11 Best Brightening Eye Creams To Remove Dark Circles, As Per An Expert: 2024
For eyes that speak louder than your words and lets you enjoy the world thoroughly.
Raisa ZarinLicensed Esthetician 
Raisa's passion for skin care and makeup began at a young age, inspired by her mother's experimentation with different products. While pursuing a degree in Forensic Psychology in college, she realized her true calling and decided to change ... more
medha debIntegrated MA Experience: 5 yearsMedha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in ... more
shiboli chakrabortiMA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor,... more
arshiya syedaBA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma Experience: 7 yearsArshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articl... more
Image: From Shutterstock
Applying the best brightening eye cream is an important but often forgotten element in any skin care routine. Brightening eye creams are like little pots of magic that carry a powerful punch, giving the region much-needed love and attention. The skin surrounding the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, leaving it more vulnerable to the environmental stresses that accelerate the aging process. We have all heard about and feared the dark circles that can appear after a night of not getting enough sleep, a week of stress, or simply months of neglect.
The best creams for under-eye brightening can help plump up and illuminate the sensitive skin around the eyes, reducing the fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles. The result is that you get eyes that are brighter and more revitalized, with that unmistakable gleam that comes with well-cared-for skin. In addition, ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and turmeric in many of these products work to lessen the appearance of exhaustion and tiredness while revitalizing and replenishing moisture to give you smooth, soft, and supple skin. With our selection of the top 11 brightening eye creams on the market, done by thoroughly examining ratings and reviews, we have taken the guesswork out of finding a good brightening eye cream. Scroll down and take a look.
In This Article
Top 11 Best Brightening Eye Creams Of 2024- Reviews & Buying Guide
1. Best For All Skin Types:LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream
Formulated with rosehip seed oil, vitamin C ester, and aloe leaf juice, this under-eye brightening cream helps to reduce puffiness, minimize wrinkles, and brighten dark circles for skin that is hydrated and nourished. This eye brightening and dark circle correcting cream also contains organic hibiscus flower extract, provitamins A and B5, and Vitamin E, which help lift and firm sagging skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet. This best eye brightening cream blend is not tested on animals and is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive and reactive skin, and is designed for daily use. This video of the tester’s experience will give you more insights into the product.
- Contains organic and natural ingredients
- Gluten-free
- Free of parabens, phthalates, and SLS/SLES
- Formulated without artificial colors and dyes
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Some might find the consistency of this product a bit thin.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With 10,558 positive reviews on Amazon, this product has become a bestseller.
2. Best Dermatologist-Tested:Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream
This hydrating and brightening eye cream has a gel-like consistency, which makes it easy to absorb while deeply moisturizing the delicate skin around the eyes. Formulated with skin plumping hyaluronic acid, this blend also contains licorice extract and a vitamin complex, which work together to replenish moisture and brighten and smoothen the under-eye area. Suitable for all skin types, this dermatologist-tested product is hypoallergenic and non-irritating. The brightening eye cream has been ophthalmologist-tested and is ideal for contact lens wearers.
- Suitable for all skin types
- Dermatologist-tested
- Ophthalmologist-tested, safe for contact lens wearers
- Hypoallergenic and non-irritating
- Might not be suitable for those with sensitive skin problems.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 41,466 customers have given the product positive reviews on Amazon.
3. Best For Sensitive Skin:Olay Eyes Brightening Eye Cream
This brightening eye cream is formulated with vitamin C, caffeine, and optical brighteners to help reduce the appearance of dark circles and discoloration. Raisa Zarin, a licensed esthetician at Soul Detox, says, “I highly recommend it for mature skin. The combination of caffeine and vitamin C is a power duo for lines and wrinkles.” Infused with provitamin B3 and vitamin E, this hydrating eye cream helps minimize fine lines, wrinkles and hydrates the skin for a glowing, well-rested appearance. Suitable for use twice daily, this lightweight formula blends easily and provides visible results in brightening, hydration, and improved skin texture.
- Designed for daily use
- Suitable for mature skin
- Lightweight and fast-absorbing formula
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Some might find that this product leaves a bit of residue.
Pro TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
The extensive 3,454 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are vouching for this product.
LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream Best For All Skin Types | Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream Best Dermatologist-Tested | Olay Eyes Brightening Eye Cream Best For Sensitive Skin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2.25 x 2.25 x 1.5 inches | 1.31 x 1.5 x 5.44 inches | 2.01 x 2.44 x 5.12 inches |
| Weight | 1.7 Ounces | 0.51 Ounces | 0.48 Ounces. |
| Number of Items | - | 1 | - |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 10,558 | 41,466 | 3,454 |
| Price | $29.45 | $15.47 | $16.71 |
4. Best For Daily Use:Estetist Coffee Eye Lift Cream
This firming and brightening eye cream is infused with caffeine, which stimulates collagen production and improves elasticity in the delicate skin around the eyes. The organic eye cream helps reduce puffiness and the appearance of dark circles, wrinkles, crow’s feet, and fine lines. Suitable for daily use, this product helps reverse UV damage and evens skin tone for improved texture, radiance, and firmness.
