11 Eye Creams That Will Make You Look More Awake

September 28, 2024

By: Wendy Rose Gould | skincare.com by L'Oréal

If you frequently wake up with dark circles or puffy under-eyes, you probably have a close bond with your favorite concealer. While makeup can be a great way to quickly camouflage dark circles, using an eye cream designed to target the issue is, in our eyes, an even better approach. The best eye creams for dark circles don’t just hide puffiness and discoloration—they also help nourish, soothe, and refresh the delicate under-eye skin to promote a more rested appearance (even if, in truth, you’re running on four hours of sleep).

From hydrating formulas that plump and nourish the skin to caffeine eye creams that soothe early-morning puffiness, we’re sharing the products we rely on to look, well, a little more rested.

What Does Eye Cream Do for Tired Eyes?

In general, eye creams are designed to help hydrate the delicate skin around your eyes. However, many formulas do much more than that. Eye creams for dark circles, for example, can help brighten discoloration and promote a more even skin tone. They often contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide and are designed specifically for those looking to minimize the appearance of purple or brown under-eye circles.

There are also eye creams with caffeine that can help minimize the appearance of puffiness and temporary under-eye bags (meaning those not caused by genetics). Other options include anti-aging eye creams (which often contain retinol or peptides), plumping eye creams, and moisturizing eye creams. All can help nourish the skin and improve the overall appearance of tired-looking eyes.

If you’re wondering when to apply eye cream, you’ll want to follow the same principles that you would when layering your other skincare products (like layering in order of consistency from thinnest to thickest). Typically, this means your eye cream should be applied after serum but before your facial moisturizer or sunscreen.

Is Caffeine or Vitamin C Better for Dark Circles?

Caffeine and vitamin C are two ingredients that you’ll often find in eye creams for dark circles. If you’re wondering which is better, there is no right answer—it depends on your needs and what you’re hoping to achieve.

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant that can help protect your skin from damage caused by exposure to free radicals. It can also help improve the appearance of discoloration, which is why it’s a mainstay in formulas designed to target dark circles. If your dark circles are persistent—in other words, they’re there no matter if you get three hours of sleep or ten—it may be a great option for you.

Caffeine, on the other hand, can help de-puff, which may be helpful if your dark circles only appear when your eyes get puffy. By diminishing puffiness, you can minimize the appearance of the dark shadows that appear beneath your eye area. These effects tend to be immediate (albeit temporary) which is why caffeine eye creams are often touted as a quick fix for tired, puffy-looking eyes.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to choose between the two—in our experience, some of the best eye creams with caffeine also contain vitamin C for a one-two punch against stubborn dark circles and puffiness.

11 Eye Creams for Tired-Looking Eyes

Whether you're on the hunt for the very best cream for dark circles, want to tackle puffiness, or need a product that’s going to plump up those fine lines, there’s an eye cream that’ll suit your needs. Here are some of our favorites worth adding to your routine.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Eye Cream

Give dark, puffy under-eyes the boot with this powerful eye cream. It’s made with caffeine, ceramides, and 5% pure vitamin C and visibly minimizes the signs of fatigue to help promote a smoother, brighter-looking under-eye area. The gentle formula absorbs quickly with zero greasy residue, is suitable for all skin types, and is ophthalmologist-tested to be safe for use by those who wear contact lenses. It even layers well under makeup.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Eye Opener

Smooth on this luxurious eye cream before you hit the sheets. The antioxidant-infused formula helps support the skin’s natural nighttime renewal process and targets eight key signs of skin aging, including lid sagging, crow’s feet, and wrinkles. It also helps minimize the appearance of dark circles to promote a fresher, more wakeful appearance come sunrise.

Youth to the People Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate

If you prefer a lightweight dose of hydration, we suggest giving this gel-serum a try. The powerful formula boasts a blend of peptides, caffeine, and vitamin C and instantly illuminates the skin. With continued use, you’ll notice less puffiness, softer-looking fine lines, and a visibly brighter under-eye area.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Bags Daytime Treatment

When you need a quick fix for prominent under-eye bags, snag this daytime treatment. Ten years of research went into developing this powerful formula, which works to de-puff, tighten, and smooth moderate to severe in just a few minutes. To apply it, smooth on your go-to eye cream as usual. After it absorbs completely, lightly dab this concentrated treatment onto the skin beneath your eyes. Then, hang out for about 15 minutes (don’t touch!). As it dries, the treatment forms an adhesive film on your skin that compresses under-eye bags for a filter-like finish. And, in case you’re wondering, yes—you can apply it over makeup, too.

Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream

There’s a reason this light green eye cream is Kiehl’s best-selling eye treatment. The gentle hydrating formula with avocado oil, beta-carotene, and shea butter and delivers both instant and long-term hydration. The oil-in-water formula instantly improves under-eye skin texture and helps brighten the skin over time. Plus, it’s suitable for all skin types and is ophthalmologist-tested for safety.

Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Eye Cream

Treat your under-eyes to this luxurious formula. It’s an eye cream that simultaneously lifts and firms the eye contour while reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles.

Skinbetter Science InterFuse Treatment Cream EYE

Tackle fine lines, puffiness, under-eye circles, and dryness simultaneously with this luxurious eye cream. The innovative cream is made with a patented technology called InterFuse that helps deliver the formula’s ingredients more efficiently to the skin. You can use it morning and night for visibly smoother, brighter-looking eyes.

SkinCeuticals Eye Balm

If an eye cream isn’t your thing, try this ultra-rich eye balm instead. It’s a thick, rich formula that works great for those with dry, mature skin. It’s designed to hydrate, nourish and smooth the outer eye contour while relieving the look of puffiness and crow's feet. You could also try layering this on top of a lighter eye serum or moisturizer for a double-whammy approach.

Lancôme Absolue The Eye Cream

It took five years of research and the analysis of more than one billion potential peptides to create the unique (and exclusive) peptide ingredient featured in this anti-aging eye cream. We’d say the payoff was well worth it: The luxe formula helps firm the skin and improve elasticity within hours, while continued use reveals a visibly smoother, brighter-looking eye area.

Kinship Brightwave Eye Cream

Illuminate and depuff the under-eye area with this hydrating formula, which contains Chaga mushroom, red algae extract, vitamin C, and plant-based prebiotics in its formula. During a clinical trial, 91% showed improvement in the appearance of dark under-eye discoloration immediately after use, according to the brand.

Alpyn Beauty Line-Filling Eye Balm With Bakuchiol and Caffeine

Caffeine eye creams are great for targeting puffiness and discoloration, but if you’re looking for something that can help address other signs of aging, consider adding bakuchiol into the mix. This naturally-derived ingredient is considered a gentler alternative to retinol (which can be drying for some). It’s one of the primary ingredients in this eye cream, which, per the brand, helps visibly tighten, firm, and brighten the skin around the eyes.

Next Up: The Difference Between Balms, Ointments and Salves