A Guide to Choosing the Right Eye Cream

Do I really need a separate eye cream?

The skin around the eyes is usually the first place we notice change. It’s thinner, it dries out faster, and it shows tiredness, puffiness and fine lines long before the rest of the face (followed by the neck, which is why I have a whole separate section for neck creams as well). This is usually when people start paying more attention to the eye area, and why dedicated eye creams and eye serums are formulated differently.

Eye cream for dark circles

Dark circles are often the first thing people notice around the eyes. Genetics play a part, but sleep, dehydration and thinning skin all contribute, which is why they’re hard to shift with your regular face moisturiser or serum. Many eye creams are designed specifically to target dark circles, which is why a dedicated eye cream for dark circles is so important (along with keeping hydrated and getting plenty of beauty sleep). If I had to pick one, it would be the 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Brightening Eye Cream, it's a globally best seller that uses caffeine from green coffee and green tea alongside niacinamide and vitamin C to help visibly brighten dark circles under the eyes.

Caffeine eye creams and eye serums for puffiness

When addressing puffiness or eye bags, the type of product matters as much as the ingredients. I’ve found that caffeine eye creams and lightweight eye serums with cucumber extract are usually the best place to start, especially in the morning. Cooling textures, gel formulas and rollerball applicators feel instantly refreshing. I like to keep my Ere Perez Grape Water Eye Serum in the fridge to help instantly depuff my eyes in the morning. There’s something very satisfying about rolling it around the eye area while I drink my coffee.

Eye creams for fine lines and wrinkles

Fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes tend to show up sooner because this area produces less oil and loses elasticity faster. When this is the main concern, I look for eye creams that prioritise hydration first, then support smoothing and plumping with ingredients like peptides, antioxidants or retinol alternatives. Retinol eye creams, or eye creams made with bakuchiol (a plant-based alternative to retinol with similar results but without the same risk of irritation) are a great option. I tend to reach for these as part of an evening routine when skin is in repair mode. The 100% Pure Retinol PM Eye Cream contains both retinol and bakuchiol, and I also love the Andalou Naturals Age Defying Deep Wrinkle Dermal Filler, which uses bakuchiol, CoQ10 and plant stem cells to target those deep lines.

Eye creams for sensitive eyes

If you have sensitive or reactive eyes, opt for a fragrance-free option like the Juniper Soothing Age Defying Eye Cream it is an excellent practicior-grade eye cream made with Vitamin C and Rose Otto, another great option is the Weleda Contouring Eye & Lip Cream Blue Gentian & Edelweiss which is clinically backed to address both the lines around the eyes and lip area.