The best eye-tightening creams have become viral sensations, racking up millions of views (and buys) due to their visibly firming results. Undereyes seemingly go from puffy to smooth in the blink of an eye—albeit temporarily. Although they may seem gimmicky, these eye-tightening creams come highly recommended by board-certified dermatologists. Sure, their effects are temporary, but they work. They even benefit the delicate, ultra-thin skin around your eyes over time with the help of collagen-boosting ingredients, like peptides, says Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Of course, these eye-tightening creams are not bottled-up versions of IPL treatments or a blepharoplasty (eye lift), but they truly do the trick to help tighten, plump, and firm the skin around your eyes in a pain-free pinch. If one of your skin-care goals is to minimize the appearance of dark circles, offset sagging, smooth eye wrinkles, or all of the above, an eye cream—especially one with firming benefits—should be the first thing you add for undereyes that look more awake, and an overall more energized complexion.

Our Top Eye-Tightening Creams

• Best Overall: SkinCeuticals A.G.E Advanced Eye, $116
• Best Firming: Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel, $65
• Best Lightweight: Dr. Brandt Needles No More No More Baggage, $48
• Best Eye Mask: Laneige Bouncy & Firm Eye Sleeping Mask, $32
• Best Fast-Acting: Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firmx Eye, $38
• Best Tinted: Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35, $79
• Best Brightening: Neocutis Lumière Firm, $114

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does eye-tightening cream work?
• How to apply eye cream
• Do you use eye cream or serum first?
• When to apply eye cream
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: SkinCeuticals A.G.E Advanced Eye

Why it’s worth it: Allure’s best eye cream lists consistently include the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye because it’s a past Best of Beauty winner and many dermatologists swear by it. According to Kunal Malik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, this eye treatment combines immediate visible improvements with long-term benefits by addressing the advanced glycation end-products (a.k.a. A.G.E.), which naturally develop and build up in our bodies as we age and cause our skin to sag. A.G.E. Advanced Eye’s potent blend of peptides, in particular, helps reverse them by improving firmness, tightness, and elasticity.

This undereye-tightening cream is also spiked with proxylane, blueberry extract, and flavonoids to help decrease the appearance of crow’s feet, as Lauren Penzi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, has told Allure. "With regular use, patients have definitely noticed a decrease in the appearance of fine lines around the eyes,” she added.

Tester feedback: “I have really deep crow’s feet when I smile—the downside of having an expressive face—but this stuff has helped soften their look and keep them from getting further etched in when my face is at rest,” says contributing editor Deanna Pai. “It feels balmy and nourishing but not heavy, and I appreciate that it hasn’t seemed to exacerbate the milia around my eyes.”

Tester feedback: Despite its creamy, balmy texture, commerce editor Sarah Han loves how the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye never feels heavy and always absorbs quickly. "I usually don't use eye cream in the morning but I love starting my day with this because it's packed with caffeine and optical diffusers for a brightening effect," she previously shared.

Skin type it’s best for: all | Key ingredients: caffeine, peptides, proxylane, flavonoids | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Firming: Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel

Why it’s worth it: Dr. Loretta’s Tightening Eye Gel earned its Best of Beauty seal in 2019 for its highly effective, ultra-versatile formula that takes a literal 360 approach to rejuvenating the eye area. Tap it around the circumference of each eye, including your upper eyelid, to harness the benefits of tetrapeptide-5 and antioxidant-rich nannochloropsis oculata extract (a form of microalgae). Both help deflate puffiness, restore tautness, and kick-start collagen production for a smoother, more resilient eye area.

Tester feedback: “I’ve heard a lot of depuffing promises in my day—this clear gel actually makes good on them,” says executive beauty director Jenny Bailly. “I tap it all the way around my eyes (yes, even the lids) to get everything looking a little more taut before I go in with concealer. It also contains peptides and antioxidants that make my eye area smoother when I use it consistently for a couple months.”

