As far as daily skincare routines go, eye creams are quite contested. Some people swear by them, others find them to be an unnecessary step. But, as our attention turns to spring grooming — and if you've got time for it — there's really no such thing as an unnecessary step.
Unfortunately, many of the issues that eye creams proffer to solve are actually hereditary, so things like permanently dark eye circles can't simply be lifted off the face with a dab of cream. However, many eye creams do contain ingredients that will temporarily perk up the skin, diffuse light around your bags, or, as in the case of OLEHENRIKSEN's banana-inspired cream below, will literally balance out the skin tone with subtle pigmentation.
So if you're tired of looking tired, there are definitely viable short-term options available.
As the skin around your eye is thinner than anywhere else, you'll need a product that packs a little more punch than what you would typically use elsewhere, and, therefore, these products can be used very sparingly, meaning their shelf-life is longer than you'd expect.
Read on for the best eye creams, balms, sticks, and solutions
The Botanist's Pick
As its name implies, this eye balm from Kiehl's contains Rosa Arctica — otherwise known as the "resurrection flower" — which is used to invigorate the skin's natural production of elastin. The easily-absorbed balm just needs to be dabbed along the orbital bone and on the lids of the eyes for an instant pick-me-up.
The Handy Carry-around
LAB Series' Instant Eye Gel Lift arrives in a slick 15ml tube which means if you don't have the time or patience to be judiciously applying chemicals onto your skin with a measured dropper, you can use this to instantly firm the appearance of fine lines with a quick pump.
Espresso for Your Eyes
Coffee for your eyes? Obviously a quick espresso is one of the easiest ways to wake ourselves up on the inside, so why stop there? The Ordinary's caffeine solution contains a high 5 percent concentration of caffeine, which can be applied throughout the day to improve pigmentation and minimize the appearance of puffiness and dark circles.
Sleep in a Bottle
Of course, an ideal solution to fresh-looking under-eyes would be regular, uninterrupted periods of eight hours of sleep, but that's not realistic. The second best thing is a quick lick of Dr. Dennis Gross' Collagen Brightening and Firming Eye cream that is infused with 3-O C vitamin C technology and collagen amino acids for an instantly lifted feel.
Some Diamond Eye Cream, Old Sport
This Illuminating Eye Cream from Tata Harper arrives in Great Gatsby-esque, art-deco-style packaging with grandiose ingredients to match. The top-tier formula contains diamond dust to give a subtle hint of refraction, instantly brightening the appearance of dull or tired skin.
The Stoner Glow
Cannuka's CBD- and manuka honey-infused calming eye balm is cool to the touch but warms up on impact with the skin to give a dewy, silky consistency for an immediately refreshed appearance.
The Beauty Insider's Pick
Named for the famous "banana powder" trick used by make-up artists, this OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Crème uses color correction to gently counter the appearance of dark circles as well as boosting collagen production, making it one of the best eye creams out there.
The Vitamin C Upgrade
Drunk Elephants's C-Tang Multivitamin eye cream contains eight peptides, five different forms of vitamin C, and cucumber extract for a healthy-looking and brightened under-eye area.
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