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Dark circles and hyperpigmentation get the best of our undereyes, especially when we're lacking much-needed sleep. The delicate skin surrounding this area is more susceptible to discoloration and sagging than other parts of your face and body, which is why giving it extra TLC through formulations with tone-evening properties is essential to your skin-care routine. If dark circles and dryness are on your list of skin-care concerns, the best vitamin C eye creams are just the trick to improve skin tone and texture.
Sure, there are quite a few eye creams for dark circles on the market, but our top picks usually contain this specific antioxidant, vitamin C, for its impressive radiance-boosting abilities and free-radical-damage-reducing properties. But not all forms of vitamin C are equal because some are less stable than others. "Pure ascorbic acid has consistently been proven to be the most effective at penetrating the skin barrier," New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Patricia Wexler, MD, previously told Allure. "Vitamin C effectiveness [also] increases when combined with other antioxidants, such as vitamin E. Together, they can double protection against free-radical damage."
Want brighter days for your undereye area? Then you're going to need one of these luminance-enhancing eye creams, stat. Below, take a look at the best dermatologist-approved eye moisturizers that are spiked with vitamin C to reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines.
Good news: Finding a proper eye cream is as easy as heading to your local drugstore (or, better yet, shopping on its website). Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified, New York City dermatologist, gives Olay's Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Eye Cream her seal of approval for its fragrance-free formulation that's suitable for sensitive skin types. "This cream contains vitamin C for brightening, peptides to stimulate collagen production, niacinamide to improve dark discoloration, and glycerin for hydration," Dr. Jaliman says.
Treat your eyes to Chanel's Sublimage La Crème Yeux, a luxe formula that'll firm and brighten the look of undereyes. This decadent formula is infused with vanilla planifolia, a proprietary extract from the brand that's rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C.
Yes, the Origins Ginzing Vitamin C & Niacinamide Eye Cream's star ingredients are in its name, but there's more to this cream than the radiance-boosting duo. Dr. Jaliman says this cream is also infused with caffeine to depuff irritated undereyes.
Crow’s-feet, dry skin, pigmentation — you name it, Dr. Jaliman says Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum covers it. This intensive formula is infused with a 10% concentration of the powerful antioxidant along with peptides to smooth the look of fine lines and hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate skin.
Julie Russak, MD, a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist, calls SkinCeuticals AOX Eye Gel the top tier of antioxidant-rich eye creams. "It contains the perfect blend of antioxidants, similar to the gold standard of all antioxidant serums, C E Ferulic, but in a gel form that is lightweight enough for sensitive undereye skin," she says.
Dr. Russak loves that Revision Skincare's Teamine Eye Complex features a gentle yet stable form of vitamin C (known as THD ascorbate) that's suitable for sensitive skin. "In addition, it contains green tea extract to help fight the signs of oxidative damage to the skin and brighten dark circles," she says.
The next time you head to the drugstore, don't forget to grab a tube of La Roche-Posay's Pure Vitamin C Eye Cream, one of the best eye creams for diminishing the look of dark circles, according to Boston-based, board-certified dermatologist Anar Mikailov, MD. "Good for sensitive skin, this eye cream has hyaluronic acid to help plump the skin and vitamin C to brighten dull skin and improve fine lines," he says. Dr. Mikailov also notes that the texture of this eye treatment creates a blurred, pore-reducing effect similar to a lightweight concealer.
On days when you're wearing eye makeup, Dr. Russak suggests using the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Cream, a brightening and depuffing formula that also acts as a priming base. "It contains vitamins C and E to brighten, has a light texture, and goes well under makeup," she says.
When you're on the go, don't forget to pack the ultraslim RoC Multi Correxion Revive and Glow Vitamin C Under Eye Balm. Dr. Mikailov says this buttery balm is infused with a stabilized version of vitamin C, called tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, that's oil-soluble as well as peptides to plump the skin.
NeoStrata's Enlighten Brightening Eye Cream is one of Dr. Mikailov's top picks for its mild exfoliating properties. "This vitamin C eye cream contains lactobionic acid and gluconolactone, two polyhydroxy acids that very gently exfoliate the skin," he says. As the PHAs work their skin-tightening wonders, a slew of peptides and antioxidant-rich algae extracts improve tone, texture, and elasticity.
It's fair to say that Ole Henriksen's Banana Bright Eye Crème has reached icon status — after all, the custardy cream just nabbed yet another Allure Readers' Choice Award in 2023. Its vitamin C-infused formula instantly brightens the look of tired undereyes while its banana-yellow tint acts as a color corrector to get you through makeup-free days.
You know a product is good when our editors love it, which is why Perricone MD's Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Under-Eye Cream nabbed itself an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022. This lightweight fluid moisturizer contains a powerhouse antioxidant duo of vitamin C and ferulic acid that work together to brighten, depuff, and soothe irritation immediately.
As its name suggests, the Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream contains vitamin C to perk up the look of your undereye skin, but that's not the only ingredient to look forward to. "This moisturizer contains peptides for firmness as well as glycerin and shea butter for hydration," says Dr. Jaliman.
Get a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed look with Glow Recipe's Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream. The gel-like formula has radiance-boosting additives like vitamin C, green tea, and niacinamide for a well-rested, more youthful look. This featherweight moisturizer also contains peptides and caffeine that work together to reduce puffiness and visibly firm skin.
Read more about our favorite skin-care products:
- The Best Vitamin C Serums for Brighter, Even-Toned Skin
- The 17 Best Cleansing Balms to Melt Away Stubborn Makeup
- The 15 Best Glycerin Skin-Care Products for Plumper, Softer Skin
- Caudalie's Premier Cru The Rich Cream Is a Blanket for My Skin
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