I always wake up with puffy eyes, no matter how much water I drink or how long I sleep. After many years of experience, I’ve learned that makeup for under the eyes can only do so much to make them look less tired. But using a depuffing eye cream and a cold compress every once in a while can really help. That is, using one of the 15 eye creams for puffiness that I’ve listed below. You can trust me when I say that these 15 eye creams are the best I’ve tried, ranging from cheap ones to ones that smooth out lines and reduce puffiness.
Our picks for the best eye creams to reduce puffiness in 2023
1. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream with Retinol
This eye cream from famous makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury is one of my personal favorites on the list. It works like magic on your eyes. It’s very thick, almost like a balm, and it locks in moisture under the eyes to keep the sensitive (and often dry) skin smooth and rich. This rich cream contains retinol and antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E to make the skin under the eyes stronger and brighter, according to Dr. Zeichner, who also likes it. He also says that the deflating effect comes from a mix of plants.
- Key ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C, plant-derived stem cells, shea butter
- Fragrance-free? No
- Usage: Morning and/or evening
Pros:
- It has retinol and vitamin C in it to make the skin under your eyes smooth and bright.
- It deeply moisturizes, which makes it perfect for people with dry skin.
Cons:
- It might be too thick for people with oily skin.
- I think the jar is a bit heavy.
2. Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Temporary Eye Tightener
If you use TikTok, you’ve probably seen some shocking (and convincing) before and after videos of this amazing eye cream at work. This brief tightener is real, even though it might seem too good to be true. Dr. Robinson says it’s the best eye cream for getting rid of puffiness. The formula’s special mix of peptides, minerals, and seaweed extract helps smooth out crow’s feet and deep wrinkles in as little as three minutes. It also reduces the look of bags under the eyes. Of course, this won’t get rid of puffiness and lines for good, but it can help make them look better for a little while.
- Key ingredients: Peptides, seaweed extract, alfalfa seed extract
- Fragrance-free? Yes
- Usage: As needed
Pros:
- Skin doctors and TikTok users both love it.
- Any choice on the list works faster than this one.
Cons:
- Some testers said it can leave the face with a strange film or residue.
- Results only last for a short time
3. RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
Dr. Zeichner says that creepiness and puffiness under the eyes are caused by collagen and elastin fibers getting weaker over time, from UV exposure, and from rubbing your eyes too much. How to fix it? This best retinol eye cream is a choice of mine and a lot of dermatologists as well. “It has a mild form of retinol in it to strengthen the skin under the eyes and lessen the look of lines, dark circles, and puffiness,” says Dr. Zeichner. This is also one of Dr. Alexiades’ favorites. But Dr. Alexiades warns that people with sensitive skin should be careful because this might be too strong for them. Before you try, it’s always a good idea to do a patch test.
- Key ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C, plant-derived stem cells, shea butter
- Fragrance-free? No
- Usage: Morning and/or evening
Pros
- It’s cheap and easy to get at drugstores.
- It helps get rid of dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness under the eyes.
Cons
- For people with very sensitive skin, it made their face a little red and flaky.
- Parabens are in it.
4. Dieux Auracle Eye Gel
Dieux’s Auracle Eye Gel is a favorite of Dr. O’Connell’s and cool girls everywhere. It is very moisturizing and very light. The gel mixture is very smooth, and Dr. O’Connell says it has peptides that help deflate and an algae complex that makes the skin look fuller. And while I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, I think the pale green bottle is really cute, which makes it appear even better.
- Key ingredients: Glycerin, peptides, algae extract
- Fragrance-free? Yes
- Usage: Morning and evening
Pros
- Can be worn on its own or over the brand’s reusable eye patches to keep the eyes even more moist.
- Great for people with oily skin or who don’t like how thick and heavy eye creams feel.
Cons
- A few reviews said the pump works well all the time.
- Beauty stores that don’t normally sell it
5. CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
If you have sensitive skin or have never used an eye cream before, CeraVe’s Eye Repair Cream is a great pick. It’s like the white t-shirt of eye creams for me—a basic that you can always count on. It feels cool, and light, and absorbs quickly under my eyes, and I love that it has a gel-like texture. It helps me feel better in the morning and doesn’t change my makeup for the day.
- Key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free? Yes
- Usage: Morning and/or evening
Pros:
- It has the Eczema Association Seal, which means it’s very gentle.
- Made without harsh ingredients, fragrances, or colors that could irritate the skin.
Cons:
- Not as quick to work as some of the other choices on the list
- Won’t get rid of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes very well.
FAQ’s
Q1. Which cream is best for puffy eyes?
The best cream for puffy eyes will be made for your skin type and contains chemicals like caffeine and peptides that will reduce puffiness and firm the skin. A very strong eye cream that works great for one person might be too strong for someone with sensitive skin, for instance.
Some say that the best eye cream for puffy eyes is one that has a cold, massage tip applicator, like the ones above from Isdin, Ilia, Soho Skin, and Tru Alchemy. This helps to loosen up the skin even more.
Q2. How do you depuff your eyes fast?
Dr. Cheung says that you can quickly plump up your eyes by putting your face in an ice bath or putting cold packs on your eyes. Some other things that Dr. Cheung says can help depuff your eyes are putting cold cucumber pieces or wet tea bags on them. Tea bags that are still wet are especially helpful because they cool you down and have caffeine in them, which reduces inflammation. You can rub your lymphatic system with your hands or an ice roller. This can help move any fluid that is making your eyes look puffy and also help reduce the size of under-eye bags.
