Don’t tell skin deva minimalist, but the best eyelid-firming creams can really make a difference. Yes, we know you might be thinking: Is another step really necessary? Well, according to the dermatologists we spoke with, these products can help prevent crepey skin and soften fine lines. A high-quality formula helps boost collagen production and addresses antiaging concerns like crow ’s-feet and saggy skin, Ashley Magovern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC, tells Glamour. To find the best options, we put over a dozen dermatologist-recommended options to the test, evaluating formulas for dry skin, wrinkles, puffiness, eye bags, and more. These six were the standout options that are actually worth adding to your routine.
Our top eyelid firming creams
- Best Overall: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream, $22
- Best for Fine Lines: Belif Retinol Firming Eye Serum, $22
- Best for Quick Results: Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Eye Temporary Eye Tightener, $33
- Best for Saggy Eyelids: Murad Retinal ReSculpt Eye Treatment, $93
- Best for Dry, Dull Eyes: COSRX Snail Mucin Peptide Under Eye Cream, $20
Best Overall: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
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RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
Amazon
| What we love: | What could improve: |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and noncomedogenic | Slower results than others |
| Won’t aggravate sensitive skin | |
| Depuffs |
If you’re noticing fine lines or wrinkles, this firming eye cream helps soften and refresh the undereye area for a visibly smoother look. It has retinol and glycerin to even out rough texture, fade discoloration, and keep the eye area hydrated. A retinol eye cream is key for aging skin, and this one strikes the balance of effectiveness and budget-friendly price. Dermatologists like that it’s safe for sensitive skin types. “The retinol is formulated to clinically work really well but still gentle enough to avoid eye irritation,” Sheila Farhang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Tucson, previously told Glamour. We recommend applying SPF right after because it can make skin more sensitive to the sun, or simply applying it at night. Trust us, you’re going to want to pick this one up during your next Amazon haul or drugstore run.
Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle says:
“I’ve always been wary of using eye creams because of the potent ingredients in such a sensitive area. I’ve also dealt with milia (small white bumps) from using heavy skin deva products. This was one of the first retinol eye creams I tried, and years later, it’s still the one I reach for when I need a boost in my undereye area. I definitely recommend it if you’re a beginner to retinol. It’s hydrating, absorbs easily, and doesn’t pill under my makeup. I’ve noticed it really helps keep my eye area plump, especially in the winter when my combo skin tends to get dry around this area. It’s one of my favorite drugstore picks because of its effectiveness and value. Despite the small size, the eye cream actually lasts a long time. I use it regularly, and I’m only on my second tube.” —Jenifer Calle, Glamour senior commerce editor
Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine says:
“RoC is the GOAT of affordable retinol products for a reason: They get the job done. In particular, I love the eye cream because it has brightened my dark undereye circles and smoothed out my fine lines, and plumped out the deeper crow’s feet on the sides of my eyes. However, you do have to be consistent and keep at it with this product in your skin deva routine. Evvel you use it reliably, you’ll be pleased with what you see and feel. The firmness is undeniable, as well.”—Charlotte Twin, Glamour contributor
Fast facts:
- Best for: Eye puffiness, lines, wrinkles
- Key ingredients: Retinol, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 fl oz.
Best for Fine Lines: Belif Retinol Firming Eye Serum
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Belif Retinol Firming Eye Serum
Amazon
| What we love: | What could improve: |
|---|---|
| Cooling applicator tip that makes it easy to apply | Formula might be too intense for very sensitive skin |
| Lightweight finish |
This Korean eye cream is a great option if you’re looking to address lines and creases. It blends retinol, collagen, peptides, and bakuchiol (a plant-based retinol alternative) to help address puffiness and wrinkles and smooth out the eye area. The standout feature of this eyelid-lifting cream is its unique applicator, which lets you squeeze the product onto your undereyes without any harsh tugging or rubbing.
Glamour’s Calle says:
“Don’t underestimate this cute pink eye cream. The antiaging ingredients help subtly smooth and soften my eye area. I particularly love that the applicator makes it so easy to add it as an extra step in my routine. You don’t even have to use your fingers to apply. You just have to press down (one pump is typically enough) and then use the applicator to massage it into your eye area. It feels cool to the touch and doesn’t leave a mess. The serum absorbs quickly, doesn’t pill, and effortlessly glides on.”—J.C.
