It's completely normal for mums to feel tired, and whether you are feeling the exhaustion of being a new mum, running around after toddlers, or juggling a hectic school schedule, when you are worn out, it's usually your eyes that give the game away. Tiredness and lack of sleep can lead to dark circles and puffiness around the eyes, as well as making fine lines and wrinkles more prominent. Using one of the best eye creams is a great health and wellness buy, and will help you give this delicate area some extra TLC.
Why should you use an eye cream?
"As the skin around your eye is thin and extremely delicate, it can dry out a lot more quickly than the skin on the rest of your face" says Olay. It's also more vulnerable to external factors, such as wind and sun too.
Fine lines and tiny wrinkles tend to appear around your eyes first and skin is typically duller-looking around this area too. Using a cream that is specifically developed for the eye area will help to address those concerns.
Best eye creams at a glance:
Best anti-ageing eye cream: SkinCeuticals AOX Eye Gel
Best eye cream for dark circles: L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Filler + Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream
Best night eye cream: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye
There are so many different eye creams on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which one to choose. Consider the best under eye cream, or the best eye cream for wrinkles, or perhaps you want to tackle dark circles. Whatever your eyes need, there will be an eye cream for you and your under eyes will appear brighter, fine lines will start to look smoother, and your skin will feel rejuvenated. Browse one of our top picks on the best eye creams to find one suitable for you.
Best eye cream for puffiness
www.lookfantastic.com
Description
If your skin is a little drier (not getting enough water or sleep won’t help), this is rich enough without being too heavy for delicate eyes. Formulated with brightening lemon and hydrating hyaluronic acid, virgin coconut, rosehip and carrot oils, to smooth and protect the skin
Review: "I bought this eye cream as I have just had a baby and the lack of sleep has given me lovely dark circles under my eyes. I needed something that was going to bring my eyes back to life and this product has done exactly that. My eyes are so much brighter and I feel confident enough to not wear concealer under my eyes! Such a great product and I will definitely be repurchasing!"
Pros
- Lightweight
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Some customers thought the tub was smaller than expected
Best night eye cream
Description
Apply this silky, concentrated cream at night and the circulation-boosting Butcher’s Broom and soothing lavender leaves eyes rested by morning.
Review: "Excellent eye cream, have tried others but always return to this one. Not cheap but good value as the small tube does last quite a long time."
Pros
- Smells lovely
- Soothing eye cream
- Refreshing
Cons
- Some reviewers said it was moisturising but didn't help wrinkles
Best eye cream concentrate
www.johnlewis.com
Description
Moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid nourishes and hydrates under the eyes. Can be used morning and evening and even underneath your usual eye cream for maximum effect.
Review: "Loved this night repair eye cream. It made my eyes feel great. Having a baby means less sleep so tired looking eyes, but using this cream made my eyes look more awake and reduced the bags under them. They looked much more radiant too."
Pros
- Dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested
- Contains Hyaluronic Acid
Cons
- Formula quite thick
Best anti-ageing eye cream
www.lookfantastic.com
Description
This serum-in-a-gel formula is loaded with antioxidants to fight oxidative stress, puffiness and correct damage. Future-proof your eyes by applying every morning for great anti-ageing effects.
Review: "I purchased this product as I suffer from dark circular under my eyes. The bottle lasted me for six months which is great for such a small bottle. Prior to my bottle running out, I decided to purchase a cheaper brand which had similar ingredients and I could tell the different instantly and re-ordered the skinCeuticals eye gel. This serum definitely reduced my dark circle and helped me look more awake."
Pros
- Free from alcohol, parabens, dyes and fragrances
- Creates a defensive barrier over skin
Cons
- Needs to be more moisturising for winter
Best firming eye cream
Description
This rich and restorative eye cream features a brightening combination of eight peptides, five forms of vitamin C, and cucumber extract, giving you firmer, stronger-looking skin around the eye area.
Review: "This stuff is amazing. I have been using it night and day for almost 6 months and my eyes have never looked better. I love all drunk elephant products but I could not live with out this eye cream. Before my under eyes were very dull and I had concerns with fine lines. This cream fixed all that and no more dull dark circles under my eyes."
Pros
- Adds firmness and elasticity to the under-eye area
- Great texture
Cons
- Some reviewers reported tingling after application
Best eye cream for dark circles
Recommended eye cream
Description
Reduce the appearance of any pesky wrinkles and re-plump your hollow tear area. Enriched with concentrated Hyaluronic Acid, this eye cream hydrates intensely, targeting the first signs of ageing and helping get rid of dark circles.
Review: "The silver tip feels like it cools your skin while applying a smooth cream, an ultimate massage, while the angled tip allows you more control to apply with no more excess. A clean and tidy eye cream. After the first use I noticed a difference. Under my eyes felt so smooth, firmer definitely more plump like it's brought my youth back. I didn't realise how much I needed this, I always blamed tiredness for the 'bags' and sunken area. My eyes now look revitalised. My eyes' wrinkles are less defined after only a few times using this and I can't wait to see what this cream will do after a few weeks."
Pros
- Easy to apply
- For daily use
Cons
- Cooling effect of the cream feels strange
Best brightening eye cream
Description
This refreshing eye cream instantly helps to brighten and diminish the appearance of dark circles. Formulated with coffee beans, panax ginseng and magnolia extract, it's great for rapidly waking up the skin and refreshing you. Oh, and it smells delicious.
