15 of the Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles

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Dark circles under the eyes can be a telltale sign of age, but that’s not the only reason these pesky shadows appear. While cosmetic procedures such as laser treatments and chemical peels can positively impact darkness, they can be costly and must be performed regularly to maintain results.

With that said, this is why a solid skincare routine should include the best eye cream for dark circles as a go-to treatment. These ring-banishing creams are available at various price points, are easy to use, and there’s a formula to meet all skin types and tones. The best skincare products on the market include the best eye creams to address puffiness, dryness, and of course, dark circles.

Not sure where to start? No worries. Here at the Derm Review, we’ve reviewed hundreds of products with a scientific lens to ensure you’re creating a skincare regimen that’s safe and effective. Ahead, 15 of the best eye creams for dark circles that will help you fake a good night’s sleep — and then some.

Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles: The List

BEST OVERALL

Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream

Carrot & Stick The Eye Serum

We recommend Carrot & Stick Eye Essentials as it contains both products.

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Formulyst Anti-Dark Circle Eye Cream

Zo Skin Health Eye Brightening Cream

No7 Laboratories Dark Circle Corrector

Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF 15

Pacifica Rose Jelly Beauty Sleep Under Eye Gel

Neocutis Illuminating Eye Cream

Shiseido White Lucent Anti-Dark Circles Eye Cream

Caudalie Premier Cru Anti-Aging Eye Cream

SkinBetter Science InterFuse Eye Cream

SkinMedica TNS Illuminating Eye Cream

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex

Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles

What’s the best under-eye cream for dark circles?

BEST OVERALL

Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream
This revolutionary treatment uses highly effective botanical extracts to reduce signs of stress and fatigue, including dark circles. Persian silk tree (albizia julibrissin) has an anti-glycation effect that helps delicate skin around the lids feel tighter. St. Paul’s wort (sigesbeckia Orientalis) boosts the appearance of collagen and elastin, restoring vitality.

Carrot & Stick The Eye Serum
A blend of advanced peptides reduces the look of discoloration and rich moisturizers combat dryness. Crow’s feet are smoothed, puffiness is reduced and skin is visibly lifted and brightened with every application.

Best Bet

Carrot & Stick routines take the guesswork out of building the perfect routine for your skin. We recommend Carrot & Stick Eye Essentials as it contains both our favorite products. Use code DERM20 for an additional 20% off.

FULL LIST

Formulyst Anti-Dark Circle Eye Cream
A fast-acting formulation that targets dark circles and puffiness around the eyes, Formulyst’s Anti-Dark Circle Eye Cream combines a rich blend of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals to visibly brighten and smooth the delicate skin in the eye area. The formula is high in concentration and lightweight in texture. Naturally-derived chenopodium quinoa seed extract, caffeine, and butcher’s broom extract visibly energize and enhance. Over time, eyes look and feel brighter, smoother, and more youthful.

Zo Skin Health Eye Brightening Cream
Formulated for the delicate eye area, this results-driven formula helps visibly reduce multiple signs of aging, including dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines. Kojic dipalmitate is a crucial ingredient to help lighten the appearance of dark circles. Saccharomyces lysate extract, carnitine, coenzyme A, and caffeine support natural microcirculation to reduce the appearance of puffiness often associated with rings under the eyes.

No7 Laboratories Dark Circle Corrector
The best eye cream for dark circles works on contact and over time. This drugstore formula is slightly tinted and is formulated with light-diffusing particles and color-correcting pigments, so it immediately camouflages and brightens discoloration. Soothing Algae Extract and the brand’s proprietary lightening technology target the three causes of dark circles. Under-eye skin becomes more revitalized for a more wide-awake, bright look. The formula is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of dark circles in 2 weeks for all skin tones from fair to very dark.

Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF 15
Not only does this eye cream protect from harmful UV rays, but it also smooths and retexturizes the delicate eye area, thanks to gently alpha hydroxy acids and plant extracts. A chemical-free SPF helps prevent further UV damage, leading to discoloration. The addition of optical light diffusers helps conceal dark circles.

Pacifica Rose Jelly Beauty Sleep Under Eye Gel
While you may initially fall in love with the colorful, eye-catching packaging, it’s what’s inside that counts. Peptides, rose hips, and blue tansy soothe and brighten while caffeine depuffs and diminishes the shadows under your eyes. The cooling glass rollerball applicator is the perfect delivery system for an affordable, spa-like eye gel. The formulation is void of parabens, phthalates, SLS, and mineral oil.