Glamour contributor Sarah Y. Wu says:
“It has an optical blurring effect that makes my undereyes look immediately smoother and firmer. I give myself a little massage with this before bed, and it feels heavenly.” —Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour contributor
Fast facts:
- Best for: Someone developing fine lines in the eye area
- Key ingredients: Collagen, bakuchiol, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Best for Very Dry Eyes: COSRX Snail Mucin Peptide Under Eye Cream
COSRX Snail Mucin Peptide Under Eye Cream
Amazon
| What we love: | What could improve: |
|---|---|
| Gentle formula that instantly hydrates | Takes a minute to dry down |
| Helps correct dryness and increases elasticity |
Dry under eyes will benefit most from a super-hydrating eye cream like this snail mucin formula. It contains niacinamide to help soothe redness and address uneven skin tone. The skin-smoothing peptides gently plump the area, while allantoin and panthenol nourish and hydrate. In fact, our editors say the hydration lasts for hours. The consistency is light and airy without feeling sticky or greasy. If you want bouncy, plump undereyes to combat dullness, this K-beauty one is one to have on hand.
Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary says:
“This eye cream is lightweight, but it packs a punch after you incorporate it into your skin deva routine. It’s extremely soothing upon contact and helps brighten undereyes quickly, too, making it a godsend if you wake up extremely puffy or dry. The snail mucin texture isn’t overly sticky, either, and hydrates the skin all day. My makeup glides on perfectly after using this one, too, and doesn’t crease or crack throughout the day. It’s a must-try if you want brighter, more hydrated under-eyes and lids.” —Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour commerce writer
Glamour’s Calle says:
Trust CosRx to actually make me want to keep another eye cream in my beauty cabinet. This K-beauty pick gives me the most dewy, radiant skin that I actually use it beyond my eyes and on my face too. It’s easily become a favorite in my routine when I need to combat dryness in this area but don’t want anything too heavy.” —J.C.
Fast facts:
- Best for: Dry skin and dark circles
- Key ingredients: Snail mucin, niacinamide, peptides
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- Size: 0.84 fl.oz
Best for Quick Results: Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Eye Temporary Eye Tightener
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Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Eye Temporary Eye Tightener
Amazon
Ulta
| What we love: | What could improve: |
|---|---|
| You can see relatively instant results | You have to wait for it to dry down |
| Tightens eye area | Results are temporary |
| Smooths lines |
You might recognize this TikTok-viral eye tightener from your FYP—it’s a near-instantaneous formula that reduces the look of undereye bags, wrinkles, and crow’s feet. It features a blend of proprietary complexes containing silicates, peptides, and more to make skin look bouncier and more resilient. It’s at the top of our list because it’s the best quick fix for eye-tightening, and pairs well under makeup. It’s the best quick-fix option we tested—nothing else on this list delivers results this fast.
Glamour contributor, Brigitt Earley says:
“It worked pretty much instantly. I started by painting it on with a makeup brush, then I was supposed to let it dry for 3-7 minutes. It worked much closer to three minutes, so I didn’t find this drying time to be much of an inconvenience. It made my undereye area and crows-feet look and feel smoother and tighter. The only downside is it does leave a white-grayish cast, sort of like the way a glue would leave a residue on your skin, but this is really easy to cover up with makeup.”—Brigitt Earley, Glamour contributor
Glamour Twine says:
“In short, this product is bananas. After I applied the cream and let it sit for 10 minutes (without smiling, per the instructions), it looked like I had taken a giant eraser to my wrinkles, like in a photo-editing app. My undereye and side-eye wrinkles were flattened, and because I put some on my brow bone, my saggy overeye bags were lifted! Hallelujah. However, and this is a big however, the results are temporary, and only last for a couple of hours, as long as you don’t smile much or sweat a lot (hard to do if you’re hot-flashy like me). Also, it does feel very tight on the skin as it works its magic. But if you are looking for a temporary lift for a special occasion, this product is for you, and you’ll be thrilled.”—C.T.
Fast facts:
- Best for: Someone looking for a quick eye-tightening fix
- Key ingredients: Peptides, silicates, seaweed
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
Best for Saggy Eyelids: Murad Retinal ReSculpt Eye Treatment
Murad Retinal ReSculpt Eye Treatment
Amazon
| What we love: | What could improve: |
|---|---|
| Helps soften crow’s-feet and lines | Expensive |
| Has active ingredients |
Retinal—not a typo—is a gentler but more potent form of vitamin A than retinol, and it’s the star of this formula. “I love this eye treatment because it has retinal, which helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles around the eyes while lifting, tightening, and improving sagging around the eyes,” says Tia Paul, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Newport Beach, California. “The formulation is unique with encapsulation technology, which makes it much more effective yet gentle enough to be used every night.”