Skin type it’s best for: all | Key ingredients: tetrapeptide-5, algae extract, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Lightweight: Dr. Brandt Needles No More No More Baggage

Why it’s worth it: Another instant eye-tightening cream to consider is Dr. Brandt’s Needles No More No More Baggage. “It went viral for good reason,” New Jersey board-certified dermatologist Margarita Lolis, MD, says. You can see results within five minutes of application, which is amazing.” This lightweight gel-cream formula is powered by Dr. Brandt’s proprietary ‘Filmatrix’ technology, which combines caffeine and peptides to create a tightening effect along the eye contour.

Tester feedback: “Until I master having a regular sleep schedule, I’m usually pretty tired—and my eyes are the first to show it,” says commerce editor Sarah Han. “Dr. Brandt’s eye gel is packed with firming peptides and puffiness-reducing caffeine to tighten the undereye area, plus, it’s peach-tinted, which helps color-correct dark circles. TikTok got it right this time.”

Skin type it’s best for: mature skin | Key ingredients: silicates, seaweed extracts, caffeine, peptides, cica, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Eye Mask: Laneige Bouncy & Firm Eye Sleeping Mask

Why it’s worth it: Soothe puffy undereyes and fine lines while you snooze with the Laneige Bouncy & Firm Eye Sleeping Mask. This overnight mask enhances your beauty sleep with a max-strength combination of caffeine and niacinamide to brighten tone and soothe undereye puffiness, while antioxidant-rich peony extract and peptides create a firmer, plumper feel. Since it’s free of harsh active ingredients and fragrances, its formula is suitable for those with sensitive skin as well.

Tester feedback: “The Laneige Eye Sleeping Mask is truly one of the best eye cream products I have ever tested,” says Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development. “I manage both seasonal and skin allergies, so I have to be extra precious about what products I use around my eyes. This mask is SO incredibly gentle and smooth and glides onto my eye without a lot of rubbing or irritation. I combat a lot of dryness and swelling around my eyes, especially in the mornings, and wearing this overnight transforms the appearance of my eyes the next morning. They are firmer, less puffy, and much more hydrated, making my makeup application a breeze.”

Skin type it’s best for: all skin types, including sensitive | Key ingredients: niacinamide, caffeine, peony extract, peptides | Fragrance-free: yes

More eye-tightening creams we love:

Best Fast-Acting: Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firmx Eye

Why it’s worth it: The Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firmx Eye deserves all the TikTok hype, according to Dr. Zubritsky and board-certified dermatologist Mona Mislankar, MD. It functions like a transparent clay mask, thanks to silicates extracted from natural clays. As it dries down, the gel formula absorbs moisture and gently pulls the delicate skin in the undereye area, making it feel tight—just like your favorite rinse-off mask—and instantly appear firmer, as cosmetic chemist Javon Ford previously shared with Allure.

Dr. Zubritsky loves that Peter Thomas Roth’s Instant Firmx Eye is also formulated with peptides to help depuff undereye bags and smooth wrinkles with long-term use.

Skin type it’s best for: mature skin | Key ingredients: silicates, seaweed extract, peptides, vitamin C | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Tinted: Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35

Why it’s worth it: The Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 covers all of our bases for daytime skin care, which is why Donna Hart, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas, swears by it. “It really checks multiple boxes: SPF coverage, concealing properties, fluid reduction, and fine line-reducing ingredients all in one,” she says. As it guards skin against UV rays with mineral-based sun blockers and provides creaseless complexion coverage, this hydrating mix of glycerin and panthenol also smooths sagging skin and boosts brightness for a more awake look, even when you’ve skimped on sleep.

Skin type it’s best for: all, including those with sensitive skin | Key ingredients: titanium dioxide (7.9%), zinc oxide (6.7%), glycerin, panthenol | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Brightening: Neocutis Lumière Firm

Why it’s worth it: This 2024 Best of Beauty award winner in the line-smoothing eye cream category is powered by the usual skin-firming suspects: peptides, caffeine, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C. However, the Neocutis Lumiere Firm also brings growth factors into the mix via cutaneous lysate, which is known to help repair and rejuvenate aging skin.

