Wearing a mask has become the new norm. With all focus now on the upper half of the face, we need to pay special attention to the eye area. Whether you have dark circles, wrinkles or puffiness, we've hauled together the best eye treatments—verified by MakeupAlley's own incredible community of connoiseurs—to tackle your orbital issues. Also, read through board-certified dermatologist and co-host of THE GIST Dr. Ava Shamban's informative tips, tricks and medical advice.
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TREAT: Dark Circles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “...When I first applied this eye cream, I wondered if there was shimmer in it because it immediately brightened my under eyes. But upon closer inspection I did not see any shimmer or glitter, just a brightness that made me look very awake and healthy. Tarte does a fantastic job of producing a rich,moisturizing eye cream that doesn’t feel greasy on the skin. It feels nourishing and for someone with mature dry skin, I appreciate the mild plumping effect it gives me. It’s hard to find an under eye cream that isn’t hell bent on de-puffing when you suffer from hollows under the eyes from depleted collagen production as you get older.”
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TREAT: Dark Circles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “I am very impressed with this cream. It is a brightener not a concealer. If concealing is what you want/need/desire, you will be dissatisfied with this cream. I use this at the very, very top of my cheekbone, the area directly below the eye socket depression. I place a few small dots, then pat-pat-pat and then...lightly move [my] fingertips back and forth to get a nice even distribution. I also use this around the outside of my nostrils as well as the corners of my mouth...”
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TREAT: Dark Circles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “...I have been using this during the daytime before applying my sunscreen. The texture of this product is light enough that it absorbs quickly and works well under makeup and foundation. The ingredients (ferulic acid, vitamins C and E) that Peter Thomas Roth has included in the Potent C Power Eye Cream will definitely give your eye area protection from free radicals and help prevent aging. I noticed additional brightness and moisture in my eye area after using this for just a couple weeks. I love that it is fragrance-free and packaged in a manner that will help protect the vitamin C from exposure to air. I do have two issues though—it is pricey and Peter Thomas Roth is not cruelty free.”
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TREAT: Dark Circles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “This stuff is really, really good. I just wish that it came in a squeeze tube because I really don’t like poking my finger in the tub. It isn’t very hygienic. I have issues with milia from most eye creams that I’ve tried but not this one. I don’t really have issues with wrinkles around my eyes (at least yet) so can’t comment on how it affects the appearance of those. But it does make my eye area look so much better somehow. I can’t put my finger on exactly how, but it makes me look like I’ve gotten a good night's sleep even when I haven’t. On days that I didn’t use it, people have told me that I looked really tired. On days that I do, people say you look great—even though I am actually more tired than usual.”
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TREAT: Under Eye Puffiness
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “This container at the full size lasts forever! Super soothing on the eye, and has a nice creamy texture that isn’t too watery or thick. It also helps with reducing puffiness, fine lines and dark circles. It’s not a total magic eraser, but I’m a fan of the ingredients list and the genera feeling I get after using this product in general.”
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TREAT: Under Eye Puffiness
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “Now this is impressive! Moisturizing, illuminating, depuffs (thanks to caffeine) and doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. It's like a combination of everything I could want in an eye cream, and in a formula that isn't too rich that it ends up causing milia (which often happens to me). [The ceramic applicator is] cooling and just feels great on your skin. Granted there's no SPF in here, but you do have Vitamin E acetate which gives some antioxidant protection. Lots of other goodies too, such as shea oil and black rose extract, which I think is what gives it that ever so faint floral smell (it's otherwise unfragranced). I find it's a perfect base for my eye makeup and as mentioned does subtly illuminate too, meaning on some very good (but admittedly infrequent) days I can get away with just this and not need to use my concealer. The moisturizing effect is what I love the most about this though; it's just the right amount of hydration—somewhere between a fluid and lotion that sinks in nicely and doesn't leave any stickiness behind...Pricey it is, but it ticks many boxes for me and, therefore, worth it.”
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TREAT: Under Eye Puffiness
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “I suffer from puffiness under my eyes every so often, and this is the product that I reach for when that happens. Puffiness can be caused by different factors; some for which this may work and others it may not. Mine is connected to allergies—mostly pollen. When it flares up, I just dab a bit of this on at night before bed and by the morning I can see a difference—perhaps 20-30% reduction in puffiness which, I would guess, is mainly down to the green tea and green coffee extracts (the other [cream] ingredients I've used both separately and in other products—with little results on reducing puffiness). I don't use it during the day due to the lack of SPF. For me, the nightly application works just fine. The formula is quite moisturizing and smells really nice. And of course, it's organic, boasts a fantastic ingredients list of good quality botanicals and is vegan certified too.”
