The Best Eye Cream Ingredients to Target Your Skin Concerns

It's been said that eyes are the window to the soul. If that's the case, we want to make sure those soulful eyes are always well-protected and look good, with the help of the best eye creams on the market. Like all things in skin care, though, no eye cream is formulated the same or works on every skin type. To discover the best eye cream ingredients you should look for, we reached out to board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant Dr. Julia Tzu. Read on to find out which ingredients can help target those concerns surrounding your eyes and a few of our favorite eye cream recommendations.

How Can the Skin Around the Eyes Change Over Time?

"The skin around the eyes is super thin and therefore extremely vulnerable to anything it contacts in the environment that can potentially cause irritation or an allergic reaction," explains Dr. Tzu. Because of this, there are several different skin concerns that can appear near or around the eyes. A few that Dr. Tzu lists include eczema, wrinkles (crow’s feet included), dark circles and milia, those tiny white bumps often mistaken for whiteheads. And while an eye cream is only part of the solution to common eye area concerns, it’s important to find the best one suited to your skin type.

The Best Ingredients to Look for in an Eye Cream

The kind of ingredients you look for depend on what skin concern you’re trying to target. For fine lines and wrinkles, Dr. Tzu recommends products with hyaluronic acid to ease signs of aging via optimal moisturization. “It is extremely important to moisturize,” she says, “And therefore, protect the skin in that area on a routine basis.” She adds that retinol could also be used to combat fine lines and wrinkles as well, becase it has the ability to strengthen the skin and retain collagen.

If you want to get rid of dark circles and discoloration, products with caffeine and green tea should be at the top of your list. There’s a reason these ingredients are included in your morning beverages; the same way they give you that boost you need to wake up, they also give your under eyes the boost it needs and help reduce the look of dark circles. You should also look for vitamin C, which is known to help brighten your complexion. 

Four of Our Favorite Eye Creams to Try  

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream 
This formula, made with Pro-Retinol, delivers anti-wrinkle and firming benefits for your under eyes. Use it every morning and evening to experience smoother and firmer skin in as few as four weeks.

Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream
Formulated with ingredients like copper, calcium and caffeine, the Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream can visibly repair wrinkles around the eyes and help to refine the skin's texture.

La Roche-Posay Active C10 Wrinkle Cream
The La Roche-Posay Active C10 Wrinkle Cream with vitamin C can target a multitude of skin concerns that surround your eyes. It helps to reduce the look of wrinkles, fine lines and dullness. 

Vichy Minéral 89 Eyes
This hyaluronic acid gel is just what the doctor prescribed for those fine lines and wrinkles. Not only will it provide intense hydration, but it will also brighten your delicate eye area, thanks to the addition of caffeine. 

Tula Rose Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm
This brightening eye balm makes it easy to brighten your eyes wherever you are. Use it to give your eyes a layer of necessary hydration with a side of glow. It’s made with rosehip oil, which is a plant-based retinol alternative that’s rich in vitamin C, rosewater for deep hydration and caffeine to reduce the look of dark circles.

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