SAY YOU’VE PULLED an all-nighter prepping for a big presentation and you’ve woken up with dark circles under your eyes that would make a raccoon envious. Or say you’ve been partying a bit too hard lately and noticed that the bags under your eyes are large enough to require a checked baggage fee. Or say you, like many men, woke up one morning and noticed crinkly lines in the corners of your eyes for the first time. Or maybe it’s nothing that specific, just that you noticed the skin around your eyes looks a little sallow or dry or dark. If you’ve experienced any of these things, congratulations: you are human and you could use a little eye cream.
Best Eye Creams
- Best OverallDr Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye TreatmentRead more
- Best Eye Cream For Men In Their 20’sNeutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Eye Gel-CreamRead more
- Best Eye Cream for PuffinessKiehl’s Since 1851 Eye FuelRead more
Yes, guys should use eye cream. The first place men typically notice signs of aging—like fine lines and wrinkles—is around their eyes, but eye creams can help with way more than that. These power-packed anti-aging products are specifically designed to help with dark circles, dull skin, puffiness, and even those aforementioned wrinkles. Seriously, eye creams, like the best anti-aging creams and moisturizers, actually work. But knowing which of these eye creams is right for you can be confusing. That’s where we come in.
For the past two years, we’ve swiped, applied, and evaluated over 50 of the best eye creams on the market. We used them for two weeks to see how effective they were at reducing crow’s feet, fine lines, and dark circles. We also consulted with board-certified dermatologists including Dr. Bradley Glodny and Dr. Marisa Garshick to find the 15 absolute best eye creams worth buying now, for every type of skin concern.
What To Consider
There’s certainly no shortage of eye creams out there, but when you’re choosing the right eye cream for you, the biggest things to consider are why and when you’re going to use it.
Ingredients
Depending on what you’re hoping to address with an eye cream, you’ll want to look for certain ingredients. Most eye creams will have hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin and more that will help plump skin and keep the area hydrated. You’ll also often find ceramides and peptides which help to fortify skin and improve the skin barrier. If you’re hoping to address dark circles, you’ll want to look for ingredients like antioxidants (like Vitamins C and E) and niacinamide. Other ingredients like retinol and bakuchiol can help smooth wrinkles and fine lines around eyes. If you’re mostly concerned with puffiness, look for ingredients like caffeine that help to perk up your eyes.
Day or Night
The ingredients in the formula will inform when it is best to use that specific eye cream. For instance, retinol should only be used at night because it can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. Other ingredients, like SPF, are unnecessary to use at night. Most eye creams, however, can be used both day and night so the other factor you might want to consider is weight. Wearing a heavy eye cream during the day may feel uncomfortable, whereas a lighter, gel formula might not be hydrating enough for night use.
How We Selected
For the past two years, we consulted with Men’s Health’s Grooming editors and writers on the top eye creams for men. Experts including our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce and Senior Commerce Editor Christian Gollayan have tried dozens of eye creams and evaluated them for their effectiveness, texture, and finish.
Best Overall
Dr Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment
$68 at Dermstore$70 at Walmart$70 at Nordstrom
Pros
- A little bit goes a long way
Cons
- Expensive considering the size of the bottle and how long it lasts
It’s not cheap, but just a dab applied at night clears up any signs of vampire eyes the next morning. Credit the mighty combination of lactic acid and vitamin C. Our testers loved how easily it absorbs into the skin, and saw less tired-looking eyes after two weeks of using it.
Testing Notes: This high powered eye cream is on the creamier side, so our testers found they preferred using it at night versus during the day. “I feel like it did a great job moisturizing overnight and the lactic acid plus Vitamin C really did mean less visible dark circles in the morning (I have them whether I get good sleep or not),” said one enthusiastic tester.
| Ingredients | L-Ascorbic Acid, Ceramides, Lactic Acid, Tranexamic Acid |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Both |
| Size | 0.5 oz |
Best Eye Cream For Men In Their 20’s
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Eye Gel-Cream
Now 69% Off
$8 at Amazon$9 at Walmart$23 at Nordstrom Rack
Pros
- Extremely Hydrating
- Great value
Cons
- Not great for guys with more severe dark circles
Our twenty-something testers gave top marks on this drugstore eye cream. After all all-night ragers, workplace stress, relationship drama—can all show up on even younger faces. Tired skin is usually dehydrated, which shows up as bags and dark circles. In your twenties, it’s important to keep the skin around your eyes well-hydrated. It could mean you look like you got 9 hours of sleep when you actually got three. Though our older testers said this eye cream wasn’t strong enough to address more severe dark circles and wrinkles.
