It's often said that your eyes are the window to your soul. But we would say your eyes are a window to something else: your true age. The skin around your eyes is thin, dry, and translucent, making it one of the first areas to show the visible signs of aging. This delicate area is also uniquely vulnerable to damage brought on by exposure to environmental aggressors and lifestyle habits like chronic sleep deprivation. Caring for your eye area is therefore essential for healthy-looking skin.
Because the skin around your eyes is so delicate, special care is required to keep this area hydrated. That's where eye creams come in. Ahead, we'll introduce you to eight Kiehl's formulas designed specifically for the eye area. You'll discover how and why eye cream differs from your regular facial moisturizer and learn tips and tricks for keeping your eyes looking fresh and youthful. Read on to find the best eye cream from Kiehl's to add to your daily skincare routine.
Why Do You Need an Eye Cream?
The skin around your eyes differs significantly from the skin on the rest of your face. Most notably, the skin around your eyes is the thinnest skin of anywhere on your body. Creams and serums formulated for your thicker facial skin typically are too heavy for the skin beneath your eyes. Similarly, the concentration of active ingredients in face creams may be too harsh for the delicate under-eye skin. And of course, eye creams need to be carefully crafted and tested for safety since they're made to be used around a sensitive (and critically-important) area. Eye creams are made with these specific characteristics in mind, whereas face creams typically aren't. Long story short: Products formulated for the eyes are the only thing we recommend you ever put around them—even if you don't think your skin is particularly sensitive.
The Best Kiehl's Eye Creams For Every Need
Now that you know why you need an eye cream, you can get started on finding your perfect formula. Keep reading to discover eight of our best eye creams for every eye-area concern.
Best For Dryness:
Avocado Eye Cream
The skin around your eyes has fewer sebaceous glands than the rest of your face, which can make the area prone to dryness, especially if you already have dry skin. To keep this skin smooth and well-hydrated, we recommend our best-selling Avocado Eye Cream. This Kiehl's favorite, which contains avocado oil and shea butter, provides all-day hydration and immediately improves the look and feel of under-eye skin texture. It also helps defend the eye area from digital fatigue caused by the blue light emitted by electronics. The creamy formula is clinically-demonstrated to de-puff and brighten the skin with consistent use and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.*
*Results based upon expert grading evaluated with product in a 4-week clinical test.
Best For Dark Circles:
Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum
Chronic sleep deprivation, stress, and aging can all contribute to stubborn dark under-eye circles. A good night's sleep and some makeup can help improve the look of these blue or brown circles. But for more stubborn dark circles, we recommend reaching for Powerful-Strength Dark Circle-Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum. This lightweight eye treatment with fragmented hyaluronic acid and vitamin C absorbs quickly to instantly smooth and hydrate the under-eye area. It's clinically-demonstrated to help reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles with consistent use and can be layered with other eye creams for an added burst of hydration. *We recommend applying it morning and night for visibly brighter, fresher-looking eyes.
*Clinical grading of the full panel tested in an eight-week study.
Best For Nighttime:
Midnight Recovery Eye
If you've ever experienced a restless night and woken up to tired, puffy-looking eyes the next morning, you know firsthand how much sleep—or the lack thereof—affects the eye area. To help fend off eye area concerns while you sleep, reach for Midnight Recovery Eye before bed. Our nighttime eye cream formulated with evening primrose oil and soothing lavender essential oil helps smooth and restore the eye area overnight. It also helps diminish the appearance of puffiness and dark circles for fresher, younger-looking eyes come sunrise.
Kiehl's Expert Tip: Learn more about the benefits of having a nighttime skincare routine in our article Your Perfect Nighttime Skincare Routine.
Best Under-Eye Cream For Men:
Eye Fuel
Guys, you need a dedicated skincare routine, too—and that includes a hydrating, all-purpose eye cream. Try Eye Fuel, a men's eye cream for all skin types. It's formulated with energizing caffeine and vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide, and helps smooth the under-eye area with weightless hydration. The fast-absorbing formula also helps diminish the look of puffiness and reduces dark circles with consistent use. Apply this men's under-eye cream morning and night to revive tired eyes for a more refreshed appearance.
Best For Tired-Looking:
Eyes: Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum
As you age, your skin's collagen and elastin production decreases, which ultimately results in fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. These concerns may appear more prominent around the eye area because of the thin skin and lack of subcutaneous fat around your eyes.
To help firm and tighten your eye area, we recommend Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum. This lightweight serum instantly hydrates and smoothes the eye area while helping to reduce the appearance of visible signs of aging, including under-eye wrinkles and crow's feet. It's clinically-demonstrated to visibly firm the eye area within one week, while consistent use helps restore the eye's youthful shape.*Wear it alone or layer it underneath a heavier eye cream to help lift the skin and promote younger-looking eyes.
*Based on consumer evaluations after four days of use.
Kiehl's Expert Tip: Discover more ways to help tighten the appearance of your skin in our article 6 Skin-Firming Tips For Smoother, Younger-Looking Skin.
Best For Under-Eye:
Wrinkles: Powerful Wrinkle-Reducing Eye Cream
If lines and wrinkles are your primary eye-area concern, try adding our best-selling Powerful Wrinkle-Reducing Eye Cream to your anti-aging skincare routine. This potent eye cream, which contains copper PCA and calcium PCA, refines skin's texture to smooth the under-eye area and decrease puffiness. It also boosts elasticity and visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The powerful yet gentle formula is suitable for all skin types and can be used morning and night for smoother-looking skin.
Best Anti-Aging:
Youth Dose Eye
Retinoids derived from vitamin A are among the best and most well-known ingredients for managing age-related skin concerns. However, they're often overlooked when it comes to the eye area because of the potential for irritation. While retinoids can be irritating if used improperly, they can also be a powerful weapon in your anti-aging skincare arsenal, even for the eye area. The key is choosing a product specifically formulated for the delicate under-eye skin.
We recommend Youth Dose Eye Treatment, which combines a mild retinoid along with antioxidant vitamin C and emollient grapeseed oil. This effective eye cream instantly hydrates and smoothes the delicate under-eye area. It also helps diminish the appearance of dark circles and puffiness for visibly brighter-looking eyes over time. Despite its potency, this unique formula is gentle enough for all skin types and can be used twice daily as part of your regular anti-aging routine. Wear it alone or layer it under makeup for a more visibly youthful look.
Best Anti-Aging For Men:
Age Defender Eye Repair
Everyone is susceptible to the visible changes that come with age, men included. To help manage these age-related concerns, we recommend Age Defender Eye Repair. This rich men's eye cream with rye seed extract visibly firms the skin to help diminish the appearance of men's eye-area concerns, including wrinkles around your eyes. It also helps brighten the skin to improve the look of dark circles over time. The creamy formula is suitable for all men's skin types and can be used daily to promote a more rested, recharged appearance.
Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum
