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Fine lines, dark circles, puffinessーwho doesn’t want to get rid of these? We all want to wake up looking fresh and relaxed, not tired and stressed. Eye creams are here to save the day, but with several products on the market promising similar results, how do we choose the best one?
Board-certified dermatologist, book author, researcher, speaker. Dr. Colayco graduated from the University of the Phillippines-College of Medicine and completed her residency in Dermatology at the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center. She is a member of the Philippine Dermatological Society and the Philippine Academy of Dermatologic Surgery Foundation, Inc. She has been in private practive for over 10 years at her clinic in Makati and is also a consultant at the Medical Center Taguig Hospital.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
When looking for affordable eye creams, consider the ingredients to address your specific concerns. Also, opt for gentle options without alcohol or fragrance and soft-textured creams with moisturizing ingredients. For more details, read through our buying guide below.
On the other hand, wrinkles that show no signs of change even after trying to moisturize are likely caused by aging. If this sounds like your problem, we recommend using eye creams that contain retinol and niacin. Retinol is a wrinkle-fighting ingredient that restarts collagen production and increases the skin’s elasticity, while niacin is an essential nutrient that promotes skin repair.
Retinoids are the time-tested ingredients of anti-aging - and for a good reason too! Countless studies have been made regarding retinoids’ (tretinoin) effect on skin wrinkles. Retinoids promote collagen production and collagen reorganization to improve the skin turgor and quality. However, high percentage retinoid creams (like tretinoin 1.0% or adapalene 0.3%) around the eye area may cause skin irritation. Again, a good moisturizing eye cream is beneficial to pair with a retinoid cream.
A newer ingredient called peptides can also improve the appearance of wrinkles. Peptides promote the formation of collagen and increase elastin. Aside from these, they have good wound healing properties. They are often prescribed after a chemical peel or ablative laser therapies because of their regenerative properties. Unlike retinoids, peptides hardly cause skin irritation and skin dryness. So most peptide products can be used on their own.
Eye creams that contain peptides and topical caffeine bring back the skin’s elasticity. They bring firmness back to your skin. Retinol, on the other hand, promotes skin renewal – reviving and restoring the skin around the eyes.
Eye bags are tricky to treat. Genetics and aging can cause eye bags. When we age, our skin and ligaments become lax. We also lose fat volume in our mid-cheek. Because of these, the natural fat bags under our eyes sag. Aside from aging, fluid accumulation because of inflammatory skin conditions (such as atopic dermatitis) and lifestyle (such as eating too much salty food) can promote prominent eye bags.
Like wrinkles, improving the skin’s elasticity with retinoids and peptide-containing products may help diminish saggy eye bags. Creams with topical caffeine are also said to improve leaky vessels. However, for hereditary and large eye bags, surgery may be the best treatment option.
Did you know that there are different types of under-eye circles? If you look closely, you might notice that they’re either bluish, pinkish, purplish, or reddish-brown. Different colors signify different causes, so it’s important to choose eye creams that target your concerns.
Most bluish circles are caused by poor circulation, it’s best to use eye creams that include ingredients like arginine, which promotes good blood circulation. Products containing retinol and vitamins K and E increase collagen production around the eyes, also reducing the appearance of bluish circles.
Furthermore, gently massaging the eyes during application helps the product seep into the skin, allowing you to maximize its benefits. Tapping the skin also gets your blood moving.
Bluish, pink, or purple under-eye pigmentation typically points to a vascular cause. The skin around the eye area is one of the thinnest in the body. Therefore, the vascular network of the skin is more visible compared to the rest of the face or body.
Moisturization is key to repair the skin barrier in inflammatory skin conditions. Topical caffeine improves vascularization and strengthens leaky vessels. Vitamin K, a micronutrient in the blood and an essential cofactor in our body’s natural wound healing process, may also affect better vascular development as well.
We recommend checking out eye creams containing vitamin C derivatives, arbutin, and placenta as these are some of the ingredients that are excellent in correcting hyperpigmentation.