Neocutis Illuminating Eye Cream
This multi-award-winning eye cream is formulated with glycyrrhetinic acid to help lighten dark circles’ appearance while caffeine reduces puffiness. Growth factors lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Bisabolol soothes and banishes signs of fatigue, which is good news for those who are always staring at the computer screen.

Shiseido White Lucent Anti-Dark Circles Eye Cream
While many eye creams target several issues, Shiseido’s intense formula explicitly targets dark circles and dryness. A proprietary “dark circle diminisher” works overtime to correct rings caused by pigmentation and poor microcirculation. Blue and brown, dark circles are visibly reduced over time for a youthful look. The formula is dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested.

Caudalie Premier Cru Anti-Aging Eye Cream
This best-seller is nicknamed “photoshop for the eyes” due to its incredible ability to visibly reduce fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles on contact and over time. Caudalie’s proprietary blend of resveratrol, viniferine, and grape seeds work together to lift, firm, brighten and protect against free radical damage. It deeply hydrates yet effortlessly melts into the skin, so it works well with makeup or alone as a natural highlighter to banish under-eye shadows.

SkinBetter Science InterFuse Eye Cream
A potent blend of vitamin C, caffeine, and peptides work synergistically to brighten and hydrate the delicate eye area. This eye cream needs to be ordered through a physician, so it’s an excellent option for those already seeing a dermatologist or planning to visit one soon. The formula contains a decent amount of niacinamide, which is one of the best skincare ingredients, in our opinion.

SkinMedica TNS Illuminating Eye Cream
A combination of hydroxysuccinimide and chrysin reduces circles’ appearance over time, while boron nitride immediately diffuses darkness. Boron Nitride optimizes the optical diffusion effect of light, lessening the visibility of dark circles and discolorations to enhance skin appearance. Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (a synthetic peptide) and hyaluronic acid help hydrate and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so it’s truly an all-in-one eye cream.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream
Due to the high price point, this eye cream isn’t for everyone — but it still makes the cut because it has an incredible cult following. Caviar Premier technology addresses dehydration, dark circles, fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of tone. Along with addressing dark circles, the skin around the eye appears lifted and firmed, and the look of puffiness is diminished. The delicate skin around the eyes (upper lids included) is immediately smoother and exceptionally soft.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex
This cult eye cream is truly all that it’s cracked up to be. It’s formulated with 10X “concentrated repair technology” to restore the adverse effects of a lack of sleep, UV rays, and pollution. It’s been clinically proven to reduce dark circles’ appearance in just three weeks and keeps the eye area hydrated for 24 hours, thanks to a hydration booster. Caffeine reduces puffiness to boot.

Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles: The Bottom Line

Which eye cream is the best for dark circles?

Overall, the best eye creams for Dark Circles is Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream. We recommend using Carrot & Stick The Eye Serum as a targeted treatment as the first step.

Carrot & Stick’s Eye Essentials contains both products and offers great value.

We hope you’ve found the root of your dark circles so that you can choose the best under-eye cream for you — one that’s filled with evidence-based ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide, ceramides, and caffeine.

Remember, dark circles are mainly caused by factors beyond your control (aging, genetics) or lifestyle habits that you can change, providing you’re willing to make an effort.

What is the best eye cream for dark circles, in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below!

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding dark under-eye circles and treatment.

Best Bet

FAQs

What Causes Dark Circles Under Eyes?

Lack of shuteye isn’t the only reason why shadows appear. Several factors cause infraorbital dark circles, so they are a common challenge in dermatology and aesthetic medicine. Intrinsic aging, sun exposure, genetics, ethnicity, allergies and dark circles around eyes, eye strain, lack of sleep eyes, a poor diet, dehydration, alcohol consumption, and smoking are all leading causes of dark circles.

What Deficiency Causes Dark Circles?

Typically an iron deficiency, a condition where the blood lacks red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen to tissues in the body. Along with dark circles, an iron deficiency can cause pale skin. Taking a supplement and/or consuming enough leafy greens, meat, and legumes can help.

Do Eye Creams Work for Dark Circles?

The excellent eye cream debate continues. Can a topical product actually reverse rings? Well, think about it: Dark circles are mainly caused by factors beyond your control (aging, genetics) or lifestyle habits that you can change — if you’re willing to commit.

With that said, no eye cream in the world will cancel out the fact that you’re not getting enough sleep, can’t ditch the cigarettes, or have the same genes as your mother. Make an effort to make the necessary lifestyle changes that you can control to minimize the appearance of dark circles and use one of the best eye creams to help support these efforts.

