3 Dermatologist-Approved, Anti-Aging Summer Under Eye Creams
Dark circles and pigmentation under the eyes can make you look tired and aged, so a Vitamin C serum will brighten the area and lighten harsh shadows.
Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, tells us, “Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radical damage, brightens dark spots to even skin tone, and supports production of healthy collagen.”
For this, he recommends the $104 Skinceuticals AOX Eye Gel to battle bags and brighten the face.
If you struggle with sensitive skin, Zeichner suggests a peptide cream to gently treat the under eye area. “Peptides are signals that tell your skin to do a specific job. It's like dangling a carrot in front of their nose,” he explains.
For this skin type, Zeichner recommends the Alpha H Liquid Gold Firming Eye Cream ($82 via Amazon) because it, “contains 2 specific peptides that help strengthen the skin and stimulate collagen production to improve the appearance of fine lines and crepey skin.”
We also checked in with skincare expert Madelyn Cusimano, esthetician for The A Method, who explained how this eye cream is from celebrity dermatologist, Dr. Tina Alster, and a product that features peptides.
This aforementioned, powerful skincare ingredient can moisturize, hydrate and soothe the skin around your eyes. It's dubbed an "all-in-one" cream, meaning that it targets anti-aging goals like drawing attention away from wrinkles and fine lines while also preventing dreaded puffiness.
In addition, it can brighten dark eye circles and aims to "tighten and tone the appearance of skin around the orbital rim," as noted on the brand's website, where you can purchase the highly raved $78 cream.
The Bottom Line
Overall, while these are three go-to and often praised eye cream ingredients, our experts suggest visiting your dermatologist for more personalized and specific recommendations. Cusimano concludes that eye creams work best when paired with another retinol product (your dermatologist can help you find one that suits your needs).
Retinol, she says, will help "feed the collagen and encourage cell turnover, while the peptide will help support all the progress the skin is making." Both, she stresses, "work on collagen stimulation and strengthening the skin."