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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
We’ve all been there: You wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and are baffled as to how on Earth your eyes got so puffy. Under-eye puffiness is normal—no matter whether it’s transient or persistent—though the causes behind both are a bit different. If you’re constantly dealing with major under eye bags, a prominent fat pad could be to blame, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King.
The bad news? There’s no easy way to address a prominent fat pad. The good news? There are ways to combat the other type of puffiness. Lifestyle tweaks—think laying off the chips and dirty martinis before bed, sleeping with your head elevated on an extra pillow, actually getting eight hours of sleep—can help mitigate things greatly, as can the right eye cream.
Ready to give your under eyes the attention they deserve? We scoured the internet, read through countless reviews, tapped three dermatologists for recommendations, and even tried a few top-rated products for ourselves to compile this list of products that actually work. We evaluated top-rated products on their active ingredients—namely those that address puffiness like caffeine and other hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid that are gentle enough for the delicate eye area. After having a look at each formula's targeted benefits and overall value, we landed on the following best in show.
Best Overall
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hyaluronic Marine Dew It Right Eye Gel
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Sephora
Non-irritating formula
Lightweight
Hygienic bottle
Could be more hydrating
By definition, gel-based formulas contain more water than lotions or creams. It’s why they’re more lightweight and also have an innately cooling feel, as is the case for this de-puffer. This formula features hyaluronic acid to help attract water to the skin for plumpness and hydration, plus caffeine for de-puffing purposes. This is a great pick to keep in the fridge, as it will feel all the more cooling if you do.
Price at time of publish: $48
Active Ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, sea whip extract, caffeine | Benefits: Smooths fine lines and wrinkles, reduces puffiness, hydrates | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
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Amazon
Affordable
Layers nicely under makeup
Could be more hydrating
Don’t want to spend a ton of money on eye cream? Pick up this guy. For less than the cost of your lunchtime salad, you get an effective formula that combines caffeine and a line-smoothing peptide, all in a lightweight texture that layers beautifully under makeup. (Because we’re willing to bet you’re going to want to apply a little concealer under those eyes, right?) Up the ante by keeping it in the fridge.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Caffeine, tripeptide blend | Benefits: De-puffs, smooths lines | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore
L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine Hydrating Eye Serum
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Courtesy of Amazon
Cooling applicator
Hydrating and brightening
Slightly watery
As far as drugstore options go, this formula from L'Oréal Paris skews on the expensive end, but it's a stellar pick nonetheless. The wand, which features cooling rollerballs, deposits a brightening and hydrating blend of caffeine and hyaluronic acid directly to under eyes. The application is gentle enough that it won't tug on your delicate eye skin, but it offers a relaxing massage that, similar to a gua sha, de-puffs and reduces inflammation.
Price at time of publish: $33
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine | Benefits: Reduces puffiness, hydrates, soothes | Size: 0.67 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge
Neocutis Lumiere Firm Illuminating Tightening Eye Cream
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Dermstore
Multi-tasking formula
Pump-top bottle
Expensive
Though it's on the pricier side, it's worth every penny. Parks says that this formula—which relies on growth factors, caffeine, and peptides—is proven to tighten and boost radiance in the under-eye area, leaving it looking smooth and de-puffed. It feels nice and silky, and we also like that it comes in a pump-top bottle that disperses the ideal amount every time.
Price at time of publish: $108
Active Ingredients: Growth factors, caffeine, peptides | Benefits: De-puffs, firms, smooths, boosts radiance | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Gel
Dieux Skin Auracle Reviving Eye Gel
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Dieux Skin
Rich
Deeply hydrating
Recyclable packaging
It's not for everyone
If you're looking for an under eye product that feels like a mini spa moment and actually works, you'll find it in Dieux's Auracle Reviving Eye Gel. Formulated with a skin-smoothing algae complex, puffiness-reducing peptides, and plumping glycerin, it's rich, hydrating, and really luxurious.
Price at time of publish: $38
Active Ingredients: Algae, peptides, glycerin | Benefits: Plumping, hydrating | Size: 0.67 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
What Our Editors Say
"I use this eye cream along with the Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask reusable under eye patches every morning. I love storing both in the refrigerator so that they're nice and cold on my skin right after waking up. I find that doing this extra step not only feels really good, but helps depuff even more." — Caitlyn Martyn, Commerce Writer
Best Cream
Honest Beauty Depuff Eye Cream + C
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Feels fresh
Nourishing ingredients
Tin tube
Jessica Alba knows a thing or two about lack of sleep—after all, she's a mom, a business owner, and an actress. That's why we wholeheartedly trust that the under eye cream from her brand, Honest Beauty, really works. Chock-full of hydrating ingredients (like glycerin, daisy flower extract, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin C), the product helps reduce puffiness around the delicate eye area and helps you fake eight hours of sleep.
Price at time of publish: $24
Active Ingredients: Glycerin, daisy flower extract, sunflower seed oil, vitamin C | Benefits: Depuffs, cools, hydrates | Size: 0.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Serum
The Ordinary Caffeine 5% + ECGC Depuffing Eye Serum
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Amazon
Affordable
Lightweight
Layers nicely under makeup
Could be more hydrating
Don’t love the feeling of thick eye creams? Try a lightweight eye serum instead, or more specifically, this one. It’s packed with caffeine, both straight-up and from ECGC, derived from green tea leaves. Just a small amount—easy to dispense from the eyedropper top—helps to knock out dark circles and puffiness, and you can then easily add another eye cream on top if you need more moisture.
Price at time of publish: $8
Active Ingredients: Caffeine, ECGC | Benefits: De-puffs, fades dark circles | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Brightening
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Vitamin C Eye Crème
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Sephora
Instantly camouflages dark circles
Smoothing and hydrating
Tiny pot
This eye cream from Ole Henriksen is a cult-classic for a reason: It really works. Loaded with a powerhouse vitamin C trio, citrus extracts, and naturally derived light-reflecting pigments, this formula brightens, smoothes, and camouflages tired-looking under eyes in seconds. With continued use, you might even find that dark spots aren't as prevalent and lines look less pronounced.
Price at time of publish: $44
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C trio, orange extract, shea butter | Benefits: Brightens, smooths fine lines, hydrates | Size: 0.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Firming
Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Eye Temporary Eye Tightener
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Sephora
Great for a fast fix
A little goes a long way
Can leave a white residue
Yes, this is the product that went viral on social media, but the hype is warranted. Several proprietary combos of ingredients, including one made of silicates and seaweed, form a film over the skin, instantly tightening it and drastically minimizing the look of bags. The results are temporary for sure, but, for a fast fix it’s worth a try. (FYI, you only need a teeny-tiny amount under each eye to get the job done.)
Price at time of publish: $38
Active Ingredients: Firm-aTite, Eyeliss | Benefits: De-puffs, tightens | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best With SPF
Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35
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Amazon
Multi-tasking formula
Metal applicator tip
Comes in four tints
Can be hard to blend in
Parks says that this is a great de-puffing pick in its own right (and has a metal applicator tip that helps make it even more so), but that it’s also choice because it contains SPF. “It can prevent sun damage that decreases the production of collagen and elastin,” he says. It has protective antioxidants, too, and comes in four tints to help camouflage not only bags but dark circles as well.
Price at time of publish: $74
Active Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, peptides | Benefits: Sun protection, de-puffs, coverage | Size: 0.23 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Daytime
Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream
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Sephora
Multi-tasking formula
Comes in two pearlized tones
Unhygienic container
Boosting radiance and de-puffing is the name of the game for this formula, both things you want in the morning. Vitamin C does the former (as does niacinamide), while ginseng and caffeine do the latter. Plus, it also comes in two pearlized tones—which don’t add tint or color, necessarily, but do help to make skin look a little more even and radiant, even before makeup.
Price at time of publish: $37
Active Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, peptides | Benefits: Boosts radiance, de-puffing | Size: 0.23 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Nighttime
Pond’s Rejuveness Lifting & Brightening Eye Cream
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Amazon
Affordable
Multi-tasking formula
Leaves a residue behind
King says this is one of her most-recommended eye creams. While it’s not going to have the instant de-puffing effects as some of the others on this list, it does contain plenty of beneficial ingredients that are good long-term, think retinol to help stimulate collagen production, which can lead to thicker skin and make bags and puffiness less apparent. There’s also niacinamide (vitamin B3) to help improve tone and texture, she says. The point is, it’s good to use at night (when you don’t need the de-puffing right away) and can reap the long-term benefits with continued use.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, retinol complex | Benefits: Hydrates, improves tone, smooths fine lines | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Moisturizing
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye Cream
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Kiehl's
Absorbs quickly
Fragrance-free
Hygienic bottle
Lavender scent can be polarizing for some
Another great nighttime pick, this oil-based formula is extra moisturizing, great for dry skin. Still, it also contains a plant-based extract that helps to fight puffiness; apply this and prop your head up on an extra pillow and you’ll be golden come morning.
