If you’re here, you’ve likely had an unpleasant experience while looking in the mirror recently.
You’ve got dark eye circles.
There’s been a slow realization among men that their under eye baggage and growing resemblance to a raccoon isn’t something they have to live with.
Whether it be dark eye circles, puffy under eyes, wrinkles, crow’s feet, or all of the above, there’s an eye cream that will effectively reduce the presence of these unsightly attributes and get you looking younger.
The only issue is knowing which eye cream to buy. With so many new men’s skincare companies making eye creams, the only difference you can see between products is the skincare jargon, which may as well be a different language.
If you’re looking to have your friends and family stop saying, “You look tired” but don’t know what eye cream to start with, you’ll know by the time you get to the end of this article.
What Causes Dark Under Eye Circles?
Before we get into the best eye creams for your buck, let’s take a look at what causes dark eye circles and puffy under eyes in the first place.
An article from men’s skincare provider Geologie breaks down the main causes for this common appearance ailment. This issue begins with the fact that the skin beneath your eyes is thinner than anywhere else on your body.
This thinness makes it susceptible to sensitivity, pigment changes, and a host of other problems like allergies, fatigue, age, sun exposure, and unfortunately, genetics.
Although some of us drew the short straw in the genetic lottery to look tired all the time, all hope is not lost. The consistent use of the right eye cream for your symptoms can reduce puffiness, darkness, and undo wrinkles over time to keep you looking spry.
Now, to the eye creams.
My Recommendations
Best Overall: Geologie Dark and Puffy Under Eye Cream
Geologie was created with the intent of bringing particularity to men’s skincare. In their own words, “…you’re particular about the way you get your haircut. You’re particular about the way you like your whiskey served.” Which, of course, begs the question, “Why not be particular about what you put on your face?”
Thus, Geologie has developed an intricate questionnaire that helps them recommend skincare regimens based on factors such as your home climate, skin sensitivities, and your genetics.
This customization extends to their Nourishing Eye Cream, which comes in two formulations. The first targets dark eye circles and puffiness, while the second hits wrinkles and crow’s feet.
My top pick overall for men’s eye creams in 2022 is the Dark & Puffy Under Eye Cream, which is formulated with kojic acid. This compound is known as a skin lightener because it combats excessive melanin production, which is often what causes dark eye circles in the first place.
Consistent use brightens the skin beneath the eyes, while hyaluronic acid and caffeine help to moisturize and invigorate the skin, leaving your once puffy, dark under eyes smooth and tight.
What I Like
The use of kojic acid is unique among competing eye creams, and its inclusion has a noticeable impact on stubborn dark eye circles.
Hyaluronic acid and caffeine help remove dark circles and puffiness when using the Dark and Puffy formulation.
Retinol, hyaluronic acid, and peptides help stamp out wrinkles and crow’s feet in the Anti-Wrinkle formulation.
You’ll save 10% off the purchase price with a subscription.
What I Don’t Like
It’s a bit more expensive than competing eye creams.
What Other Reviewers Say
Both formulations of Geologie’s eye cream have rave reviews. Common positive reviews mentioned the elimination of dark circles and wrinkles without an oily feeling.
Of the few negative reviews I could find, most seemed to focus on not getting results fast enough. I had a similar experience when first trying the Dark and Puffy formulation, but I had only used the eye cream for a week or two. The kojic acid takes time to work, but the results are worth it.
The Verdict
If you’re looking to counteract dark eye circles, puffiness, or wrinkles or simply want to get ahead of your aging process, Geologie’s Dark & Puffy Eye Cream is my top place to start. Kojic acid and other natural, high-quality ingredients help nourish, hydrate, and lighten skin so that you can kick your eye bags to the curb for good.
Geologie’s Dark Circle Eye Cream is my starting point if you’re looking to counteract dark eye circles, puffiness, or wrinkles or simply want to get ahead of Father Time. Kojic acid and other natural, high-quality ingredients help nourish, hydrate, and lighten skin so that you can kick your eye bags to the curb for good.
Best for All Skin Types: Lumin Dark Circle Defense
Lumin’s Dark Circle Defense eye cream is an excellent choice for men of all skin types, as it can be purchased in dry, oily, combination, or all skin formulations.
