The 15 Best Retinol Eye Creams, From Drugstore MVPs to Luxury Splurges

•

Published Apr 22, 2024

Additional reporting by

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

Debating whether you need a retinol eye cream in your skin-care routine? I’ll cut to the chase: If you want to reduce signs of aging by promoting new collagen production, then yes, you do. However, it’s not as simple as purchasing the first tube of retinol cream you see at the drugstore, slathering it on and calling it a day—especially when it comes to the delicate skin around the eyes. Allow me to explain with the help of our trio of skincare experts.

Meet the Experts:

Dr. Gretchen Frieling is a board-certified dermatopathologist in Boston. Known as “Dr. G,” Frieling has over 13 years of experience as a leader in the aesthetic, dermatology and pathology fields. Dr. Frieling completed medical school at The University of Florida College of Medicine and training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital/Harvard Medical School. She then completed her dermatopathology fellowship at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Currently, she is a practicing dermatopathologist in Newton, Massachusetts.

Dr. Brendan Camp is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology and sees patients at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, which has locations throughout New York. Dr. Camp graduated from Cornell University, earning a degree in biochemistry. As a medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, he participated in a one-year epidemiology fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia and completed his internship in internal medicine at the University of Chicago and later completed additional residency training in dermatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He also completed a fellowship in dermatopathology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD, focuses on adult and pediatric medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, and skin cancer treatment at Schweiger Dermatology Group. She graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts and Science. She earned her medical degree from the MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, and completed her dermatology training at the Cooper University Hospital of UMDNJ, where she also served as Chief Resident of Dermatology.

How I Chose the Best Retinol Eye Creams

After speaking to all three derms, I took their tips into consideration when searching for the best retinol eye creams on the market. This includes looking at:

Ingredients. As Ilyas shares, "When shopping for an eye cream, you want to focus on the ingredients over the product claims. You also want to make sure that any active ingredients are balanced with other, soothing ones. For example, a product that has retinol in addition to other alpha hydroxy acids in it may trigger so much chemical exfoliation that it can be too irritating to see benefits. Sometimes excess dryness around the eyes can actually enhance the appearance of wrinkles, which is counterproductive. Instead, you want to look for additional ingredients that are moisturizing and hydrating, such as squalane and hyaluronic acid."

Price. I wanted to make sure we found retinol eye creams in a wide range of prices, since everyone has different budgets they're working with.

Specific skin types and concerns. I also looked for retinol eye creams that addressed specific skin types and concerns, including those with sensitive skin and expecting mothers.

OK, ready to shop? Ahead, 15 of our favorite retinol eye creams proven to fight fine lines and wrinkles, including a few cherry-picked options from our experts.

The 20 Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles, Vetted by Dermatologists, Editors and Makeup Artists

We Ask a Derm: Should You Use a Retinol Eye Cream?

Angela Pares

VP, Design + Branded Content

Oversees brand creative across PureWow, Coveteur and GMG’s social portfolio
Leads the branded content team (design and editorial) from ideation through execution on all sponsored campaigns
Studied English and Italian at University of Mary Washington

read full bio