Eye cream is arguably the most divisive step of an antiaging skin-care routine. While some experts insist that a good face cream can handily tend to the skin around the eyes, others argue that a cream specifically designed for the delicate area is worth the investment. But regardless of where they stand, dermatologists agree that the best eye creams for mature skin can provide instant, time-rewinding effects on signs of aging, and as a 45-year-old woman, I tend to agree.
This winter, my elixir of choice has been La Mer’s new eye cream at night to wake up looking refreshed—like I’ve slept in a coat of Miracle Broth, rather than bone-dry air. (So far, so good!) In the morning, you can find me applying Dr. Julius Few’s SPF-infused formula while I have my coffee. The results? Perhaps not as life-changing as, say, in-office tightening or resurfacing procedures, but they’re not negligible.
Vogue’s Favorite Eye Creams for Mature Skin:
According to Shannon Humphrey, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Vancouver, “The most meaningful role of an eye cream in mature skin is to support hydration and reduce water loss. When the eyelid area is well hydrated, the skin tends to look smoother, softer, and more refreshed.” Not to mention, makeup has a smoother base. I’ll take it.
Along with hydration, some of the best eye creams for aging skin are infused with actives that provide antioxidant protection, a boost in cellular turnover, and more. Ahead, browse the seven formulas dermatologists and Vogue editors recommend for keeping the eyes lifted and taut at any age.
In This Story:
Best for Dark Circles: U Beauty The Return Eye Concentrate
- Why We Love It: For those whose primary concern is dark circles, rather than dryness, this advanced formula from U Beauty is a Vogue-editor-approved pick. Dr. Humphrey notes that—while it may not be hydrating enough for very dry skin—the concentrate can visibly enhance claritys and tone. “This product has a very lightweight texture and focuses primarily on brightening ingredients,” Dr. Humphrey adds. “It contains botanical extracts—such as marine plankton—that are often positioned to help with discoloration and dark circles.” The formula is also infused with best-in-class antiaging ingredients, including peptides for collagen production and vitamin C for additional brightening.
- Editor’s Experience: My dark circles have gotten less noticeable in recent months, and perhaps I have this U Beauty eye cream to thank for that. Potent ingredient composition aside, I love the creamy, almost balmy texture that locks in moisture well without irritating my sensitive undereyes. —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, squalane, sodium hyaluronate, plankton extract, vitamin C
- Best for: Puffiness, dark circles, loss of firmness
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Best for Dry Skin: Augustinus Bader The Rich Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: Looking for something ultrarich? Augustinus Bader’s cream lives up to its name. “What I like most about this formulation is the texture,” Dr. Humphrey says. “Mature eyelid skin tends to benefit most from hydration, and richer creams can help reduce transepidermal water loss and improve the look of fine lines.” The formula features the brand’s signature TFC8 complex, which supports skin renewal, and Dr. Humphrey gives extra points for its inclusion of hyaluronic acid, which helps draw water into the skin. What’s more, its thicker consistency supports barrier function—and moisture retention—in the eye area. “I also appreciate that it is packaged in a jar with a spatula, which helps keep the product cleaner during use,” Dr. Humphrey says. “For mature eyelid skin, a more substantial cream like this generally performs better than lighter lotions or gels.”
- Editor’s experience: Eye cream is a nonnegotiable nightly essential for me. My go-to is Augustinus Bader’s indulgent formula. Its rich texture is packed with hyaluronic acid and the brand’s signature TCF8 complex. —K.M.
- Key Ingredients: TFC8 complex, hyaluronic acid, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, reishi mushroom extract, gentian root extract
- Best for: Fine lines, dryness, loss of firmness, puffiness
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Best Lightweight: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: It’s one of Vogue’s favorite eye creams for dark circles. “This K-beauty product contains bakuchiol, a plant-derived retinol alternative,” says Jessica Weiser, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Weiser Skin MD in New York City. “It doesn’t carry the same irritation risk as some true retinol eye products.” She adds that the formula’s fermented black-rice extract is rich in polyphenol antioxidants, which are useful for preventing free-radical skin damage. It may be a particularly good choice for the morning. “The milky texture absorbs quickly for easy use under makeup while still maintaining some effective hydrating properties,” Weiser says. While Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, warns that the cream may not be adequate for very dry skin types, she notes that it’s “overall good quality for the inexpensive price point.”
- Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, fermented black-rice extracts, fermented bamboo-shoot-bark extracts, niacinamide, adenosine, natto gum
- Best for: Dark circles
- Size: 20 ml
Best Night Eye Cream: La Mer The Rejuvenating Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: La Mer’s latest eye cream combines its classic, signature ingredient with a new invention that shows promising signs for skin rejuvenation. Launched in February, the Rejuvenating Eye Cream contains Miracle Broth, La Mer’s sea-kelp-based ferment for renewal and hydration, for which it is best known. The formula also features RPC-6, a new compound that supports collagen production. “When you start to see signs of aging, this manifests as sagging lids, a drooping brow, bagginess, an overall loss of contour,” ocular plastic surgeon Jean Carruthers, MD, previously told Vogue. “RPC-6 helps support skin to increase firmness and elasticity for a more renewed appearance and resilient contour around the eye.” The high-tech cream comes with the Rejuvenating Eye Tool, a gua sha–like applicator that gives the eyes a lifted look as it massages in the cream. After testing the product at launch, Vogue’s beauty shopping editor Kiana Murden wrote: “The texture is plush and fluffy, like Crème de la Mer, so you get the sensorial benefits of the best-selling moisturizer with the new technology of this cream.”
