12 Best Eye Creams for Puffiness, According to Dermatologists

It might be relatively affordable, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch. Dr. Hartman recommends it “because it uses a combination of retinol, glycerin, vitamin E, and vitamin B5 to reduce puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines” all at once. It’s great for anyone with dry skin too, since it delivers an immediate boost of hydration. And even though it contains retinol, Sheila Farhang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Tucson, tells us it’s gentle enough for the delicate undereye area and is unlikely to cause irritation.

“I like the squeeze tube over the little jars,” our tester told us, saying that it feels more hygienic. “But obviously, the real draw is the formula itself. I’ve seen a noticeable improvement in the puff, and love that I don’t have to spend a fortune to see the results I want.”

Key ingredients: Retinol, glycerin, vitamin E, and vitamin B5 / Other benefits: Hydrating, antiaging / Size: 0.5 oz.

• What we like: Hygienic packaging; suitable for dry skin; nonirritating
• What we don’t love: Some users say it didn’t target dark circles as well.

_{Original photo by Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley}

“Another budget-friendly option, this cream contains a mix of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to moisturize, protect, and reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles,” says Vivian Chin, MD, a cosmetic physician and founder of Koru Wellness & Aesthetics in NYC. The lightweight, fragrance-free formula is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It even has a seal of approval from the National Eczema Association.

We love that it comes in a squeeze tube rather than a jar. It’s easy to dispense the perfect amount and nothing more, adding to the overall value of the product. “It spreads really easily and has a nice cooling sensation upon application,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley. “It provides immediate relief against that heavy feeling associated with puffy eyes.”

Key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid / Other benefits: Hydrating, brightening / Size: 0.5 oz.

• What we like: Budget-friendly; widely available; suitable for all skin types; lightweight; fragrance-free
• What we don’t love: Some users say it makes skin slightly tacky.

“Mario Badescu products have been a longtime staple in my medicine cabinet,” says Rachel Lozina, a licensed esthetician and founder of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, New York. “This no-frills brand gives you a great product with a punch.” Its caffeinated eye cream is no exception. It perks up your tired eyes and is nice and hydrating at the same time, she says. You can’t beat the price point, either.

How exactly does the caffeine help? It helps constrict the blood vessels, reduce inflammation, hydrate, and improve both redness and puffiness, says Dr. Garshick.

Key ingredients: Caffeine, sodium hyaluronate, squalane / Other benefits: Hydrating / Size: 0.5 oz.

• What we like: Suitable for all skin types; great overall value; hydrating formula
• What we don’t love: Some users say the consistency is a bit thin.

As mentioned, when it comes to puffiness, caffeine is your biggest superpower. “Caffeine will open up blood vessels, which will enable blood to move faster and reduce puffiness,” says Lozina. “It also helps reduce dark circles.” Though under $10, this one packs a punch of 5% caffeine to work harder for you. It also contains epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside (EGCG) from green tea leaves—another ingredient she says can help quell inflammation and puffiness.

“For someone who spends way too much time up late in front of a computer screen, this serum is like the equivalent of a cup of coffee for my eyes,” says Glamour reviewer Aimee Sy, adding that the serum basically jolts her eyes awake.

Key ingredients: Caffeine, EGCG / Other benefits: Brightening / Size: 1 oz.

• What we like: Larger size than most eye creams; easy to use applicator; targets puffiness and dark circles
• What we don’t love: Some users say it doesn’t layer well with makeup.

If you like the idea of an applicator wand, you’ll love this eye cream from Sisley Paris. The cold metal applicator deposits a silky fluid directly onto the delicate skin around the eyes. Upon application, caffeine works to eliminate any visible puffiness, while active ingredients like aquaous black rose extract, padina pavonica extract, and vitamin E acetate smooth and moisturize. Red vine extract provides a bit of brightening power too.

“After a few rotations around my eye socket with this mysteriously cold ceramic applicator, I was hooked,” says Robin Black, makeup artist and Glamour Beauty Awards judge. “Like all of the products in the Black Rose Collection, this formula smells (no essential oils, just May rose water) and feels amazing. Best of all, it depuffs, hydrates, brightens, and instantly makes me look more rested.”

Key ingredients: Aquaous black rose extract, padina pavonica extract, vitamin E acetate, red vine extract, caffeine, chlorella extract, oily black rose extract, shea butter / Other benefits: Hydrating, antiaging, brightening / Size: 0.47 oz.

