In the past, I thought that creams that tighten the skin around the eyes were a scam, a way for companies to get you to buy more products that you didn’t need. That innocent version of me is no longer around. The best creams for tightening the skin around your eyes aren’t just thicker moisturisers in smaller containers. Board-certified dermatologist Nathan Newman, MD, says that they make the skin feel firmer for a short time by reducing puffiness and smoothing out wrinkles. “They work by making a film over the skin that gets tighter as it dries. This makes the skin feel firmer and lifted for four to eight hours,” he says.

These creams can be used by more than just people who don’t get enough sleep. There is now a formula that is made to help with crow’s feet puffiness or dark circles around the eyes. It can be hard to choose from all the options, but the good news is that they are all very precise. There are so many on the market that it’s easier than ever to find one that fits your budget lifestyle ingredient preferences, or even a K-beauty routine. But the most important thing is to be consistent. One use won’t get rid of fine lines right away; you need to use it for a long time to see a difference.
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Below, experts talk about their favourite eye-tightening creams, what to look for in a formula, what makes wrinkles around the eyes, and, most importantly, when to start using one. I wish my mom had put me on a schedule as soon as I was born.
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Innbeauty Project Bright & Tight Eye Cream is the best overall.
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Bright & Tight Eye Cream costs $45 on Amazon.
Why We Love It: People who love the brand’s best-selling firming moisturiser will be happy to know that the line now includes products for the area around the eyes. Board-certified dermatologist Jenna Queller, MD, says that this multi-action formula combines vitamin C to brighten the skin with 3% tranexamic acid to help fade dark circles and uneven tone. It also has bakuchiol and peptide complexes to make fine lines look smoother, as well as caffeine and cedar bark to help get blood flowing and reduce swelling. “It’s light and safe to use in the morning and at night. It hydrates and visibly plumps the area under the eyes while also addressing issues with texture and tone,” she says.
Vitamin C peptide and tranexamic acid are the main ingredients.
When to Use: The Innbeauty Project says to use this firming eye cream in the morning and at night.
Important Features Clean vegan and not tested on animals
15 ml in size
U Beauty The Return Eye Concentrate Eye Cream is the best for brightening.
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The Return Eye Concentrate Eye Cream costs $148 on Amazon.$148 BLUEMERCURY148 NORDSTROM
Why We Love It: It really does shine like a diamond. This U Beauty formula has diamond powder in it, which is said to help make dark circles and fine lines look less noticeable while also making your skin look brighter. Dr. Queller says that it also has a lot of peptides in it and special complexes that help with collagen signalling and hydration while being gentle enough for the delicate eye area. She goes on to say, “This cream usually helps firm and smooth the skin under the eyes while also giving you a fresh well-rested look when you use it regularly.”
From the editor: “My dark circles have gotten less noticeable in the last few months, and maybe this U Beauty eye cream is to blame. Aside from the powerful ingredients I love the creamy almost balmy texture that keeps moisture in without bothering my sensitive undereyes.
Main Ingredients beta-glucan marine plankton extract and diamond powder
When to Use: U Beauty says to use this eye contouring concentrate in the morning and at night.
Notable Features Doesn’t cause allergies doesn’t test on animals doesn’t contain parabens or formaldehydes
15 ml in size
Numbuzin No. 9 NAD+ Retinol Eye Cream is the best K-Beauty product.
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Numbuzin
$17 for No. 9 NAD+ Retinol Eye Cream on Amazon
Why We Love It: Numbuzin is one of the best-selling K-beauty products on the market so we had to include it on this list. The formula has NAD+ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and 50 different peptides that help repair skin boost collagen production and make the skin around the eyes more elastic. Dr. Queller says that this eye cream works to visibly smooth out fine lines and wrinkles brighten dark circles and bring back the look of volume which helps to reduce puffiness and sagging.
Retinol NAD+ hyaluronic acid peptides and niacinamide are the main ingredients.
When to Use: Numbuzin says to pump out one to two pumps and spread them evenly around the eye area in the morning and at night.
Important Features No scent
Volume: 10 ml
Best for Swelling: Dr. Loretta’s Eye Gel for Tightening
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Save to your wish list Dr. Loretta
Eye Gel That Tightens $65 $62 (5% off) on Amazon
Dr. Queller says “I’m always drawn to eye treatments that combine science-backed ingredients with a luxurious feel and this eye gel does just that.” She says that the formula which is full of antioxidants and peptides makes the skin look tighter which helps to brighten the skin under the eyes reduce puffiness and smooth out fine lines around the eyes. “I love that it’s light and layers well under makeup. It’s a useful but effective choice for everyday use routine.”
Main Ingredients Lipochroman chromabright and marine algae peptides
When to Use: Dr. Loretta says to use it sparingly and gently around the eye in the morning and at night.
Notable Features vegan cruelty-free and free of alcohol sulphates parabens phthalates artificial fragrance and dyes
20 ml in size
Revision Skincare DEJ Eye Cream is the best for drooping and hooding.
Revision Skincare
$120 for D.E.J Eye Cream on Amazon120 DERMSTORE
Why We Love It: The cooling applicator of Revision Skincare’s eye cream is definitely a draw but what really makes it stand out is how easily it fixes sagging and drooping eyes. According to board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman MD Revision Skincare’s D·E·J Eye Cream is a clinically driven formula designed to support the dermal-epidermal junction structural layer that weakens with age and contributes to sagging and crepiness.
Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline palmitoyl tripeptide-38 amino-acid copper complex and goji fruit extract are some of the most important ingredients.
When to Use: Revision Skincare suggests using one pump of this product around the eyes twice a day.
Size: 14 g/0.5 oz.
Important Features pH formula that is safe for skin
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Eye Cream with Retinol is the best for smoothing and shaping.
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Charlotte’s Magic Eye Cream with Retinol costs $65 at NORDSTROM.
Why We Love It: If you use Pillow Talk all the time you should also try Charlotte Tilbury’s skin care products. Dr. Graf says I like this tightening eye cream because it has time-released retinol to make the area under the eyes look smoother and more defined and winter-daphne stem-cell extract to help tighten and firm.
Vitamin C glycerin and retinol are the main ingredients.
When to Use: Every night put it on the area around your eyes.
15 ml/0.5 fl. oz.
Important Features Refills are available and they are gluten-free and cruelty-free.
Retrouvé Revitalising Eye Concentrate is the best for keeping your skin hydrated.
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Revitalising Eye Concentrate costs $415 at BLUEMERCURY.415 REVOLVE
Why We Love It: Retrouvé’s eye cream is meant to hydrate dry skin but the silky balm texture is a nice touch. Zoë Kravitz is a fan of the concentrate which is made with squalane vitamin E glycerin and botanical oils to hydrate dry skin. Vitamin C and resveratrol can help lighten dark circles and dull skin.
Squalane cholesterol esters vitamin E vitamin C retinyl palmitate Morinda citrifolia extract and Padina pavonica are some of the main ingredients.
When to Use: Retrouvé suggests using this eye cream at night because it is thicker and more like a balm.
Notable Features No animal testing ingredients come from farms packaging that doesn’t let air in formula tested by dermatologists
30 ml/1 oz.
iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex is the best choice for people with sensitive skin.
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$120 for the Youth Eye Complex at BLUEMERCURY98 AMAZON120 DERMSTORE
Three of the main benefits of IS Clinical’s eye cream are that it smooths hydrates and brightens the skin under the eyes making them look younger. The Youth Eye Complex is made up of growth factors peptides extracts Centella asiatica and vitamin K. These work together to reduce fine lines and boost collagen production while also reducing puffiness and changing the condition.
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