The *Best* Eye Creams for Fine Lines, According to Experts and Editors

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

IDK about you, but my eye area was the first place on my face that I started to notice fine lines and wrinkles in my late 20s. Ever since, I've been a dedicated user of anti-wrinkle eye creams—and have noticed a steady improvement in the texture and of the skin around my eyes as a result. The catch? Not all eye creams will work on wrinkles, so if your goal is smoother, tighter skin, you’re gonna need to add a targeted eye cream or eye serum that contains tried-and-true anti-aging ingredients (like retinol, peptides, and growth factors) to your daily skincare routine.

To help you narrow down the options, I tested and reviewed tons of different formulas and reached out to five skincare experts (shoutout to licensed aesthetician Edyta Jarosz and board-certified dermatologists Marisa Garshick, Joshua Zeichner, Corey L. Hartman, and Shari Marchbein) for their favorite anti-wrinkle eye cream picks. I even consulted a few of my fellow Cosmo beauty editors for their recs as well.

Keep reading for the full list of the 18 best eye creams for wrinkles—plus the most important things to keep in mind before purchasing a new eye cream.

UV AOX Eye Broad Spectrum SPF 30

This do-it-all eye cream is quickly becoming one of my new favorites thanks to its ability to brighten, hydrate, and smooth with antioxidants and peptides while also protecting skin from UV damage thanks to SPF 30 made from zinc oxide. UV damage is one of the primary reasons wrinkles develop around the eyes in the first place, so by shielding your skin from UV exposure you're preventing new wrinkles from forming. Also great? The formula has a transparent, universal tint that helps camouflage my dark circles too.

• Size: 0.4 oz

• Formula: Cream

• Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin E, peptides, shea butter

• Usage: Morning

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "Good stuff! I like this sunscreen for my eyes a lot! It’s a good texture and smooths into the skin nicely. It seems to firm up the skin around my eyes a bit which is a nice bonus."

Retinol Eye Stick

The most convenient option on our list, this eye cream comes in a handy stick format that's easy to quickly swipe on before bed. The hero ingredient for fighting wrinkles is retinol, which is proven to stimulate collagen and elastin production to soften lines and firm skin. Also in the formula? Bakuchiol (a plant-based ingredient that functions similarly to retinol) and firming peptides for extra wrinkle-fighting benefits.

• Size: 0.4 oz

• Formula: Solid

• Key ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol, peptides

• Usage: Evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "This retinol eye stick is so convenient and effective. It has a lightweight formula that feels so good on my skin while absorbing quickly without leaving a residue or tackiness behind. It helps reduce puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines while also brightening my eye area beyond just a few hours and preventing future fine lines."

Moisture Surge Eye 96-Hour Hydro Filler Concentrate

Most eye creams designed to smooth lines and wrinkles tend to feel thick and heavy, which is less than ideal if you have oily skin or like to layer your skincare products and makeup. Enter this fast-absorbing water gel from Clinique, which is loaded with hyaluronic acid and other humectants to draw moisture to your skin and plump the look of fine lines and fill in creases—all without feeling heavy or greasy.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Gel

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "Every time I use this eye gel it is an instant...Ah-h-h!!! The description of this product as "refreshing" is an understatement. Also, I find that this gel is fantastic used under concealer…Especially if you have oily eyelids, have ever used an oilier-type eye cream and experienced "melted" eye makeup. However, since Moisture Surge Eye is a gel, you do have to allow the product to soak into the skin before applying a concealer."

A.G.E. Advanced Eye

This eye cream contains *all* the skin smoothing and plumping heavy hitters, including a blend of firming peptides, caffeine, antioxidants, and optical light diffusers. Together, these ingredients help soften the look of lines and crepey texture, brighten up dark circles, and make your eye area look more wide-awake and refreshed. Cosmo beauty editor Beth Gillette (she's been testing this eye cream for months, FYI) says that she "loves the rich, emollient texture and how it makes my normally dry eye area look so smooth and plump."

• Size: 15 ml

• Formula: Balm
  

• Key ingredients: Proxylane (a plant-derived plumper), peptides, antioxidants, caffeine

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "This stuff is so good. The skin around my eyes is SO smooth after I use it and it really makes my dark circles look less noticeable too."

