The Best Eye Creams in Australia

But first, do you actually need an eye cream at all?

What does an eye cream do? Well, it pretty much does what a moisturizer would. It can hydrate, soothe, treat fine lines, hyperpigmentation, etc. So do eye creams really make a difference? And is an eye cream really better than moisturizer for your face? The answer is, they can indeed make a difference to your skin AND they can be better. Research shows that the skin around our eyes is markedly thinner than the rest of the skin on our face. It doesn't contain as much subcutaneous fat, collagen or oil glands. Hence, fine lines and the effects of certain factors like fatique and dehydration are usually more pronounced in the under-eye area. On top of that, the thickness and heaviness of certain ingredients in regular face creams can pill and crease around the delicate eye contour (it's why makeup also has a separate category for the eye!). Ingredients in eye serums and creams are typically designed for better penetration, less irritation and a smoother application. It can result in a fresher and more rejuvenated-looking complexion. 

 

Where not to apply eye cream

The top eye creams are designed for maximum impact without overloading or irritating the delicate skin around the area. A good eye cream also shouldn't pill under makeup or SPF. Hence, to produce an eye cream can take more research and finer ingredients, making many of them typically more expensive. So, you want to make sure you're applying it where you should, and not wasting it where you shouldn't! Take a small amount and just dot it above your cheekbones, all the way from your nose bridge to the area where crows' feet form. 

Also, we don't know who needs to hear this, but obviously, don't apply creams anywhere near your lash lines. They can melt and seep into your eye, and your eyeballs don't need skincare! We wouldn't recommend applying it on your lids either, unless it is a specialized cream for the lids (such as one targeting eyelid-eczema).

 

How to apply eye cream the right way

There's just 3 things to remember. Firstly, use a tiny amount, less is more! While you can use an eye cream for your entire face, we think that's an unnecessarily expensive way of doing things (but hey, if it works for you, we ain't hating). Secondly, work your way from your nose bridge out to the crows' feet area, the same direction a facial roller would travel. And lastly, give it time to absorb before applying another product on top. if you apply your SPF and makeup too quickly, it might dilute / rub away the benefits.

 

Give it time to work

How long does it take for eye cream to work can depend on the ingredients, but generally, give it around 30 - 60 days of consistent use. As with most things, skincare requires consistency and diligence to see the best results.

 

What is the best eye cream in Australia?

This is of course, highly subjective, because our skin reacts differently to different products depending on things like age, lifestyle, environmental factors etc. But below, we've listed the tried, tested and loved eye creams and serums that have worked for various concerns, and are exalted to be among the top of the pops. Plus, we've tried them all so we'll tel you how it really is, and what we loved the most for our millennial skin. Okay - let's get into it!

 

1. BEST ALL-ROUNDER: Heimish's Marine Care Eye Cream

We think this is one of the best eye circle creams out there for a number of reasons. It's a rather luxurious under-eye moisturizer that reminds us a little of La Mer (but far more affordable). Its ingredients are gentle but designed to werk -think fermented seaweed extract, peptides and plant stem cells. It hydrates, blurs fine lines, soothes puffiness, and boosts microcirculation, thanks to the little eye applicator that can be used for a gentle massage. Looking for an eye cream for men? Honestly, gender shouldn't make a difference but even the pickiest dude will appreciate the thick and silky goodness of this cream. 

Pros: Nourishing feel, pregnancy-safe, luxurious, affordable, cruelty-free, great anti-aging ingredients, dupe for a more expensive brand.

Cons: Contains a teeny bit of fragrance.

Buy Heimish's Marine Care Eye Cream here.

2. BEST EYE CREAM FOR DARK CIRCLES: Mary & May's Tranexamic Acid & Glutathione Eye Cream

Does any under-eye cream actually work for dark circles? The truth is, it depends on the cause. Generally, there are 4 reasons why you have dark circles under your eyes.

1. The first, is lifestyle factors (e.g. sleep deprivation, dehydration) - things that can be cured by catching zz's and drinking more water (really).
2. The second, is just simply aging. As we age, we lose more of the subcutaneous fat under our eyes, which results in a shadow being cast across the hollow space. Frankly, if we're beying real, this is beyond the limitations of skincare.
3. The third reason, is that our skin is dehydrated. Dark circles and fine lines tend to be more pronounced when our skin is dry and parched. In that case, scroll down to section no. 8: Best Under Eye Creams for Dry Skin.
4. The fourth reason is skin discoloration, which can be due to age, sun exposure, hormonal changes or certain medications. In that case, the best eye creams for dark circles will have skin brightening agents in them, such as vitamin C, tranexamic acid, licorice root etc. Read on!

