At the ripe old age of 22, I noticed my first whisper of crow’s feet forming around my eyes and quickly flew into a panicked frenzy. With this being my first few years, I relied on the friendly associates at the beauty counter at my local mall for recommendations. Oh how times have changed! What a gift to now have a world of information at your fingertips. Instead of wandering the aisles of Sephora with loads of questions, we turned to celebrity nurse dermatologist and esthetician, Natalie Aguilar, for her recommendations on the best under-eye creams that address every concern.
Featured image from our interview with Babba Rivera by Belathée Photography.
If, like me, you’ve also wondered why the eye area needs its own cream, we ask Aguilar to cover that too. Since the skin around the eyes is very thin, delicate and prone to dryness (not to mention our eyes are also the most sensitive part of the face), eye creams have been specifically designed to treat this area with formulations soft and moisturizing. Using regular face creams can burn, irritate, cause redness and/or inflammation, and make the eyes water. Oh no thanks!
So whether you’re dealing with rapidly deepening crow’s feet or have noticed a crepe-like, tissue-paper-like skin forming around your eyes, we’ve got you covered with a list of the most effective eye creams for lines. Fine at a variety of prices. points. Plus, Aguilar answers all of your burning questions about fine lines and wrinkles, including how to prevent and treat them.
Causes of Crepey Skin and Fine Lines
It’s no surprise that eye wrinkles are typically the first detectable signs of aging on our face. The skin around our eyes is extremely thin. As we age, we lose collagen and the ability to repair damaged skin cells slows down.
This loss of collagen makes the skin around the eyes crepey. On top of that, everything from sun exposure, eye rubbing, allergies, genetics, lack of sleep, diet, lifestyle, and excessive muscle movement, as well as dehydration, can all affect your health. how quickly the eyes crinkle (Add that to the list of why staying hydrated is so important!) Even certain cosmetics, like heavy and matte foundations, can make the skin around your eyes look more wrinkled than normal.
Tips from a dermatologist to prevent fine lines and wrinkled skin
- Avoid aggressive rubbing, tugging, and wiping. Over time, this can irritate and cause inflammation that can discolor the area and create lines.
- Protect your eyes. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats when out in the sun. Sun exposure can actually break down collagen and damage the skin, causing premature aging.
- Rest your eyes. Give your eyes a rest by turning off all electronics and lights at least once a day.
- Wear an eye mask. This is also an amazing way to rest, treat and repair the skin around the eyes.
How to treat fine lines and wrinkled skin around the eyes
If you can, invest in quality products and be sure to always protect your eye area by wearing sunglasses and a hat when outside. Gently cleanse and hydrate the eye area and choose eye creams with active ingredients. But Aguilar says that less is always more when it comes to eye creams.
If you prefer to use a rich, thick eye cream, it’s best to stick to just one application in the morning to leave eyes looking fresh, bright and hydrated. Too much heavy product can overwork the skin cells around the eyes. The area speeds up absorbing and metabolizing the ingredients in the cream which then, in turn, causes tired and dehydrated skin. Definitely not what we want!
Ingredients to keep in mind
- Hyaluronic acid
- ceramides
- peptides
- Antioxidants like CoQ-10
- Caffeine
- gentle retinol
best under eye creams
Each product is handpicked by our editors and we’ll always give an honest opinion, whether we’re giving it away or buying it ourselves. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Isabelle, our editorial director, is a lifelong fan of Wander Beauty (see more: her love for the brand’s powder foundation). It’s an affordable option that uses specific formulations and effective ingredients to give your skin the love it deserves. And the Wander Beauty Eye Cream is no exception.
This deeply hydrating eye cream offers nourishment both day and night. But beyond the formula that garners countless reviews citing brighter eyes and the disappearance of fine lines, this pick really shines because of its thoughtfully designed applicator. Not only does it make the application of the eye cream on this sensitive skin area perfect, but it also gently massages the under-eye area for a thorough application.
