Best eye creams for dark circles in 2024
We try the one product that’s been named a “good night’s sleep in a bottle” – and this is what we thought.
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Under eye creams, the beauty industry’s biggest mystery, do they really work? I’ve been using eye creams on and off for years, and in my opinion, I think it depends on what you’re hoping for it to do.
If you’re looking for something to tackle dryness, you can certainly find a hydrating eye cream - look for something with hyaluronic acid - to strengthen your skin barrier and make your skin feel extra soft and smooth.
Anti-ageing concerns? There’s plenty of eye creams on the market to address skin tone and skin elasticity.
Then there’s dark circles. For some, those dark rings around the eyes are hereditary, so keep that in mind when shopping for eye creams.
But that’s not to say eye creams can’t drastically improve the appearance of dark circles – I’ve been trailing the brilliant new JSHealth Illuminating Peptide Eye Serum for the past month and it’s seriously helped at brightening my under eye area and banishing those pesky dark circles for good.
Keep on scrolling to see our tried and tested picks of the best eye creams for dark circles.
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR’S PICKS: BEST EYE CREAM FOR DARK CIRCLES
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Crème, $64 at Adore Beauty
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Crème
Why we love it: Works well on its own and under makeup
What to consider: Works well while using but less sure about the long term effects
Formulation: Cream
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 15ml
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
One of the brand’s bestsellers, the Banana Bright Eye Cream is a unique formulation that nourishes and illuminates the delicate under eye area at the same time.
I’ve been using it on and off for around six years now, and I will always continue to repurchase it – it’s an absolute must-have in my skincare arsenal.
In my humble opinion, the formulation is genius. It’s inspired by banana powder, a makeup artist’s must have to combat dark circles. It’s lightweight, fragrance free and contains light-reflecting yellow mineral pigments to colour correct. It’s also packed with gold complexed vitamin C to protect against free radical damage and overall brighten and hydrate the delicate area.
The Banana Bright Eye Cream is the perfect product to pop on before your makeup, as it will probably save you overdoing it on the concealer too.
Illuminating Peptide Eye Serum, $39 at JSHealth Vitamins
Why we love it: Feels super luxurious thanks to the gold applicator.
What to consider: Sometimes the product pills, depending on what moisturiser or sunscreen you use alongside it.
Formulation: Cream
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 15ml
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
While I’ve tried and tested loads of JSHealth Vitamins before, I’ve never dived into their best selling skincare range – and I’m very happy to be introduced with this brilliant little eye serum.
The Illuminating Peptide Eye Serum is formulated with a Triple Action Eye-Q Complex and other high-performance extracts to give you a totally refreshed and radiant under eye area.
The cream is sort of like a serum hybrid, so it’s super lightweight and gentle for the delicate skin under the eye. It’s also packed with liposomal caffeine (a form of caffeine that has been demonstrated to penetrate the skin) to help fade dark circles for good.
Don’t just take my word for it – other five-star rating JSHealth customers have named it a “good night’s sleep in a bottle” and called it a “game changer” for their skincare routine.
COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream, $47.80 at iHerb
Why we love it: It’s super gentle and feels lightweight on the delicate under eye area.
What to consider: Some may not like the idea of snail mucin.
Formulation: Cream
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 25ml
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
If you suffer from dry and dark under eyes, this eye cream will work wonders for you.
I’ve been a loyal fan of the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment for years, which admittedly is quite rich, kinda oily and price but I’ve slowly kicked it to the curb (sorry Kiehl’s) and have been gravitating towards this COSRX eye cream more as it’s more affordable, lightweight and hydrating but not oily.
It’s made with 73.7% snail mucin, 2 per cent niacinamide and peptides, this gentle eye cream not only promotes collagen product but it hydrates, firms, brightens and smoothens the eye area.