We think best under eye cream for dark circles is Mary & May's Tranexamic Acid & Glutathione Eye Cream. Both tranexamic acid and glutathione are both clinically proven to fade hyperpigmentation without irritating the delicate skin around your eyes. In fact, this cream is so effective, you can even use it as a spot treatment on post-acne scars and dark spots. Plus, it also contains other skin brighteners, such as niacinamide, ascorbic acid and vitamin fruit extract.

Pros: Highly effective, a ton of brightening ingredients, cruelty-free, pregnancy-safe, rich texture, can also be used as a dark spot treatment elsewhere on the face, works well under makeup.

Cons: Contains a teeny bit of fragrance.

Purchase Mary & May's Tranexamic Acid & Glutathione Eye Cream here.

3. BEST EYE CREAM FOR WRINKLES: Beauty of Joseon - Revive Ginseng & Retinal Eye Serum

Okay, while this is technically an eye serum, it's moisturizing as well thanks to macadamia and rapeseed oils in the formula. We think this is one of the best eye creams for wrinkles. It contains 2% retinal, which can work 11x faster than standard retinol. It absorbs quickly, and works without irritating. Plus, we dig the other ingredients in the formula - ginseng (a traditional anti-aging ingredient in Asian herbal medicine), niacinamide (to brighten) and ceramides, to help with moisture retention.

Pros: Beautiful texture (like a creamy emulsion), absorbs quickly, clean and cruelty-free formula, lightweight, ideal ingredients for fine lines and sensitive skin.

Cons: May not be thick or moisturizing enough for extremely dry, crepey skin.

Buy Beauty of Joseon - Revive Ginseng & Retinal Eye Serum here.

 

4. BEST EYE CREAM FOR PUFFY EYES: SVR Laboratories' Refresh Eyebag Toning Ampoule

Again, tehnically not a cream but so effective that we'd be doing you a disservice by not talking about it! If the name doesn't say it all already, then the results will. The Refresh Eyebag Toning Ampoule from French brand SVR Laboratories contains caffine extract (2%) to stimulate microcirculation, helping to depuff and tone the under-eye area. The formula also contains Fucus Vesiculosus, a mineral-rich algae extract that's shown to reduce wrinkle depth and improve skin texture. The ampoule's innovative pipette with a metal spoolie attached allows you to massage the product in while only using a teeny amount at a time. Given it works on lines AND it's been clinically proven to reduce eye bags, we'd call our best eye cream for bags and wrinkles.

Pros: Clinically proven to work, excellent anti-aging ingredients, economical spoolie to only use the right amount of product, cruelty-free, easily absorbed. 

Cons: Small amount of added fragrance, more a serum than a cream, will require an additioal moisturizer on top for dry skin. 

Buy the Refresh Eyebag Toning Ampoule from SVR Laboratories here.

 

5. BEST EYE CREAM FOR MAKEUP PREP: belif's Moisturizing Eye Bomb

Why put up with an amazing eye cream for creases under your makeup when belif's Moisturizing Eye Bomb is one of the best rated under eye creams AND is an incredible primer? The silky-smooth formula uses tiger grass, pennywort, squalane and ceramides to provide up to 26 hours of moisture. Best of all, it's lightweight and helps prevent foundation from creasing and settling into fine lines. It's a little bit of luxury, but worth every penny.

Pros: Beautiful silky texture, pregnancy-safe, moisturizing, no pilling or creasing, works well in a layered routine or under makeup. Highly effective. 

Cons: Contains essential oils so not for those particularly sensitive to fragrant plant oils. On the pricier side.

Purchase belif's Moisturizing Eye Bomb here.

6. BEST RETINOL EYE CREAM: Revive Ginseng & Retinal Eye Serum from Beauty of Joseon

Beauty of Joseon's Revive Ginseng & Retinal Eye Serum combines one of traditional Korean medicine's favourite anti-ageing ingredients (ginseng root) with a 2% concentration of vitamin A derivative. Retinal is very similar to retinol and will lead to the same results - however, retinal purports to do it quicker, with a much higher exfoliation rate than standard retinol. This serum is moisturizing, great on all skin types, and is more creamy in texture than a standard serum (hence, we prefer to call it an eye cream). It does its best work on fine lines. If you're looking for the best retinol eye cream for dark circles, we'd suggest ditching retinol all together and focusing on ingredients like vitamin C, tranexamic acid and gluthatione. 