Testing Notes: It is true that a little hydration around your eyes can go a long way, especially when you’re younger and more focused on prevention than correction. Our testers found this lightweight clear gel to be just as hydrating as thicker creams, if not more so, but much easier to wear and apply. It’s ideal for both day and night, but as some older testers found, if you’re interested in wrinkle reduction or other solutions, you may want something more potent.
| Ingredients | Water, dimethicone, and glycerin |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Both |
| Size | 0.5 oz |
Best Eye Cream for Puffiness
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Eye Fuel
Pros
- Quickly de-puffs
- Great for post red-eye flights
- Also can help reduce appearance of dark circles
Cons
- Smell can be strong for some
Just like your morning cup o’ Joe, this easy-to-apply gel contains caffeine to wake up your peepers after a long night. It quickly de-puffs the under-eye area to make them look more alert and uses the power of Vitamin B3 to reduce dark circles. Use the eye gel after a sleepless night or long flight to easily reset your face. Though some testers say the scent is a bit too strong to use.
Testing Notes: If you want to look instantly more alert, this fast-acting lightweight gel is exactly what you need. In our extensive testing, this gel rose to the top because of its sheer speed in delivering results. It’s the perfect tool to have on hand for early mornings, late nights and any time your eyes need a little pick-me-up (like, say, spending hours staring at a computer screen). One caveat, the fragrance is strong, as some testers pointed out, which may make it unsuitable for sensitive skin or anyone who is especially picky about fragrance.
Read more: Best Kiehl’s Products
| Ingredients | Caffeine and vitamin B3 |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Both |
| Size | 0.5 oz |
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Best Cooling Eye Gel
Dermalogica Awaken Peptide Depuffing Eye Gel
$59 at Sephora$66 at Walmart$59 at DermstoreCredit: Bol.com
Pros
- Great to use in the morning
- Instantly cools eye area
- Great for dry skin types
Cons
- May not be the best option for sensitive skin
Winner of our 2022 Men’s Health Grooming Awards, this peptide and caffeine-packed gel instantly cools and perks up your eye area so you look more awake (perfect to rub on before your first meeting of the day) and it absorbs quickly so you’re not left with shiny eyes.
Testing Notes: Big things come in small packages with this potent eye cream. Our testers loved the immediate eye awakening effects of this gel which “absorbs quickly with a nice cooling effect,” according to one of them. On one hand, some testers loved how small the tube is, so it’s easy to take with you in a dopp kit or gym bag for some eye care on the go. On the other, a few testers felt it was too easy to squeeze too much out of the tube and since it doesn’t stand up on its own, felt the tube was hard to store. Then again, those things are easy to forgive when the formula works so well.
| Ingredients | Caffeine, Tetrapeptide Blend, and Rosemary Leaf Extract. |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Both |
| Size | 0.5 oz |
Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles
Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye
Pros
- Testers saw improvement in less than a week
- Tested and recommended by dermatologists
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Costly considering the size of the tube and how long it lasts
Swipe this around your peepers at night to help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles that make you look tired. The retinal in the formula goes to work quickly—our testers saw a difference after just a few uses. No wonder it received a 2023 Men’s Health Grooming Award.
Testing notes: We always appreciate when a product says exactly what it’s going to do and then actually delivers on those promises. Our testers all agreed that this retinoid-packed eye cream really does smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles: both after just a few uses and over time. More than just that, one tester noted that “it went on smoothly without feeling sticky or too slick and had more of a matte finish, which I personally like.”
