10 Best Eyelid Firming Creams, According to Dermatologists & Glamour Testers
Don’t tell the skin care minimalists, but the best eyelid-firming creams can make a serious impact. They can tighten, prevent sagging, and even lighten dark circles that have extended into that area. Yes, we know that some of the most dedicated skin care enthusiasts may be rolling their eyes: Is an eyelid firming cream really necessary? Well, while you won’t exactly find “creams for sagging eyelids” on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, there is some truth to the benefits that these creams can provide.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream, $30
- Best for Brightening Dark Circles: SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Cream, $74
- Best for Collagen Production: Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream, $55
- Best for Fine Lines: SkinBetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream, $120
- Most Hydrating: Summer Fridays Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream, $44
Do eyelid tightening creams really work?
An eyelid-tightening cream with a high-quality formula (more on that later—don’t worry) can help boost collagen production and address antiaging concerns like fine lines, crow’s-feet, and crepey skin, Ashley Magovern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC, tells Glamour. If any of these concerns sound familiar to you, she suggests a cream for sagging eyelids that contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or peptides.
That said, there are ingredients you may want to avoid on the ultra-fragile skin in the eye area. Dr. Magovern recommends avoiding alcohol or salicylic acid on the eyelids. “These ingredients may irritate the sensitive skin around the eyes,” she says, and recommends testing a product on your wrist before putting it on your eyelids as an extra precaution.
What is the best treatment for tightening eyelid skin?
If you’re anything like us, you may have questioned how many times you’ve actually seen a cream specifically catered to the eyelids. While those options certainly exist, they aren’t super common, which is why Dr. Magovern adds that it’s okay to use a regular undereye cream on the eyelids. To help you find a targeted eye cream, we’ve curated a list of expert-approved creams from people who came, saw, and conquered their sagging eyelids. Read on to find the best eyelid firming cream for you.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Best Overall: Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand1/10Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream (5 oz.)
You’ve likely heard of this iconic product if you don’t already own it, and it’s been one of the best eye creams out there for years for many reasons. Glamour tester Nikita Agarwal has sensitive skin that’s prone to redness. She’s tried dozens of creams, but this is the only one that hasn’t irritated her delicate skin while improving the look of her undereye bags. “I live in India and the constant switch between super-cold AC and humid temperatures outside really irritated my skin,” she says. “I’ve tried others that make my skin bumpy and inflamed, but this makes my really big eyelid area look a lot more smooth, which makes makeup go on even better. I won’t even try another cream now.”
Best Formula: Revision Skincare D.E.J. Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand2/10Revision Skincare D.E.J. Eye Cream
Dr. Magovern raves about Revision Skincare’s eye cream for its unique formulation and ability to improve elasticity. “The hydrating cream contains pre- and probiotic innovation designed to balance the skin’s microbiome as well as shield against free radicals that cause premature aging,” she says. “Its metal applicator is cooling and gentle on the skin, making application a breeze.” The lightweight formula hydrates skin without feeling greasy too.
Best for Sagging: Murad Retinal ReSculpt Eye Treatment
Courtesy of brand3/10Best For Sagging: Murad Retinal ReSculpt Eye Treatment
Nope, that’s not a typo of retinol. Never heard of it? The star ingredient is gentle form of vitamin A. It has the heart of Tia Paul, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Newport Beach, California. “I love this eye treatment because it has retinal, which helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles around the eyes while lifting, tightening, and improving sagging around the eyes,” she says. “The formulation is unique with encapsulation technology, which makes it much more effective yet gentle enough to be used every night.”
Best for Fine Lines: SkinBetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream
Courtesy of brand4/10SkinBetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream
David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC, raves about SkinBetter Science’s ultra-smart formula, packed with antiaging retinol, hydrating niacinamide, moisturizing jojoba oil, soothing chamomile, and more. “It’s a hydrating and gentle eye cream with retinol that helps with fine lines and wrinkles without irritating the skin,” he says.
Best for Brightening: SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand5/10SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Cream
The aptly named Instant Bright Cream from SkinMedica is one that Dr. Magovern raves about for its firming and de-puffing benefits, though brightening is another major selling point. “A refreshing formula, this includes a hyaluronic acid blend, caffeine, marine extracts, and additional key ingredients that brighten, hydrate, and de-puff the skin around the eyes,” she says.
Best Texture: Summer Fridays Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand6/10Summer Fridays Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream
Summer Fridays’ multitasking eye cream features a peptide blend that Dr. Magovern is a fan of. It works to smooth fine lines and wrinkles while helping to firm and brighten skin in a creamy yet lightweight texture. “As someone who writes about beauty and tests products for a living, I can’t believe it took me over a decade to finally find an indulgent and nourishing formula that doesn’t leave my dry skin feeling greasy,” says Neha Tandon, a Glamour contributing writer. “I was starting to notice some sagging and creasing in my eyelids, but after just about three months of using this, that area is smoother, brighter, and more lifted than ever.”
Best Luxury Pick: Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand7/10Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream
Dr. Barbara Sturm’s expertly formulated cream packs a seriously impressive ingredients list to help combat puffiness, dryness, and the appearance of fine lines around the eye area. Purslane, golden root, sugar beat, and yeast (yes, you read that correctly) help to de-puff while omega lipids firm and lift the skin. “I love the luxurious, nourishing feel of this cream,” says Taara Sajnani, a Glamour tester. “I have dry, sensitive skin, but this makes my eye area feel less puffy—hydrating and refreshing without feeling heavy. Like eight hours of sleep in a jar!”
Best for Tightening: Grown Alchemist Age-Repair Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand8/10Best For Tightening: Grown Alchemist Age-Repair Eye Cream
While it’s always best to act preventively, it’s also completely understandable if you hadn’t thought to treat the eyelid area till after you started noticing some sagging, which is exactly what Neelima Tandon, a Glamour tester, did with her mature skin. “As I approached my 50s, I started noticing some sagging on my brow bone and eye area, but most of the creams I tried were just too heavy and would sit on my skin,” she says. “This actually absorbs nicely, and I think it even gives me a nice, brighter look too. I’ve been using it for about a year and have noticed my eyelids look more lifted than they used to.”
Best Packaging: Pangea Peptide-Rich Eye Cream
Courtesy of brand9/10Best Packaging: Pangea Peptide-Rich Eye Cream
Good for you and the planet, Pangea’s firming eye cream is made with a vegan formula bottled in 100% recycled aluminum. “It has a really nice, cooling feel to it, which helps with morning puffiness,” says Glamour tester Sami Roberts. “Plus, I love how fancy the aluminum tube looks and how it’s better for the planet.” The cream packs in antioxidants and peptides to improve signs of aging while helping to protect the fragile skin around the eyes from environmental aggressors too.
Best Serum: Fresh Black Tea Eye Serum
Courtesy of brand10/10Best Serum: Fresh Black Tea Eye Serum
Fresh describes their eye serum as having a “corset-like effect” on the eye area, lifting and firming the skin with black tea, peptides, and fruit extracts in a lightweight gel formula. It's great for those with oilier-skin types or who just have more sensitive skin. Tandon will sometimes use this eye gel when she wants something lightweight on the eye area and she knows she’ll be layering makeup on top. “I like to keep my skin routine really light when I know I’ll be wearing heavy makeup, and this serum-like texture is perfect for my eye area which can look extra cakey sometimes,” she says. “I also love using it in the summertime when I just want my skin care to feel lightweight overall.”
