12 Hydrating Eye Creams Derms Say Will Quench Even The Driest Skin

Key ingredients: 3% ceramide blend, 10% plant omega-lipid complex, oat kernel oil, linolenic and linoleic acid

For the ultimate in under eye hydration, this Drunk Elephant formula has got you covered. Its top priority is strengthening the skin barrier (with the help of ceramides and lipids), which will help the delicate under-eye area hold onto moisture so it can stay properly nourished all day long. Speaking of moisture—you’ll get that from nourishing plant oils, which work overtime to soothe and soften skin.

Size: 0.5 ounces

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, cucumber extract, shea butter, green tea extract

For just $10, you’ll get a long list of ingredients that dermatologists say hit on the big three of hydration—humectants that draw in water, emollients that soften skin, and occlusives to lock in moisture—plus the antioxidant benefits of green tea extract. “Holy hydration” is right.

Size: 0.4 oz.

Key ingredients: Proprietary peptides, caffeine, vitamin C

This luxurious firming eye cream was previously dubbed a “holy grail” product for hydration by Deirdre Hooper, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology in New Orleans. It’s formulated to provide mega moisture thanks to a blend of peptides and glycerin. There’s also the brand’s proprietary growth factors that boost collagen and hyaluronic acid production, a burst of caffeine to soothe puffiness, and vitamin C for staving off fine lines, dark spots, and other signs of oxidative stress. It’s expensive but worth every drop.

Size: 0.5 oz.

Key ingredients: Vitamin B5, niacinamide, purified peptides, edelweiss, and rice lees extract

Though retinol-infused formulas can help fend off fine lines around the eyes, they can be incredibly drying, which makes them a no-go for anyone looking to treat wrinkles on dry skin. This eye serum swaps in peptides as a “retinol alternative” to smooth skin sans irritation. What’s more, the inclusion of niacinamide helps reduce puffiness, while vitamin B5, edelweiss, and rice lees extract add a boost of hydration.

Size: 0.5 oz.

Key ingredients: Vitamin E, silymarin, soy isoflavones

We hate to say it, but at $90 a pop, this itty-bitty pot of skin-care gold is well worth the price. It’s a triple threat full of hydrators (vitamin E), antioxidants (silymarin), and skin-firming ingredients (soy isoflavones) to diminish the appearance of current signs of aging around the eyes while also preventing future ones from showing up. Even better? The balmy texture is a dream to apply, and won’t irritate even the most sensitive complexions.

Size: 0.5 ounces

Key ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, caffeine, hyaluronic acid, ceramides

Sure, this drugstore diamond hydrates the skin under your eyes, but it also happens to do a heck of a lot more than that. This $22 tube contains ingredients that diminish dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles, which means there isn’t a single sign of visible skin aging it doesn’t address. The formula’s major standouts? Three different types of ceramides, which strengthen the skin barrier, and caffeine to make you look instantly more awake.

Size: 0.5 oz.

Key ingredients: 3% vitamin C, encapsulated caffeine, upcycled cranberry peptide, buckwheat-honey blend

Vitamin C’s brightening prowess makes it a dermatologist’s favorite to use everywhere, and that includes under your eyes. The potent antioxidant visibly reduces dark circles and works in tandem with peptides and caffeine to squash puffiness. The real hero here, though, is the brand’s proprietary buckwheat-honey blend, which will keep skin hydrated even after many (many) hours of staring at a screen.

Size: 0.5 oz

Key ingredients: Imperial peony, glycerin, dimethicone

We’ve all had those mornings when we need our dark circles gone immediately, and this is the product to reach for to get the job done. It’s got rosy pigments that help offset the purple shades that come about with dark circles, and also contains peony extract to brighten the undereye area over time.

Size: 0.5 oz.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, chamomile, Avène thermal spring water

A French drugstore favorite, this sensitive-skin-friendly eye cream is a true luxury here in the US (but still comes at a pretty A+ price point!). The hyaluronic acid in the formula puts in work to draw moisture into the skin and hold it there, and the thermal spring water offers the calming benefits the brand is known for.

Size: 0.32 oz.

Key ingredients: Niacinamide, neurosine dipeptides, thermal mineral water

Dr. Nazarian’s a huge fan of this eye cream for sensitive skin, and we are too. It’s made with La Roche Posay’s famed thermal water (which is so potent that people with severe eczema travel to France to bathe in it with miraculous effects), and as gentle as any formula can be. Add to that the antioxidant benefits from niacinamide and the restorative properties from neurosine dipeptides, and this is a product that anyone—sensitive complected or otherwise—can benefit from having in their collection.

Size: 0.5 oz.

Key ingredients: Enriched mineral water, aloe vera extract, witch hazel extract, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, squalane

Bobbi Brown may be known for her makeup, but this cult-fave eye cream is beloved by Dr. Nazarian and thousands of reviewers alike. It’s chock-full of plant oils that hydrate and balance the skin while immediately masking the appearance of puffiness and crow’s feet. Of course, it also lays seamlessly under whatever makeup you layer on top of it, making it the perfect pick for morning application.

Size: 0.5 oz.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid

This no-bells-and-whistles hyaluronic acid gel is the best-of-the-best drugstore buy for boosting hydration in your under-eye area before you head out for the day. The jelly texture offers a nice cooling effect, and you can go about your business without having to worry about caking or flaking for hours on end.

Size: 0.5 oz