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Hydrate, brighten and smooth delicate skin with a targeted cream Multiform Side Magnet
Chances are, you'll first notice the signs of ageing around your eyes, be that crow's feet, or as we like to call them "smile lines” (those fine lines at the outer corners of the eyes), or dark, puffy circles that just won't budge. This is because the skin in this area is more delicate than elsewhere on the face and body.
While lines and wrinkles are a natural part of getting older, if you're looking to firm and brighten the area around your eyes, introducing one of our experts' top-rated anti-ageing eye creams into your skincare routine could make a big difference.
Here are their top picks at a glance, but read on for the fuller reviews.
It's a commonly asked question, and happily, the answer is yes! Our trusted panel of 1,000 beauty testers tried a range of hydrating, anti-wrinkle eye creams for a month, and the 26 products below all made a noticeable difference.
Over 1,000 beauty testers tried 79 anti-ageing eye creams designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as tackle puffiness and dark circles. Over a month-long trial, they assessed the effect each cream had on fine lines, crow's feet, deep wrinkles, moisture levels and firmness.
Back at the Good Housekeeping Institute, our expert team measured exactly how much of an impact each eye cream had on our panel's fine lines and wrinkles with the help of a VISIA Complexion Analyser.
Here are the top-scoring eye creams.
Made from 94% natural ingredients, this formula champions harungana, a plant-powered retinol alternative, which helps stimulate the production of collagen to combat early signs of ageing.
The cream claims to tackle the big three: puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles. The results? Our testers said it glided easily onto their skin, absorbing quickly with a pleasant tightening effect, while the skin around the eye area felt instantly more moisturised.
Nearly all saw an improvement in dark circles, puffiness and fine lines at the end of the trial period, leaving the eye area looking brighter and smoother.
Designed to target even the deepest of smile lines, this eye cream blends retinol, peptides, mango butter and soybean extract to increase firmness, elasticity and hydration levels, helping to instantly wake up tired under-eyes.
Our panel praised how effective it was at reducing dark circles, de-puffing and diminishing the appearance of fine lines. Testers noticed their under-eye area was visibly brighter after use and the lightweight formula provided a soothing sensation when applied - ideal for those early mornings.
This lightweight cream-gel works as a primer to make sure your concealer doesn’t budge throughout the day, as well as helping to cool and calm puffy under-eyes.
All our testers loved the deep hydration it gave them, softening the delicate under-eye area. The panel also noticed a smoothing and brightening effect once applied, making wrinkles appear less prominent.
This cream addresses several signs of ageing around the eyes, from wrinkles and frown lines to crow’s feet. Using a mixture of hyaluronic acid and Guerlain’s exclusive supply of honeys and royal jellies, the velvety formula is a treat for dried-out skin.
All our testers said it sunk into the under-eye area instantly, providing immediate hydration. Most also saw a reduction in wrinkles, with one noticing an immediate improvement in dullness and puffiness. This is a luxurious cream that will leave you feeling refreshed.
Formulated with effective anti-wrinkle peptide technology, No7 targets even the finest of lines with this hardworking cream, while a blend of antioxidant ingredients helps skin build a protective barrier against daily pollutants.
Our panel found it melted into skin, leaving the under-eye area looking more radiant, and it covered blemishes well. Testers said they would continue to use this product after the trial, impressed by how effective it was at smoothing out wrinkles and reducing dark circles.
Filled to the brim with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and cucumber extract, this eye cream was a crowd pleaser, seriously hydrating parched peepers.
It left a pleasant cooling sensation after application and proved to be extremely effective at reducing the appearance of fine lines in our lab test. Nearly all agreed that it lived up to its claims and left under-eyes firmer, with the majority seeing an improvement in prominent crow's feet.
Our panel loved the instant hydrating effect this cream left around their eyes, but the texture was a bit too thick for some, with a few reporting that it took a while to absorb.
Overall, though, testers felt it brightened dark circles and all agreed skin felt moisturised and fine lines felt nourished after use. Leave overnight and wake up with touchably softer skin.
Certified organic, this cooling cream soothed irritated, dry under-eye skin. All testers appreciated the creamy texture, which was easy to apply and left under-eyes looking and feeling more refreshed.
Several noticed a reduction in puffiness, fine lines and dark circles, and felt that the increased firmness would help prevent future wrinkles.