How Long Will it Take to Get Rid of Dark Circles?

Are there creams to remove dark circles completely? Remember, there’s no such thing as a quick fix. As with any product in your skincare routine, patience is a virtue. You may need anywhere from four to six weeks to start to see an improvement. If you don’t see the results you want, book an appointment with a skincare professional such as a dermatologist or an esthetician, or a medical professional if you suspect a health issue.

Can Dark Circles Be Removed Naturally

There are several DIY remedies to help reduce — not remove — dark circles naturally. Try turmeric, a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory spice that minimizes dark circles. Mix some turmeric powder with pineapple juice to create a thick paste. Apply this mixture to your under-eye rings and leave for approximately 10 minutes before gently removing it with a soft, warm, damp cloth.

How Do I Get Rid of Dark Circles Permanently?

If you want to remove dark circles under eyes permanently (though you may never be able to get rid of rings completely), cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels, laser treatments, and microneedling can make a significant difference. Keep in mind that they can be costly and have to be conducted regularly to maintain results.

How Can I Get Rid of Dark Circles Fast?

Whether you have a last-minute Zoom meeting or special event, there are a few DIY recipes and tips to help alleviate the look of dark circles in a flash. For example, try a cold compress, steeped (and soaked) tea bags, a sheet under-eye mask (store it in the fridge), or temporarily conceal rings with makeup.

Can Vaseline Remove Dark Circles?

While the internet is filled with bloggers and Youtubers, who claim Vaseline can remove dark circles, don’t waste your time and try one of the best eye creams instead.

Is There a Difference Between Day and Night Eye Cream?

A day eye cream frequently contains SPF and is lighter than a night cream, making it easy to apply before makeup. A night eye cream includes ingredients that do their best work while you’re sleeping and away from the sun’s harmful rays.

Are You Supposed to Put Eye Cream On Your Eyelids?

Never apply eye cream on your eyelids unless the directions say it’s safe to do so.

Are Dark Circles Permanent?

Realistically, a combination of medical and natural treatments would be necessary to eliminate dark circles. The results are usually not permanent. Appropriate lifestyle modifications, home care, and follow-ups with a physician would be required to maintain results.

Sources:
“Periorbital Hyperpigmentation: A Study of its Prevalence, Common Causative Factors and its Association with Personal Habits and Other Disorders” US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.
“Cues of Fatigue: Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Facial Appearance,” US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.
“Smoking: Does it Cause Wrinkles?,” Mayo Clinic.
“Dark Circles Under Eyes Causes,” Mayo Clinic.

Carolyn Frost Original review: Sep 02, 2020. Reply

I have had the best response for under eye circles with Chanel for eyes. It might be called a lift. I have a tendency to think cold green tea bags might also help. I have a friend with no circles who takes vitamin E. Would that be worth a try?

I have very dry skin and I have been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. The meds add dryness. What kind of lotions would help with this all over my skin. I use olive oil some and baby oil mixed with lotion. This helps with creping. I have scars from teen acne in the corners of my mouth by my lips. I have tried a lotion with collagen with some success. The scars do not appear as deep with that lotion.

User Original review: May 15, 2020. Reply

The Best Eye Cream for Dark Blood Vessels

Dark circles under the eyes are also caused by inflamed capillaries under the thin skin of the eye, which makes the skin look darker than it really is. If you’re trying to treat this issue, then the best eye cream in this case will contain anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as chrysin, which is a natural element derived from honey. When the inflammation is eased, the dark circles will appear less prominent. If you have any honey or plant-based allergies, consult your dermatologist before using products that contain chrysin.

Choosing the Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles Under Eyes

If you have dark circles under the eyes that are caused by a lack of sleep, certain foods, allergies, or if you have very light skin, then the best under eye cream to choose is one that contains caffeine as the active ingredient. When applied topically, this ingredient constricts the blood vessels that lie under the thin skin under the eye and reduce the visibility of dark circles. Another ingredient that you should look for in the best eye cream for dark circles is a brightening agent that can help you reduce the appearance of dark circles cosmetically.

Laura Original review: May 27, 2019. Reply

My eyes always have dark circles and look very puff for these problems I always using dermalmd under eye serum and it is lightweight and does reduce the puffiness and dark circles significantly. It goes on smoothly and does not sting or burn. My only quibble with this serum is that the dispenser gives out too much of the product at one time and the excess hardens if it is not cleaned off. I can see using this serum for years to come.