The 9 Best Eye Creams With SPF for Easy Sun Protection

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Often described as delicate and prone to wrinkles, the skin around your eyes isn’t always prioritized when it comes to sun protection. And of course, keeping the area protected with a layer of broad-spectrum sunscreen is just as important as regularly covering off on your nose and forehead—which is where the best eye creams with SPF come in handy.

These versatile creams shield skin from damaging UV rays while simultaneously addressing under-eye concerns like dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines. “The skin around the eye is thinner than the rest of the skin on the face, and neglecting to apply sunscreen around the eye area can worsen common complaints like dark circles, hyperpigmentation, and puffiness,” board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman tells Bazaar.

Applying sunscreen around the eyes also helps protect the skin’s elasticity, preventing issues like droopiness. When looking for the best eye cream with SPF for your needs, consider opting for hydrators containing mineral formulas instead of chemical ones. “To avoid discomfort or stinging, it is recommended to use a mineral sunscreen around the eye, versus a chemical sunscreen,” Hartman continues. “Common chemical UV filters like avobenzone and oxybenzone can cause irritation if they reach your eye.”

According to the expert, you’ll also want to ensure your product of choice has a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 or more. “Broad-spectrum means that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays,” Hartman notes. “The SPF number refers only to the level of protection against UVB rays. An SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of UVB rays; going lower than SPF 30 greatly increases the risk of damage from UVB rays, which leads to skin burning and ultimately skin cancer.”

To help boost your sun protection staples, we asked professionals for their top eye cream-specific picks and shifted through hundreds of customer reviews to find the ones worthy of any beauty collection. The following formulas provide the ultimate skincare benefits and feature SPF 30 or higher. Here, read on for our list of the best eye creams with SPF to add to your morning routine.

Related: The Best Facial Sunscreens You'll Want to Wear Every Day

100% Mineral Bright-Eyed Eye Cream SPF 40

Supergoop specializes in innovative sun protection, and this SPF 40 favorite is no exception. Featuring a blend of non-nano zinc oxide and wild butterfly ginger flower, their Mineral Bright-Eyed Eye Cream shields against UV damage and even blocks blue light. It’s also infused with probiotics to help brighten dark circles and reduce puffiness.

One satisfied customer writes: “This has been a staple in my routine for years. It’s the only way I can wear SPF near my eyes. Regular sunscreens get in my eyes and make them sting and water all day, but this is so gentle!” —OhEmGee7

UV AOX Tinted Eye Sunscreen SPF 30

EltaMD's tinted eye cream uses antioxidants, peptides, Persian silk tree extract, and protective SPF 30 to tackle multiple under-eye problems at once. On top of sun protection, the lightweight formula also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, disguise dark circles, and deflate puffiness. It’s also fragrance-free, dermatologist-tested, and ophthalmologist-tested.

One satisfied customer writes: “I like to use this when I'm not really wearing a lot of other makeup. It's tinted, but just enough to give a little extra coverage. It blends in easily and feels comfortable, no burning the eyes like regular sunscreen can cause.” — Kelsey Mlnarik

Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+

This cult-favorite facial sunscreen gets Hartman’s stamp of approval for the entire face, including the eye area. “I personally use Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+,” he says. “It’s a lightweight emulsion that delivers moisture and mineral zinc oxide for a chemical-free, physical sunscreen that eliminates the possibility of allergy.”

One satisfied customer writes: “I will never leave the house without this on my face! Love it!” — Linda D.

Full Spectrum 360° Day SPF 30 & Night Organic Eye Cream Duo

Treat the skin around your eyes to 24-hour TLC with this pick from Coola. Each jar contains a day cream that's infused with vitamin C and SPF 30 to protect against UV rays, minimize signs of aging, and reduce darkness. There's also a night cream included that uses resveratrol to hydrate and soothe the area.

One satisfied customer writes: “So happy to have finally found an eye cream with SPF that's reasonably priced! I just wish I could buy this as only the SPF cream since I have a night eye cream I like already. Not sure why they don't offer that.” —Ms Doover

Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35

Seamlessly mask dark circles while protecting your under-eyes from sun damage with this tinted multitasker. Available in fair, medium, tan, and deep tones, the popular essential keeps the area plump using hyaluronic acid, along with peptides and vitamins to minimize dark circles, puffiness, and crow’s feet. Plus, its broad-spectrum mineral SPF 35 formula not only protects against UV rays, but also common environmental aggressors.

