The Best Drugstore Eye Creams That Actually Work

Did you know that the skin around your eyes is approximately 40% thinner than the rest of your face? This is why it’s so important to a) never pull or tug your undereye skin and b) slather the area with restorative formulas to plump, hydrate, and brighten.

With that said, not all eye creams work miracles! You need to find a formula laced with active ingredients like anti-aging retinol, brightening vitamin C, or hydrating hero, hyaluronic acid. Luckily for you, we’ve trialed dozens, if not hundreds of products in our quest for the one. We’ve narrowed it down to five insane drugstore formulas that’ll soften the appearance of fine lines, banish dark circles, and rejuvenate tired, puffy eyes without breaking the bank.

For Tired Eyes: Versed The Fix Emergency Eye Mask, $18

Source: Versed

It’s no secret that increased stress levels, late nights, and early mornings can a toll on our under eyes but don’t panic, as this eye mask is here to save the day. Enriched with cooling cucumber juice to reduce inflammation and caffeine extract to dilate the blood vessels that contribute to dark circles, this 10 minute masks works quickly to brighten and restore. The formula is also packed with provitamin b5 and vitamin E to hydrate, soften, and protect the skin from damaging free radicals. Gently massage a pea-sized amount to each undereye, leave for 10 minutes, then lightly tissue off the excess.

For Mature Skin: RoC Retinol Correxion Anti-Aging Eye Cream Treatment, $25

Source: Roc

This product has garnered rave reviews over the years thanks to its hero ingredient, retinol. The anti-aging powerhouse helps stimulate collagen production, thereby plumping the skin, minimizing the appearance of fine lines, and brightening dark circles over time. In fact, it’s clinically proven to visibly reduce wrinkles and crow’s feet by 50% in just 12 weeks. It’s also non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic, so it won’t block your pores and is suitable for sensitive skin. We love that it doesn’t leave our skin feeling dry like other retinol formulas sometimes do.

For Dark Circles: Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Protecting Eye Cream, $24

Source: Bliss

If you’re looking to tackle dark circles, add this vegan eye cream to your shopping cart STAT. The creamy formula combines the powers of antioxidant vitamin C, licorice extract, and tri-peptides to brighten the undereye and boost the skin’s natural elasticity for firmer, plumper skin. Thanks to the surge of antioxidants, it’ll also protect the skin from aging free radicals and pollution damage.

Top tip: For best results, use your eye cream twice a day after you’ve applied serum and before you use your moisturizer.

For Sensitive Skin: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, $16

Source: CeraVe

CeraVe is loved by skincare addicts and derms alike, praised for their simple yet effective formulas, and this eye cream is no exception. Formulated with not one, but three essential ceramides, plus mega-hydrator hyaluronic acid, it’ll work to repair, restore, and hydrate the skin’s protective barrier while the niacinamide content soothes inflammation. The non-greasy, fast-absorbing cream is also suitable for all skin types and is non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free. It ticks every box!

For Puffy Eyes: Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Puff Eye Roller, $15

Source: Garnier

Whenever we wake up with tired, puffy eyes, we reach for this eye-roller. The cooling rollerball applicator boosts lymphatic drainage and feels so refreshing on the skin. It also delivers a potent serum infused with vitamin C, caffeine, and mineral pigments to conceal dark circles. Stash it in your fridge for an added cooling, anti-inflammatory effect – it’s the ultimate wake up call.

Disclaimer: Every product we review has been independently selected and tested without bias by our editorial team. We never take payment to review products, however, some brands allow affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you purchase a product by clicking on one of our links.