Price at time of publish: $36
Active Ingredients: Lavender essential oil, evening primrose oil, ruscus aculeatus root extract | Benefits: De-puffs, smooths, moisturizes | Size: 0.51 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Anti-Aging
SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair
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SkinMedica
Multi-tasking formula
Layers nicely under makeup
Expensive
“This contains hyaluronic acid, peptides, retinol, vitamin C, and other powerful actives that both de-puff and decrease signs of aging,” says Parks of one of his top choices. In short, it contains everything but the kitchen sink, a great all-around eye cream that really can do it all, especially if you’re trying to turn back the clock. (Which helps to combat the sticker shock over the price tag.)
Price at time of publish: $95
Active Ingredients: Human fibroblast conditioned media, peptides, vitamin E | Benefits: Smooths fine lines and wrinkles, reduces puffiness, hydrates, fades dark circles | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best With Antioxidants
Fresh Black Tea Firming and De-Puffing Eye Cream
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Fresh
Feels cooling on skin
A little goes a long way
Doesn't dramatically reduce puffiness
A proprietary black tea complex (hence the name) packs a powerful punch of antioxidant protection in this formula, whose whipped and luxurious texture we also appreciate. (As a quick reminder, antioxidants help prevent skin-damaging free radicals, super important anywhere on your face, but especially on the delicate skin around your eyes.) A little bit goes a long way, and it also works for all skin types.
Price at time of publish: $68
Active Ingredients: Black tea complex, noni fruit juice | Benefits: Smooths fine lines and wrinkles, firms and boosts elasticity, hydrates, fades dark circles | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Final Verdict
If your puffiness is chronic, a topical eye cream may not be able to do much. But if it’s temporary, then the right eye cream can help. The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hyaluronic Marine Dew It Right Eye Gel, a dermatologist-developed eye cream gets our top vote. This hyaluronic acid and caffeine-infused formula targets a whole slew of under eye concerns all at once, and leaves delicate under eye skin hydrated, soothed, and more awake. For something more budget-friendly, you can't go wrong with the Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream, an illuminating eye cream that acts like a cup of coffee for the face by helping you fake eight hours of sleep.
Meet the Expert
- Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She's a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and specializes in both medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Alan Parks is a board-certified dermatologist in Columbus, Ohio. He is the founder of Eastside Dermatology & Skin Care Center, as well as the founder of DermWarehouse.com, and has been practicing dermatology for over 30 years.
- Dr. Ronald Moy is a cosmetic surgeon, lecturer, and author. Dr. Moy is also a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, and has published more than 200 scholarly articles on cosmetics and dermatologic surgery.
What to Look for in an Under-Eye Cream for Puffiness
Ingredients
When looking for an eye cream that targets under eye puffiness, first look at the ingredients. Ingredients such as caffeine, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid can really help. All of the dermatologists we spoke with say that formulas containing caffeine are a great choice. "Caffeine works to construct blood vessels and reduces the amount of fluid accumulating under your eyes," says Dr. King. Vitamin C (one of the main ingredients in the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream) can help brighten the skin and help fend off environmental aggressors when used over time. Hyaluronic acid (like found in the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine Serum) can also be helpful, as it's been proven to plump the skin and aid the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Additional Benefits
Eye creams can do a lot more than just de-puff. In fact, they're great at providing moisture to dehydrated under eyes, masking the appearance of dark circles, and helping your concealer lay on the skin better. Look for formulas that have plenty of hydrating ingredients like the peptides in Dieux Skin's Auracle Reviving Eye Gel. Not only are these a good anti-aging ingredient in general, but Parks says they’re good to seek out if you need de-puffing because they help to firm and tighten the skin.
Packaging
When it comes to packaging, look for products that come in bigger sizes. This way, you're able to get more use out of your purchase. Also keep in mind that certain types of packaging are more hygienic than others. Formulas that come in tubs and pots are more likely to become contaminated with grubby fingers compared to counterparts with pumps and droppers, like the The Ordinary Caffeine 5% + EGCG Depuffing Eye Serum.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She is well-known for waking up super puffy (especially after an evening of too many dirty martinis and/or salty snacks) and uses many of the eye creams featured on the list whenever that does happen.
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