What is love: An easy-to-apply design and rich texture ensure the skin around the eyes is nourished and hydrated throughout the day and while you sleep. For best results, Isabelle recommends using the cream in conjunction with Baggage Claim eye masks (see photo to the right) a couple of times a week.
This goop-approved brand is increasingly popping up as a cult-favorite, clean skincare option. But what really sealed the deal for us in the vein of Emma Lewisham was Eye Crème. It’s the perfect eye cream trifecta to firm, smooth and fully nourish the skin. Formulated with a CoQ10 delivery system, the cream’s active ingredients—including a powerful antioxidant complex and moisturizing saccharide isomerate—can better work their magic on your skin.
What is love: You can feel confident with the clean, innovative formula developed by scientists to hydrate, boost collagen production, and improve the look of dark circles and puffiness. The press application also makes it easy to use just the right amount, which means a single bottle can last you for months.
Tackle all the major visible signs of aging around the eyes with this satiny, nourishing serum. Fine lines and wrinkles? No problem when it comes to this repairing eye cream. It is enriched with peptides and antioxidants that brighten, smooth and support the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Revitalization is correct. Used during the day, this eye cream is a great solution for tired eyes. Apply at night to eliminate bags under the eyes forever.
Naturally powered by peptides, this eye cream uses clean ingredients like Spanish lavender, safflower oleosomes, and buckwheat wax to smooth and combat fine lines and wrinkles, plump skin, and reduce puffiness and bags under the eyes. .
In true Tata Harper style, this eye cream uses only the best, sustainably sourced ingredients to deliver a fast-acting, effective formulation. The under-eye area and the delicate skin around it become visibly smoother and firmer after just a few applications.
Say goodbye to fine lines, puffiness, puffiness, and dark shadows. This nourishing formula uses purslane and skullcap to treat the delicate eye area, combined with active omega lipids that help skin retain moisture for a fresh, youthful appearance. If you’ve used Dr. Barbara Sturm products in the past, then you know: This is one of the few luxury skincare lines that’s truly worth splurging on.
This eye cream targets aging concerns from every angle, using calming and hydrating ingredients to fight wrinkles, smooth skin, and enhance radiance.
This hydrating cream quickly and visibly firms the eye area, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in as little as one week! It uses natural and powerful ingredients that really work.
Biossance Eye Cream literally melts into the skin, leaving the area around the eyes hydrated, never heavy. It’s probably the closest thing to cosmetic surgery, so the price is hard to beat.
Packed with nutrients, this vitamin C-loaded brightening eye cream brightens, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and delivers seriously age-defying results. It is rich in collagen and nourishing ingredients that your skin is sure to love.
When the professionals (dermists and makeup artists alike) trust it, you know it’s got to be good. We love to infuse vitamin C into our skincare routine as much as possible to protect against free radicals caused by pollution and solar radiation. And because the skin around the eyes is so delicate, we’re going to take all the boost we can get, in the form of this hard-working eye cream.
Ceramidin and Niacinamide make up this richly hydrating eye cream that hydrates and smooths skin while adding a big moisture boost.
Drench your eye area with powerful retinol to transform your skin as you sleep and wake up to soft, dewy, and plump skin.
This eye serum has just about every ingredient the delicate eye area could want. Retinol, Bakuchiol, Rambutan, and Ferulic Acid work together to visibly lift and smooth the area to reduce fine lines, while deeply hydrating skin to keep it supple and healthy.
Ceramides, retinol and vitamin C revitalize the delicate eye area, making it brighter, firmer and more youthful. Strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, helping to firm and plump the skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles and loss of firmness. See you later, crow’s feet!
This refreshing eye balm increases firmness and neutralizes free radical damage while restoring lipids that help smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
While it’s hard to name favorites when it comes to Sunday Riley, this eye serum is at the top of our list. The retinol-infused eye serum smoothes, hydrates, and treats the common signs of aging overnight, so you wake up with a smooth, youthful look. Just keep in mind that due to the retinoid formulation, you should proceed with caution as this serum may not be suitable for sensitive skin.
This post was originally published on September 21, 2021 and has since been updated.