Why we love it: Cult product that claims to brighten dark circles in just two weeks
What to consider: Some reviews write it was quite strong for their under eyes
Formulation: Cream
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 15ml
What You Need To Know
Boasting over 32,000 reviews on Google and an average rating of 4.6 out of five, the Eye Supercharged Gel Creme from Estee Lauder is a great all-rounder.
Not only does it hydrate, nourish and soften the delicate under eye area, but it works hard at reducing the appearance of dark circles. The potent formulation works hard to give you that more wide-awake look by improving the condition of your skin cells and brighten any discolouration.
Five-star rating shoppers claim their “under eyes do look brighter and healthier”, and have even described the eye cream as “gold in a cream form”.
Rejuvenation Eye Cream, $52 at Lust Minerals
Why we love it: Cooling tip application
What to consider: Some reviews find it hard to get the perfect amount out using the applicator
Formulation: Cream
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 15ml
Tried and Tested by Claudia Coy, news.com.au checkout Social Media Producer
I’ve always been quite self conscious of my dark circles, so at the end of last year I decided to take action.
I was drawn to the Lust Minerals Rejuvenation Eye Cream as it’s advertised as “all natural” plus the cooling metal applicator peaked my interest. I’m now three months into my eye cream journey and I’ve got to say, I’m definitely impressed.
Not only does my under eye area look brighter, I now look forward to applying the cream of a morning and watching the depuffing process happen right before my eyes.
BEST AFFORDABLE EYE CREAMS FOR DARK CIRCLES
MCoBeauty Brightening vitamin C Eye Cream, $32 at MCoBeauty
MCoBeauty Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream
Why we love it: Lightweight consistency
What to consider: Not as hydrating as other eye creams on the market
Formulation: Gel
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 15ml
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
MCoBeauty is widely known for their affordable skincare dupes that work just as well as their pricier counterparts, and the Brightening vitamin C Eye Cream is no exception.
The eye cream is formulated with 10 per cent vitamin C and a bunch of collagen-boosting peptides to hydrate and nourish the skin.
It’s a kind of lightweight gel texture that feels super refreshing, perfect for your morning routine, and overall gives you a radiant under eye area.
Bondi Sands Eye Spy vitamin C Eye Cream, $17.99 at Priceline
Bondi Sands Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream
Why we love it: Affordable
What to consider: Not super hydrating for more mature, dry skin
Formulation: Cream
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 15ml
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
I’ve gone through a few bottles of this because I love the creamy consistency – it feels super nourishing under the eye – and I love how it visibly brightens the under eye thanks to the illuminating particles inside the formula.
The Bondi Sands Eye Spy Cream is enriched with vitamin C, green coffee bean and carrot oil to soothe and hydrate tired eyes, resulting in brighter skin.
It’s also suitable for sensitive skin and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, $14.60 at Adore Beauty
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Why we love it: Not only great for dark circles but also puffiness too
What to consider: Some reviewers write it doesn’t seem to have long lasting effects
Formulation: Serum
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
This product is packed with a five per cent concentration of caffeine, as well as EHCH, which comes from green tea leaves. These two ingredients combined works hard to reduce the look of puffiness and dark circles.
It also promises an ultra lightweight texture that won’t feel too heavy under the delicate under eye area.
The Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG has received loads of positive reviews from customers, with many noting it is “super effective” and “great for depuffing”.
The Inkey List Caffeine Under-Eye Cream, $19 at Sephora
Why we love it: Also great for those with puffy bags under the eyes
What to consider: Some reviewers write that while it is hydrating, they don’t notice too big of a change
Formulation: Cream
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 15ml
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, news.com.au checkout Editor
Trialling the Caffeine Eye Cream I was blown away by how well it worked – not only is it really hydrating but it’s also lightweight, making it ideal for layering under other skincare and makeup.
The caffeine works as a natural antioxidant, helping to combat under-eye puffiness and those pesky dark circles, while the addition of Matrixyl 3000 peptide helps to combat fine lines.
The best bit? You really only have to use the tiniest amount, meaning one tube lasts ages.