Eye Repair Cream

This gentle drugstore eye cream from CeraVe uses hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help hydrate your eye area while also strengthening your skin's barrier to create a plumping and smoothing effect, says dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. "It also contains niacinamide which is soothing on the skin and a marine and botanical complex which helps to brighten the area."

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Cream
  

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "This works nicely and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. There are no added perfumes, so it doesn't smell great, but again, sensitive skin, so I don't want any in a product anyway."

HA+ Replenishing Eye Serum

So this eye serum is definitely on the pricey side, but Cosmo editors—including myself and Daisy Maldonado—are obsessed. “Of the many eye serums and creams I’ve tried, this one from Ourself is by far one of my favorites," says Maldonado. "The combo of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and flower extracts are amazing at smoothing out my eye area and getting rid of puffiness. Since I've been testing, I've been noticed that the dark circles under my eyes are less noticeable too," she adds.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Serum

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide, vitamin C, Jasmine and Hawthorn flower extracts

• Usage: Morning and evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "I love the luxurious look and feel of the HA+ Replenishing Eye Serum. It has visibly reduced my dark circles and appearance of fine lines—plus the formula is lightweight and absorbs beautifully."

Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Serum

Medik8's Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Serum is one of the few retinol products that's gentle enough to use around my eye area, but still potent enough to actually put a dent in fine lines and crow's feet. Licensed aesthetician Edyta Jarosz, who is also a fan and recommends this to clients with sensitive skin, says "this eye cream uses a unique ceramide encapsulation technology to effectively deliver retinol to the skin while minimizing irritation."

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Serum

• Key ingredients: Retinol, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, chamomile extract

• Usage: Evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "I have been using this for about a month and have been pleasantly surprised with the results. Fine lines are diminished to the point that I really can’t see them and others are definitely improved. I had no issues applying as directed or discoloration."

Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream

This eye cream contains a stabilized form of retinol that can be used daily, either in the morning and/or at night, says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, who adds that because the retinol is stabilized, it's less likely to cause skin irritation. "Besides improving the appearance of fine lines, this eye cream has been shown to lighten dark circles and firm the skin around the eyes too," says Dr. Zeichner. "And thanks to glycerin and vitamin E, this eye cream delivers an immediate plumping boost to the skin by flooding it with moisture," says Dr. Hartman.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Cream
  

• Key ingredient: Retinol

• Usage: Evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "After 15 days of using this around my eyes both morning and night my skin is visibly more smooth and is nice and hydrated...the formula is simply perfect for me!"

Tightening Eye Gel

Dr. Loretta's Tightening Eye Gel is like shrink wrap for my under eyes, says Gillette. "I just press it under my eyes in the morning, and immediately, I notice my lines look smoother and my bags less pronounced." Testers agree that the gel formula provides an instant tightening and firming effect, and with continued use, can help soften fine lines around the eyes.

• Size: 20 ml

• Formula: Gel
  

• Key ingredients: Marine algae peptides, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and I'm impressed with the results. The product goes on great and it definitely feel like my under eyes are a bit brighter, tighter and more alert!"

Bright Idea Vitamin C & Tri-Peptide Collagen-Protecting Eye Cream

Bliss's eye cream contains a blend of vitamin C and peptides to strengthen, firm, and brighten the skin around the eyes, says Dr. Zeichner. "It's an especially good option if you cannot tolerate retinol, since the peptides help address lines and wrinkles without causing flaking or irritation."

• Size: 1 oz

• Formula: Cream
  

• Key ingredients: Peptides, vitamin C, licorice root extract

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

THE REVIEW: "I’m so happy to say I finally found an eye cream that I love! It’s deeply moisturizing without being heavy, and actually does firm the crepe-y skin around my eyes," says one reviewer.

Pure Vitamin C Eye Cream

"My patients love this eye cream," says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman. "They often tell me that it works well under makeup and with other skincare products, which is especially important around the eye area where the skin is thinner and more prone to looking cakey with multiple layers of products." As for the formula, it's packed with vitamin C to firm and brighten skin and a dose of hyaluronic acid to plump wrinkles on contact.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Cream
  

• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, shea butter

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "I love this eye cream and have used it for years—it blends in quickly, isn't greasy at all, and keeps my eye area moisturized all day long."