Pros: Contains retinal, lovely texture, feels luxurious, moisturizing, clean formula, fragrance-free, suitable for sensitive skin as well.

Cons: None - the only thing we found is that it's so nice, you'll want to use it for your whole face! Here's hoping they come out with a bigger tube.

Buy the Revive Ginseng & Retinal Eye Serum from Beauty of Joseon here.

 

7. BEST EYE CREAM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN: Purito's Unscented Centella Green Level Eye Cream

This soothing cream is half-plant: literally. Containing a 49% concentration of tiger grass, the Centella Green Level Eye Cream from Purito rapidly penetrates your delicate under-eye skin without weighing it down, making it look hydrated and plump. Plus, its EWG green-grade ingredients combined with a solid dose of peptides and ceramides hydrates and fills out creases and fine lines to combat dark circles. We think it's a good eye cream for milia too. And for those with extra sensitive skin, there's an Unscented version (sans essential oils). 

Pros: Clean, vegan and cruelty-free formula. Ideal for sensitive skin, lots of soothing ingredients, pregnancy-safe. Layers well. 

Cons: Honestly, we can't really think of any, other than it may be too lightweight for those with extremely dry skin.

Buy Purito's Centella Green Level Eye Cream here.

 

8. BEST EYE CREAM FOR DRY SKIN: The Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream from COSRX

The big issue for dry skin (as opposed to dehydrated skin) is moisture retention (if your skin is dehydrated, we think the best hydrating eye cream for you would be gel-based, FYI). The Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream from COSRX is semi-occlusive thanks to the 72% snail secretion filtrate, and also moisturizes with the sunflower seed oil in the formula. It makes a significant difference to dry skin, which in turn makes it one of the best under eye cream for dark circles caused by dryness. The other ingredients are great too - niacinamide brightens and 5 kinds of peptides work on fine lines. If snail mucin has never really been your thing, try ISNTREE's TW-Real Eye Cream. It does similar things, minus the snail mucin.

Pros: Clean and cruelty-free formula, moisturizing and soothing, forms a moisture-locking barrier, good cream for dark circles around eyes too.

Cons: Honestly, some people just can't get past the snail mucin, and that's ok.

Buy Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream from COSRX here.

 

9. BEST EYE CREAM FOR ECZEMA ON EYELIDS: SVR Laboratories's TOPIALYSE Anti-Irritation Eye Cream

Looking for an eye cream for sensitive skin? SVR's Topialyse Anti-Irritation Eye Cream is the number 1 product prescribed by French dermatologists for hypersensitive skin around the eye contour area. Specifically formulated for allergy-prone, flaky and eczema-prone skin on your peepers, it provides quick and delicious relief to reduce irritation and redness. The formula uses omega-rich cotton oil and babassu butter to replenish moisture. Hyaluronic acid plumps out fine lines, while glycyrrhizic acid works to calm itching and inflammation. With a rich, creamy consistency, it boasts clinically proven results, and is even safe for the little ones (ages 3 and up). Note, it's not meant to replace a prescribed treatment for atopic skin, but rather supplement it, and can be used to help prevent future breakouts.

Pros: Moisturising, fast absorption, lightweight, not tacky or greasy, fragrance-free, pregnancy-safe, suitable eye cream for dry eyelids.

Cons: We don't think there are any. For our sensitive skin and atopic peeps, ensure to patch test first, and follow your doctor's recommendations.

Purchase the TOPIALYSE Anti-Irritation Eye Cream from SVR Laboratories here.

 

10. BEST VEGAN EYE CREAM FOR FINE LINES: Acure's Radically Rejuvenating Eye Cream

Look, this is just a good eye cream for wrinkles, even if buying vegan isn't at the very top of your priorities. It is no less effective than the the non-vegan creams out there! Edelweiss extract and chlorella provide deep hydration to protect the skin’s moisture barrier. The formula also contains COQ10, an antioxidant by which Japanese women have sworn for years (fun fact). It reduces sun damage, stimulates the production of collagen and can help reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Pros: Plenty of star ingredients for anti-aging, dry and sensitive skin, fragrance-free, moisturising, clean ingredients, pregnancy-safe.

Cons: We can't really think of any, tbh. 

Buy Acure's Radically Rejuvenating Eye Cream here.

 

What's your best eye wrinkle cream, eye cream for puffy eyes or serum? Used any of the above products? Drop us your thoughts in the comments below!