Our testers praised this cream for its plumping and nourishing effect. It helped smooth out crow’s feet and puffy eyelids after application, but didn’t have much of an impact on deeper wrinkles.
The tube design dispensed the ideal amount of product though, which spread easily and left skin feeling instantly moisturised. A great value cream that gives some visible results.
This fragrance-free formula is packed with moisturising vitamin E – an antioxidant known for helping to prevent free radical damage – and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Light in texture and easy to dispense, it brightened our panel’s peepers and noticeably smoothed out any creases.
It spread and absorbed quickly, making it a good primer for makeup, and left the eye area looking and feeling more refreshed, nourished and supple.
Containing hyaluronic acid and watermelon snow algae, all our testers enjoyed the cooling gel-like texture of this eye cream, which refreshed tired eyes.
Our panel noticed fine lines became less prominent and dark circles vanished during the trial. The cream's ability to sink in quickly and smooth skin made it an ideal primer to apply before makeup, too.
This dual system aims to help prevent premature ageing with a two-pronged approach – you gently pat the cream into the skin under your eyes and then apply the gel to your eyelids.
Our testers appreciated the two-in-one design and said both formulas spread like soft butter, without leaving a residue. The gel’s tightening effect lifted their skin and helped it look less crepey, while the lightweight cream softened fine lines. Together, both products reduced puffiness and boosted brightness.
Formulated with vitamin C and designed to boost your collagen levels, this cream's butter-like texture makes a great base for make-up, due to its smoothing effect on the under-eye area.
All testers found it easy to spread over skin and said it left the area feeling more moisturised. It also helped tackle the appearance of both dark circles and crow's feet, leaving eyes looking rejuvenated.
Retinol is the gold standard when it comes to reversing signs of ageing, but it can cause sensitivity, especially on the thinner under-eye skin. This wrinkle cream is the best of both worlds with its 0.1% retinol and retinol booster complex, meaning you can have the age-defying powers, without the irritation.
Despite being incredibly hydrating for all, this lightweight cream wasn't greasy. It left almost all participants with brighter eyes and most agreed it didn't irritate their skin, while our lab test proved it was highly effective at minimising fine lines.
This eye cream from “clean to skin and clean to planet” brand REN successfully brightened our panel’s dark circles, thanks to its cocktail of hydrating rosehip oil and hexapeptide-11 – known for its firming skills.
Not everybody liked the strong floral scent, but it felt comfortable on the skin and only a small dose was needed to achieve the desired smoothing and revitalising effects.
Claiming to boost collagen levels and stimulate elastin reproduction, this innovative cream features purified bee venom (yes, really!) to help firm and plump up skin.
Its natural scent split opinion, but the non-greasy formula absorbed in a flash to refresh and brighten under-eyes. Everyone found it soothing and hydrating, resulting in instantly reduced puffiness.
Those with hooded eyelids can find puffiness harder to combat. But our testers with hooded lids were seriously impressed with how well this shea butter and retinol formula helped reduce the look of puffy under-eyes, as well as targeting dark circles and fine lines.
Skin felt firmer and refreshed after use, with most finding only a small amount was needed to achieve a more radiant appearance.
As we get older, skin becomes more fragile and needs a little more TLC to keep the fine lines at bay. This retinol eye cream promises to do just that, thanks to its unique blend containing bakuchiol (crowned the best “natural” retinol alternative).
Testers said their under-eyes appeared smoother after use, with the majority seeing an improvement in wrinkles, crow's feet and dryness. One tester reported seeing a difference in wrinkles in just three weeks, while everyone was irritation-free.
Voted best in our test for firming, nearly everyone noticed a difference in the firmness of their eye area, with the majority finding their wrinkles were less prominent too.
Packed with ceramides to strengthen skin, this under-eye cream was a favourite for its rich but lightweight texture. All testers said their puffiness was reduced and most noticed their eye areas looked brighter and more hydrated.
Not just chic packaging and punchy claims, Soho Skin clearly walks the walk with its formulations, too. In our tests, this cream scored higher than all others for how quickly users saw a change in the appearance of the skin around their eyes — with most saying fine lines and wrinkles appeared reduced.
The panel also loved the metal applicator, which “had a good ergonomic design and a wonderful cooling effect on the skin.”
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Orla is our Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester and has extensive knowledge of skin and hair composition thanks to her first class bachelor's degree in cosmetic science from the Universy of the Arts London. She also spent time as a Formulation Chemist intern at Amelia Knight Cosmetics.
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