The Best Eye Creams For Dark Circles And Improving Brightness

Most of us have had to contend with dark circles under our eyes at some point in our lives. Whether due to stress, lack of sleep or a genetic disposition to darkness, dark circles under the eyes are a common skincare concern.

As well as being caused by a number of different factors, age can also exacerbate them. As we get older, our skin becomes thinner – and nowhere more so than around the eye area. A natural loss of collagen and elastin makes the skin even more delicate, and blood vessels below the skin’s surface become more visible.

While dark circles can be tricky to eliminate altogether, there are lots of skincare options, including retinol-based creams and serums loaded with niacinamide, that can help reduce and disguise them.

We break down some of the best eye creams for dark circles below.

Vogue’s pick of the best eye creams for dark circles at a glance:

Featured in this article

Best for day and night application

Medik8 R-Retinoate Day & Night Eye Serum

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Best for boosting blood circulation

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening Eye Contour Cream

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Meet the expert

Dr Maryam Zamani is an oculoplastic surgeon based in London and founder of MZ Skin

Best for refreshing the eye area: MZ Skin Bio-Placenta Eye Cream

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Dark circles often look more pronounced when the rest of the eye area is lacking in vitality. Which means you can improve things a lot, simply by using a formula that addresses multiple problems at once and revitalises the whole eye area. Using smart actives like bio-mimetic placenta, multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and M5RX, a patented anti-ageing complex, this cream formula does everything from lifting and firming eye contours, to encouraging skin density and hydrating. As a result, everything looks and feels brighter and more renewed.
• Key ingredients: bio-mimetic placenta, multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and M5RX
• Formula: cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for plumping skin: Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

Murad

Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Vitamin C is always a good idea when it comes to addressing discolouration of any kind on the skin, dark circles included. This cream contains a gold-stabilised vitamin C that delivers a heavy dose of antioxidant brightening and protection, all while negating darkness and plumping up the skin. Red and brown algae also contribute to supporting better oxygen flow to the undereye area, which can improve radiance and reduce dark circles. Light-reflecting mineral pigments create a smooth, soft focus finish.
• Key ingredients: vitamin C, red and brown algae, micro minerals
• Formula: cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for brightening: Caudalie Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream

Caudalie

Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Niacinamide is a good active to have on hand if your dark circles have a purplish tinge. By inhibiting melanin transfer, it reduces pigmentation under the eyes and also helps strengthen the skin barrier to fortify and improve overall brightness. Alongside that, this refreshing formula also contains caffeine to boost blood flow and squalane to hydrate.
• Key ingredients: niacinamide, caffeine, squalane
• Formula: Cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for day and night application: Medik8 R-Retinoate Day & Night Eye Serum

Medik8

R-Retinoate Day & Night Eye Serum

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Using the brand’s own encapsulated retinyl retinoate, this lightweight serum is designed to tackle serious undereye issues, including pronounced dark circles. Clinically proven to be eight times more effective than retinol but without the irritation, retinyl retinoate is the ideal active to deal with dullness and darkness around the delicate eye area. Thanks to its potency, it’s also perfect for de-puffing and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles too.
• Key ingredients: retinyl retinoate
• Formula: serum
• Size: 15ml

Best for tired undereye area: Olay Brightening Eye Cream for Dark Circles

Olay

Brightening Eye Cream for Dark Circles

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: The undereye area is the first to give the game away if you’re stressed or haven’t had enough sleep. Happily, this cream is packed with actives that can help; niacinamide helps even out a greying tone and improve crepey texture, while a shot of caffeine helps brighten things up. It’s safe enough to use on all skin types, including sensitive and sits nicely under make-up too.
• Key ingredients: niacinamide, caffeine, orange peel extract
• Formula: Cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for mature skin: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you’re looking for extra hydration around the eye area, as well as something to tackle dark circles and fine lines, this is an excellent option. Containing hydrating, anti-ageing ingredient proxylane along with firming peptides, it also uses glycyrrhetinic acid, an antioxidant which helps to reduce the signs of stress and fatigue and prevent future damage.
• Key ingredients: proxylane, peptides, glycyrrhetinic acid
• Formula: rich cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for firming skin: Roc Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream

RoC

Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: To help reduce the appearance of dark circles, often caused by pooling blood being visible under thin skin, you need an active ingredient that can help improve the density and firmness of skin. Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is known for just that, which is what makes this eye cream a great option. Stabilised to avoid any irritation, the formula claims to reduce dark circles by 90 per cent in four weeks as well as soften crow’s feet and reduce puffiness.
• Key ingredients: retinol, proprietary mineral complex
• Formula: cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for boosting blood circulation: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening Eye Contour Cream

Sunday Riley

Auto Correct Brightening Eye Contour Cream

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Using natural antioxidants ginseng root and caffeine to brighten skin and boost circulation, this eye cream helps minimise the appearance of dark circles effectively. Fragile skin is also hydrated thanks to cocoa butter, shea butter, watermelon rind and sodium PCA so that elasticity and firmness are improved and the overall area looks refreshed.
• Key ingredients: caffeine, Brazilian ginseng root, cocoa butter, shea butter, watermelon rind, sodium PCA
• Formula: cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for colour correcting: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright™+ Eye Crème

