophthalmologist-tested, fast-absorbing gel-cream is also safe to apply all around the eyes, including the inner corners and on the lids.

Key ingredients: peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E | Who it's for: people targeting uneven skin tone and texture | Fragrance-free: yes

Best with Retinol: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum

Why it's worth it: As its name suggests, the Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum contains two retinoids and antioxidant ferulic acid, which is known to stabilize and improve the efficacy of other skin-care additives. These ingredients "can transform the look of crow's feet," says Dr. Penzi. "Trans-retinol and encapsulated retinol smooth texture and boost collagen, while ferulic acid counteracts irritating effects of retinol—making it powerful yet tolerable for even those with sensitive skin." (In fact, the eye treatment is gentle enough to use on the eyelids.) Dr. Fahs is also a fan of the formula, which is infused with bakuchiol, a sensitive skin-friendly ingredient with similar effects as retinol.

Key ingredients: retinol, bakuchiol, rambutan | Who it's for: those with more intense lines or sagging | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Retinol-Free: Chanel No.1 de Chanel Revitalizing Eye Serum

Why it's worth it: For those who aren't quite sold on or can't tolerate retinol, Chanel's No.1 de Chanel Revitalizing Eye Serum subs the ingredient for red camellia, a go-to active among the fashion house's skin-care offerings. The extract of the flower targets eye wrinkles, dark circles and discoloration, and sagging, while the yeast extract derived from camellia also supports the skin barrier. The packaging is also refillable and comes with a metal, rotating applicator that (gently!) massages and cools the skin as you apply it, making quick work of puffiness, too.

Key ingredients: camellia flower water, squalane, coffee seed oil | Who it's for: anyone who wants to skip retinol but not results | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Sensitive Skin: L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum

Why it's worth it: Dermatologists consider the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum a hidden gem, especially for those with sensitive skin. "It contains hyaluronic acid that provides intense hydration and caffeine to help create a tightening and smoothing effect," says Dr. Penzi. She also likes that the formula is free of fragrances and parabens as well as allergy-tested, "making it safe for those with sensitive skin," she says. L'Oréal Paris also offers a 2.5% HA eye serum if you desire more hydration, but on the flip side, it contains retinol—so sensitive skin be warned.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, caffeine, glycerin | Who it's for: everyone, but especially sensitive skin types | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Depuffing: Neocutis Illuminating Eye Cream

Why it's worth it: This hydrating eye cream has a potent blend of growth factors and caffeine "to hydrate and plump the skin while promoting collagen production," says Dr. Fahs, who counts it among her favorites. (If you're not familiar with them, growth factors are "signal proteins that promote the production of collagen and elastin," says Dr. Fahs.) It also contains antioxidant vitamin E for its moisture-retention properties, and hyaluronic acid to replenish skin hydration. Caffeine is a powerful ingredient for puffiness, too, since it helps stimulate circulation.

Key ingredients: growth factors, peptides, vitamin C | Who it's for: people with undereye bags or puffy eyes | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Firming: Tata Harper Restorative Eye Crème

Why it's worth it: Get yourself a lightweight under-eye eye cream that does it all. Tata Harper Restorative Eye Crème plays host to a long list of puffiness-minimizing, elasticity-boosting ingredients like arnica, red algae, caffeine, dabberlocks seaweed, and daffodil bulbs, while Spanish lavender and safflower oleosomes plump and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. Just when you think its antioxidant-rich properties run low, there's vitamin C to brighten the look of dark circles. Better yet: Once you're through with your bottle, you can buy refill pods for $110 a pop (saving you $20).

Key ingredients: safflower oleosomes, calcified red algae, Spanish lavender | Who it's for: those targeting multiple concerns | Fragrance-free: no

Frequently Asked Questions

One of the top ingredients for targeting fine lines is retinol, says Dr. Nazarian. In case you're not familiar with this vitamin A derivative, it increases collagen production to improve the look of fine lines while evening skin tone and reducing signs of hyperpigmentation. (Bye-bye, dark circles.)

Worth noting, however: Retinol is an intensive active ingredient that might irritate sensitive skin types, so always patch-test new products before applying them to your entire face— and especially your under-eye area—and be sure to follow up with sunscreen.

Another ingredient Dr. Fahs says is a skin-brightening essential is vitamin C, an antioxidant powerhouse that fights free radical damage and helps fade pigmentation concerns; not surprisingly, it's a regular among brightening eye creams. Really, any antioxidant is a good idea. “Antioxidants are a bonus in eye creams, since they protect against environmental damage and help preserve skin from premature aging,” says Dr. Nazarian. “Everyone benefits from that.”

Dehydration can also exacerbate the look of wrinkles, so if you notice dry skin, consider incorporating a hyaluronic acid-infused product into your skin-care regimen. "[Hyaluronic acid] is a humectant that plumps and hydrates the skin to improve the appearance of fine lines," says Dr. Fahs.

What else? "Peptides can be a great alternative to retinol," Dr. Liu notes. "Peptides help to signal the skin's internal production of collagen and have hydrating benefits to improve the appearance of crow's feet."

There's no right age, but “you can start using eye creams preventatively—and the earlier the better,” says Dr. Nazarian. While this might not be the case elsewhere on your face (after all, you might not want to sweat future jowls when you're a teenager) the eyes are particularly vulnerable to showing wear-and-tear. “This area of the body is so thin that even a small amount of damage shows dramatically early in life,” she says, adding that she also recommends wearing sunglasses as a preemptive protective measure, too.

• Fatima Fahs, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Canton, MI
• Rachel Nazarian, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY
• Lauren Penzi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY
• David Kim, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY
• Jenny Liu, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Minneapolis, MN

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas. 

For our list of the best eye creams for wrinkles, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

For more of our favorite, hard-working skin-care products, keep reading:

• Allure Best of Beauty Awards 2023: Skin Care
• The Best Korean Skin-Care Products That'll Transform Your Complexion
• 18 Top Dermatologists Reveal Their Skin-Care Routines
• The Best Face Masks for Mature Skin for Intense, Comforting Hydration

Done reading? Now, watch Amy Poehler & Maya Hawke React to internet trends:

Don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.