What an Eye Cream Can (and Can’t) Do

About this episode

Whether you're trying to soften wrinkles, fade dark circles, or depuff tired morning eyes, a good eye cream can help. But you need to pick one that’s actually meant to address your skin concerns.   In this episode, senior beauty writer Abbie Kozolchyk explains precisely what to look for in an eye cream. She breaks down the specific ingredients to look for depending on your personal skin concerns, how to judge results over time, and when to move on if you’re not seeing a change in the skin around your eyes.   Abbie tested more 50 eye creams with 65 testers aged 23 to 84 to make recommendations for her Wirecutter guide to eye creams. She reveals our top picks, from a $13 drugstore tube that yielded shockingly dramatic results to a splurge-worthy $130 cream that works wonders on deep crow’s feet.   This episode covers: • Why eye creams aren't just face creams in disguise: The skin around your eyes is incredibly thin and delicate. Standard face moisturizers are often too harsh for the eye area. Specially formulated eye creams deliver targeted, more effective treatments. • What topical creams can and can’t do: While eye creams can't erase deep wrinkles or eliminate dar