While eye bags come and go, there’s no doubt they’re a nuisance and can be rather difficult to conceal — but not impossible to treat — especially when you’re aware of the best eye cream for bags.
Not to be confused with dark circles (caused by blood pooling in the veins under the skin), bags under the eyes occur when the skin relaxes and sags with age, creating a pouch-like appearance. Due to lifestyle habits, excess fluid can also build up there, which makes the lower lids look even puffier. So, even though there are several causes of swollen eyes, luckily, there are many solutions to fix them — including the best under-eye puffiness reducer.
Not sure where to start looking for the best under-eye cream for bags and puffiness? No worries. Here at The Derm Review, we’ve reviewed hundreds of products with a scientific lens to ensure you’re creating a skincare regimen that’s safe and effective. Best under-eye cream for bags or the best depuffing eye cream?
Best Under-Eye Cream for Bags: The List
BEST OVERALL
Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream, $70
Carrot & Stick’s The Eye Serum, $70
FULL LIST
Formulyst Anti-Aging Eye Cream, $85
Eve Lom Radiance Antioxidant Eye Cream, $75
La Mer The Eye Concentrate, $245
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening + De-Puffing Eye Contour Cream, $64
Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm, $68
Skinceuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50, $30
Neocutis Lumière, $97
Best Under Eye Bag Creams
What’s the best eye cream for puffy eyes? We’ve got 16 top picks for you to choose from.
BEST OVERALL
Carrot & Stick: The Eye Cream, $70
If you want to send your under-eye bags packing, reach for The Eye Cream from Carrot & Stick. It tackles bags and puffiness and dark circles with powerhouse plant-based ingredients, including Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), which helps tighten and protect the delicate skin around the lids. At the same time, St. Paul’s wort (Sigesbeckia Orientalis) stimulates collagen and elastin to help restore vitality.
Carrot & Stick’s The Eye Serum, $70
A blend of advanced peptides reduces the look of discoloration and rich moisturizers combat dryness. Crow’s feet are smoothed, puffiness is reduced and skin is visibly lifted and brightened with every application.
FULL LIST
Formulyst Anti-Aging Eye Cream, $85
Formulyst’s Anti-Aging Eye Cream is formulated to address five anti-aging actions in one. This advanced eye treatment softens the look of puffiness, dark circles, and stubborn crow’s feet while protecting the delicate eye area from environmental aggressors. The cream is powered by hyaluronic acid, which draws in moisture and helps plump up fine lines while leaving the eye area looking refreshed.
Eve Lom Radiance Antioxidant Eye Cream, $75
Eve Lom’s Radiance antioxidant eye cream formula is a triple threat, meaning it helps combat puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles. Fine lines become minimized thanks to sodium hyaluronate (the salt of hyaluronic acid, which can also hold 1,000 times its weight in water). Under-eye bags fade, thanks to peptides, which help firm up the overall eye area for a tighter look. Dark circles are brightened thanks to extracts of Swiss garden cress, which promotes a more even tone throughout, helping to diminish discoloration and brighten the eye area.
La Mer The Eye Concentrate, $245
Some people consider this eye cream a miracle worker, and it’s priced accordingly. The secret ingredient is the brand’s signature Miracle Broth, which contains fermented seaweed. The Miracle Broth provides intense hydration to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while diminishing the look of dark circles and under-eye bags. Bonus points for the cooling metal applicator that helps reduce puffiness and gives an instant cooling feel.
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening + De-Puffing Eye Contour Cream, $64
Ginseng and caffeine are the star ingredients in this best-selling eye cream that rapidly reduce puffiness and give the eyes a refreshed appearance. It’s also incredibly hydrating thanks to watermelon rind extract, sodium PCA, and cocoa and shea butters. Antioxidant-packed lutein (as found in egg yolks) provides a luminous glow to the otherwise dull eye area.
Clarins Multi-Active Eye Cream, $47
This depuffing eye cream is applied with a two-step process. First, the product is squeezed out and tapped on lightly with a finger before going over the area with the built-in metal tip. As noted above, metal applicators are ideal for helping to depuff eye bags as they feel cool and soothing while giving the eye area a gentle massage. Key ingredients include organic teasel (a prickly plant with diuretic properties), vitamin E (to fight off free radicals), glycerin (to soften and moisturize), and caffeine to address puffiness.