Glamour’s Calle says:
“I’m in my 30s, so I like to have a hardworking eye cream to help prevent fine lines and dull skin. This Murad eye cream comes in handy when I need to combat extremely tired eyes. It’s a thicker consistency than others, but it melts into the skin nicely, so that I don’t notice it at all. After using it consistently, I’ve noticed I wake up with my eyes hydrated and less puffy in the morning.”—J.C
Fast facts:
- Best for: Sagging skin; fine lines and wrinkles
- Key ingredients: Retinal, glycerin, shea butter
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Best for Eye Bags: Innbeauty Project Extreme Cream Eye
Innbeauty Project Extreme Cream Eye Firming & Contouring Eye Cream
Sephora
| What we love: | What could improve: |
|---|---|
| Creamy, hydrating formula | A little sticky |
| Addresses wrinkles |
If you deal with eye bags, you’ll become a huge fan of this lifting eye cream that firms and contours the area while keeping it hydrated. It contains peptides, bio-retinol, and amino acids to smooth out uneven texture in the undereye, and squalane and glycerin to ensure the skin in this area retains moisture. The formula is soothing and silky, and it feels more like a hydrating face cream than an eye serum. We like that it also instantly hydrates and leaves the under-eyes looking soft, calm, and puff-free.
Glamour Kilkeary says:
“After about two months, this creamy formula has managed to minimize the appearance of fine lines around my eyes, and has also made my dark circles way less noticeable. I believe it has something to do with the peptides and amino acids, which work to depuff and lift. Compared with other picks on the market that promise to do the same thing, this one actually works. The texture of this eye cream is also dreamy—it’s soothing, instantly hydrates, and serves as a great base for primer and undereye concealer. I can’t stop using it, and neither will you.”—A.M.K.
Fast facts:
- Best for: Crow’s-feet, wrinkles, dry skin
- Key ingredients: Hexapeptide, bio-retinol, amino acids
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
The eyelid-firming creams we tried but didn’t include
- If you deal with dark circles or discoloration in the eye area, we also tested the Summer Fridays Light Aura Eye Cream. It has a silky formula that features vitamin C to help brighten the area, plus caffeine to help wake up skin. While we generally liked the formula, this one bodes best as an under-eye cream, not necessarily one you need for the eyelids to address wrinkles.
- Sensitive eyes may also like the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado, which combines avocado oil and caffeine to decrease puffiness and redness. It does a great job at neutralizing the area and evening out skin tone, but we didn’t think it addressed wrinkles specifically, so we removed it from our final list.the
Frequently asked questions
Do eyelid tightening creams really work?
If you have concerns in the eye area, such as sagging, fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s-feet, Dr. Magovern notes that eye-tightening creams can help address them over time. She recommends opting for an eye cream that contains hydrating and plumping ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and peptides, to soften and smooth creases and uneven texture. And just an FYI: You can use undereye creams on your upper eyelid area too.
That said, there are ingredients you may want to avoid using on that ultrafragile skin. Dr. Magovern recommends avoiding alcohol or salicylic acid on the eyelids. “These ingredients may irritate the sensitive skin around the eyes,” she says, and recommends testing a product on your wrist before putting it on your eyelids as an extra precaution.
What is the best treatment for tightening eyelid skin?
“For the treatment of tightening and firming (without the use of Botox), look for retinol and peptides, which stimulate collagen production, and hydrating ingredients that plump and strengthen the skin by drawing water in, such as hyaluronic acid. Most eye creams are ideally used one to two times daily for tightening,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC.
How can I make my upper eyelids look younger?
“Consistent use of a gentle retinoid can help refine texture and soften fine lines, while lightweight, hydrating eye creams keep the skin looking supple without weighing it down,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She shares that daily sunscreen application is essential as well, since eyelids are particularly vulnerable to UV-driven thinning and laxity.
“For more noticeable concerns like crepiness or early sagging, in-office treatments such as laser resurfacing or tightening procedures can make a meaningful difference,” she says.
Can you tighten hooded eyes without a procedure?
It is possible to tighten, but keep expectations in check. “Hydration can help refine the skin quality, A gentle retinoid can support collagen over time, and lightweight, well-formulated eye creams can smooth and hydrate so the area looks less crepey or heavy,” says Dr. Engelman. She also suggests incorporating a caffeine-based product into your routine to temporarily reduce puffiness, which can make the lid appear more lifted. “What you can do is optimize the skin so it looks firmer and more refreshed.”
Can more sleep help tighten skin around the eyes?
While getting more sleep is great, it won’t necessarily help with skin firmness, says Dr. Nazarian. She does note that not getting enough sleep can actually cause premature aging, so sleep is good, but not without a topical skincare regimen too.
How we tested
We tested eyelid firming creams by evaluating ingredients, texture, and efficacy. We looked for formulas that contained hyaluronic acid (to hydrate), peptides (to soften), collagen (to add resilience), and retinol (to minimize lines). The ones we chose had silky textures, absorbed easily, and didn’t pill or leave any greasy residue behind. The ones that made this list did a great job at actually minimizing our testers’ fine lines and wrinkles, making the undereye area more firm, resilient, and smooth.
Meet the experts
- Ashley Magovern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC
- Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC
- Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Tia Paul, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Newport Beach, California.
