Work, school, kids and life in general can interfere with a full night’s rest, and your eyes may inevitably look a bit tired from time to time. While a little swelling beneath the eyes can be normal (and based on genetics for some), that doesn’t mean you don’t have options for minimizing its appearance. The best eye creams for puffiness are infused with ingredients that brighten, soothe and depuff the delicate under-eye area—like our top pick from La Roche-Posay.
The best eye creams for puffiness contain powerhouse ingredients like caffeine and hyaluronic acid.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
If puffiness is your main concern in choosing an eye cream, you need a product that specifically addresses swelling above all else (as opposed to eye creams for dark circles or targeted anti-aging formulas). Look for ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid and energizing caffeine, which when applied topically helps shrink blood vessels in the skin to reduce puffiness, albeit temporarily. Whether you’re partial to rich, hydrating creams or prefer lightweight gels, we have options for every price range. And for those times when your eyes need some more TLC, we rounded up the best under-eye patches, which were rigorously tested, to offer an extra boost.
A Formula That Gently Exfoliates, Hydrates And Depuffs
MOST POPULAR
Ulta Beauty
La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Retinol, caffeine | Additional benefits: Minimizes appearance of wrinkles and dark circles | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-free: No
For an eye cream that checks off all the boxes, we recommend this hydrating, anti-aging and depuffing formula from La Roche-Posay. With the brand’s proprietary thermal spring water and a healthy dose of retinol and caffeine, you can expect some gentle exfoliation (which is a must for all skin types), a brighter appearance and a smooth texture along your eye contour. Undereye bags, begone.
Best Budget Eye Cream For Puffiness
An Affordable Formula With Big-Ticket Ingredients
Sephora
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Caffeine, peptides, Persian silk tree extract | Additional benefits: Reduces dark circles | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-free: Yes
We’ve ordered green juices that cost more than this super effective eye cream. The formula combines caffeine and peptides, which help repair damaged collagen and smooth fine lines, in a lightweight texture that never creases or pills under makeup. For extra depuffing powers, keep this powerhouse tube in the fridge—perhaps right next to your favorite smoothie or juice.
Best Luxury Eye Cream For Puffiness
A Silky Formula That Delivers Long-Lasting Results
Featuring a concoction of nutrient-rich marine plankton and organic stevia extracts, this eye cream from U Beauty is worth its luxury price tag. Recommended by deputy editor Jane Sung, The Return Eye Concentrate targets oxidative stress on skin to reduce puffiness. Luxurious diamond powder works as a light diffuser, creating a smoother appearance overall.
Best Anti-Aging Eye Cream For Puffiness
An Antioxidant-Rich Formula For Puffiness And Wrinkles
Dermstore US
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye
Key ingredients: ProXylane, caffeine | Additional benefits: Smoothes fine lines, increases firmness | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-free: No
This little jar is packed with peptides and antioxidant-rich flavonoids, whose anti-inflammatory effects work to reduce puffiness. But beyond this, SkinCeuticals’ do-it-all formula also combats signs of aging: Blueberry extract helps prevent the appearance of wrinkles, and optical diffusers help reduce the look of dark circles and capillaries. The well-rounded formula earns high marks across the board, securing the top overall spot on our list of the best eye creams.
Best Brightening Eye Cream For Puffiness
A Firming Formula That Protects Skin From The Elements
This pleasantly thick yet absorbent cream is packed with a host of good-for-you ingredients that help fend off damage from environmental stressors and improve signs of premature aging. It’s one of the few eye creams that contains bakuchiol, a plant-derived retinol that can help to brighten and firm the skin—making it a great eye cream for dark circles, as well. It also contains peach extract, a source of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids to help keep skin firm and glowy.
If dryness is one of your main skin concerns, you’ll find much to love about this eye cream from Mario Badescu. Caffeine works to depuff the under-eye area, while squalane and jojoba nourish and hydrate skin. Meanwhile, sodium hyaluronate—a derivative of hyaluronic acid—works to increase skin’s moisture barrier by drawing water molecules in. Its reasonable price tag makes it an easy addition to your skincare lineup.
By far the fastest-acting eye cream on our list, this caffeine and peptide-packed gel visibly minimizes swelling in just 10 minutes. The carefully curated combo of ingredients works wonders on tired eyes, making them look brighter and tighter with each application. Rosemary leaf extract further works to soothe the skin long-term, as well.