- Editor’s Experience: I’ve come to expect a spa-robe plush feel from any La Mer cream—call it the Crème de La Mer effect—and this new launch doesn’t disappoint. I’ve been using it at night so I can bask uninterrupted in that Miracle Broth, but I’ve also found that it works well as a makeup primer. Though I’ve only tested it for a few short weeks, the skin under my eyes looks and feels silkier—a rarity in the wintertime. —Jenny Berg, contributor
- Key Ingredients: Miracle Broth, RPC-6, Bio-Filling Algae, shea butter, caffeine, niacin
- Best for: Fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness and undereye bags, dark circles and dullness, loss of firmness and elasticity, dry undereye area
- Size: 0.5 oz.
Best for Daytime: Dr. Few Rejuvenating Eye + SPF 15
- Why We Love It: “This formulation stands out for its packaging and multitasking function,” Dr. Humphrey says. “Pump delivery systems are hygienic and help prevent product contamination, which is a practical advantage in daily use.” She notes that mineral SPF is helpful around the eye area because sun exposure contributes to pigmentation and visible signs of aging on the eyelids. “The texture sits in the mid-weight range, so it may work well for patients looking for an eye cream that combines hydration with sun protection,” she adds. The cream also contains peptides to calm irritation and stimulate collagen and elastin production, and vitamin C for antioxidant protection.
- Editor’s experience: I’ve used this formula for a while now as part of my morning routine. It’s rich and silky enough to smooth and plump the skin under my eyes, but it’s not so rich that it interferes with a layer of concealer on top. Plus, it’s SPF 15—always a plus for daytime, though you’ll need to wear sunscreen too. —J.B.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl oligopeptide, ascorbyl palmitate
- Best for: Fine lines, sun protection, loss of firmness, dark circles
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
Best With Retinol: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: “This product gets points for being cost-effective and widely accessible,” Dr. Humphrey says. But the formula’s drugstore price belies its sophistication. According to Dr. King, “This has an elegant, lightweight texture that absorbs nicely. It’s hydrating and moisturizing, with humectants and emollients that instantly plump and smooth the skin and support the skin barrier.” She adds that the eye cream contains time-released retinol, which helps minimize the risk of irritation. It also contains antioxidants, including vitamins C and E. “These help brighten and protect the skin from free-radical damage,” she explains.
- Editor’s Experience: This is the retinol eye cream I reach for most often. While it’s powered by retinol, an ingredient known to be irritating, this treats my under-eye with care. That way, I can apply it at night without worrying about redness or itchiness by morning. It’s one of my best secrets for veiling dark circles over time. —K.M.
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, glycerin, dimethicone, panthenol, ascorbic acid
- Best for: Fine lines, crow’s-feet, dark circles, early loss of firmness
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Irene Forte Phytomelatonin Rejuvenating Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: Released in early 2026, Irene Forte’s latest launch blends the principles of longevity science with natural ingredients from a Sicilian farm. Designed to target multiple signs of aging around the eyes—including fine lines and loss of firmness—the formula has a rich, creamy texture that can provide hydration for up to 48 hours. It’s also steeped in active ingredients, including exosomes derived from Italian licorice root, peptides extracted from green peas, and a Centella longevity extract that supports collagen synthesis. Its namesake ingredient, the patented Phytomelatonin Extract, mimics melatonin’s natural activity in the skin. As such, it supports DNA repair, helps the skin regenerate overnight, and can neutralize free radicals. Deemed safe for sensitive eyes, the formula has been ophthalmologist tested and certified for sensitive skin.
- Editor’s Experience: I love an eye cream that comes with a de-puffing applicator. This one has a wooden, ceramic-tipped tool that turns each application into a mini massage. The formula spreads nicely on the skin and has a cooling, hydrating feel. It takes a moment to set and is designed for morning and/or evening use—but I’ve also used it in the middle of the day when my undereye concealer starts clinging to fine lines. It works like a charm: Everything looks smoother, brighter, and blurred in an instant. —J.B.
- Key Ingredients: Phytomelatonin, bio-peptides, phyto-exosomes, hyaluronic acid, ceramides
- Best for: Fine lines, loss of firmness, puffiness, dark circles, dryness
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Everything You Need to Know
What to Look for in an Eye Cream for Mature Skin
“Focus on hydration first,” Dr. Humphrey says. “Hydration has the greatest immediate impact on how eyelid skin looks and feels.” When hydration improves, fine lines and wrinkles often appear softer, she says—and the skin looks smoother and plumper.
- Ingredients: “Look for humectants,” Dr. Humphrey says. “Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid help draw water into the skin and improve hydration levels.” She also recommends seeking out a cream with occlusives—such as petrolatum and shea butter—to reduce transepidermal water loss. “This is particularly important for eyelid skin, which has fewer oil glands,” she says. Also important: emollients like squalane and ceramides. They smooth and soften the skin while improving its texture.
- Texture: “Creams generally work better than gels or lightweight lotions for mature eyelid skin because they retain moisture more effectively,” Dr. Humphrey says. “Gels can sometimes feel refreshing initially but may not provide enough sustained hydration.”
- Concern: In terms of specific skin concerns, Dr. Humphrey reiterates that the best eye creams mainly serve to hydrate. However, the list above has formulas that use active ingredients to treat specific concerns, such as U Beauty’s plankton extract and vitamin C for brightening, and RoC’s retinol cream for smoothing lines.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate thoughtful edits.
When it comes to eye creams for mature skin, we selected the best based on the following criteria: ingredients, texture, packaging, application, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts:
- Shannon Humphrey, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the medical director at Humphrey & Beleznay Cosmetic Dermatology in Vancouver.
- Hadley King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Dr. Hadley King Dermatology in New York City.
- Jessica Weiser, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Weiser Skin MD in New York City and Weiser Skin MD West in Aspen.
