Bargain vs Bougie: 4 Eye Creams With Very Different Price Tags
Amy Clark is Adore Beauty's former Senior Editor and co-host of Skincare School the podcast (and self-appointed beauty road-tester!). Amy's worked as a journalist, beauty editor and podcaster for several years, previously writing and talking about all things beauty at Mamamia and You Beauty. When she's not writing honest, no BS product reviews and taking selfies 'for work', you'll find Amy eating halloumi in a hair towel turban and... taking more selfies.
Imma let you finish, but eye creams might just be the most divisive skincare topic of all time.
On the one hand, eye care (including eye creams and eye serums) promise to help reduce the appearance of tired eyes, dark circles, puffy eyes, fine lines and wrinkles, and under-eye bags.
Or all of the above.
But do a quick Google search on 'best under eye cream' and you'll find that even skin experts like dermatologists and dermal therapists can't agree on whether they're a necessary step in your routine.
For us, there’s no doubt eye creams are a nice-to-have product, not a must-have.
No one needs an eye cream (the only product you really need is *sunscreen), but if you have the budget, they can be helpful in managing the look of specific eye area skin concerns like puffy eyes, dark circles, bags and fine lines or crow’s feet.
The key to finding the right eye product for you is: Identifying your skin concern(s), knowing which ingredients may help, and deciding on your budget.
Don’t know where to start? That’s why we’re here.
Keep scrolling for a comparison of five of our best-selling eye creams to help you figure out which one to add to cart.
What's the Best Under Eye Cream?
Short answer: Whichever one ticks all of your skin concerns, ingredients and budget boxes.
For an eye cream to 'work', it needs to contain active ingredients (this means they ‘actively’ target a specific concern). For example:
- Want something for puffy eyes? An eye serum with caffeine can constrict blood flow to reduce the appearance of puffiness.
- After the best eye cream for dark circles? Look for one that contains antioxidants, including vitamin C, to brighten the look of dark circles.
- Interested in an anti-ageing eye cream? Ingredients like vitamin A (i.e. retinol) and peptides may help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crow's feet.
Hydrating ingredients hyaluronic acid and ceramides are also useful for the eye area. But if you're not trying to specifically target puffy eyes, dark circles or signs of ageing, you could save some cash by using serums or thin moisturisers you already own.
Now, let's get into comparing those bargain and bougie eye creams...
P.S. You can watch our eye cream YouTube video here, or read on for the full breakdown.
1. The Retinol Eye Cream.
- La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eye Retinol Cream is an anti-ageing eye cream that also contains caffeine to reduce the look of puffiness.
- Contains two forms of anti-ageing ingredient vitamin A (retinol and retinyl linoleate) to reduce the appearance of fine lines over time with consistent use.
- Light, fragrance-free cream formula is suitable for those with sensitised skin.
- Apply at night after cleansing and before your other skincare products.
- Be very careful when applying to ensure you don't bring the product too close to the eye and under-eye area; focus application on the outer eye along the cheekbone and temple.
Best for:
If you specifically want to address the appearance of fines lines, wrinkles and crow's feet, and for less than $50.
2. A Puffy Eyes and Anti-Ageing Eye Cream.
- Beauté Pacifique Puffy Eyes Gel is an all-rounder eye cream under $100 that addresses puffiness, dehydration and the appearance of fine lines.
- Contains peptides (sodium ursolate and oleanoate), caffeine, chamomile extract and spilanthes acmella flower extract.
- These ingredients help with the appearance of puffiness, and dark circles and fine lines by plumping and hydrating the delicate under-eye skin.
- Apply morning and night after cleansing and before other skin care, suitable for all skin types.
Best for:
If under eye puffiness is a primary concern of yours, but you'd like to step up to an all-rounder product that does a bit extra.
3. Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles.
- Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector is (in my opinion) one of the best eye creams for dark circles.
- Contains two forms of antioxidant vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid and tetrahexydecyl ascorbate) to brighten the appearance of dark circles over time with consistent use.
- Light cream formula also includes de-puffing and hydrating ingredients, plus light-reflecting particles to give the under-eye area an instant (but temporary) glow.
- Apply a tiny amount of this vitamin C eye cream morning and night after cleansing and before other skin care.
- $115 and suitable for all skin types.
Best for:
If the main reason you want to use an eye cream is to reduce the look of dark circles.
4. The Expensive Eye Cream (Well, Eye Serum).
- Cosmedix Opti Crystal-Liquid Eye Serum is a cosmeceutical eye skincare product to brighten, firm and lift the eye area.
- Slightly sticky, iridescent formula contains antioxidants and copper peptides to address the look of dark circles and fine lines.
- Coconut extract, neem, turmeric, jojoba and moringa soothe, firm and hydrate.
- Apply the tiniest amount at night after cleansing and before other skin care.
- Suitable for all skin types, but especially those who find vitamin C and/or vitamin A (retinol) irritating.
Best for:
If you have the means to invest in cosmeceutical skin care (i.e. this $160 eye serum), and want something for dark circles and signs of ageing around the eyes.
You can read our full Cosmedix eye serum review here for a more detailed review.
Shop all the eye creams mentioned in this article here:
Moral of the story: Unless you're prone to milia (little hard, white bumps of keratin that pop up around the eye and should be extracted by a professional), you probably don't need a separate eye cream.
You absolutely can use your thin hydrating skincare products to hydrate the under-eye area.
But if puffy eyes, fine lines and wrinkles, and dark circles bother you, there’s an eye cream out there to suit your skin concerns and budget. Praise be!
Want to read more reviews of eye skincare products?
*SPF is only one part of sun protection! Always seek shade, and wear sunnies, a hat and protective clothing. Use sufficient sunscreen for all unprotected areas and reapply sunscreen as directed. Always read the label.
