Choosing the best eye cream for mature skin requires some discretion, as not all smoothing salves are created the same. “Eye creams can be effective, but only if they contain the right active ingredients,” Asmi Berry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles, explains.
If the skin around the eyes seems high-maintenance, it’s because it has to be. Thinner and more delicate, the skin in that area loses moisture quickly and is more prone to dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness. While aging can exacerbate all these issues, there is hope—even outside of the operating room.
“A well-formulated eye cream can hydrate, strengthen, stimulate collagen production, help smooth wrinkles, firm skin, and brighten discoloration over time,” Dr. Berry says. “That said, not all eye creams deliver results—some are just fancy moisturizers. The key is choosing one with clinically backed ingredients and using it consistently.” Enter the list below.
Vogue’s Favorite Eye Creams for Mature Skin:
In This Article:
Ahead, find the best under-eye creams for mature skin—infused with retinol, vitamin C, and more—according to board-certified dermatologists.
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: Vogue’s all-time favorite eye cream for diminishing the look of dark circles, SkinCeuticals’s wrinkle-defying salve is a go-to for beauty editors and medical pros. After a recent reformulation, “The inclusion of caffeine, a higher concentration of Proxylane, and additional brightening agents creates even greater visible results with consistent use,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green previously told Vogue. Dr. Berry is also a fan: “SkinCeuticals’s eye cream is designed specifically for mature skin experiencing collagen loss and glycation-related aging,” she says. “It targets fine lines, dark circles, puffiness, and crepey skin with a combination of ingredients, including proxylane, glycyrrhetinic acid, peptides, and antioxidants.”
- Key Ingredients: Proxylane (an exclusive ingredient that corrects wrinkles and laxity), wild fruit flavonoid blend, matrixyl 3000, glycyrrhetinic acid
- Best For: Crow’s feet, puffiness, dark circles
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 oz
Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: A mainstay in the skin-care regimes of dewy-aged celebrities aged 50 and above—Eva Longoria, who learned about it from Melanie Griffith, is a fan—Augustinus Bader treats signs of aging with a proprietary ingredient whispered to work like magic. Called TFC8, the complex boosts the skin’s natural ability to repair itself. In this rich eye cream, TFC8 is mixed with brightening vitamin C and niacinamide, puffiness-taming seaweed extracts, and botanical extracts that hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin.
- Key Ingredients: TFC8, vitamin C, niacinamide
- Best For: Stressed, damaged skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 oz
RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: No skin-care regime for mature skin is complete without retinol. The vitamin A derivative stimulates collagen production and cellular turnover for skin that looks like it’s been splashed in water from the fountain of youth—and it doesn’t always cost a fortune. For instance, RoC’s affordable gem is a popular pick among dermatologists. “This is a drugstore favorite with stabilized retinol to diminish crow’s feet, fine lines, and under-eye puffiness over time,” Dr. Berry says. The cream is also gentle on sensitive eyes, and it’s been dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested.
- Key Ingredients: Retinol
- Best For: Crow’s feet, fine lines, puffiness, those new to retinol or with sensitive skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 oz
Revision Skincare D.E.J. Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: Peptides, known to stimulate collagen production, are another buzzy ingredient in anti-aging skincare. For an eye cream infused with the amino-acid chains du jour, Dr. Berry recommends Revision Skincare’s formula. “This product is packed with peptides, antioxidants, and prebiotics to reduce crow’s feet, smooth crepey skin, and strengthen the delicate eye area,” she says. A Vogue editor must-have to address hooding and droopiness, the cream has a cooling applicator that adds to its appeal.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, goji fruit extract, cucumber fruit water, prebiotic and probiotic extracts
- Best For: Hooding, droopiness, crow’s feet
- Fragrance-Free: No
- Size: 0.5 oz
La Mer The Eye Concentrate
- Why We Love It: Unapologetically luxe, La Mer’s silky eye cream is infused with the brand’s patented Miracle Broth, a seaweed-derived ingredient that plumps the skin for an otherworldly glow. Also made with lime tea concentrate to protect aging skin from free-radical damage, the cream draws on Clarity Ferment to brighten tired eyes. Even its applicator is worth writing home about: the silver-tipped tool cools the skin and boosts circulation. Pro tip: for an extra-cooling touch, store the applicator in the fridge for three to five minutes before dipping it into the cream.