Best Eye Cream Serum For Puffiness
A Lightweight Formula That Easily Sinks In
Sephora
Youth To The People Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate
Key ingredients: Vitamin C, caffeine, peptides | Additional benefits: Reduces dark circles and appearance of fine lines | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-free: Yes
Those who crave an especially lightweight eye treatment should consider serum textures like Youth To The People’s concentrated formula. It targets puffiness with caffeine and boosts elasticity with peptides. Plus, vitamin C works to reduce the appearance of dark circles for a more refreshed look overall.
Probiotic extracts and peptides in Tula’s eye serum help firm skin around the orbital area, while sea algae helps minimize the appearance of wrinkles and pink silk tree reduces the look of puffiness and dark circles. Pair that with the cooling touch of the metal applicator, and you have yourself an effective recipe for banishing swelling.
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve written shopping guides on a wide range of skincare topics. Every product we recommend has been carefully researched by our writers and approved by our editors.
The publication of this article was overseen by deputy editor Jane Sung, who oversees Vetted’s beauty and grooming vertical and has over 15 years of experience in the industry.
We consulted with Alicia Yoon, esthetician and CEO of skincare brand Peach & Lily, to gain insight on which skincare ingredients are beneficial for combatting under-eye puffiness.
When it comes to selecting an eye cream for puffiness, it’s best to search for formulas with ingredients that combat swelling. It’s also important to think about the consistency and packaging of the product. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Ingredients
There are various reasons for under-eye puffiness. “The most common is fluid accumulation, which can be treated with products containing licorice, cucumber extract and other antioxidants, as they help to combat inflammation,” says Yoon. She also says that loss of muscle tone and skin elasticity can lead to puffing around the eye area. To tighten the under-eye areas, she recommends looking for ingredients like peptides, retinol and retinol alternatives like bakuchiol. Additionally, caffeine temporarily shrinks blood vessels in the skin, which is great if you’re looking for quick results. And of course, hyaluronic acid will contribute to a healthy moisture barrier overall.
Consistency
When addressing puffiness, the texture and consistency of the product you choose can be just as important as the ingredients. Yoon says, “Because the eye area is so delicate, lighter creams and gels can often absorb better, delivering much-needed moisture deep into the skin.” Lighter textures also tend to layer more effectively under makeup, which is an added bonus. However, if your skin is in need of some serious hydration, a thicker cream will do the job.
Packaging
“Eye creams can be packaged in a variety of ways depending on the ingredients, texture, application process and any sustainable considerations,” says Yoon. And while it technically comes down to personal preference, it’s important to be mindful of best application practices. For instance, formulas packaged in tubs and pots are more likely to become contaminated by your fingers when you dip them in. Be sure to sanitize your hands before application or opt for pumps, droppers or wands.
Do Eye Creams For Puffiness Work?
“If you’re looking to combat puffiness around the eye area, I would absolutely recommend a daily eye cream loaded with antioxidants and skin-firming ingredients,” says Yoon. She also adds that using an eye cream for puffiness regularly and consistently is the most efficient and easiest way to see long-term results. As with all skincare products, a good rule of thumb is to cleanse first, then apply the rest of your products in order of weight or thickness of formula, starting with the lightest first. “I always recommend applying an eye cream after cleansing and serum, followed by your moisturizer, both morning and night,” she says.
What Is The Best Eye Cream For Puffiness?
After comparing several different products, we chose La Roche-Posay Redermic R as the best eye cream for puffiness. The multitasking formula features skin-tightening caffeine as well as retinol for a smoothing effect. For those who don’t mind splurging on a truly high-quality product, we recommend The Return Concentrate by U Beauty. If you’re following a tight skincare budget, then you should check out The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream, a simple, potent formula that won’t break the bank.
How Should You Store An Eye Cream For Puffiness?
Whether you own a mini skincare fridge or not, it’s a good idea to store your eye cream in a cool spot. “Chilling your eye cream can certainly help to reduce the look of puffiness and fatigue and give the instant depuffing effect,” says Yoon. “Cooling is linked to lessening inflammation and reducing blood flow, but I also just think a chilled product feels great on the skin.”