Lightening ingredients may help improve the skin’s appearance. Hydroquinone (banned in the Philippines), kojic acid, azelaic acid, arbutin (from barberry), and topical vitamin C can help decrease melanin in the skin. Niacinamide, aside from reducing skin pigmentation, also recovers sun damage on the skin resulting in better skin texture.
Applying sunscreen around the eye area and wearing sun-protective equipment like sunglasses can help improve reddish-brown under-eye circles too!
If a product is not explicitly labeled as alcohol-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free, then it probably isn’t. However, it won’t hurt to make it a habit to double-check the ingredients list before purchasing a product.
The skin around the eyes is thin and fragile. Regardless of your facial skin type, a mild product should be used in this area.
It’s impossible to determine whether or not a product is easy to apply without actually testing it, but we can always refer to online reviews.
A good starting point would be to use a moisturizer in a light cream base/vehicle. This allows the product to be gently pat around the eye areas.
Use the last two fingers of your hands (ring and pinky fingers) and lightly dab the product from the temple area towards the nose area (lateral to medial). You only need a tiny amount of product to cover this whole area. Using too much product will just be a waste because it will not be absorbed by the skin.
Some ingredients you should look out for when choosing an eye cream include ceramide, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin. Don’t worry, as there are plenty of affordable eye creams that contain these ingredients.
Moisturizing our skin is an effective and easily-accessible step that we can do now to help our skin. Ingredients such as ceramide and hyaluronic acid in eye cream formulations can hydrate the skin.
Ceramide is similar to our skin’s own natural moisturizing factor. Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, is a molecule that naturally occurs in our skin. Both ceramide and hyaluronic acid are humectants -- ingredients that help the skin retain moisture. In turn, the skin looks visibly plump and smooth.
It is wise to start early on these safe and commercially available products; otherwise, if there is too much skin laxity, other modalities such as chemical peels, lasers or surgery may be considered instead.
Eye creams that come in jars usually contain more product, which saves you money in the long run. You can also see how much product you have left after each use, making it easier to tell when you need to buy a new one. It will differ depending on one’s preference or needs, but make sure to choose the packaging that suits you.
Just make sure to keep your products clean! Always use clean fingers when applying products to your skin to prevent contaminating the container.
Also, check the expiry date. Most products expire two years from the date of manufacture.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | Details | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amount | Noable Ingredients | Best for | Alcohol-Free | Fragrance-Free | ||||||
1 | Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Cream Serum | ₱1,549 High | A Lightweight Eye Cream With the Gentlest Formula | 14 mL | Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Vitamin E | Hydration | Yes | Yes | ||
2 | COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream | ₱963 High Mid | Contains All-Star Ingredients That Brighten the Undereye Area | 25 mL | Snail Secretion Filtrate, Peptide Complex-5, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate | Wrinkles, Hydration, Reducing Puffiness | Yes | Yes | ||
3 | Céleteque DermoScience™ Brightening Eyetuck and Dark Circles Lightener | ₱299 Low Mid | Infused With Tetrapeptide Complex to Brighten Your Eyes and Reduce Dark Circles | 15 mL | Peptide, Apricot Kernel Oil, Shea Butter | Brightening Dark Circles | Yes | Yes | ||
4 | AHC Luminous Glow Eye Cream for Face | ₱469 Mid | All-in-One Eye Cream for Brightening and Anti-Aging Effects | 30 mL | Glutathione, Hyaluronic Acid, Alpha-Bisabolol, Vitamin C | Brightening Dark Circles, Reducing Signs of Aging | Yes | Yes | ||
5 | Pond's Age Miracle Anti Aging Eye Cream | ₱599 Mid | Reduces the Signs of Aging Around Your Eyes | 15 mL | Retinol, Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide | Wrinkles | No | Yes | ||
6 | Skintific 360 Crystal Massager Lifting Eye Cream | ₱750 Mid | Caffeine-Enriched Eye Cream With Built-in Massager to Reduce Dark Circles and Wrinkles | 20 mL | Peptide, Niacinamide, Caffeine | Wrinkles, Brightening Dark Circles, Reducing Puffiness | No | Yes | ||
