Fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet are a natural part of the skin’s process of maturing, but you can consider buying the best eye cream for wrinkles if those are concerns of yours. Though you shouldn’t expect any OTC skin-care product to completely erase fine lines and wrinkles, Canton, Michigan-based board-certified dermatologist Fatima Fahs, MD, says that the key to a great eye cream is what’s listed in its ingredient list.
According to Dr. Fahs, one of the top ingredients for targeting fine lines is retinol. In case you’re not familiar with this vitamin A derivative, she says it increases collagen production to improve the look of fine lines while evening skin tone and reducing signs of hyperpigmentation. (Bye-bye, dark circles.) However, we will note that retinol is an intensive active ingredient that might irritate sensitive skin types, so always patch-test new products before applying them to your entire face (or even your under-eye area).
Another ingredient Dr. Fahs says is a skin-brightening essential is vitamin C, an antioxidant powerhouse that fights free radical damage and helps fade pigmentation concerns. Dehydration is also a wrinkle-causing issue, so if you notice dry skin, she suggests incorporating a hyaluronic acid-infused product into your skin-care regimen. “[Hyaluronic acid] is a humectant that plumps and hydrates the skin to improve the appearance of fine lines,” she says.
Few skin-care ingredients come close to the firming powers of peptides, according to Dr. Fahs. “They act as the building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin to boost skin’s firmness and improve texture,” she says. Speaking of proteins, Dr. Fahs also says to look for growth factors, “signal proteins that promote the production of collagen and elastin.”
Now, it’s time to put all of this precious skin-care knowledge into practice. We’ve rounded up 13 expert-approved options so you can add the best eye cream for wrinkles to your skin-care routine — and start intensively treating crow’s feet and crepiness on your delicate skin.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream, $30
- Best Luxury Eye Cream: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream, $140
- Best for Depuffing: Neocutis Illuminating Eye Cream, $108
- Best Retinol Alternative: Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Wrinkle Resist Eye Cream, $75
- Best Eye Cream for Mature Skin: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex, $105
- Best Anti-Inflammatory Eye Cream: Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb, $48
- Most Potent Wrinkle Fighter: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum, $71
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