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TREAT: Under Eye Puffiness
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “I enjoy this eye serum, mostly for its anti-puffing abilities. I haven't noticed any difference in dark circles though. It didn't leave me dry as some have noticed; I have combination skin so the eye area does tend to run on the dry side. Overall, I like the product.”
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TREAT: Fine Lines and Wrinkles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “I am on my fourth tube of this and I really like it. I started using this in my mid-thirties (my first retinol product for my eyes), and I did not have any kind of irritation. In fact, I saw an improvement in the fine line below my eyes (the ones that show up when you smile) within the first month...I am now in my early forties and while I still do like the cream, I would like a richer formula to use as well, especially in the wintertime when it's very cold and dry.”
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TREAT: Fine Lines and Wrinkles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “To my horror, I discovered that I'd given this an awful review five years ago. Well, five years ago I was 55. Now I'm 60 (nearing 61), and a lot of water has gone under the bridge. So I deleted that review and am giving my current impressions. After having used this thick, rich, creamy potion for three weeks (with no real increase in sleep), I have to admit that my eye area looks better. No miracles, but it looks brighter, the discoloration (dark circles, encroaching age spots) seem to have decreased. I have less puffiness in the morning, and the skin looks plumper and better hydrated. Hallelujah! It's bad enough to not have had a haircut in six months and not be wearing makeup, but when your eyes look bad and they're the only thing showing above a mask—well, that's pretty depressing. This product has for sure lifted my spirits, and I sincerely thank the MUAers on the MU board who wrote rational reviews (unlike my previous one) that encouraged me to try it. Yes, it's expensive, and yes, it comes in a jar (which bothers me not a bit), but if you need big-gun, heavy-duty under eye help, like I did, I think this is a great bet."
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TREAT: Fine Lines and Wrinkles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “This eye cream promises to smooth the wrinkles around the eyes in 4 weeks. It has a creamy texture that absorbs easily into the skin. There is niacinamide, vitamin E and retinyl propionate, along with other fatty acids and emollients that are beneficial for the sensitive skin around the eyes. Overall, I felt this cream was helpful in diminishing the fine lines and did help to keep the skin hydrated and smooth without causing any irritation. Realistically, I did not expect this cream to erase my deeper wrinkles around my eyes. I did receive this in a beauty box over two months ago, so it does last a long time...Very smart of Olay to package this fragrance free cream in an opaque tube to keep all of the ingredients effective. It's moderately priced and worth a purchase IMO."
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TREAT: Fine Lines and Wrinkles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “...It absorbs easily and has a medium non-sticky texture. There is a slightly bitter smell. I found that my eye area was well hydrated after use and applying makeup was unaffected—no balling behaviour. My lines have not worsened over 6 months. This is a more active product than what I had previously used. There is no eye irritation or milia. However, I do not like the open pot as this helps things degrade and I have become accustomed to pumps or tubes. Dipping my finger in or looking for the little plastic dipper stick which always gets lost is annoying..."
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TREAT: Fine Lines and Wrinkles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “I started using this eye cream exactly 3 months ago. I wanted to test it long enough so I could give an honest and accurate review. Over the years, I've wasted tons of money on a myriad of pricey eye creams that simply don't work. I wish I'd taken before & after photos because the results I've had with this eye cream are absolutely amazing! I am 48 and was just starting to get fine lines around my eyes. After using this eye cream consistently once a day for 3 months, the fine lines are completely gone! I'm not sure how this would work on deeper lines, but I started noticing results after about a month of use. As much as I love this eye cream, it unfortunately doesn't do anything at all for dark circles or puffiness. I am still looking for something that will help with those issues."
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TREAT: Fine Lines and Wrinkles
MUA ORBITAL REVIEW: “Paula's Choice does it again with this fantastic eye gel...I use this as my morning under eye product which I apply before my sunscreen (always the last step). The reason I like to use the eye gel during the daytime specifically is because it is lightweight and absorbs easily. Also, if you're a concealer wearer as I am, the concealer will have a nice hydrating base to glide onto...Dark circles is something I will say the product has not achieved in diminishing; maybe, it's slightly has reduced the darkness that I have but it is not a [noticeably] visible difference. But this is a fault of most eye creams and eye products in general; skin care has limitations even when they are beautifully formulated. Under eye darkness needs to be addressed head on with a visit to your dermatologist and perhaps a general practitioner or plastic surgeon for that matter. They are the result of anemia (low iron in the blood), stress and fatigue, [hereditary] pigmentation or like me they are simply the result of having such thin skin in the under eye area that the muscle underneath and blood vessels are visible and provide an almost bruised purplish, brown or blue hue. This is particularly emphasised if like me you're very pale."
