Best eye gel for puffiness and dark circles

You might have found the Ross to your Rachel when it comes to serums and almost got your skincare regime down to a T, but where does an eye cream fit in? These tiny, pricey pots are often thought of as the last piece of the puzzle – but actually, they're an important one.

Whether your concealer is settling into lines more than it used to, or that morning-after puffiness is giving the game away in the office, investing in a targeted eye serum or cream could be the solution you seek.

'The skin around the eyes is thinner and more fragile than that on the rest of your face,' explains Dr. Maryam Zamani, oculoplastic surgeon and founder of MZ Skin. This means it requires special treatment – especially if you’re trying to get rid of stubborn pigmentation or erase the signs of a late night.

The best eye creams can work to tackle a wide range of concerns, including dryness, puffiness, dark circles (to a certain extent – let’s be real), and fine lines and wrinkles. To ensure you’ve got your hands on your perfect match, it pays to delve into the ingredients a little.

For puffiness and eye bags, caffeine could be the one. 'It reduces the build-up of lipids that lead to eye bags, and firms and restructures skin proteins to smooth, firm and tone the surface,' says Dr. Zamani.

For fine lines, you have options. Hyaluronic acid is your quick fix: proven to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water when correctly harnessed in a formula, 'it prevents moisture loss, helps smooth wrinkles and improves the skin surface,' explains Dr. Zamani. And for a more intensive, long-term results, consider the new school of retinol eye creams. Previously a rare occurrence due to retinol's tendency to irritate the skin, vitamin A eye creams are now coming to the fore, backed by serious formulation nous and gentle enough to be used on your most sensitive spots.

And for dark circles, your best bet may lie in a spot of product cocktailing. Try using a retinol-based eye treatment at night, which can boost collagen production, then cheat with an illuminating cream for instantly brighter eyes by day. While no eye cream on this earth can change your bone structure (which largely contributea to the appearance of shadows under the eyes), reflective pigments work wonders when it comes to tricking the light.

How often should you apply an eye cream?

This depends on how often you feel your peepers need a little pick-me-up – and what ingredients your cream features – but the general rule is before your face cream in the morning and before you slip into bed at night.

If an eye cream includes retinol (as many of the wrinkle-focused ones now do) then keep it reserved for night time. As powerful as retinol is, it also makes skin more sensitive to UV rays, meaning the morning isn’t exactly ideal application time. Apply before you snooze and don’t forget your SPF in the morning – that part is non-negotiable.

Vitamin C, on the other hand, is great for a morning routine. Although there’s no reason the brightening ingredient can’t be used at night, it’s more helpful in the AM due to its antioxidant powers, which help keep the free radicals in our increasingly polluted air at a distance.

Here, discover the eye creams we've tried and loved, along with the issues they're best placed to tackle.

The Best Eye Creams For Dark Circles, Lines And Bags

Best eye cream for fine lines

Kate Somerville

Lifting Eye Cream

Best intensive eye cream

111SKIN

Celestial Black Diamond Eye Cream

Best eye serum

Beauty Pie

Triple Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum

Best eye cream with SPF

Medik8

Advanced Day Eye Protect™

Best eye cream for tired eyes

Estée Lauder

Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme

Best retinol eye serum

Dr. Sam's

Flawless Nightly Eye Serum

Best retinol eye cream

Dr Dennis Gross

Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Serum

Best antioxidant eye cream

Omorovicza

Illumineye C

Best eye cream for puffiness

Dermalogica

Awaken Peptide Eye Gel

Best eye cream for dry skin

Guerlain

Abeille Royale Eye Cream

Best eye cream for mature skin

Clarins

Double Serum Eye

Best eye cream for dark circles

MZ Skin

Depuff & Define - £95

Best lightweight eye serum

L'Oréal Paris

2.5% Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum

Best vitamin C eye cream

Drunk Elephant

C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream

Best luxury eye cream

Augustinus Bader

The Eye Cream

Best eye cream for brightening

Summer Fridays

Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream

Best natural eye cream

Tata Harper

Elixir Vitae Eye Serum 2.0

Which is the best under eye gel for dark circles?

What's the best product to get rid of puffy eyes?

Why do I have puffy eyes and dark circles?

What is the best treatment for puffy eyes and dark circles?