BEST PREMIUM EYE CREAMS FOR DARK CIRCLES
SumaNurica Hexapeptide5 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Serum, $299 at Myer
Why we love it: Serum so super lightweight
What to consider: Very expensive
Formulation: Serum
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 3 x 5ml bottles
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Acting Editor
I’ve been curious to try the brand SumaNurica for a while. They’re a biotech skincare brand (meaning their products are created in a lab environment) and have just four products in their collection – including this eye serum. I’ve been trying their eye serum for the past two months and I have to say I’ve been very impressed with the results. Packed full of peptides and probiotics, the eye serum has noticeably helped the bags and dark circles under my eyes. The very first time I used it I swear I could feel the skin literally tightening under my eyes and after daily use for the last several weeks, my under eye area is looking a lot smoother and brighter.
Cosmedix Opti Crystal-Liquid Crystal Eye Serum, $199 at Adore Beauty
Why we love it: Only small amount needed so lasts a long time
What to consider: More targeted to fine lines than dark circles
Formulation: Serum
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 7ml
What You Need To Know
The Opti Crystal-Liquid Crystal Eye Serum is a unique formulation – think of it as a liquid crystal serum that feels super lightweight while also lifting and firming the delicate under eye area.
It’s packed with alpha lipoic acid, coconut extract and copper peptides to treat signs of ageing and make you look more awake.
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Eye Serum 2.0, $155 at Myer
Why we love it: Multipurpose
What to consider: Some reviewers write it didn’t do much for their eye puffiness
Formulation: Serum
Skin types: All skin types
Size: 20ml
What You Need To Know
With an impressive average rating of 4.6 out of five from close to 1500 reviews, the Prevage Anti Aging Eye Serum 2.0 from Elizabeth Arden is a must-try for a brightening under eye area.
This powerful and potent eye cream is formulated with idebenone, an antioxidant that works hard to correct all visible signs of ageing.
Rave reviews from shoppers note it’s got a “lovely texture” and is “really great for people with dark circles”.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUING AN EYE CREAM FOR DARK CIRCLES
When choosing eye creams to include in our list, we evaluated several factors:
Cost: While we’d all love to buy the most premium products, for most of us that isn’t a reality. We made sure to include a range of prices to suit all budgets.
Suitability: Is the product suitable for all skin types?
Size: How long will the bottle last you and is the cost reflective of the amount of product you receive?
Brand: Is it a well known brand that people trust or a newer, up and coming brand that readers need to learn more about?
Ethics: What ingredients are in the product and was it made using ethical practices?
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of eye creams available, it’s impossible to test every product out there. To help you find the best eye cream to combat those pesky dark circles, we tested a bunch of well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best eye cream for your delicate under eye area.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW TO APPLY EYE CREAM
When it comes to applying eye cream, you don’t want to over-do it. You want to use a pea-sized amount to cover both eyes, blending it in with your ring finger (as this has the most gentle pressure).
Also instead of focusing all the product directly under your eye, try and concentrate it around the lower part of your lid and across your brow bone.
DOES AN EYE CREAM REALLY WORKS FOR DARK CIRCLES?
For a good chunk of people, dark circles are hereditary, so it may be pretty hard to find an eye cream that will get rid of them for good.
If your dark circles are from a lack of sleep, you can start by improving your sleep routine, but you can also try using an eye cream with active, brightening ingredients. The Ole Henriksen Banana Bright eye cream is a great example as it’s filled with yellow pigments that counteract the darkness under your eyes.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I APPLY EYE CREAM?
Eye cream can be applied morning and night, but if you’re using active ingredients, you may want to think about using two different types.
In the morning, it’s best to use a super hydrating and brightening eye cream, something that’s a bit more lightweight and easy to wear throughout the day.
At night, you can opt for a more luxe, nourishing option – maybe something that’s formulated with retinol and designed to treat anti-ageing concerns for those with mature skin types.Both need to be lightweight and gentle enough for the delicate under eye skin.
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