Finding an eye cream that wipes away signs of fatigue, puffiness and dark circles has long been the holy grail of skin care. Luckily, we now have a better idea of ingredients that work, and newer formulas are taking advantage of all the tech:
Look for these ingredients:
Hyaluronic acid – it plumps up the area, pushing skin up and away from the blood vessels. It’s also great for dry skin and wrinkles around the eyes.
Caffeine – a vasoconstrictor that tightens blood vessels, making them less visible.
Retinol or one of the Vitamin A derivatives – builds thicker skin and collagen.
Vitamin C – antioxidant, stimulates collagen production and brightens the skin tone.
Grapeseed oil – powerful antioxidant, helps strengthen capillary walls against leakage.
Green tea – powerful antioxidant, also helps strengthen capillary walls.
Vitamin K – a deficiency can actually cause dark circles. Supplementing with Vitamin K helps them fade away.
Under eye creams and treatments we like:
BioNike Defence Xage Eye Lift Serum with the special Rejuvenate SGFcomplex combined with a plankton extract to help to smooth wrinkles and reduce puffiness and dark circles.
Nivea Q10 Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Eye Cream with the powerful antioxidant Q10 and Creatine to visibly reduce wrinkles, firm skin and reduce dark circles under your eyes.
Eucerin Hyaluron Eye Filler SPF 15 – hyaluronic acid plus sun protection to improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles and counteract dark circles.
L’Oréal Revitalift Laser Renew Precision Eye Cream - caffeine and the cooling applicator tip helps reduce puffiness. Replumps wrinkles, reduces bags and firms up the skin - all in one go.
Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector contains an impressive host of pigmentation busting, antioxidant, skin-plumping ingredients (mulberry root, green tea, vitamin C, caffeine among others), optical correctors to brighten, a light natural tint and a cooling applicator tip.
Specialist dark circle and puffy eye creams and treatments:
Dermactin-TS Concentrated Dark Circle Treatment with a concentrated lexapepetide formula to help reduce dark under circles and puffy eyes.
Dermactin-TS Cooling Puffy Eye Treatment relieves the appearance of dark circles, fatigue and hyperpigmentation.
Skin Republic’s
Fast Fix 5 Minute Under Eye Patch with caffeine, hyaluronic acid, aloe and green tea as a quick-fix for under eye circles and depuffing, and their
Retinol Hydrogel Under Eye Patch with retinol, niacinamide and vitamin B5 to brighten dark circles, build thicker, firmer skin and reduce pigmentation.
Dark circle removal creams developed by dermatologists:
Neostrata Brightening Eye Cream contains vitamins C and E, which are not only powerful antioxidants, but also work synergistically with vitamin K. Also includes line-smoothing peptides.
La Roche Posay Pigmentclar Eyes - a dark circle skin-evening corrector that visibly reduces the look of blue and brown dark circles and brightens the eye area. It features a unique cooling metal applicator.
Avène PhysioLift Eyes - hyaluronic acid and retinaldehyde (vitamin A) to smooth wrinkles, reduce puffiness and dark circles.
CAUTION: Make sure that any eye cream you use is gentle, dermatologist tested and approved.