Some call them an afterthought, but at Clean Beauty Collective we believe that a skincare regime isn’t complete without a great eye cream. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest you’ll find on your body as well as having fewer oil glands than the rest of the face, so needs extra special care when and where it can get it.

Most good eye creams are formulated specifically for the skin around the eye, so tend to be a little richer and packed with active ingredients aimed at issues associated with that area. It is more fragile, more prone to dryness, and quicker to show age and fatigue. Squinting can hasten the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and fluids collect under the eyes and cause puffiness and dark circles. A good eye cream can address at least some of these issues, but first, make sure you are applying it for optimal effect.

First, don’t overdo it. A pea-sized amount should be enough, dotted on your brow bone and about a half-inch underneath your eye. If you pack on the product, it won’t make it more effective. It will, however, creep into your eyes and irritate them. Patting in with your ring finger is the best form of application for this most fragile of areas, and allows your cream some time to sink in.  Many great eye formulas are created to work on more than one issue, so here are a few of our favourites that do exactly that, but also take a targeted approach.

Perfect for puffy morning eyes

New from Tailor Skincare, the almighty Awaken helps deliver an immediate glow and lasting hydration to your eye area while reducing dark circles and fighting the early signs of ageing. Designed especially for use in the morning, Tailor’s caffeine-infused eye cream will leave you feeling revitalised and ready to take on the day – and in less time than it takes your morning coffee to brew. Key to its efficacy is the inclusion of  Caffeine extract, which revives the eye area by reducing the appearance of dark circles and decreasing puffiness. Hyaluronic Acid is also included to hydrate and plump the eye area, delivering an instant hit of moisture to your delicate eye area, while over time, helping to minimise fine lines. Last up, Golden Mica – sourced responsibly – provides a subtle shimmer to help reduce the appearance of dark circles. Oh, and did we mention the active ingredients in Awaken are delivered through a ceramic tip that soothes, cools, and de-puffs upon application? We love that.

Best for brightening

Vitamin C is renowned for its skin brightening capabilities, and Trilogy’s certified natural Vitamin C Revitalising Eye Gel is designed to brighten the delicate skin around the eyes as well as freshen and hydrate. Also delivered via a cooling ceramic applicator, this hydrating eye gel helps energise dark circles and reduce the look of puffiness with circles antioxidant vitamin C, refreshing aloe vera and plumping hyaluronic acid. Suitable for all skin types but especially those with tired, puffy eyes, it is also a great option for users that prefer a lightweight gel textured eye product. It’s also NATRUE certified natural, Paraben-free, non-GMO and made right here in New Zealand.

Great for fine lines and wrinkles

For those wanting to bring out the big guns, Nuori’s Bio Fusion Eye Serum is an intensive serum specifically designed to address universal signs of ageing in the delicate skin around the eyes. Formulated with the latest generation of natural hyaluronic acid, the deceptively lightweight serum visibly plumps out fine lines and comes with ingredients like ceramides with high bioavailability to support the renewal and fortification of the skin’s protective barrier, further preventing moisture loss. Brown marine algae extract is also in there as an antioxidant and skin-firming agent, while caffeine extract boosts microcirculation, thereby ensuring increased oxygen and nutrients supplies to the skin’s outer layers. 

Soothing for sensitive types

Perfect for those who like to tread lightly when it comes to skincare, Trilogy’s certified natural Very Gentle Eye Cream smooths, hydrates and calms the delicate eye area with nourishing, all-natural specialist ingredients. The lightweight fragrance-free eye treatment is dermatologically tested and expertly formulated with soothing pure plant oils and botanicals to relieve sensitive eyes, like cooling aloe vera, nourishing antioxidant-rich maqui berry and soothing breakthrough botanical complex Syricalm. Suitable for all skin types but particularly very sensitive or reactive, this gentle wonder definitely packs a punch on the soothing and hydrating side of things.