When it comes to beauty, eye creams are a non-negotiable part of my routine. In addition to having glasses, I'm allergic to pollen so the moment that the seasons start to change, I'm ready to go into hiding from all sorts of eye-related troubles. Among my many woes, eye irritation is my biggest one, though. Dry, itchy, moist, you name it. As a kid, I could always count on my mom to have a bottle of eye drops, but it was my least favorite solution then—and nowadays it hardly seems like an acceptable answer for an adult.
Of course, getting older means developing new problems like wrinkles, strains, puffiness, and dark undereye circles. And even the young can suffer from these unfortunate effects from too many late nights and lack of sleep. So what has changed since the dreaded days of eye drops? Well for one, now, there are tons of different products available for us to use, for every eye complaint.
Here are 15 products you should keep your eye on.
This cream decreases puffiness, dark circles, and discoloration. If those are three separate issues you're dealing with, you can handle them all using this one product. Talk about a major multitasker.
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins, Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer, $42, available at Origins.
When your eyes are stinging like crazy and you don't have a lof of time on your hands, it's always comforting to know that you can find this undereye cream at your local drugstore.
Burt's Bees, Sensitive Eye Treatment, $20, available at Burt's Bees.
This balm is a miracle worker. The mango seed butter diminishes dark circles while the calendula oil, beeswax, and lavender oil increase your skin's elasticity. Dab away!
Indie Lee, Calendula Eye Balm, $42, available at Indie Lee.
Waking up in the morning with puffy eyes is one of the worst feelings ever. This cool-to-the-touch roll-on is a total lifesaver in a box—it contains extracts of cucumber, yeast, and hoelen mushroom to decrease the puffiness around your eyes while also brightening dark circles.
Origins, No Puffery Cooling Roll-On For Puffy Eyes, $26, available at Origins.
This eye balm will wake up your tired eyes as soon as you glide it around your lids. In addition to de-puffing your eyes like an ice cube, it provides a light touch of hydration.
Boscia, Super-Cool De-Puffing Eye Balm, $26, available at Boscia.
Do you want your eyes to look more hydrated and nourished, and less wrinkled? Of course, you do. Look no further than this balm, guaranteed to get rid of all those fine lines. It repairs the skin around your eyes instantly, and you'll feel the difference as your skin becomes softer.
Grown Alchemist, Hydra Repair Eye Balm, $99, available at David Pirrotta.
I actually passed this along to my mom because she likes to say that she's developing racoon eyes. I saw her a few weeks after gifting this treatment, and it really has worked wonders. The cream firms, tones, and diminishes those dark bags from underneath the eyes. No more creases, no more crinkles.
Origins, A Perfect World for Eyes Firming Moisture Treatment With White Tea, $37, available at Origins.
This oil is recommended for all skin types but highly encouraged for people with dry skin. The linoleic acid in the formula repairs oxidation damage in stressed tissues and helps with hyperpigmentation. The coffee bean, tomato seed and argan oils help with anti-aging so the skin around your eyes will be increasingly smoother. The vial is also small enough so you can carry it with you wherever you go.
La Bella Figura, Découverte Under Eye Repair Serum, $115, available at Follain.
Cucumber, rosemary, and ginseng are combined in this cream to prevent crow's feet, puffiness, and darkness around the eyes. I prefer to use this product at night, as the green tea extract helps repair damage overnight. Thanks to this, I look forward to checking myself out in the mirror as soon as I get up.
Origins, Eye Doctor Moisture Care for Skin Around Eyes, $37, available at Origins.
The main ingredients in this formula are Okinawa red algae, honeysuckle leaf, and caffeine so your eyes are in for a real treat. It reduces puffiness in a matter of minutes which is pretty amazing. I love Japanese skincare brands, so I was not surprised to see this work.
Tatcha, Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum, $95, available at Tatcha.
This treatment is a little tricky because there are only two options for shades, but I found it to be very useful. It's basically a correcting highlighter that helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I usually blend around the trouble areas near my eyes and then I'm good to go for the day.
Onomie, A.C.E. Illuminating Eye Treatment, $40, available at Onomie.
If you like the roll-on stick, consider investing in the next size up. It works the same but you have to squeeze the cream out to rub around the affected eye areas. This treatment is sort of the equivalent of putting cucumbers on your eyes, but without the actual food waste.
Origins, No Puffery Cooling Mask for Puffy Eyes, $26, available at Origins.
This moisturizing cream energizes the skin while also protecting the eyes from effects of dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines. Dab a little and watch the magic happen after it absorbs.
Tatcha, Revitalizing Eye Cream, $135, available at Tatcha.
While the price of this luxurious product will make your eyes hurt, it really is one of the best treatments out there. I use it sparingly because the container is so small, but it makes a big improvement as it plumps the skin around the eyes. It really comes in handy before I apply makeup—I feel like it protects my eyes while also helping everything stay in place and last longer. You won't look back once you have this in your bag.
Retrouvé, Revitalizing Eye Concentrate, $415, available at Bergdorf Goodman.
I don't wear makeup every day because I like to give my face a break, especially my eyes. I love that this can be used as a concealer, but also reduces dark circles and increases brightness. The best part? It's free of fragrance, alcohol, parabens, and phthalates.
Onomie, Bright Concealing Elixir, $30, available at Onomie.
