Fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet are a natural part of the skin’s process of maturing, but the best eye cream for wrinkles can help you address them if you’re not exactly a fan. It often comes down to what’s inside: While you shouldn’t expect any OTC skin-care product to completely erase fine lines and wrinkles, Canton, Michigan-based board-certified dermatologist Fatima Fahs, MD, says that the key to a great eye cream is what’s listed in its ingredient list.
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According to Dr. Fahs, one of the top ingredients for targeting fine lines is retinol. In case you’re not familiar with this vitamin A derivative, it increases collagen production to improve the look of fine lines while evening skin tone and reducing signs of hyperpigmentation. (Bye-bye, dark circles.) Worth noting, however: Retinol is an intensive active ingredient that might irritate sensitive skin types, so always patch-test new products before applying them to your entire face — and especially your under-eye area — and be sure to follow up with sunscreen.
Another ingredient Dr. Fahs says is a skin-brightening essential is vitamin C, an antioxidant powerhouse that fights free radical damage and helps fade pigmentation concerns; not surprisingly, it’s a regular among brightening eye creams. Dehydration can also exacerbate the look of wrinkles, so if you notice dry skin, she suggests incorporating a hyaluronic acid-infused product into your skin-care regimen. “[Hyaluronic acid] is a humectant that plumps and hydrates the skin to improve the appearance of fine lines,” she says.
Few skin-care ingredients come close to the firming powers of peptides, according to Dr. Fahs. “They act as the building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin to boost skin’s firmness and improve texture.”
Now, it’s time to put all of this skin-care knowledge into practice. We’ve rounded up 17 expert-approved options so you can add the best eye cream for wrinkles to your skin-care routine — and start intensively treating crow’s feet and crepiness on your delicate skin.
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