- Contains organic ingredients
- Designed for daily use
- Suitable for all skin types
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Contains added fragrance, might not be suitable for sensitive skin.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 1,840 Amazon users have vouched for this amazing product.
5. Best Cruelty-Free:InstaNatural Hyaluronic Acid Eye Gel Cream
This plumping, brightening eye cream is formulated with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to brighten skin and minimize the appearance of dark circles, wrinkles, and fine lines. The gel-based cream is infused with caffeine and peptides to decrease puffiness, intensely hydrate the skin, and promote healthy collagen production. Suitable for daily use, this product is fragrance-free and made of clean ingredients, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
- Contains natural ingredients
- Helps with collagen-boosting
- No added fragrances
- Free of parabens, petroleum, and SLS/SLES
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Some might find the scent of this product a bit unpleasant.
Pro Tip6. Best Anti-Aging Benefits:Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream
This brightening eye cream is formulated with antioxidant fruit extracts to restore radiance while eliminating dark circles and puffiness. Suitable for all skin types, the eye cream helps to replenish moisture and hydration to the delicate skin under the eyes. This radiance-boosting product is infused with ginseng root extract to help refresh and brighten the eyes and can be used daily as part of an effective anti-aging skincare regime.
- Suitable for all skin types
- Designed for daily use
- Contains natural and organic ingredients
- Not tested on animals
- Clinically tested
- Visible results in 4 weeks
- Some might find the texture of this product is a bit difficult to absorb.
7. Best Skin-Brightening:I Dew Care Glow-Key Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream
This vitamin C brightening eye cream is formulated with antioxidant-rich guava extract and Arabic coffee seed extract to calm skin and tighten pores. Vitamin C helps brighten skin and diminish wrinkles and fine lines for skin that is refreshed and rejuvenated. Designed for use twice daily, this tinted brightening eye cream has a soft, fast-absorbing texture and is infused with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, which intensely moisturizes and hydrates the skin.
- Suitable for all skin types
- Free of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates
- Gluten-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Some might find the texture of this product a bit greasy.
8. Best Non-Toxic:OZNaturals Ultra Ageless Eye Créme
This natural brightening eye cream helps smoothen and hydrate the skin for an improved skin tone. Infused with vitamin E which promotes collagen regeneration, this nourishing eye cream also contains astaxanthin, which provides UV protection against damaging rays and pollutants. Also included in the impressive ingredient list is algae extract, which detoxifies the skin and reduces inflammation. This eye cream has anti-aging benefits and helps reduce the appearance of puffiness, wrinkles, dark circles, and fine lines.
- Contains 96% natural ingredients
- Cold-pressed and suitable for all skin types
- Non-toxic and free of parabens
- Gluten-free and non-GMO
- Cruelty-free
- Some might find the scent of this product a bit overpowering.
9. Best Natural Ingredients:Eight Saints All-in Eye Cream
Let your eyes express confidence and radiance with Eight Saints All In Eye Cream. It has plant-based, scientifically proven ingredients that help to treat dark circles, under-eye bags, and other aging signs to give you a youthful glow. It contains antioxidants like caffeine and green tea, which reduce dark circles and puffiness around your eyes. It is formulated with glycolic acid, lactic acid, and hyaluronic acid that brightens the skin and get rid of dullness around your eye area.
The plant-based ingredients like castor oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, avocado oil, flaxseed oil, and vitamin C help hydrate the skin and increase its glow. The eye cream is gentle, soothing, not tested on animals, and suitable for all skin types. It penetrates deep into the skin and conceals signs of fatigue, stress, and aging to give your delicate under-eye skin a long-lasting brightened effect.
- All-natural ingredients
- Suitable for all skin types
- Lightweight
- Non-greasy
- Absorbs quickly
- Gives long-lasting results
- Reduces morning puffiness
- Cruelty-free
- Synthetic fragrance-free
- Rich in antioxidants
None
Pro Tip10. Best for Sensitive Skin:Remedial Pax Day and Night Eye Cream
Loaded with caffeine, collagen, and niacinamide, the Remedial Pax Eye Cream brightens your under-eye area and gives it a fresh glow. These anti-fatigue ingredients help to reduce puffiness, treat dark circles, and keep the skin around your eyes hydrated. The cream also contains vitamins B and E to give a soothing feel to the sensitive skin around your eyes and protect it from damage.