7 | SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream | ₱649 Mid | An Anti-Aging Eye Cream With Triple Benefits | 30 mL | Retinol, Retinal, Cica, Tea Tree, Hyaluronic, Niacinamide, Glutathione | Brightening Dark Circles, Firming Skin | No | No | ||
8 | Human Nature Sunflower Eye Cream | ₱349 Low Mid | A Natural Way to Rejuvenate the Eye Area | 15 mL | Sunflower Beauty Oil (Vitamins A, C, D and E), Jasmine, Hawthorne Essence | Reducing Puffiness | Yes | No | ||
9 | Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream | ₱764 Mid | Infused With Fermented Black Rice and Bakuchiol to Gently Lighten Dark Circles | 20 mL | Niacinamide, Bakuchiol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Fermented Black Rice | Brightening Dark Circles, Wrinkles, Improving Puffiness | No | Yes | ||
10 | Luxe Organix Bright Eyes Eye Cream | ₱179 Low | Has 80% Galactomyces for Radiant-Looking Undereyes | 15 mL | Niacinamide, Galactomyces, Adenosine, Caffeine | Brightening Dark Circles, Wrinkles, Reducing Puffines | No | No |
Cetaphil's Hydrating Eye Cream Serum is designed to deeply hydrate, brighten, and smoothen the delicate skin around the eyes. It is formulated with hyaluronic acid, providing instant and intense skin hydration.
This product also contains niacinamide and vitamin E to lighten dark circles and restore your skin's barrier. In addition, the serum is non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Users also love that it hydrates the skin around their eyes without feeling heavy or greasy.
Amount | 14 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Vitamin E |
Best for | Hydration |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Fragrance-Free | Yes |
This eye cream from COSRX contains four big ingredients in Korean skincare: snail mucin, peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients work together to moisturize the skin, smooth out fine lines, fade dark circles, and lock in hydration to give you healthy-looking under eyes.
The product is paraben, alcohol, essential oil, and fragrance-free, making it suitable for all skin types. Plus, it comes in a vacuum pump, ensuring you can use every drop without any waste. Loyal users also laud this eye cream for its fast-absorbing, smooth texture and ability to perk up tired eyes.
Amount | 25 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Snail Secretion Filtrate, Peptide Complex-5, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate |
Best for | Wrinkles, Hydration, Reducing Puffiness |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Fragrance-Free | Yes |
Amount | 15 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Peptide, Apricot Kernel Oil, Shea Butter |
Best for | Brightening Dark Circles |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Fragrance-Free | Yes |
This eye cream by AHC can be used to combat both brightening and anti-aging skin concerns in just one simple step. It is packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients, including glutathione, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C derivatives, which are clinically proven to brighten skin and reduce wrinkles.
According to several reviews, the product is also lightweight, fast-absorbing, and leaves the skin feeling soft, smooth, and radiant. It is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic as well, making it suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.
Amount | 30 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Glutathione, Hyaluronic Acid, Alpha-Bisabolol, Vitamin C |
Best for | Brightening Dark Circles, Reducing Signs of Aging |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Fragrance-Free | Yes |
Amount | 15 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Retinol, Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide |
Best for | Wrinkles |
Alcohol-Free | No |
Fragrance-Free | Yes |
Amount | 20 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Peptide, Niacinamide, Caffeine |
Best for | Wrinkles, Brightening Dark Circles, Reducing Puffiness |
Alcohol-Free | No |
Fragrance-Free | Yes |
Say goodbye to eye bags and wrinkles with this triple-action eye cream! Formulated with retinol and peptides, this product will smoothen out your skin, especially under the eyes, by facilitating the production of collagen. It also contains glutathione and tranexamic acid, which will brighten dark circles around the eye area.
In addition to its anti-aging and brightening properties, this eye cream is also infused with hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and trehalose to improve the skin's hydration. But despite being packed with moisturizing agents, it feels surprisingly light and refreshing on the skin, so many users rave about how it doesn't feel sticky or heavy at all.