Tester feedback: “Unlike so many lighter-weight eye creams, this one makes me feel like my eye area is getting heavy-duty—but not heavy—moisture that lasts all day and stays smooth under concealer,” Allure contributor Marci Robin previously shared.

Skin type it’s best for: dry and mature skin | Key ingredients: peptides, caffeine, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, cutaneous lysate | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Hooded Eyes: Revision Skincare DEJ Eye Cream

Why it’s worth it: If you have hooded eyes (i.e. your lids slightly droop over your eyes), consider this eye-tightening cream recommendation from Dr. Malik. Specifically formulated for your eye shape, the Revision Skincare DEJ Eye Cream delivers a nourishing formula through a pump or a flat metal applicator. (The choice is up to you at checkout.) “It contains antioxidants, peptides, and other actives that address the multiple signs of aging around the delicate under-eye area,” Dr. Malik says. You can also count on them to help lift the drooping skin around your eyes and improve its firmness and elasticity.

Skin type it’s best for: all, especially those with dry skin | Key ingredients: prebiotics, postbiotics, peptides, algae extracts, dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline (amino acid) | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Puffiness: Superegg Phyto Bounce Eye Contour Solution

Why it’s worth it: Snow mushroom helps power this K-beauty-inspired eye serum’s soothing, moisture-replenishing properties. For those unfamiliar, the star gelatinous fungus in Superegg’s Phyto Bounce Eye Contour Solution is naturally rich in vitamins A (a.k.a. retinol), C, and D while being more intensely hydrating than hyaluronic acid. It’s joined by adenosine, which helps amplify collagen and elastin production and revitalize the entire eye area.

Tester feedback: “I usually avoid eye creams at all costs because my eye skin is prone to eczema and my eyeballs freak out easily,” says Allure tester Devon Abelman. “The only eye cream that doesn’t make any part of my eye area sting is Superegg’s Phyto Bounce Eye Contour Solution. I reach for this gorgeous green tube to combat any eye concern I may have at any given moment, including dryness, dark circles, texture, puffiness, and crepiness. Its bouncy gel texture instantly absorbs, so residue has zero chance of traveling into my sensitive eyeballs.”

Skin type it’s best for: all, including sensitive skin types | Key ingredients: snow mushroom, peptides, caffeine, vitamin C, niacinamide, adenosine | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Sensitive Skin: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream

Why it’s worth it: Niacinamide is the second ingredient listed after water, making this firming eye cream pick from Dr. Li a great fit for dry and sensitive skin that’s in need of a line- and discoloration-reducing treatment. The antioxidant-rich vitamin B derivative has become beloved in the beauty industry because it does a little bit of everything while being incredibly gentle on all skin types. It reduces redness and inflammation while boosting brightness, hydration, and collagen production.

Skin type it’s best for: dry and sensitive skin types | Key ingredients: ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, seaweed extract | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Dry Skin: Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Firming Eye Gel Cream

Why it’s worth it: This dreamy gel-cream puts resveratrol, an antioxidant, center stage to fight the loss of elasticity and fine lines along your under-eye area. Extracted from grapevine shoot, antioxidant-rich resveratrol helps visibly firm and reduce the appearance of wrinkles by promoting collagen production, says Dr. Lolis. Studies have also found that it helps accelerate wound healing and skin regeneration. Caudalie's Resveratrol-Lift Firming Eye Gel Cream also contains intensely hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, quinoa extract, and sunflower seed oil, to help plump the fragile skin under your eyes, she adds.

