We Asked Dermatologists: What Eye Creams Do You Recommend to Clients

There are thousands of eye creams on the market, which can make choosing one overwhelming. So we asked the experts — dermatologists — which ones they use and recommend to clients. They came back with several options, ranging from products you see in your local drugstore to others nearing the $100 mark. One caveat: "Eye creams can be used for various reasons, including moisturizing, reducing inflammation, creating a skin barrier, anti-aging, reducing the appearance of fine lines, improving skin texture, and reducing the appearance of dark circles," says Tsippora Shainhouse, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, California, in private practice at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care. Keep in mind your goals and do your research before hitting that "buy" button.

Fayne Frey, a board-certified dermatologist for almost 30 years, founder of FryFace, and a skincare product formulation expert has an important tip to think about when you shop: "There are no proven ingredients in eye creams that are specific to the eye area. For example, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Facial Moisturizer's Extra Dry formula is the same ingredient listing as Neutrogena Hydro Boost eye cream." If you can find the former for a lower price than the latter, pick it up instead.

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Prices and availability are subject to change.

$7.50 on Amazon
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Susan Bard, of Vive Dermatology says this product "is inexpensive and may help with under-eye puffiness." It contains caffeine and green tea leaf-derived EGCG, a plant compound that has anti-inflammatory properties.

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$13 on Amazon
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If you're looking for an eye cream at a lower price, this is a good option. It was recommended to us by three dermatologists, including Shainhouse; Frey; and Anna Guanche, a board-certified dermatologist with the Calabasas, California-based Bella Skin Institute; It contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin, "both of which are humectants that help to draw water into the superficial layers of the skin," Shainhouse says. "It can help the skin under the eye and on the eyelid appear more moist, dewy, and plump temporarily, as well as temporarily reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eyes." Guanche notes that it's "a great product to apply in the morning before applying makeup" and that it's also non-comedogenic, meaning it's safe for acne-prone skin.

$16 on Amazon
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This eye cream contains retinoids, which "encourage the shedding of old cells and the maturation of new cells," Shainhouse says. After many months of continuous use, "it also encourages the production of collagen," which can reduce the appearance of fine lines. This product also makes the shortlist for Jamie Kim, a certified dermatology physician assistant in Los Angeles and founder of childhood eczema site My Itchy Child. "I recommend this to my patients who are starting to have wrinkles around their eyes," Kim says. "Not only does it have retinol for anti-aging effects, but it also contains hyaluronic acid to help lock in moisture. It is also sulfate-free, phthalate-free, dye-free, paraben-free, and aluminum-free, so it is good for people with sensitive skin."

$44 on Amazon
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This is one of three eye creams recommended by Vindhya Veerula, a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a medical adviser for eMediHealth who notes that she personally doesn't use it, but has "heard great things about it." It reduces the appearance of blue and brown-tinted dark circles using a cooling metal applicator and "gentle, melt-in" texture.

$72 from Rodan + Fields
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Shainhouse recommends this Rodan + Fields eye cream because it contains similar ingredients to Neutrogena's Hydro Boost product — with a bonus: "It also contains caffeine, which can help to temporarily constrict the blood vessels in the under-eye area, so that the skin appears less blue, dark, and puffy."

$74 on Amazon
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If you can buy only one eye cream on her list of recommendations, Veerula says, this is the one. "It is my go-to for my morning eye cream. It corrects, prevents, and conceals the eyes. It can improve the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles. I personally use it every morning," she says. It also provides extra sun protection with the inclusion of SPF 35, and the company recently launched other shades of the cream.

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$78 on Amazon
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Bard recommends this eye cream, which "contains hyaluronic acid, peptides, and caffeine to intensively moisturize and decrease puffiness." By Bard's way of thinking, "undereyes concerns are often multifactorial and difficult to treat. This is not the place to skimp. In all honesty, a 'cheap' eye cream will do nothing but lighten your wallet and clutter your junk drawer." Still, Amazon reviewers note this small bottle can last up to six months.

$83 on Amazon
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This is another favorite for Bard because "it contains peptides and growth factors and helps with fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness."

$87 on Amazon
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Veerula also recommends this Biopelle eye cream, which contains peptides and other ingredients that stimulate collagen production, improving dark circles, minimizing wrinkles, and evening out skin tone. She recommends applying it after Colorescience's Total Eye cream if you buy both.

$98 from SkinCeuticals
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Shainhouse likes this product for its antioxidant ingredients vitamin C and ferulic acid, which, she notes, "help prevent damage to the skin from UV exposure and daily air pollution" that can "attack DNA in cells and the structural collagen in the skin, leading to premature aging." The vitamin C, she adds, can also encourage collagen production "over time with long-term use."

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