21 Best Eye Creams for Puffiness, According to Editors and Dermatologists

Who says you didn’t get eight hours of sleep?

best eye creams for puffiness collage
(Image credit: Future)

Ever wake up in the morning with puffy eyes? Yea, same. While dunking your entire face in a cold plunge tub or ice bath is a worthwhile solution (seriously, the technique is all over TikTok), slathering on one of the best eye creams for puffiness will work just as well—and be a heck of a lot more enjoyable. Whether you’re partial to gel formulas and serums, gravitate towards rich, creamy creams, or need one of the best eye creams for sensitive eyes, there’s a de-puffing, cooling, and hydrating eye cream out there that will make your under-eye look fresher than ever.

That said, there are a ton of eye creams to choose from. It can be overwhelming to weed through all the claims and marketing jargon. When eye puffiness is your primary pain point, you need a product that addresses the swelling. Caffeine and hydrating ingredients are going to be your BFFs.

To make your shopping as easy as possible, we hand-tested tested dozens of eye creams to discover the 21 best. We also spoke to board-certified dermatologists Karan Lal, M.D. and Morgan Rabach, M.D. to find out what to look for and how to use the best eye creams for puffy eyes.

Best Eye Creams for Puffiness

Samantha holender applying eye cream

Samantha loves the glowy finish of U Beauty's eye cream.

(Image credit: MC Editors)

dermalogica eye cream swiped on a hand

Dermalogica has a gel-like texture as opposed to a rich cream.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

woman applies la mer eye cream to her face

La Mer's eye cream comes with a cooling applicator.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

Sophia Vilensky holds biossance eye cream up to her face

Sophia loves using this eye cream in the morning because it wears well under makeup.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

Halie LeSavage applies eye serum to her face.

Halie noticed a huge difference in her under-eye discoloration with continued use.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

Emma Childs holds shiseido eye cream up to her face

Emma was impressed by how quickly this eye cream absorbed into her skin.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

Sadie Bell shows andalou eye cream texture on her finger

This eye cream is on the thicker side, so Sadie preferred using it at night.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

Julia Marzovilla applying Dior Prestige the Eye to her right eye

Dior's eye cream has a bit of fragrance, so Julia suggests avoiding it if you have super sensitive eyes.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

Gabrielle Ulubay with no makeup smiling

Gabby noticed a huge difference in not just under eye puffiness, but also uneven tone, after using this Alastin eye cream.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

Samantha holender holding skinbetter science eye cream

Samantha says this eye cream layers flawlessly under makeup.

(Image credit: MC Editors)

Sophia Vilensky holding up the revision eye cream applicator near her left eye

Just because this eye cream was designed to work in tandem with injectables doesn't mean you can't use it if you don't have any filler or botox.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

Samantha Holender applying tammy fender eye cream

While you can pump this right onto your under eye, Samantha likes to warm it up between her fingers first.

(Image credit: MC Editors)

Sophia Vilensky holding up the isdin eye cream next to her right eye

ISDIN's eye cream has a lightweight finish, but it can irritate sensitive eyes.

(Image credit: MC Staff)

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What to Look For in an Eye Cream for Puffy Eyes

  • Retinol

Not only can retinol be a transformative ingredient for your entire face, but it can also substantially improve the look of your under eye area. "Retinol helps stimulate collagen and helps reduce the hyperpigmentation which is common in this area," says Dr. Lal. That in mind, you're not going to want to double dip—pick a retinol eye cream specifically designed for the delicate skin under the eye.

  • Hydrating Ingredients

This is pretty much the baseline for any good eye cream. Dry and dehydrated skin is only going to contribute to puffiness. Moisturizing ingredients are far and wide, but it's best to make sure your eye cream has been proven to boost moisture. “Ceramides and hyaluronic acid will make sure the skin is hydrated," says Dr. Rabach. "Peptides can also help repair damaged collagen, which is prevalent in the aging eyelid region," adds Dr. Lal. Glycerin, fatty acids, and squalane are also worth noting.

  • Caffeine

"Caffeine is another great ingredient which helps shrink blood vessels in the skin which reduces puffiness, albeit temporarily," says Dr. Lal. If you want to up the ante on the puffiness-reducing power, pop your caffeine-infused eye cream in the fridge before application.

  • Fragrance-Free

While in large part fragrance in a product is personal preference, just be warned that it can exacerbate puffiness via an allergic reaction. Fragrances can also react with the sun and cause hyperpigmentation. "Hyperpigmentation in this region can last for months to years," says Dr. Lal. A product that contains fragrance isn't necessarily bad, but just use extra caution if you have sensitive skin or eyes.

What Causes Puffy Eyes?

First things first: Puffy eyes are normal. Dr. Rabach explains that people can have a genetic predisposition to puffy eyes as a result of fat piercing through the muscle. So, if you’ve inherited under-eye bags from your family, don’t expect your puffiness to disappear overnight. But (and this is a biggie) sometimes puffy eyes are the result of easy-to-change lifestyle habits. “Eating salt can cause water retention and seasonal allergies, or allergies to eyes creams, can cause swelling and fluid build up around the eye,” explains Dr. Rabach. Another possibility? You're not getting as much shut eye as you should. "Poor sleep also contributes to puffy eyes," adds Dr. Lal.

When Will I See Results?

In short: The best eye creams can reduce puffiness. That said, it’s important to have reasonable expectations. A few pats of product isn’t going to completely remove the puffy under eyes you’ve had your entire life. The right ingredients can, however, make a visibly noticeable difference—it's just going to take time.

"Don’t expect overnight miracles and don’t expect 100 percent improvement," says Dr. Lal. "Eye creams and serums are great for those that want something to do at home, but they do not replace in-office procedures. Eye creams and serums are a supplement to procedures and take, on average, eight to 12 weeks to see improvement. It just takes that long to stimulate collagen and improve skin quality."

Meet the Dermatologists

dermatologist
Dr. Morgan Rabach

Dr. Morgan Rabach is a board-certified Dermatologist and media expert with hundreds of opinion articles on skincare and the use of injectable cosmetic procedures.  Dr. Morgan is known for her expertise in cutting edge techniques for Botox and Fillers and the savy use of skin products. Additionally, she deeply enjoys helping people eliminate acne scarring.

In addition to her private practice, she is a Clinical Assistant professor of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. She graduated from Brown University with Honors in Biology, earned her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, and completed her medical internship at Yale New Haven Hospital and her dermatology residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center where she served as chief resident.

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Dr. Karan Lal

Originally from New York City, he grew up in Queens and attended Hunter Science High School in Manhattan. He graduated summa cum laude from the New York Institute of Technology, where he completed a rigorous seven-year accelerated combined medical program. He was selected to be an academic medical scholar, during which he received a Master of Science in neuroscience and a scholarship for three years of medical school and graduate training. He was elected to the Sigma Sigma Phi and Psi Sigma Alpha medical honor societies. He completed his internal medicine internship at the University of Connecticut Medical Center where he was elected intern of the year. He completed a three-year dermatology residency at the University of Massachusetts, where he was elected chief resident. He continued at the University of Massachusetts to complete a pediatric dermatology fellowship, where he gained an interest in vascular anomalies, pediatric laser, and dermatologic surgery of pediatric patients.

Dr. Lal specializes in pediatric and adult dermatology, laser surgery, soft tissue filler augmentation, body sculpting, melanocyte keratinocyte transplant surgery for vitiligo and hypopigmentation, pigmentary abnormalities of the skin and enjoys treating patients from birth onwards. He is the only board-certified pediatric and fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist in the country.

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Samantha Holender
Beauty Editor

Samantha Holender is the Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.