Skin type it’s best for: all | Key ingredients: palmitoyl grapevine shoot extract (aka resveratrol), hyaluronic acid, quinoa seed extract, seaweed extract | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Dark Circles: Isdin K-Ox Eyes

Why it’s worth it: Vitamin C may be popular, but Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, Texas, says the Isdin K-Ox Eyes treatment includes a heavily underutilized antioxidant, vitamin K. The ingredient increases circulation while hyaluronic acid, the other primary ingredient in Isdin’s treatment, hydrates skin, creating a plumper, more supple appearance while diminishing dark circles and inflammation at the same time. “This is an excellent eye cream to reduce puffiness, and safe to use on eyelids as well,” she says.

Skin type it’s best for: mature skin, dry skin | Key ingredients: vitamin K, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-free: no

Best Rollerball: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

Why it’s worth it: Clinique’s All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage soothes puffy eyes as you glide its rollerball applicator along your undereye area. This oil-free eye elixir instantly absorbs and imparts a cooling sensation as it evenly applies a dynamic medley of barrier-strengthening panthenol, energizing caffeine, and vitamin C-rich grape seed extract for brighter, firmer undereyes. It also features polygonum cuspidatum root extract, a plant known to reduce inflammation and help fight off the skin-damaging effects of free radicals.

Skin type it’s best for: mature, oily, and sensitive skin types | Key ingredients: panthenol, caffeine, polygonum cuspidatum root extract, grape seed extract | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Budget: RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream

Why it’s worth it: RoC’s Retinol Correxion Eye Cream targets lines, dark circles, and puffiness without making a huge dent in your bank account. “I love this one as it provides so many benefits of pricier products at a fraction of the cost,” Dr. Malik says. He points to its inclusion of gentle retinol, which helps promote collagen production, boost firmness, and reduce the appearance of crow’s feet. (Just be sure to wear sunscreen to avoid irritation as retinoids can increase sun sensitivity.) It also allows this incredibly lightweight formula to help diminish discoloration over time, adds David Li, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boston.

Skin type it’s best for: mature skin | Key ingredients: retinol, panthenol, vitamin C, vitamin E | Fragrance-free: yes

Frequently Asked Questions

Does eye-tightening cream work?

Surprisingly, yes, but some have temporary skin-smoothing effects while others minimize the look of fine lines, sagging, and wrinkles over time with consistent use. Certain skin-care ingredients, like silicates, can have an instantly tightening effect on the under-eye area, as Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, mentions to Allure. Another way they work their magic is by adding hydration to the eye area. “When the skin is more visibly hydrated, it looks tighter,” Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey, explains.

Collagen-stimulating ingredients, such as peptides, retinol, and vitamin C, help firm and tighten the delicate skin around your eyes, too, with consistent use. Keep in mind that eye-tightening creams won’t give you the same undereyes you had the day you were born, though. They can, however, effectively help diminish the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness under your eyes.

How to apply eye cream

Dermatologists typically recommend gently tapping eye cream onto your eye area with your ring finger. It places the least amount of pressure on the delicate skin and is less likely to tug at it.

Do you use eye cream or serum first?

Serum should be applied before eye cream. A general guideline experts suggest: Layer your skin-care products from thinnest to thickest consistency.

When to apply eye cream

Firming eye cream can be a part of your morning and nighttime skin-care routines. The only caveat: Eye creams formulated with retinol should only be used at night. (In the morning, you can reach for an eye cream with SPF.)

Meet the experts

• Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
• Mona Mislankar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Javon Ford, a Los Angeles-based cosmetic chemist
• Kunal Malik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York City’s Spring Street Dermatology
• Donna Hart, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas
• Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, Texas
• Lauren Penzi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York
• David Li, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boston, Massachusets
• Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best eye-tightening creams, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Read more about skin care for mature skin:

• These Wrinkle-Targeting Picks Are Botox's No-Needles Little Sister
• These Serums Are a Dream for Maturing Skin
• 15 Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin to Target Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Now, watch a cosmetic chemist guess which highlighter is cheap vs. expensive:

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