These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (2024)

These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (1)

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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

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 9 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 the 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

Pros
  • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (10)A little bit goes a long way
Cons
  • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (11)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.

IngredientsL-Ascorbic Acid, Ceramides, Lactic Acid, Tranexamic Acid
Day/NightBoth
Size0.5 oz

Best Eye Cream For Men In Their 20’s

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Eye Gel-Cream

These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (12)

These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (13)

Pros
  • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (14)Extremely Hydrating
  • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (15)Great value
Cons
  • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (16)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.

    IngredientsWater, dimethicone, and glycerin
    Day/NightBoth
    Size0.5 oz

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    Best Cooling Eye Gel

    Dermalogica Awaken Peptide Depuffing Eye Gel

    Pros
    • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (18)Great to use in the morning
    • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (19)Instantly cools eye area
    • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (20)Great for dry skin types
    Cons
    • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (21)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.

      IngredientsCaffeine, Tetrapeptide Blend, and Rosemary Leaf Extract.
      Day/NightBoth
      Size0.5 oz
      Pros
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (23)Quickly de-puffs
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (24)Great for post red-eye flights
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (25)Also can help reduce appearance of dark circles
      Cons
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (26)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

      IngredientsCaffeine and vitamin B3
      Day/NightBoth
      Size0.5 oz.

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      Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles

      Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye

      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (27)

      Pros
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (28)Testers saw improvement in less than a week
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (29)Tested and recommended by dermatologists
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (30)Fragrance-free
      Cons
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (31)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

      IngredientsTwin-Encapsulated Retinaldehyde, Patent-Pending Retinal Stabilization System, Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid
      Day/NightNight
      Size1 oz

      Best Eye Cream For Eye Bags

      Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel

      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (32)

      Pros
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (33)Instantly lifts and tightens
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (34)Contains peptides and antioxidants
      Cons
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (35)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 making 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.

      IngredientsAntioxidant lipochroman, chromabright (to fade pigment), marine algae peptides
      Day/NightBoth
      Size0.67 oz

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      Best Retinol Eye Cream

      Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum

      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (36)

      Pros
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (37)Retinol helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (38)Hydrating non-irritating formula
      Cons
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (39)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.

      IngredientsRetinol, cotton wool grass extract, marine kelp complex
      Day/NightNight
      Size0.5 oz

      Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles

      BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector

      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (40)

      Pros
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (41)Addresses multiple concerns
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (42)Uses a powerful form of Vitamin c
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (43)Super hydrating
      Cons
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (44)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 addresses 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.

      IngredientsVitamin C, Green Tea Extract, hemp oil, hyaluronic acid
      Day/NightBoth
      Size0.5 fl oz

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      Best Affordable Eye Cream

      CeraVe Eye Repair Cream

      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (45)

      Pros
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (46)Ultra gentle and hydrating
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (47)Can address multiple issues
      Cons
      • These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (48)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, and 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 tester 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.

      IngredientsHyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, marine and botanical complex
      Day/NightBoth
      Size0.5 oz

      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (49)

      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.

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      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (50)

      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.

      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (51)

      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.

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      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (52)

      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."

      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (53)

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      These Expert-Approved Eye Creams Can Help You Look Less Tired (54)

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