The cream also contains glycerin, sunflower oil, and shea butter, which help to restore the natural glow of your skin and penetrate deep for long-lasting moisturization. When used consistently, the eye cream can eliminate fatigue and help with hyperpigmentation correcting and reducing fine lines. It is gentle on the skin, doesn’t leave a greasy feel, and is safe for every skin type. The results are quick and long-lasting.
- Suits all skin types
- Best for sensitive skin
- Natural ingredients
- Intense moisturization
- Reduces puffiness
- Conceals dark circles
- SLS-free
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
None
11. Best For Reducing Wrinkles:The Better Skin Co. Mirakle Cream
This hyaluronic acid brightening eye cream is all-purpose and ingredient-rich and contains coconut oil, sea buckthorn, shea butter, and cocoa butter to deeply hydrate and moisturize the skin for a smoother, more youthful, and radiant complexion. Skin plumping hyaluronic acid and peptides help reduce the appearance of visible signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. This eye cream is fragrance-free and suitable for all skin types.
- Suitable for all skin types
- Free of parabens
- Gluten-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Might not be suitable for those with sensitive skin problems.
Now that we have looked at our pick of the 11 best brightening eye creams of 2024, let us look at some things to consider when picking a suitable eye cream for your unique skin needs.
How To Choose A Brightening Eye Cream
Skin type
One of the first things to consider when picking any skincare product is your unique skin type. If your skin is dry and deprived of moisture, pick a brightening eye cream that has hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, and shea butter. Those with oily and acne-prone skin will benefit from a non-comedogenic brightening eye cream that has proven efficacy to nourish the skin without clogging the pores. Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free eye creams are best suited for those with sensitive skin problems.
Ingredient list
A quick look at the ingredient list will tell you multitudes about any skincare product. Eye creams with natural and organic ingredients moisturize and nourish the delicate skin around the eyes without exposing it to harsh chemicals. Steer clear of products with parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, which not only damage the skin in the long run but are also known to disrupt the endocrine system. Ingredients like jojoba oil, coconut oil, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C help brighten and illuminate the skin around the eyes.
Texture
An important thing to consider when choosing an eye cream is the intended use of the product. If you choose to wear the eye cream during the day under makeup, pick a product with a lightweight and fast-absorbing texture. A night brightening eye cream will have a creamier texture, making it ideal for hydrating the skin deeply through the night.
The Bottom Line
The under-eye skin is delicate and easily prone to dark circles, wrinkles, and puffiness. Such skin needs extra TLC to prevent the visibility of under-eye dark circles. So it’s essential to invest in the best brightening eye creams scientifically formulated to revitalize your skin around the eyes and brighten them. If you are overwhelmed with the choices, we recommend the LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream for general hydration and anti-aging benefits, the Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream for puffiness reduction and lively radiance, and the OZNaturals Ultra Ageless Eye Créme for youthful skin texture. Some of the products listed above firm the sagging skin, while some smooth the area, and some minimize the visibility of aging signs. In addition, the powerful ingredients loaded in a professional-grade eye cream brighten the skin and make it soft and youthful. Remember to steer clear of the products that make your skin greasy.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Medha Deb, the author of this article, is a skin care enthusiast. She loves to explore and review various skin care products. She has created this list of best brightening eye creams after thorough research and reading many online reviews on trusted forums. The creams included in the list reduce undereye puffiness, fine lines, wrinkles and plump up the skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do brightening eye creams work?
With regular and disciplined use, brightening eye creams will help slowly rebuild the moisture barrier in the skin around the eyes and will help reduce the appearance of dark circles and discoloration. Pick a good product with brightening ingredients like cucumber extract, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid for best results.
Do brightening eye creams make wrinkles worse?
With hydrating and skin-plumping ingredients help to deeply hydrate the skin around the eyes and improve skin tone and texture. Eye creams can effectively delay the onset of wrinkles and reduce their appearance by nourishing the skin with ingredients like peptides, vitamin E, and coconut oil.
Does brightening cream work for dark circles?
Yes, brightening cream can help fade dark circles and make the skin look brighter and healthier.
How do you apply bright eye cream?
• Clean your face thoroughly with a good facial cleanser.
• Pat dry your face with a face towel.
• Apply brightening cream with your fingertips.
• Gently massage the under-eye region.
• Let the bright eye cream get absorbed into your under-eye skin.
Can I use eye cream on my whole face?
No. Using an eye cream on your face may clog the pores as the eye creams are made of intensive moisturizing ingredients made for the areas around the eyes which have no oil glands.
