Don’t Want Botox? Only Buy Eye Creams With *This* Ingredient

Over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed my eyes have received a sudden influx of fine lines and dark circles. It came as a shock and had me scrambling to edit my skincare product lineup. While I could attribute this to age, lifestyle, and stressors, as a beauty editor, I know some blame lies in not using products with formulas that address my skin concerns. We’ve all heard about retinol’s ability to promote more youthful-looking skin, but I don’t think many people give it the appreciation it deserves.

Not sure what retinoids do? No problem. Retinoids function by allowing oil to exit the follicle; resulting in keeping inflammatory factors at bay and the acceleration and stimulation of cell turnover. They can also help your skin stay firm, decrease hyperpigmentation, and prevent laxity. So, just imagine what a retinol cream could do for the skin around your eyes! To get an idea of what to expect from these must-have products, we reached out to two leading dermatologists for the full rundown.

The Best Retinol Eye Creams, At a Glance

• Best Overall: Kiehl’s Since 1851 Super Multi-Corrective Eye Zone Treatment Cream
• Best for Fine Lines: The Inkey List Retinol Eye Cream
• Best for Dark Circles: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
• Best for Wrinkles: No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream
• Best for Sensitive Eyes: First Aid Beauty Retinol Eye Cream with Squalane + Ceramides

The Best Retinol Eye Creams of 2025

Best Overall: Kiehl’s Since 1851 Super Multi-Corrective Eye Zone Treatment Cream

Best for Fine Lines: The Inkey List Retinol Eye Cream

Best for Dark Circles: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream

Best for Wrinkles: No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream

Best for Sensitive Eyes: First Aid Beauty Retinol Eye Cream with Squalane + Ceramides

Best Plant-Based Retinol Eye Cream: Ilia Bright Start Activated Eye Cream

Best Skin Tightening: Herbivore Moon Dew 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides Retinol Alternative Eye Cream

Best Firming: La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eyes Retinol Eye Cream

Best Moisturizing: Dr. Brandt Skincare Bright This Way 24/7 Retinol Eye Cream

Best Brightening: Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Eye Cream

Best Anti-Aging: Fresh Black Tea Advanced Age Renewal Eye Cream

Best Under Makeup: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Eye Rescue

Best for Puffiness: Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Eye Cream

Best for Fast Results: Murad Retinal ReSculpt Eye Treatment

Best for Textured Skin: Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream

Best Splurge: Ranavat Brightening Retinol Eye Crème

The Benefits of Retinol Eye Creams

If you’ve been hesitant to incorporate retinol eye creams into your skincare product lineup, rest easy in the knowledge that they combat several common signs of aging. “Several changes occur around the eyes as a result of aging of the skin and age-related changes of the face,” says NYC-based dermatologist and Kiehl’s consulting dermatologist Meghan O’Brien. “Retinol can help prevent and treat fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production.” Retinol can be extremely effective for the skin around the eyes; lists collagen loss and loss of elasticity resulting in fine lines and crepey texture, crow’s-feet from muscle movement, and under-eye circles or a shadow effect accentuated by volume loss of the tear troughs.

Your fine lines, crow’s-feet, and puffiness are no match against this super-powered product; similar to the effects of Botox (but without the hefty price tag that comes with the treatment). “Botox works to prevent dynamic wrinkles, which result from muscle contraction. So while retinol can help prevent fine lines, it will not prevent the crow’s-feet that develop around the eyes due to repeated contraction of the muscle around the eye (orbicularis oculi) that occurs with smiling,” she explains. While using a retinol eye cream can help you achieve a similar effect by improving the smoothness of the skin, they won’t be able to inhibit lines and wrinkles on a mechanical level.

How to Use Retinol Eye Cream

Since we’ve already confirmed that retinol creams are safe for use around the eyes, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how you can start using them as part of your daily routine. “Eyelid skin is thinner than it is elsewhere on the face and, therefore, more susceptible to potential irritation and dryness that can result from retinol use,” O’Brien says. The skin difference is the reason why many retinol skin products that are meant for use elsewhere, warn against application around the eyes. Generally, retinol in proper formulations and doses should be safe for the skin, but if you’re in doubt, run it past your dermatologist.

O’Brien recommends using retinol eye cream sparingly every other night to give the skin time to adjust. For daytime, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater, as your skin will be more susceptible to UV ray damage. Retinol also pairs well with other actives like vitamin C. O’Brien says that the key to avoiding irritation while using retinol eye creams is moisture. “A moisturizing product with ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane will help combat any irritation or dryness that the retinol may cause, ” she explains. By sticking to a routine and using retinol cream as directed, you’ll have smoother, youthful-looking eyes in no time.

What to look for in a retinol eye cream

There are a lot of different retinol eye creams on the market, so it’s good to get a sense of what makes a product worth your while. For starters, if you plan on using a formula around your eyes, make sure it’s specifically listed as an eye cream to avoid irritation. The additional ingredients in an eye cream can also have some extra benefits. “You want to look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, and niacinamide which will nourish and moisturize the area.” says board-certified dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD. “Vitamin E is also a great ingredient to look out for, as it will soothe the skin, brighten dark circles, even skin tone, and smooth out fine lines while helping hydrate the area as well.”

Another standout ingredients: vitamin C. “Vitamin C helps to work in conjunction with a retinoid protocol and is a go-to for ingredients to look for in retinol under eye creams,” says Chacon. “It’s great for protecting your skin from any environmental damage, helps with pigmentations and skin texture, and even addresses dark spots.” However, if your focus is more on skin elasticity and plumpness, peptides are going to be your best friend. It’s perfect for treating fine lines and wrinkles that often pop up around the eye area.

What are the downsides of a retinol eye cream?

In general, retinol can be tough on skin, especially if you’re just starting to use it for the first time. However, the eye area is naturally more delicate since the skin is thinner, making retinol more irritating. “If you have sensitive skin you could experience irritations such as increased redness, sensitivity, irritation and dryness,” says Chacon.

How We Chose

As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best retinol eye creams, we leaned heavily on our expertise as beauty editors and took several factors into consideration including price, key ingredients, and the overall formula. We’re aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.

Why trust Who What Wear

Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.