Olehenriksen

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Crème

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Although not strictly speaking a colour corrector, this orange-tinged cream helps to effectively counteract the blue undertone of dark circles, making them appear less noticeable. In addition to that, it contains an antioxidant-rich triple vitamin C complex designed to brighten, fade dark spots and tackle damaging free radicals.
• Key ingredients: triple vitamin C complex
• Formula: cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for all-round ageing concerns: Skin Rocks The Eye Cream

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: If dark circles are just one of a number of concerns about your eye area, this formula covers off most bases to leave the skin around the eyes firmer, healthier and fresher. While phytosterol and winter cherry root extract help to strengthen the skin barrier to make it more resilient, Persian silk tree bark extract and hyaluronic acid stimulate collagen synthesis and tackle dark shadows. The addition of diamond powder is a nice touch to illuminate and add a soft-focus finish.
• Key ingredients: phytosterol, winter cherry root extract, Persian silk tree bark extract, hyaluronic acid, diamond powder
• Formula: cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for signs of stress: Trinny London Take Back Time Eye Cream

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Understanding that all signs of stress, fatigue and ageing show up around the eyes faster than anywhere on the face, Trinny’s smart formula includes a host of clinically proven actives like peptides, mini proteins and hyaluronic acid. Combined together, they help to improve skin health and restore it to a more youthful default setting, which means an improvement of dark circles, better hydration and skin that has more natural bounce.
• Key ingredients: peptides, mini proteins, hyaluronic acid
• Formula: cream
• Size: 15ml

Best for supporting skin health: Naturium Multi-Peptide Eye Cream

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: When it comes to treating dark circles, there’s not much peptides can’t do. This formula, enriched with a multi-peptide blend, encourages collagen and elastin production to thicken skin, increases blood circulation to prevent pooling and helps reduce fluid build-up that can lead to puffiness.
• Key ingredients: Matrixyl 3000, Argireline Amplified, vegan squalane
• Formula: cream
• Size: 15ml

FAQs

Why do we get dark circles?

“Dark circles are multifactorial,” explains oculoplastic surgeon and founder of MZ Skin, Dr Maryam Zamani. “Common causes are dermal and epidermal hyperpigmentation, visible subcutaneous vasculature or venous stasis, soft-tissue volume loss (tear-trough/hollowing) and shadowing from skin laxity. Allergic/inflammatory conditions and post-inflammatory pigmentation also contribute. Fat prolapse or anatomical bone shape can accentuate shadowing.

“External environmental factors like sluggish microcirculation can also exacerbate tired-looking eyes, making them appear darker. Because of the thin overlying skin, markers for poor circulation are more prominently revealed around the eyes than on other parts of the body. The more dehydrated the skin around the eyes, the more tired and fatigued they appear.”

What is happening in the skin when they appear?

“Pathophysiology depends on the cause,” says Zamani. “Excess melanin in the epidermis/dermis darkens the area; vascular congestion gives a blue-purple tint visible through thin eyelid skin; volume loss creates a shadowed trough; and age-related collagen/elastin loss thins the skin, so underlying structures show through. These processes often coexist.”

Does everyone get dark circles?

Not everyone in the same way. According to Zamani, “Prevalence and severity vary with genetics, skin phototype, age, allergies, lifestyle and anatomy. Populations with higher baseline periorbital pigmentation (for example, darker phototypes) report higher rates of periorbital hyperpigmentation (such as those with Southeast Asian heritage). Shadowing and volumetric changes happen in most people with age, like grey hair. Some get it earlier than others.”

Can you ever get rid of them completely?

“Complete eradication is possible only when the single dominant cause is treatable, for example, superficial pigment successfully cleared,” says Zamani. “When multiple factors coexist (pigment + vascular + volume loss + skin thinness), full resolution is unlikely, though combination therapy can greatly improve its appearance. Topicals can improve pigmentation and skin quality but cannot correct structural hollowness or true fat prolapse (which may need surgery or volume replacement); conversely, fillers or surgery address volume and contour but will not resolve epidermal hyperpigmentation alone.”

What ingredients should you look for in topical products?

“Target ingredients depend on the mechanism,” explains Zamani. “For pigment, use topical agents with evidence for melanogenesis inhibition (eg vitamin C, tranexamic acid, niacinamide); for skin quality, choose agents that boost collagen and hydration (retinoids in safe formulations, peptides like bio-placenta, hyaluronic acid); for vascular/congestion, caffeine, bark extract or vasoconstrictive/topical formulations may transiently reduce puffiness. Products that increase hydration will generally help all forms of dark circles except true fat herniation.”

Any other types of treatments that can help?

“Yes,” says Zamani. “Evidence supports tailoring treatment to cause and often combining modalities:
• Volume loss: hyaluronic acid fillers or autologous fat grafting produce the most predictable cosmetic improvement for tear-trough shadows. 
• Pigment and superficial dyschromia: topical regimens, chemical peels and selective laser or intense pulsed light therapies can reduce pigmentation.
• Skin thickness and texture: fractional lasers, radiofrequency microneedling and resurfacing can thicken dermis, increase collagen and improve translucency and texture — useful when thin skin is a driver.
• PRP/biologic injections: several clinical reports and controlled studies show PRP (and combination PRP + laser) can improve periorbital pigment and skin quality, but results vary and techniques differ between studies.”