Amount | 30 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Retinol, Retinal, Cica, Tea Tree, Hyaluronic, Niacinamide, Glutathione |
Best for | Brightening Dark Circles, Firming Skin |
Alcohol-Free | No |
Fragrance-Free | No |
Amount | 15 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Sunflower Beauty Oil (Vitamins A, C, D and E), Jasmine, Hawthorne Essence |
Best for | Reducing Puffiness |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Fragrance-Free | No |
Amount | 20 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Niacinamide, Bakuchiol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Fermented Black Rice |
Best for | Brightening Dark Circles, Wrinkles, Improving Puffiness |
Alcohol-Free | No |
Fragrance-Free | Yes |
If you're looking for a local and affordable eye cream that can reduce puffiness and dark circles, this product by Luxe Organix is for you. It is infused with 80% galactomyces, which minimizes the appearance of dark circles and puffiness to revive your tired-looking under-eye!
It also contains niacinamide, adenosine, and Bifida ferment lysate, which provide intense hydration to give you more radiant under-eyes. Moreover, reviewers are highly satisfied with the price point and formula of this product, noting that it is gentle on their skin.
Amount | 15 mL |
---|---|
Noable Ingredients | Niacinamide, Galactomyces, Adenosine, Caffeine |
Best for | Brightening Dark Circles, Wrinkles, Reducing Puffines |
Alcohol-Free | No |
Fragrance-Free | No |
The eye area is a small yet powerful part of the face. It can convey happiness, excitement, sadness, and even fatigue - even when we do not want it to! Flaccid saggy skin, under-eye bags, and dark circles can unwantedly convey a tired look.
Topical medications may help address some of these concerns. I say some because we have to evaluate the primary cause of the problem. Example: flaccid saggy skin can be attributed to aging. As we age, we lose our skin’s elasticity and turgor.
As repeatedly said by everyone in the skin and beauty world, the skin around our eyes is sensitive and delicate so it requires proper and gentle care. The video above from British Vogue demonstrates how to properly use and apply an eye cream to get the most benefit from your product!
Tips:
In the morning, after washing your face, apply your face and eye product, then sunscreen, and lastly your make-up. Eye products may also be applied at night after cleansing your face.
Be gentle! You don’t need to pile on the topicals. Choose the best one that can both hydrate and address your skin concern. Lastly, when in doubt, ask your favorite dermatologist for advice.
We also asked Dr. Mabelle Colayco for some of her tips to better take care of your under eyes. Continue reading to find out more!
Inflammatory conditions (such as atopic dermatitis or contact dermatitis), telangiectasia (numerous tiny blood vessels), edema from leaky blood vessels, and even bruising can be a cause of blue, pink, or purple under-eye circles.
Meanwhile, reddish-brown under-eye pigmentation usually signifies a melanocytic process, meaning there is an increase in melanin in the skin. Melasma, ultraviolet light exposure, and hormonal changes are just some of the possible causes of reddish-brown under-eye circles.
Make-up, such as concealers and mineral make-up foundation, are often used to correct skin color outwardly. However, if you would like to address under-eye hyperpigmentation more permanently, an evaluation of the primary cause of the pigmentation is a must in order to choose the right ingredients for treatment.
There is no miracle ingredient that can address all our skin concerns. To get the most out of our skin or eye-care routine, examine yourself to see the issue that concerns you most and then choose a product that can address that.
Nowadays, however, many cosmetic and skincare companies have the technology to combine ingredients that can not only moisturize (which is really the number one priority in my book!) but target your specific skin issue as well.
Clear skin will always be in and it will always give you a confidence boost. Whether you're looking to treat specific problem areas or you just need some maintenance, we've got you covered! Check out our other buying guides and product recommendations!
Re-editor: Danielle Trinidad
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Cetaphil|Hydrating Eye Cream Serum
No. 2: COSRX |Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
No. 3: Céleteque|DermoScience™ Brightening Eyetuck and Dark Circles Lightener
No. 4: AHC|Luminous Glow Eye Cream for Face
No. 5: Pond's |Age Miracle Anti Aging Eye Cream
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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