One satisfied customer writes: “So easy to apply, and the shade blends right in; fantastic eye coverage with SPF as a major plus. A little goes a long way.” —Jacqueline

Brightening Eye Cream Mineral SPF 30 with Niacinamide & Vitamin C

Because the skin around the eyes is thinner than other parts of your face, it’s particularly prone to fine lines and wrinkles. This eye cream utilizes zinc oxide to provide SPF 30 protection and prevent photoaging. It’s also packed with peptides, vitamin C, squalane, and niacinamide to hydrate, firm the skin, smooth uneven texture, and brighten. Bonus: Its angled and flat metal applicator allows for easy and precise application under the eyes.

Sensitif Eye Cream SPF 30

This lightly tinted eye cream has a lightweight, serum-like texture that sinks in quickly and provides comfortable wear. It uses zinc and titanium oxides for SPF 30 broad-spectrum sun protection. The cream's formula also features the brand’s signature “bio-renewal peptide,” a skin-identical protein that improves skin tone and texture, plus prebiotics to reduce lingering redness. Those prone to dryness can also appreciate the formula’s deeply hydrating shea butter, avocado oil, grade seed oil, and argan oil.

One satisfied customer writes: “I call this my lazy lady eye cream because it does three things in one! It’s my anti-aging eye cream, SPF 30, and under-eye brightener too. There’s a slight tint. My under-eye area feels hydrated, and my lines are less noticeable. I love it because I don’t like using too many products.” —Theresa92

Mineral Sunscreen Stick

Toss this travel-friendly SPF 50 mineral sunscreen from CeraVe in your bag for easy, on-the-go sun protection. Though not exactly an eye cream, it combines three ceramides to strengthen the skin's barrier, and its slender size makes under-eye application a breeze. Those with sensitive and reactive skin will appreciate that the formula is free of oil, fragrance, and chemical sunscreen ingredients.

One satisfied customer writes: “My go-to! It’s not sticky and really stays on even when you are in and out of the water throughout the day. I would recommend this product over and over!” —wendyemma_

Smooth & Protect Invisible Mineral SPF 50 Zinc Oxide Face Sunscreen Gel

Board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Margarita Lolis loves using this lightweight mineral sunscreen for its transparent, easy-to-blend formula. “This sunscreen not only provides sun protection but protects against environmental aggressors as well,” Lolis says. The expert also notes that this pick contains seaweed extracts to improve the absorption of UV rays while providing anti-photo-aging effects.

One satisfied customer writes: “I always use mineral sunscreens, and most of them leave a white sheen on my skin. This one is invisible and feels silky smooth when I put it on. I cannot feel it once it dries. So far, it has been effective at protecting my skin after spending hours outside.” —Ss

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Corey L. Hartman is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama.

• Dr. Margarita Lolis is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New Jersey.

Should you apply sunscreen on the eyelid?

In short, yes. According to Hartman, the eyelid is one of the most common spots for skin cancer. So while you definitely shouldn’t skip over this delicate spot, your SPF application technique may need some modifications. Dr. Hartman recommends applying a small dot of sunscreen to the eyelid and gently tapping it in, avoiding the lash line.

As mentioned above, you’ll want to use mineral sunscreen to avoid potential eye irritation. Look for formulas labeled 100% mineral and made with exclusively zinc oxide, titanium oxide, or a blend of both. If you’re unsure if a sunscreen is safe for use around the eye area, reach out to a board-certified dermatologist or ophthalmologist.

Can you use facial sunscreen around the eye area?

While eye creams made with SPF are convenient and will help consolidate steps in your skincare routine, they aren’t essential. In other words, your mineral-based facial sunscreen will do just fine as long as you’re applying it safely. However, many SPF-infused eye creams are meant to simultaneously treat other common under-eye concerns like fine lines and dark circles.

If you’re going the facial sunscreen route, Dr. Lolis recommends looking for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays and boasts additional skincare benefits. “A mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide, which protects against UVA and UVB rays and also contains iron oxide which also helps protect against the visible light spectrum, is preferred, especially for anyone with melasma and many other sun induced conditions,” she says.

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