Magic Eye Cream with Retinol

This bedtime eye cream "incorporates a time-released form of retinol, plant stem cells, and a peptide complex that work together help to improve the appearance of wrinkles while brightening and de-puffing your under-eye bags," says Dr. Garshick. Also cool: the luxe packaging is refillable, so once you've used it all up just pop a new pod into the glass jar and you're good to go.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Balm

• Key ingredients: Retinol, squalane, plant stem cells

• Usage: Evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "This eye cream provides instant results. It’s like abracadabra and no more tired-looking eyes! It feels amazing and it plumps and smooths out my under-eye skin, leaving it feeling soft and silky."

Intensive Eye Renewal Cream

This eye cream is the beauty brainchild of celebrity esthetician Shani Darden. Her A-list clients (who include Jessica Alba, Shay Mitchell, and Kelly Rowland) love this squalane-and-peptide-infused eye cream for its ability to plump and smooth the skin around the eyes *and* reduce dark circles without causing irritation. "After using this for a few months, I swear that the fine lines around my eyes started to disappear—it's like magic," adds Gillette.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Balm

• Key ingredients: Peptides, silk tree extract, squalane, ceramides, niacinamide

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "This was my first Shani Darden purchase, but definitely not my last. This eye cream is truly amazing...I can really see a difference in my skin's smoothness and texture."

TNS Eye Repair

You've prob seen or heard of Skinmedica's cult-favorite TNS serum, but did you know the brand makes an eye cream with similar anti-wrinkle technology? "The key ingredient in this eye cream is the TNS complex, a proprietary blend of growth factors, peptides, and antioxidants," says Jarosz."It helps rejuvenate the skin and stimulate collagen production, leading to a firmer and smoother eye area."

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Cream

• Key ingredients: Human fibroblast conditioned media, peptides, retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "I love how this cream really firms up the skin below my eyes. I’ve tried other eye creams, but this is the one I keep going back to—it actually does what it says."

EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream

This is one of the hardest-working, most-effective anti-wrinkle eye creams I've tried, and Dr. Garshick agrees with me: "It helps address fine lines, wrinkles, crepiness around the eyes using a combination of retinol and lactic acid," says Dr. Garshick, adding that "results can be seen as early as four weeks with consistent use." It also has a hydrating complex to protect the skin barrier and prevent dryness too," adds Dr. Garshick.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Cream

• Key ingredients: Retinol, AHAs, niacinamide

• Usage: Evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review "I've never seen results from a product so fast. The skin around my eyes is noticeably smoother and tighter from using this—I even think my dark circles have faded a bit too."

Universal Universal C Eye Perfector

There's a reason every derm loves vitamin C (the hero in this eye cream) for preventing and reversing signs of aging. The ingredient helps prevent free-radical damage from things like UV and pollution to keep your skin healthy and glowy, and it also smooths fine lines and wrinkles over time, thanks to its ability to boost collagen production too.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Cream

• Key ingredients: Ascorbic acid, hemp oil, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "This product immediately feels great. I do see some improvement with lines and it’s been two weeks since I started using it, but the biggest impression is it just makes the eye area feel good."

Ceramighty AF Eye Balm

Ideal for dry skin types, this nourishing eye cream from Drunk Elephant contains plant oils, like avocado and evening primrose oils, and ceramides (they help keep your skin's barrier intact to prevent moisture from escaping) to restore your skin's elasticity and keep your eye area feeling soft and moisturized for hours.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Balm

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, oat extract, plant lipids

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "This eye cream is the perfect consistency," writes a tester. "It's thick, but not too thick....it's more of a whipped texture. It wears well under makeup and hydrates super well too."

Restorative Anti-Aging Eye Cream

This all-natural eye cream is full of organic, plant-based ingredients (including Spanish lavender, red algae, and seaweed) that help smooth and plump wrinkles and fine lines by supporting collagen and elastin production. The sustainable packaging is also refillable, so once it's empty simply unscrew the cap and pop in a fresh capsule.