I would describe my skin as being more oily than it is dry, and I’m typically uncomfortable with heavy face creams. Having the option for a lighter formulation that works well with oily skin is a huge plus.
The Dark Circle Defense is formulated with niacinamide and lemon extract. These ingredients help reinforce the skin’s protective barrier to protect from environmental pollutants, and also smooth the skin’s texture while minimizing the size of pores.
Lumin’s eye cream is a great all-around choice for maintaining the appearance of your under eye area.
What I Like
Lumin formulates this eye cream for men with dry, oily, combination, and all skin types, making it highly versatile.
Niacinamide and lemon extract help to moisturize and reinforce the skin’s natural barrier, which keeps environmental toxins out.
The Dark Eye.
What I Don’t Like
It isn’t formulated with kojic acid, retinol, or hyaluronic acid, which are some of the most powerful ingredients for reversing the signs of aging around your eyes.
What Other Reviewers Say
Lumin’s flagship eye cream is well-loved among its users. Reviewers commonly cite positive results with the reduction of puffiness and darkness, whether they’re using it as a preventative measure or active remedy.
The few negative reviews I found reported a lack of results from using the eye cream, but these could have been the result of not using the product for long enough.
The Verdict
While Lumin’s Dark Circle Defense is a good choice for men of all skin types, it lacks some of the crucial ingredients that can eradicate dark eye circles for good. Despite that, the eye cream is still effective at reducing darkness, puffiness, and wrinkles, and is a good place to start if you’re looking for a quality eye cream.
Lumin’s Dark Circle Defense is a great choice for men of all skin types, but it lacks some of the crucial ingredients that can eradicate dark eye circles for good. Despite that, the eye cream is still effective at reducing darkness, puffiness, and wrinkles, and is a good place to start if you’re looking for a quality eye cream.
Best SPF: Supergoop 100% Bright-Eyed Mineral Eye Cream
I’ve noticed a strange trend: the older I get, the cooler sunscreen gets.
Following the trend of our childhood enemies turning into our best friends, if you’re big on sunscreen you should also be big on eye creams with SPF.
For those who aren’t on the sunscreen train just yet, check out this article about the damaging effects of UV rays on a truck driver. You’ll think differently, unless it’s a goal of yours to look like a sundried tomato ASAP.
Supergoop’s 100% Bright-Eyed Mineral Eye Cream packs a punch with SPF 40. I like the idea of an SPF eye cream because I avoid getting sunscreen anywhere near my eyes like Indiana Jones avoids snakes.
The best part about this eye cream?
It’s formulated with non-nano zinc oxide as the sunscreen, which doesn’t sting your eyes. Apply with abandon, my friends.
This eye cream ensures that my under eye area is protected from UV rays and even blue light, which can lead to premature aging and any preexisting puffiness or wrinkles getting worse.
The Bright-Eyed Mineral Eye Cream uses non-traditional ingredients, like the South African Resurrection Plant and wild butterfly ginger flower. These ingredients help to hydrate and improve skin elasticity, which keeps you looking younger, longer.
What I Like
Supergoop’s eye cream doesn’t sting your eyes, due to being made with non-nano zinc oxide.
SPF 40 ensures a strong defense against UV rays and blue light that would otherwise damage your skin and lead to premature aging.
Natural ingredients like South African Resurrection Flower and wild butterfly ginger flower keep your skin healthy without using irritating chemicals.
What I Don’t Like
It doesn’t absorb very quickly or spread evenly.
The eye cream is tinted and may not match your skin color.
What Other Reviewers Say
This SPF eye cream has rave reviews across the board. Reviewers love the fact that the eye cream doesn’t sting your eyes, and also note that it’s effective at reducing dark circles and puffiness.
The negative reviews I found focused on the eye cream clumping and not absorbing well, but those reviews were few and far between.
The Verdict
Supergoop’s SPF eye cream is a great choice for anyone looking to reduce dark eyes and puffiness, and also protect their sensitive under eye skin from the damaging effects of the sun. While it’s on the expensive side, it may be well worth the money considering that the cream won’t sting your eyes and rocks SPF 40.