• What we like: Lightweight and silky; cooling applicator; depuffs; hydrates; brightens
• What we don’t love: Very expensive

When it’s a dermatologist’s personal go-to and favorite, you know it has to be good. “It has a gel consistency and feels so good when you put it on,” Karan Lal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Arizona, previously told Glamour. “It has peptides and antioxidants and is super hydrating—one application leaves up to 100 hours of hydration.”

Staffers love it just as much. “The cooling gel texture instantly makes me look more awake, less puffy, and as if I could be the kind of girl who meditates and drinks green juice every day,” says Glamour contributor Bella Cacciatore. “I’ve even noticed that if I use this one consistently, my dark circles look slightly better (it’s a cream, not a miracle) thanks to the brand’s ChronoluxCB complex.”

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, FR-Defense Technology / Other benefits: Hydrating, brightening / Size: 0.5 oz.

• What we like: Super hydrating; suitable for all skin types; targets dark circles
• What we don’t love: Some users with sensitive skin complain about irritation.

Another favorite of Dr. Garshick’s, Charlotte Tilbury’s Cryo Recovery Eye Serum delivers in-the-moment depuffing and brightening benefits. “It uses a metal applicator to provide an instant cooling effect to immediately depuff,” she says. The serum also boasts peptides, which work to improve skin tone and texture. This is one eye cream you’ll want to apply in the a.m. to reap all-day benefits.

“This is what I reach for when I’m running on little-to-no sleep and it shows,” one Glamour tester told us. “That cooling sensation can’t be beat. Pop it in the fridge first, and it feels even better.”

Key ingredients: Caffeine, peptides, glycerin / Other benefits: Brightening, antiaging / Size: 0.5 oz.

• What we like: Cooling sensation for instant relief; creates a blurring effect for dark circles
• What we don’t love: Contains alcohol, which can be irritating for sensitive skin

A lot of the time, puffiness and discoloration go hand in hand (real nice, right?!). But the good news is there are plenty of creams out there, including this one, that can kick them both to the curb. Brazilian ginseng root extract and caffeine work in tandem to reduce puffiness, lending a more rested and brighter appearance while boosting hydration at the same time, says Dr. Garshick.

“Since my son was born last year, I’ve been dealing with persistent dark circles and undereye bags,” says Glamour contributor Macaela MacKenzie. “I started using this a few months ago and noticed an immediate difference in undereye puffiness. I use it in the mornings to get the most benefit—it doesn’t pill under makeup, which is a must—but it’s also so gentle that I often use it at night as well.”

Key ingredients: Caffeine, Brazilian ginseng, horse chestnut, and light-reflecting particles, watermelon extract, antioxidant-rich lutein / Other benefits: Brightening / Size: 0.5 oz.

• What we like: Fast-acting; tackles multiple skin care concerns
• What we don’t love: Some users with sensitive skin complain of irritation.

Retinol can be particularly irritating on the delicate, thin skin around the eyes, which is why Dr. Garshick recommends this alternative for anyone with any sensitivities. Instead of traditional retinol creams, it contains bakuchiol, a plant-based alternative that’s typically better tolerated. It also contains caffeine derived from coffeeberry extract and lingonberry stem cells, both of which help reduce puffiness and brighten any dark circles. “I also love that the lingonberry stem cells protect against blue light damage and oxidative stress,” she says.

Key ingredients: Coffeeberry extract, lingonberry stem cells, bakuchiol / Other benefits: Antiaging, brightening / Size: 0.5 oz.

• What we like: Gentle formula; suitable for all skin types
• What we don’t love: Some users say the formula is slightly greasy.

_{Original photo by Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley}

If you have sensitive skin, you can still reap the benefits of a powerful eye cream, and Aveeno’s eye gel is proof. The gel is packed with oat to soothe skin, niacinamide to target dark circles, and cranberry extract, a nonirritating plant-based retinol alternative with antioxidant-rich peptides, to fight signs of aging like fine lines and depuff.

“It does leave skin a little bit tacky, so it’s better for nighttime application rather than layering under makeup,” says Earley. “But it has one of the strongest cooling effects of any eye cream I’ve tried. The cooling sensation lingered for 10 minutes, at which point I stopped keeping tabs on the clock.”

Key ingredients: Oat, niacinamide, cranberry extract / Other benefits: Soothing, brightening, antiaging / Size: 0.5 oz.

• What we like: Affordable; long-lasting cooling benefits; gentle on sensitive skin
• What we don’t love: Leaves skin slightly tacky