• Size: 0.5 oz

• Formula: Cream

• Key ingredients: Lavender extract, red algae extract, seaweed

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

• Fragrance-free? No

Glowing customer review: "This is one of the best eye creams I've ever used. I have tried a lot of brands and this one I really like this one—it minimized puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles under my eyes and a little goes a long ways. I will be recommending it to my friends."

What causes wrinkles around the eyes?

The eye area is typically the first part of your face to show signs of aging—specifically fine lines, wrinkles, and crepey texture—and these signs of aging usually pop up in our late 20s or early 30s. The skin around your eyes is super thin and delicate and has fewer and less concentrated oil glands than the rest of your face to keep it plump, smooth, and bright, explains dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, which leads to the obvious dark circles, dryness, puffiness, and under-eye bags. Not only that, but your eyes are incredibly expressive, so years of constant squinting, smiling, and frowning eventually leads to "expression lines," like crow's feet and "elevens" (the horizontal lines between the eyes), adds Dr. Marchbein.

Does eye cream actually help wrinkles?

Yes! One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce mild to moderate wrinkles around the eyes is to incorporate an eye cream into your daily skincare routine, says Dr. Hartman. That said, if the lines and wrinkles around your eyes are more severe, then I would recommend an eye cream coupled with in-office treatments (like neurotoxins such as Botox or Xeomin or resurfacing lasers) to improve their appearance, says Dr. Hartman.

What is the best cream for wrinkles around the eyes?

The best eye creams for wrinkles—like the ones on the list above—are formulated with tried-and-true smoothing and plumping ingredients, including:

• Retinol: Derm-favorite anti-aging ingredient that jumpstarts cell turnover and stimulates collagen and elastin production.

• AHAs: Exfoliating acids that resurfaces and smooths skin.

• Peptides, stem cells, and growth factors: Skin regenerating ingredients that improve skin function and signal collagen and elastin production.

• Vitamin C and niacinamide: Two of the best brightening and firming antioxidants that protect skin from the aging effects of free radical damage.

• Hyaluronic acid: Humectant that hydrates skin to temporarily plump fine lines.

• Ceramides: Lipids that help moisturize skin and strengthen its protective barrier.

Can I use my face moisturizer as an eye cream?

Sorry, but using your anti-aging face cream or lotion as your eye cream isn't always the best idea. Most face creams contain some sort of fragrance, which can aggravate eye skin. And thick ones can also cause the under-eye area to retain moisture and look puffy. Unlike face creams, eye creams are formulated with sensitivity in mind and usually contain a lesser concentration of active ingredients to prevent your delicate eye area from getting irritated.

How to choose the best eye cream for wrinkles:

Opt for a fragrance-free formula.

The skin around the eyes is thin and delicate, making it more prone to irritation. As a rule, it's a good idea to avoid eye creams that contain fragrance, which is considered a potential skin irritant by many dermatologists and skin experts.

Think about your skin type.

When choosing an eye cream, it is important to select a product that's designed for your skin type, says Dr. Zeichner. "Your best friend’s favorite product may not be right for you." For example, if you have sensitive skin, you may not be able to tolerate an eye cream with retinol or acids and should look for something with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and/or niacinamide instead.

Meet the experts:

• Shari Marchbein, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Niche Dermatology in New York, NY, who specializes in cosmetic and medical dermatology. Dr. Marchbein is also a clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone in New York City.
  

• Corey L. Hartman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and
  the founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Hartman is also an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Alabama School of Medicine.
  

• Marisa Garshick, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, NY and a clinical assistant professor at Cornell. Dr. Garshick specializes in general medical dermatology as well as cosmetic dermatology.

• Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s department of dermatology in New York, NY. Dr. Zeichner is one of the country's key opinion leaders in treating acne and rosacea, and is an expert in cosmeceuticals, skincare, and cosmetic dermatology
  

• Edyta Jarosz, is a licensed aesthetician and a master aesthetician at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York, NY.
  

Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best anti-aging moisturizers to the best lasers for acne scars. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to anti-aging products and eye creams for wrinkles. She regularly tests and analyzes anti-wrinkle eye creams for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and estheticians to assess new formulas, brands, and technologies.

You Might Also Like

• Here’s What NOT to Wear to a Wedding

• Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You’ll Ever Try