Our eye cream of choice for anyone looking to reduce dark eyes and puffiness, and also protect their sensitive under eye skin from the damaging effects of the sun. While it’s on the expensive side, it may be well worth the money considering that the cream won’t sting your eyes and rocks SPF 40.
Most Affordable: The Ordinary Caffeine Solution
Right on the heels of several expensive eye creams comes my most affordable pick: The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution.
This eye cream isn’t actually a cream, but a solution that spreads and absorbs quickly into the skin. As its name suggests, this solution’s main ingredient is caffeine, of which it has a surprisingly high concentration.
This solution also contains an extract from green tea leaves called EGCG. When combined with caffeine, consistent use results in the reduction of puffiness and darkness in the under eye areas.
The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution is roughly a quarter of the price of the more expensive options in this list, which makes it an easy choice for anyone looking to dip their toes into eye treatments.
What I Like
A high concentration of caffeine and EGCG makes this solution very effective at reducing puffiness in the under eye area.
Much like The Ordinary’s entire range, it’s very affordable compared to competing eye creams.
It’s formulated to be vegan and humane, and doesn’t contain alcohol, oil, nuts, gluten, or soy.
What I Don’t Like
It’s a fairly simple eye product, and lacks many ingredients like hyaluronic acid, retinol, and niacinamide, which are particularly effective at treating under eye areas.
It can have harsh effects if you have sensitive skin.
What Other Reviewers Say
The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution has a massive amount of positive reviews, with notable comments about how quickly the solution works and revitalizes tired under eyes. Quite a few reviewers posted a series of photos with different time stamps to show how quickly it works.
Negative reviews focused on the product not having a visible effect, but it seems that these types of reviews are to be expected with any skincare product.
The Verdict
The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution is a quick fix to get under eye puffiness under control, and it won’t hurt your wallet to do so. Although it’s a simple formula that lacks many of the heavy hitters for effective under eye treatment, the high concentration of caffeine ensures brightening and tightening in a beginner-friendly product.
The quick fix to get under eye puffiness under control, and it won’t hurt your wallet to do so. Although TO offers a simple formula that lacks many of the heavy hitters for effective under eye treatment, the high concentration of caffeine ensures brightening and tightening in a beginner-friendly product.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost
If you have a sensitivity to dyes and fragrances, I recommend Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost. This gel-cream is dye-free, fragrance-free, oil-free, and non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores.
The Hydro Boost is formulated with hyaluronic acid, which helps to attract moisture to your under eye area and lock it in. Keeping this area moisturized helps to keep the skin healthy and plump, which protects from wrinkles, fine lines, and puffiness.
Since it’s non-comedogenic and free of typical skin irritants it’s recommended by dermatologists, which makes it a surefire bet for pleasant use if you’ve had trouble with irritable skin in the past.
What I Like
It’s made without dyes or fragrances, which I appreciate even when not having sensitive skin.
It’s non-comedogenic, which guarantees my pores will remain unlogged.
It’s very affordable compared to competing eye creams.
What I Don’t Like
It doesn’t include kojic acid or any other melanin production inhibitors.
What Other Reviewers Say
Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Cream has a large number of positive reviews online, with the majority of positive reviewers commenting on the fact that it’s non-irritating.
There are also quite a few negative reviews for this product (although there are a lot of reviews total), most of which complain that the eye cream burns when it makes contact with your eye. Now, I don’t need to point out that you’re not supposed to put eye cream directly on your eye, but it happens to the best of us.
The Verdict
Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Gel-Cream is a great intro product for novices to under eye treatments. It’s a relatively basic eye cream that lacks melanin production inhibitors, but is a solid choice for those with historically sensitive skin.
Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Gel-Cream is a great intro product if you're a novice to under eye treatments. It’s a relatively basic eye cream that lacks melanin production inhibitors, but is a solid choice for those with historically sensitive skin.
Best Subscription Option: Tiege Hanley Eye Cream
Tiege Hanley is a well-known player in the men’s skincare world, and their aptly named EYES eye cream meets their reputation for effective skincare at affordable prices.
EYES is formulated with peptides, caffeine, and niacinamide. This combination of ingredients helps to smooth, invigorate, and moisturize the skin under your eyes to reverse the signs of aging and keep it healthy.
