The 9 best eye creams that brighten, depuff and hydrate your delicate undereyes

If you're looking to smooth fine lines or banish dark circles, these are the tried and tested eye creams our beauty team recommends...

A collage of some of the best eye creams featured in this guide, including formulas from OLEHENKRIKSEN, Tatcha and Caudalie, featured on a pastel, multi-coloured gradient template, with cream swatches
(Image credit: OLEHENKRIKSEN/ Tatcha and Caudalie)

Whether you're looking to hydrate your delicate undereyes or brighten dark circles, the best eye creams can be transformative to your skincare routine - and these are the 9 hard-working formulas our team swear by.

Like the best face moisturisers and best facial sunscreens, the right eye cream can form one of the cornerstones of your daily regime. After all, the skin around our eyes is fragile and often where the first signs of ageing like to make their debut. Of course, no topical product can completely reverse, tighten or eradicate deep lines, but a well-formulated cream - packed with powerhouse and nourishing ingredients - can help to alleviate some visible concerns. Brightening dark circles, for instance, and reducing puffiness are all pros of a good eye treatment.

So, if you're on the hunt for something to reduce the appearance of fine lines or soothe the after effects of a bad night's sleep, these are creams our beauty team says are the best, with options for every budget.

The 9 best eye creams for every concern and budget, per our team

From luxe, nourishing creams to formulas that have been specifically designed to brighten, we've tested a wide range of eye creams from brands like Tatcha, Murad and Drunk Elephant. These are the ones that offer the best results and are worth investing in.

How to choose the best eye creams for you

"As with any skincare product, it takes around six to eight weeks of regular use to really see the results," says Alise Mihai, senior practitioner at Skin+IQ. But, as Dr Kaywaan Khan, Aesthetic Doctor and founder of Hannah London, points out—it depends on ingredients. "Hyaluronic acid is instant, you can see the plumping and hydrating results on every application. Retinol takes longer to work as it has to convert itself into retinoic acid from vitamin A before it starts stimulating collagen production," explains Dr Kaywaan.

Typically, a good eye cream should have one or more of these active ingredients:

  • Caffeine: Many eye creams include caffeine as an ingredient. “It’s a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows blood cells, which is thought to help reduce the appearance of puffy eyes and dark circles,” says Dr Kaywaan.
  • Retinol: It’s no surprise that retinol, the over-the-counter form of retinoid, is an anti-ageing godsend. In an eye cream, “it helps stimulate collagen and elastin production, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. It also speeds up cell turn over, making it great for mild to moderate pigmentation,” says Alise.
  • Humectants: “Humectants attract water molecules and draw moisture from deeper layers of the skin to the surface, thus keeping skin well-moisturized,” says Alise. Hyaluronic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, glycerin, and aloe vera are popular humectants used in cosmetics.
  • Peptides: Peptides are naturally occurring amino acids in the body that protect skin from damage, improve skin health, and minimize the impact of premature aging. When applied topically, they send messages to skin cells telling them to carry out specific tasks, like building collagen, elastin, keratin, and other essential proteins.
  • Antioxidants: Antioxidants are used in skincare for their ability to fight free radicals (unstable atoms from UV/ozone exposure, smoking, pollution, or chemical exposure) “Antioxidants can brighten dark circles, improve pigmentation and also prevent damage from UV light exposure,” says Dr Kaywaan. Common antioxidants in skincare include vitamin C, vitamin E, resveratrol, and CoEnzyme Q10.

How we tested the best eye creams

Much like with our guide to the best face masks, our team has tested every cream first-hand, applying each formula day or night (depending on the recommended usage), over a few days or weeks to measure their efficacy and benefits. Many of the eye creams featured are also personal favourites of the team, some of which they've been using for months - if not years.

A collage of some of the best eye creams features in the guide: on the left is a close-up of Digital Beauty Writer, Sennen Prickett's hand holding the MZ SKIN eye cream, followed by Digital Beauty Writer, Naomi Jamieson's seen holding the Tatcha Silk Peony eye cream. Then again, we see Sennen holding the Froya Organics eye balm, and lastly, Naomi holding up the Caudalie Vinoperfect eye cream.

(Image credit: Future)

Meet our expert panel

Reviewed by
Beauty editor Fiona Mckim
Reviewed by
Fiona McKim

As woman&home's Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona McKim has tried countless beauty products, from hydrating serums to foundations, so it's safe to say she knows a good formula when she sees one. Fiona joined the team as Assistant Beauty Editor in 2013, working under industry legend Jo GB, and has since covered every corner of the industry, from interviewing dermatologists and celebrities to reporting backstage at Fashion Week and judging the woman&home Beauty Awards. For this guide, Fiona primed and slathered her undereyes with many of the latest and greatest formulas, sharing her expertise on which are truly worth investing in.

Reviewed By
Digital Beauty Writer, Naomi Jamieson
Reviewed By
Naomi Jamieson

Naomi has worked in the beauty industry for over four years now and has been in her role as Digital Beauty Writer at woman&home for two. She covers everything from skincare to nail trends and has tested and reviewed a whole host of formulas for both the channel and in her role as a judge for the Woman&Home Beauty Awards. As someone with quite dry and sensitive skin, she takes a keen interest in hydrating creams and serums, which she puts to good use in this eye cream guide.

Reviewed by
Image of Sennen Prickett smiling with long brunette hair, wearing a black dress and woman&home lanyard
Reviewed by
Sennen Prickett

As Digital Beauty Writer at woman&home, Sennen tests a plethora of beauty products each week, meaning she knows a good formula when she tries one. Aside from sharing the latest beauty launches and tried and tested product recommendations, Sennen is also a judge for the annual woman&home Beauty Awards. For this guide, Sennen shared her tried and trusted favourites and the formulas that are best suited for dry under-eyes.

Reviewed by
Emma Stoddart
Reviewed by
Emma Stoddart

Emma Stoddart is a freelance beauty journalist and self-confessed skincare aficionado with over five years of experience. Since graduating from Leeds University in 2011, Emma has worked for some of the UK's leading women's titles, including ELLE, Grazia, Stylist and of course woman&home, sharing her expertise for all things skincare, makeup and wellness. For this guide, Emma tested and reviewed some of the top eye creams on the market and shared her expertise on which is really worth adding to your routine.

Fiona McKim
Beauty Editor, womanandhome.com

As woman&home's Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona Mckim loves to share her 15+ years of industry intel on womanandhome.com and Instagram (@fionamckim if you like hair experiments and cute shih-tzus). After interning at ELLE, Fiona joined woman&home as Assistant Beauty Editor in 2013 under industry legend Jo GB, who taught her to understand ingredients and take a cynical approach to marketing claims. She has since covered every corner of the industry, interviewing dermatologists and celebrities from Davina McCall to Dame Joan Collins, reporting backstage at London Fashion Week and judging the w&h Beauty Awards.

With contributions from