Dr. Brandt No More Baggage Eye Depuffing Gel, $42
As the name suggests, this needle-free eye gel works to depuff eye bags, thanks to caffeine and elasticity-strengthening peptides — bonus points for targeting dark circles, too. Note that this treatment works best when worn over a more decadent eye cream.
Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm, $68
A multitasking balm that diminishes the appearance of puffiness and dark circles and serves as an excellent base for under-eye concealer? Who couldn’t get on board with that? Formulated with patented alguronic acid, vitamin C, caffeine, cucumber, aloe, and green tea extracts, clinical studies showed significant improvements after just ten days.
Skinceuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50, $30
While this isn’t precisely a de-puffing eye cream, sun protection is the best defense against premature aging — including eye bags. This formula is 100% mineral-based and has UVA/UVB protection. It also features a tint, so it helps to conceal bags and shadows.
Neocutis Lumière, $97
This power-packed eye cream is formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and a patented blend of peptides called PSP (Processed Skin Cell Proteins) that work synergistically to brighten, de-puff, and remove dark circles. You’ll need a prescription for this one, which is an excellent excuse to make an appointment with a dermatologist.
Best Eye Cream for Bags: The Bottom Line
What’s the best eye cream for under-eye bags? Overall, the best eye cream for puffiness is Carrot & Stick’s The Eye Cream. We also recommend Carrot & Stick’s The Eye Serum.
Puffy bags under the eyes occur when the skin relaxes and sags with age, creating a pouch-like appearance. Due to lifestyle habits, excess fluid can also build up in this area. Other causes include genetics, diet, sleep habits, fluid retention, alcohol, allergies, crying, and health issues.
While there are several home remedies for bags, we think the best under-eye cream for puffiness and wrinkles comes from some of the leading beauty brands in the industry.
FURTHER QUESTIONS
The number one cause of puffy eyes is an inevitable one. As Dr. Shaun Desai, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Johns Hopkins Center for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, notes, “The most common cause of under-eye bags or puffiness is natural aging.”
Specifically, this is due to a weakening of the muscles in the eye area.”
As Dr. Desai explains, “Older skin becomes too lax and tends to fall or wrinkle. The muscles and tissues around the eye can also weaken and contribute to the baggy look. This weakening allows the fat surrounding the eye to bulge out, creating that bubble-like appearance.”
Other causes include genetics, diet, sleep habits, fluid retention, alcohol, allergies, crying, and health issues.
The Mayo Clinic notes that most eye bags are harmless and don’t require medical attention.
However, the clinic suggests seeing a doctor if the swelling is “severe, persistent, painful, itchy or red” as it could be a sign of an infection, eye allergy, or a thyroid issue. Dr. Annapurna Singh tells the Cleveland Clinic that “any swelling that lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours should send you to an eye care professional because there are times it can be something severe that can blind you.”
According to Medical News Today, the medical term for puffy eyes is “periorbital edema,” which also means a buildup of fluid around the eye area.
Periorbital edema isn’t quite the same thing as an under-eye bag. It’s a buildup of fluid around the eyes, which can sometimes be a symptom of a medical condition or a side effect of a medication.
Anything with high salt content (like processed and fast foods), as well as some foods you may not suspect, such as tomatoes, eggplant, canned foods, dairy, hot peppers, sugar, and wheat bread.
While there are several eye creams for bags that specifically target puffiness, some can cause puffiness because they’re too rich. In this case, you’ll have to experiment with different textures to find the right one for your bags. Just make sure it’s not lacking the necessary active ingredients.
Another potential cause of puffiness could be allergies or a sensitivity to a specific ingredient (or ingredients.) Or, perhaps you’ve applied too much product —or too close to the lash line. Every time you blink, your lashes lift microscopic amounts of product, which could migrate into your eyes, causing irritation and puffiness.
If you are deficient in iron, oxygen supply to the body tissues is compromised, making the skin appear paler and dark circles more pronounced.
Sources:
“How to Get Rid of Bags Under Your Eyes,” John Hopkins Center for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
“Bags Under Eyes: Symptoms and Causes,” Mayo Clinic.
“Puffy Eyes: What Causes them and What to Do About It,” Cleveland Clinic.
“Periorbital Edema: Pictures, Causes, and Treatments,” Medical News Today.
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