Read More: 2024 Men’s Health Grooming Awards
| Ingredients | Twin-Encapsulated Retinaldehyde, Patent-Pending Retinal Stabilization System, Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Night |
| Size | 1 oz |
Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles
BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector
$65 at Nordstrom$65 at Amazon$35 at Walmart
Pros
- Addresses multiple concerns
- Uses a powerful form of Vitamin c
- Super hydrating
Cons
- Expensive considering the size of the bottle and how long it lasts
This powerful eye cream is ideal to address a variety of issues from bags to wrinkles, but it’s especially good if your problem is dark circles. It’s high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that will brighten dark circles and protect against future damage, but still gentle enough to use around the sensitive eye area. It’s both dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-approved.
Testing Notes: Antioxidants are a powerhouse ingredient in the world of skincare and this eye cream uses the potent L-ascorbic acid version of Vitamin C, basically the king of skincare antioxidants. It’s a powerful formula, one that we found may be too harsh for very sensitive skin, that address a variety of issues incredibly well. After a few days of using it, our testers found that dark circles looked brighter and the overall look of their eyes was brighter and healthier.
| Ingredients | Vitamin C, Green Tea Extract, hemp oil, hyaluronic acid |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Both |
| Size | 0.5 fl oz |
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Best Eye Cream For Eye Bags
Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel
$65 at Nordstrom$52 at Amazon$44 at Walmart
Pros
- Instantly lifts and tightens
- Contains peptides and antioxidants
Cons
- Expensive considering the size of the bottle and how long it lasts
Rich in both hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, this lightweight eye gel is an ideal daily eye cream to improve the look of your eye area quickly. But where it really shines is its tightening effect, which is tailor-made to improve under eye bags by make the skin around your eyes appear more taught and smooth. One tester loves its tightening feature, which feels like it’s really firming up and hydrating your skin.
Testing Notes: In our testing, we found that this clear, lightweight gel is ideal for mornings because it sinks in quickly and does exactly the job it advertises. It instantly creates a tighter, more lifted effect around your eyes. Plus, the more you use it, the better the results are. The one gripe we have is that the gel is thin and seems to melt pretty quickly, so can be hard to apply before it turns liquid-like.
| Ingredients | Antioxidant lipochroman, chromabright (to fade pigment), marine algae peptides |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Both |
| Size | 0.67 oz |
Best Affordable Eye Cream
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
$20 at Ulta Beauty$22 at Walmart
Pros
- Ultra gentle and hydrating
- Can address multiple issues
Cons
- Cream formula may feel heavy
Effective eye creams don’t need to break the bank. This multi-purpose eye cream contains all the ingredients you want in an eye cream like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides to help reduce puffiness and dark circles and keep the skin around your eyes hydrated and happy. Our testers loved how it solved a bunch of different skin issues, at a price point that’s hard to beat. Though one tested noted that the formula can feel heavy.
Testing Notes: When it comes to a budget-friendly, does-it-all eye cream our testers agreed that this one is the best of the best. The well-rounded ingredients address all sorts of issues from some testers’ dark circles to others’ eye bags and everything in between. Keep in mind that it likely won’t give you instantaneous results thanks to the gentler formula (and lower price point), but with consistent use it can improve the overall look of your eye area. Another thing to keep in mind, as some testers pointed out, is that it’s thick, possibly even too thick to use during the day if you have oily skin or just don’t like the feel of heavy creams on your face.
| Ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, marine and botanical complex |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Both |
| Size | 0.5 oz |
Best Retinol Eye Cream
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum
$89 at Sephora$26 at Walmart$89 at JCPenney
Pros
- Retinol helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Hydrating non-irritating formula
Cons
- Expensive considering the size of the bottle and how long it lasts
Retinol is an important ingredient, but it can be irritating if you have sensitive skin or haven’t used it before. This creamy gel serum contains retinol, but is less likely to cause irritation. It’s perfect for retinol first-timers and established pros alike and helps smooth signs of aging fast. Though just like most retinol products, this might be too strong for some guys with sensitive skin.