The selling point, and what Tiege is known for, is the discount you get when you subscribe to their auto-restock function. At the time of writing, EYES costs $24.99 for a single purchase, but only $11.50 when you sign up for auto-restock.
If you’re a fan of automating parts of your life, Tiege provides a variety of different full skincare regimens that have an auto-restock option so that you don’t ever have to worry about running out again.
What I Like
Formulated with peptides, caffeine, and niacinamide for an age-slaying under eye treatment.
The 54% discount on the auto-stock option is hard to beat.
Can be used in the morning and evening for maximum effectiveness.
What I Don’t Like
If you’re just dabbling in skincare and don’t immediately want a subscription, the auto-restock option isn’t helpful and the price jump can be restrictive.
What Other Reviewers Say
Teige Hanley’s EYES has a relatively small number of reviews, but plenty of positive reviews. Satisfied customers reported that this product helped remove their dark eye circles and firmed up the under eye area.
Of the few negative reviews, most customers commented that they had yet to see results from using the eye cream.
The Verdict
EYES is a solid choice if you’re looking for a subscription eye cream that auto-restocks. It packs a powerful punch through natural ingredients, like peptides, caffeine, and niacinamide, but may be restrictive to under eye treatment novices.
EYES is a solid choice if you’re looking for a subscription eye cream that auto-restocks. It packs a powerful punch through natural ingredients, like peptides, caffeine, and niacinamide, but may be restrictive to under eye treatment novices.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Eye Cream
When it comes to choosing the right eye cream for you, there are several important factors that will help the decision process.
The first factor is price. If you’ve got a small budget, try starting with The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution or Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost eye cream. Both eye creams are inexpensive and should deliver noticeable results while being kind to your wallet.
If you’ve got a bigger budget, give one of Geologie’s eye creams a try. Since these eye creams are formulated with kojic acid, which is a melanin production inhibitor, they pack some serious punch when it comes to getting rid of your dark eye circles for good.
The second factor in choosing an eye cream is your personal skincare experience. If you just want to try out an eye cream and see if it works for you, stick with the inexpensive options I listed above.
Skincare is a necessity. But customized skincare? Now that's luxury. Take care of your biggest skincare need, whether it's deep wrinkles, dark circles, or acne---Geologie will create a custom formulation with actual skincare ingredients.
If, instead, you have long-term skincare experience and know you’d like to subscribe to an auto-restock service, I recommend checking out Geologie or Tiege Hanley’s skincare regimens.
Never Look Tired Again
Between these six eye creams for men you should be able to find the right product for you, whether that be a science-heavy super serum or a simple moisturizer.
If you’re looking to treat the root of dark and puffy eyes I recommend Geologie’s Dark and Puffy Eye Cream.
Geologie’s Dark Circle Eye Cream is my starting point if you’re looking to counteract dark eye circles, puffiness, or wrinkles or simply want to get ahead of Father Time. Kojic acid and other natural, high-quality ingredients help nourish, hydrate, and lighten skin so that you can kick your eye bags to the curb for good.
Lumin’s Dark Circle Defense gets my pick for all skin types, as they have formulated options for dry, oily, combination, and all skin types.
If you’re looking for SPF protection, Supergoop’s 100% Bright-Eyed Mineral Eye Cream is the eye cream for you, and it won’t sting your eyes.
For my top affordable picks, I recommend The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution and Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost, the latter of which is dermatologist recommended.
Rounding out our top six eye creams for men in 2022, Teige Hanley’s EYES gets my pick for best subscription eye cream.
If you know someone who could use a little less under eye baggage, share this article with them! They’ll thank you later when they look several years younger.
FAQs
Does eye cream work on men?
Eye cream works well for men, and may be more necessary for men since they deal with puffy and saggy under eye areas more than women.
What age should men start using eye cream?
Men should use eye cream as early as possible. While eye cream is good at reversing the signs of aging, it’s best used as a preventative measure before you have dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles.
How do men fix tired eyes?
The easiest way for men to fix tired eyes is to regularly use a dedicated eye cream that will rejuvenate the skin and reduce darkness and puffiness. Besides eye cream, men can fix tired eyes by getting more sleep, wearing blue light glasses, and applying a cold washcloth to the under eye area.
