Style

The 8 Best Creams For Under Eye Bags

by Lisa Fogarty
Ashley Batz / Bustle

We all have the occasional morning when we feel like we slept a total of eight minutes the night before. And, on those mornings, many of us also wake to find a puffy set of eyes staring back at us in the mirror. Eye creams for under eye bags are the quickest, most effective tool in our makeup kits. But all eye creams are not created equal, and in order to figure out which products can help, it's important to understand what's causing the bags under your eyes.

First thing's first: Under eye bags are normal. Most of us get them at some point and some of us simply have puffier eye skin because of our genetic makeup. They are nothing to be ashamed of and there's no good reason to obsess over them because under eye bags are crazy common. Everything from your genes to hormones to water retention to, yes, a late night or three can cause or exacerbate puffy eyes. If you suffer from allergies or increase your sodium intake, they can be more obvious.

So, you're armed with facts and may be asking: great, now what? Even if you accept that puffy eyes are a way of life for a lot of us, there may be times when you want to reduce them. The best eye creams for under eye bags are those with ingredients like caffeine that can brighten skin around the eye and constrict the blood vessels around the eyes, as well as creams that provide intense moisture courtesy of aloe vera and hyaluronic acid.

Pop one of these eye creams in your fridge, bust it out on a tired morning, stop thinking about your under eyes, and get on with the business of living.

1

A Retinol Eye Cream At A Budget-Friendly Price

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream, $18, Amazon

Considering this drugstore eye cream's price point, it's pretty impressive. It uses retinol to reduce puffiness and smooth out skin, and hyaluronic acid to brighten and plump. The brand even claims you'll see results in as little as one week — and reviewers agree, with one saying they "noticed a difference in only two days of use."

2

A Caffeine & Coffee Bean Eye Cream That Perks Up Tired Eyes

100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream, $25, Amazon

If eye creams had nicknames, this one would easily be dubbed Pep in a Bottle: It's filled with wake-you-up organic ingredients like caffeine and coffee beans for brighter eyes and a blend of antioxidants, sea minerals, and blackcurrant oil. It's also free of synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, and parabens.

3

A Skin Strengthening Cream With Hydrating Ceramides

Goodal Waterest Moisture Barrier Cream, $15, Amazon

This Korean beauty eye cream is lightweight enough to be used both at night and in the morning under makeup, but, thanks to fermented ingredients, is also incredibly effective in sealing in moisture for hours so that your under eye area is smooth and soft. Ceramides and a Mistletoe Complex work together to strengthen skin, which helps to minimize puffiness.

4

A Hyaluronic Acid & Aloe Cream For Sensitive Skin

Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream, $18, Amazon

The hyaluronic acid found in this eye cream is one of the great super-ingredients in skincare, one that can help your under eye skin retain optimum amounts of moisture for a smoother, softer appearance that diminishes puffiness. This light-weight cream, which is perfect for daytime, also boasts soothing aloe vera, which makes it ideal for sensitive skin.

5

A Gentle Eye Cream That Locks Moisture In

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, $10, Amazon

If you have sensitive skin, you probably already trust CeraVe to take care of you with its many moisturizing and cleansing products — the brand's eye cream is equally gentle on all skin types. Its key ingredients are ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which lock in moisture to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles, and the formula is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and free of fragrance.

6

A Marine Collagen Eye Cream With Argan Oil

Mizon Collagen Power Firming Eye Cream, $10, Amazon

A blend of marine collagen, hyaluronic acid and adenosine in this Korean eye cream promotes tighter, more lifted eye skin and a reduction in dark circles, while essential oils like argan and sunflower keep your skin super soft, hydrated, and healthy.

7

A 3-In-1 Eye Cream That De-Puffs Eyes

Olay Eyes Ultimate Eye Cream, $25, Amazon

Take care of three common under eye concerns — including puffiness and dark circles — with this niacinamide-rich eye cream that hydrates dehydrated skin and even color corrects circles, thanks to a built-in subtle concealer that works on all skin shades. Peptides, vitamins, and a touch of sunscreen provide further under eye skin protection.

8

A Multitasking Organic Cream With Skin Firming Hibiscus Extract

LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream, $26, Amazon

If your motto is "go natural or go home," this USDA certified organic (77 percent organic), vegan, and cruelty-free eye cream will earn a well-deserved spot in your medicine cabinet. Its nourishing ingredients include Vitamins E and C, rosehip seed oil, and hibiscus flower extract and it's free of parabens and artificial colors and fragrances. Use it morning and night to increase elasticity under your eyes and help firm up skin to prevent a baggy appearance.

Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.