Testing Notes: There are a lot of reasons to use retinol, but around the eye area the Vitamin A derivative is especially good at smoothing fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging. This retinol-packed formula won out in our testing process because the creaminess helps to minimize potential irritation from retinol with moisturizing ingredients and the dose of the retinol itself is efficacious but not too strong. It’s a good choice if you’ve never used retinol before, but also powerful enough for retinol veterans. The one thing to keep in mind, though, is that if you have especially sensitive or reactive skin, you may want to take it slow at first (like only using it every other night) to see how your skin reacts.
| Ingredients | Retinol, cotton wool grass extract, marine kelp complex |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Night |
| Size | 0.5 oz |
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Best Eye Cream with SPF
Skinceuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50
Pros
- Ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested
- High protective (SPF) factor
- Non-irritating mineral formula
Cons
- Slightly tinted
Sun damage is one of the biggest causes of skin aging, but eye creams don’t typically have UV protection built-in (you should be wearing sunscreen every day regardless). If you tend to miss your eye area when you apply sunscreen or worry that you’re not getting enough protection, this mineral sunscreen is specially formulated for the sensitive eye area. Though some testers with darker skin tones note that this tint didn’t blend well with their shade.
Testing Notes: If you ask us, more eye creams should contain SPF. After all, sun damage is one of the leading causes of skin aging, even around your eyes. Plus, unless you’re making a specific effort to apply your sunscreen to your eye area, chances are you’re missing some spots (we know we are). This daytime eye cream is one of the best solutions we’ve found; a lightweight cream that also contains a mineral-based sunscreen to help protect your eye skin from the sun’s rays. Since it’s tinted, it does rub in to your skin easily without a white caste, however some testers with darker skin noted that it didn’t blend in with their skin as well as they’d hoped.
Read More: Best Moisturizers with SPF
| Ingredients | Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, ceramides |
|---|---|
| Day/Night | Day |
| Size | 0.3 oz |
How to Apply Eye Cream
Generally, you want to be very gentle when applying eye cream because the skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the skin on the rest of your face. Pulling and tugging can increase issues like sagging or wrinkles over time. The best way to apply eye cream is by using your ring finger and using a gentle tapping motion. Use a pea-sized amount (you don’t need more than that as eye creams tend to be very concentrated) and gently tap it onto your skin with your ring finger starting at the inner corner of your eye and working outward. Follow under your eye, then work up to the corner and finally up to just under your brow bone (think of it as a big circle around your eye).
One caveat here: if your eye cream is a tube with an applicator tip (bonus point if it’s a cooling metal tip or rollerball), you don’t need to use your fingers. Smooth it directly onto your skin using the applicator but remember to apply minimal pressure. If you need to rub it in a bit more, use your tapping motion.
What Age Should Men Start Using Eye Cream
“There’s no perfect age to start using an eye cream,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, a New York-based dermatologist. “it’s always easier to prevent than to treat signs of skin aging. For this reason, even starting an eye cream in the 20-30s can be helpful. That said, it’s also never too late to start, so if you’re just starting to notice crow’s feet or dark circles, it is fine to start at any age.
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Can Men Use Women’s Eye Creams?
All of the dermatologists we spoke to said it’s mostly okay to use eye creams marketed towards women. “However, there are several creams on the market made for estrogen deficient skin,” says Dr. Bradley Glodny, board-certified dermatologist and owner of Park Ave. Derm.
Can You Use Moisturizers Instead of Eye Creams?
We get it, using a moisturizer as an eye cream can help save money, but most dermatologists we spoke to recommended using a separate cream made specifically for your eye area. “Since under eye creams are created with specific ingredients geared to treat the specific concerns of the under-eye area, it is recommended that most men use a dedicated under eye cream,” says Glodny. “Also, the under-eye area is very sensitive in most people and often general face moisturizer can be too harsh to place just beneath the eye area.”
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Bradley Glodny, is a board-certified dermatologist at Park Ave. Derm in New York, NY
- Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, NY
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