- Key Ingredients: Miracle Broth, Clarity Ferment, lime tea concentrate
- Best For: Fine lines, drooping, increasing brightness and elasticity
- Fragrance-Free: No
- Size: 0.5 oz
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: Dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested, Estée Lauder’s silky gel cream can brighten dark circles in as little as two weeks. Made with vitamin E and exclusive FR-Defense Technology, it sinks quickly into the skin and protects it from free-radical damage. The brand’s proprietary Night Peptide, another exclusive ingredient, boosts the skin’s ability to repair and protect itself. In addition to brightening dark circles, the cream can smooth fine lines under the eyes.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, peptides
- Best For: Dark circles, fine lines, antioxidant protection
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 oz
Chanel Sublimage La Crème Yeux Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: Chanel’s Sublimage skin-care collection underpinned Zoe Saldaña’s beauty look as she accepted her 2025 SAG Award. Infused with vanilla planifolia—a Chanel-exclusive ingredient that smooths, brightens, and lifts the eyes—the Sublimage eye cream could help anyone approximate an award-winning glow. The brand recommends using it daily and prescribes different application techniques for various issues. Those coveting a lifted effect, for instance, should smooth the cream from the eyelid to the eyebrow, then massage the lids from the inner to the outer corner of the eyes.
- Key Ingredients: Vanilla planifolia
- Best For: Dark circles, smoothing, lifting
- Fragrance-Free: No
- Size: 0.5 oz
BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector
- Why We Love It: One of Vogue’s favorite brightening eye creams, BeautyStat’s formula was developed by cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson. With a newly enhanced formula that includes peptides, the dermatologist-tested cream hydrates the sensitive skin around the eyes while tending to crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles, and redness. (According to the brand, it could even stand in for concealer after a long night.) Amy Spizuoco, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermapathologist, approves of the formula. She notes that it “pumps and softens the under-eye area, improves skin texture, decreases puffiness, and lightens dark circles.”
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, peptides
- Best For: Crow’s feet, lines, wrinkles, redness
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 oz
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
- Why We Love It: Another drugstore-aisle gem, CeraVe’s gentle cream has a stamp of approval from Mina Amin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles. “For dry eyes, look for a fragrance-free eye cream like CeraVe eye cream,” she says. “It contains ceramides to help maintain the skin barrier and is fragrance-free. Ceramides are really hydrating to the skin to help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier.” The cream also has hyaluronic acid to help the skin retain moisture.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, marine and botanical complex
- Best For: Dry eyes
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 oz
EltaMD UV AOX Eye SPF 30
- Why We Love It: “Formulated for use around the eyes, this physical sunscreen contains zinc oxide to provide SPF 30 protection,” says Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist in New York. The tinted formula helps revive a dull complexion and even out the skin tone, and it’s also infused with vitamin E for added antioxidant protection. What’s more, a dash of Persian silk tree extract reduces puffiness and dark circles while strengthening the skin barrier.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin E, Persian silk tree extract
- Best For: Sun protection, uneven skin tone, dullness
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
- Size: 0.37 oz
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue
- Why We Love It: Is it magic, or is it a carefully meted dose of retinol? “The retinol in this eye cream is time-released, which improves tolerability and compliance, and reduces the risk of irritation,” says Dr. Camp. Designed to smooth and brighten the delicate skin around the eyes, the cream glides onto the skin with ease and sinks right in. After that, apply products as you wish. “This is the kind of eye cream I’d liken to a primer—aptly prepping the under-eye for any concealers or products to follow,” says Vogue’s senior shopping beauty writer Kiana Murden. “Like any good makeup base, this goes on lightweight to reveal hydrated, glowing skin with zero residue.”
- Key Ingredients: Time-released retinol, daphne stem cell, vegetable protein, vitamin C, botanical complex
- Best For: Wrinkles, dark circles
- Fragrance-Free:
- Size: 0.5 oz
Everything You Need to Know
Does eye cream really work?
“Many eye creams are glorified moisturizers,” Dr. Camp says. His best advice? “When searching for an eye cream, decide what concerns you want to address and look for products containing ingredients that are well-established at addressing them.”
Like any skin-care product, consistency is key. Dr. Camp notes that products should be used for one to two months before deciding if they are helpful or not. Dr. Amin adds: “Creams will not replicate the effects of Botox, but they can improve the appearance of the under eyes.”
What is the best eye cream for people over 50?
“Mature skin is affected by changes related to aging and sun damage, which can affect skin levels of collagen,” Dr. Camp says. “Collagen is a structural protein that helps keep skin firm and limits the appearance of fine lines and crepey skin.” For patients over 50, he recommends looking for products with ingredients that encourage collagen production, like retinol, vitamin C, and peptides. “Also, consider eye creams that offer SPF protection for use during the day,” he notes.
Dr. Amin adds that it’s also important to look for a fragrance-free formulation, particularly for anyone who has dry skin. “The area near the eyes is very delicate and using a fragranced cream can irritate this area and lead to rashes and inflammation,” she says.
What to Look for in an Eye Cream for Mature Skin
For mature skin, look for eye creams that contain the following, Dr. Berry says.
- Caffeine, which can reduce puffing.
- Vitamin C and niacinamide, which can brighten dark circles.
- Peptides, growth factors, and retinol, which can smooth fine lines by boosting collagen.
- Ceramides, squalene, and hyaluronic acid, which hydrate and protect the skin barrier.