Review: "I’m never normally the one to leave reviews but with this product I felt like I had to, I’ve been using it for about 3/4 weeks and I can honestly say it’s made a huge difference to my dark circles and puffiness! I thought it was maybe just me but other people have noticed it too! Now I don’t feel like I need to wear as much makeup to conceal my under eyes, honestly one of the best products I have ever used!"
Pros
- Reduces puffiness
- Gives a lovely glow
- Refreshing
Cons
- A little drying
Best moisturising eye cream
Description
Leave your under eyes looking hydrated, smooth, brightened and more awake with the help of this non-greasy eye cream. It's formulated with Hyaluronic Acid to help retain skin's moisture and Niacinamide to help soothe skin.
Review: "Have been using it now for two weeks, and I think the dark circles under my eyes are lessening in color, so quite pleased with it. It is as it says non greasy and does not irritate my eyes in any way. I have just purchased another two tubes which says it all really."
Pros
- Contains three essential ceramides
- Fragrance free
Cons
- Not a great texture
Best eye cream and concealer
Description
A powerful colour-correcting formula that is supercharged with peptides and vitamins. It gives your under eyes a boost by reducing dark circles, wrinkles and puffy eyes.
Review: "I've never been a fan of eye creams... They're expensive, ineffective and disrupt your make up. But, as a mid-30s new mum, I'm aware how dark the circles under my eyes are looking. A little research later, I fell on this little gem! This is by far the most moisturising eye cream I've used; my under eyes feel lovely and soft. It's also worth mentioning it has a colour correcting formula; so I'm not convinced it's *treating* my dark circles, but they sure do look lighter with this product. For the price, I really can't fault this product."
Pros
- Acts as a concealer too
- Good consistency
Cons
- If not properly blended it can leave beige smudges under the eye
Best eye cream for tired eyes
Description
This eye cream contains caffeine, which helps to relieve water retention. It also has Matrixyl 3000 peptide which will aid in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, creating a perfect canvas for make-up. For the best results on any puffiness you're experiencing, just pop the tub into the fridge 30 minutes before use. The cooling formula will work wonders to soothe your skin.
Review: "I'm quite surprised by this product. I didn't have terrible dark circles but my under eyes are brighter and wrinkles less visible. Really happy with this product and a great price too!"
Pros
- Suitable for daily use, in the morning or evening
- Smooth texture
Cons
- May not be suitable for those with caffeine allergies and intolerances
Best under eye cream
www.lookfantastic.com
Description
This is specially designed for the delicate skin surrounding the eyes and helps develop a smooth appearance. It is a really light formula which moisturises and works to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles.
MotherandBaby's Commercial Content Writer, Laura, says: "This eye cream has to be used gradually so your skin can adjust to the ingredients, especially vitamin A, but it does make a difference, even after a few uses. It feels lovely when applying and is absorbed easily. You apply it at night and in the morning the skin under my eyes does feel smoother and dark circles are reduced."
Pros
- A lightweight formula
- Available in different strengths
- Contains vitamin A
Cons
- You have to build up usage gradually
FAQs
How should you apply eye cream?
Eye cream is an essential part of any mum's skincare routine, but you need to make sure you apply it correctly for it to be fully effective. According to Kiehl's, there are a couple of steps you can follow.
Start with a clean canvas
You don't want to apply eye cream over dirty or make-up covered skin so cleansing your face should be the first step in your application routine.
Tap your product on
After your face is clean, you can then start to apply your chosen cream. As the skin around your eyes is so thin, you should be extremely gentle when applying your product. Vigorously rubbing your eye cream in stretches the skin, which can actually cause more under-eye bags and wrinkles in later life. It is recommended that you gently tap it in instead.
You should take a pea-sized dollop of your product and dot it under your eyes. Then, use your index finger to slowly tap the formula around the hollow of your eye. Work from your inner corner out towards your temples, then back along your brow bone. Pat any excess formula onto your eyelids, just be careful not to get any cream in your eyes. If you have bags under your eyes, looking upward while you pay your eye cream on may help you get better coverage. You can then continue with the rest of your skincare.
Eye creams should be applied twice a day, once in the morning and again at night, for the best results. You can wear eye creams under moisturiser or make up.
What does a good eye cream need?
It depends what you want the eye cream to do. The best eye creams for wrinkles will probably have different key ingredients to the best eye creams for dark circles. While they should all improve the appearance of your under eye area, certain ingredients will work better for different things. As a rule, Ascorbic acid fights free radical damage and improves areas of darkness, while Niacinamide brightens the eye area and peptides firm and improve elasticity. Also look out for Hyaluronic acid which plumps and moisturises and therfore helps the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
How do I know what eye cream to use?
You need to choose an eye cream that fits your skin type. In the same way you would colour match to find the best foundation for your skin, you need to find the best eye cream match for your skin by considering your skin type. If you have oily skin choose an eye cream for oily skin, while dry skin will need something suitable for dry skin. There are also eye creams for combination skin and many are suitable for all types. You need to find the one that best suits your skin and makes you feel good, even if you are sleep deprived.
Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting, she is particularly interested in the toddler years and eco-friendly baby products, as well as children’s literature. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and has published short stories in the UK and Ireland, as well as previously writing freelance for her local paper.