If you’re not careful, fine lines can appear around the eye area at any age. Believe me, I know. I used prescription-strength tretinoin for years without enough hydration, and crow’s feet did not hesitate to form around the area. Luckily, with the right eye cream, my eye area is now former, more hydrated, and overall brighter. I know some folks are skeptical about eye creams and if they actually work, but I swear by them. Various creams have pulled my dull, dehydrated eye area out of a very sad state.
Hydration is key, and if you find yourself in a similar bind or could use some help in that department in general, we’ve got you covered. I asked a dermatologist to share tips on what ingredients to look for if you’re searching for an eye cream for fine lines and wrinkles. Keep reading for all his advice and a few of his top product picks.
If you’re dealing with dryness, fine lines, wrinkles, or dark circles around the eye area, don’t worry. Board-certified dermatologist Bradley Glodny, MD, says there are several options out there that can help. “There are many ingredients found to be helpful in eye creams to combat wrinkles and fine lines,” he says. “I like to think of these ingredients [as] best used for prevention, so early intervention is key. Some of these ingredients include retinol (vitamin A), human growth factors/peptides, hydroxy acids, vitamin K oxide, and vitamin C (ascorbic acid).”
To firm the skin and reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and fine lines, you’ll definitely want to gravitate toward products with peptides, growth factors, and retinol the most. These ingredients are great at reducing wrinkles individually but work even better together. Keep scrolling for a few of Glodny’s recommended eye creams for wrinkles and a few of our favorites.
Pros: Contains a granactive retinoid that is less irritating than normal retinol. Shiitake mushroom strengthens the moisture barrier and black currant seed oil protects against premature aging. Cons: Retinoids may be too strong for extra sensitive skin. Packed with skin-firming and wrinkle-softening ingredients, this eye balm from Versed does a lot at a lower price point. It contains a granactive retinoid, a less irritating form of retinol, to soften fine lines. Plus, shiitake mushroom extract strengthens the moisture barrier, while black currant seed oil helps protect against premature aging. Customer Review: “I’ve used many different brands and types of eye cream, but nothing compares to this one! My skin is extremely dry and sometimes sensitive to certain products, but Versed Smooth Landing is non-irritating, goes on smoothly, and stays on throughout the night. In the past, no matter what serum or cream I used around my eyes, before using concealer, I’d have flaky skin. Smooth Landing has stopped the flaky skin.”
Pros: Three types of vitamin C and tranexamic acid reduce dark circles, peptides firm the skin, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Cons: Tinted, contains a bit of a shimmer. This gel-cream hybrid eye treatment from Innbeauty Project does it all—reduces fine lines around the eye area, brightens, and hydrates. This is a great option for those who struggle with major dark circles and fine lines as it contains three types of vitamin C and tranexamic acid to brighten, while peptides and bakuchiol firm the skin and reduce wrinkles. An added boost of caffeine also promotes circulation and a more awake look. Customer Review: “I love InnBeauty! I’ve been using their moisturizer for some time now, and the eye cream is the perfect addition to my routine. The packaging is simple and cute, and the formula is perfect for [my] daytime/morning routine. It wears beautifully under my makeup and doesn’t feel oily/greasy. Also, it’s very affordable and effective! Do yourself a favor and try this brand!”
Pros: Contains potent actives like caffeine, squalane, ferulic acid, and vitamin C to hydrate and reduce fine lines. Cons: Texture is a bit thick. “This eye cream boasts an all-natural formula and includes the most potent list of inclusive ingredients, including caffeine, niacinamide, squalane, ferulic acid, and activated vitamin C. Not many eye creams contain so many active ingredients for the most effect.” — Glodny. Customer Review: “Very hydrating. I have extremely sensitive eyes, and this product had no stinging effects whatsoever.”
Pros: Contains hydrating ingredients like glycerin to reduce the appearance of fine lines, while vitamin K oxide reduces dark circles around the eye area. Cons: Expensive. “This eye cream is unique because it contains vitamin K oxide to help reduce hyperpigmentation of the eyes, therefore, addressing dark circles.” — Glodny. Customer Review: “[‘I’m] not sure this is helping dramatically with the dark circles under my eyes, but the eye cream feels lovely and hydrating [and] doesn’t cause any irritation. [I] have tried many eye creams as I’m hyper-sensitive to milia, and this has not caused any. Also, [I] use this in conjunction with a retinol-based eye product, and this helps to alleviate some of the dryness the other product causes.”
Pros: Packed with hydrating and skin-renewing ingredients like ceramides, peptides, niacinamide, and caffeine. Cons: Contains mineral oil and may not be suitable for acne-prone skin. As far as drugstore options go, CeraVe offers one of the best. It hydrates, smooths, firms, and brightens the eye area in a quick swipe. Caffeine reduces puffiness around the eyes, while peptides, niacinamide, and ceramides reduce wrinkles and reinforce the skin barrier. Customer Review: “I got one to try it, and I am hooked. It really works. It is an awesome product. I’m going to order more. It’s worth the money.”
Pros: Advanced anti-wrinkle eye cream with proxylane, blueberry extract, flavonoids, and peptides. Cons: Very thick consistency, expensive. “I love this eye cream because of the rich texture when applying. You can feel it soothe your skin immediately. It also contains plant-based ingredients to help nourish and provide moisture. Great for sensitive skin types.” Customer Review: “This eye cream is incredible! I have been feeling increasingly self-conscious about [wrinkles] around the eyes, as well as sagging upper eyelids. This eye cream has helped correct both issues in only a few weeks of use. Despite the high price, this is my new must-have skincare cream.”
Pros: Contains a marine algae complex, paracress extract smooths and firms the skin, squalane provides essential hydration. Cons: Slightly tinted, expensive. This Biossance eye cream lifts, firms, and camouflages dark circles with a slightly pink tint to it. Paracress extract quickly firms skin while squalane deeply hydrates, reducing the appearance of fine lines around the eye area.
Pros: Reduces the appearance of fine lines and locks in hydration with shea butter and other organic extracts. Cons: Thick consistency. Customer Review: “The ingredients are incredible and have never made me break out. For reference, I have very sensitive combination skin. I prefer to wear this during the day and a thicker eye cream at night. The metal applicator is nice and cooling.”
Pros: Fragrance-free, cooling, and firming on the skin. Reduces fine lines with peptides and hyaluronic acid. Cons: Expensive. Olay’s formula is a cooling eye gel that contains classic crow’s feet-reducing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide. Customer Review: “This Olay Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Gel Eye Cream felt great going on and absorbed quickly. It was cooling and lightweight. I felt like I saw a difference in days. It didn’t make my eyes sting, and they felt more hydrated. Also loved that it is fragrance-free.”
Pros: Specifically designed with MEP technology to address collagen loss, improves skin’s firmness and elasticity, contains hydrating ingredients like mango seed butter and hyaluronic acid along with caffeine. Cons: Expensive. “This is an amazing under-eye cream for older women in need of estrogen replacement. It has ingredients that mimic estrogen activity which is lacking in older female skin.” — Glodny. Customer Review: “[I] was so excited to try this brand—I currently use the serum and eye cream in the morning and the night cream in the evening and am seeing real results on my post-menopausal skin. Pricey but worth it!”
