Mirror, mirror on the wall, can my under eyes be the brightest of them all? If you have been asking this question lately, then it is time for you to start looking for the best vitamin C eye creams. 

Some vouch for them, while some call them glorified moisturizers. After all, not every eye cream delivers on its promises. But, there is one ingredient that you can always trust—vitamin C. According to Christina D. Enescu MD, "Vitamin C…(has many) biological functions in maintaining and improving skin health by treating UV damage, improving discoloration, and boosting collagen production" (1). It has, along with its derivatives, proven its efficacy as a powerful antioxidant and an incredibly effective ingredient in eye creams. Many clinical studies have been done over the years, to test the effects of vitamin C as a topical treatment for pigmentation, discoloration, fine lines, puffiness, and thin skin, under the eyes. And the results so far have been positive! There are a plethora of options available in the market, but you need to opt for a rich formula that is rich in antioxidants that doesn't just get rid of dark cirlces but also promotes collagen production and reduces radical damage caused by either chemicals or the environment. 

Vitamin C is a superhero ingredient and can address many eye concerns on its own. But picking up a vitamin C under eye cream can get tricky. This is why through our trial and error, we discovered the best options just for you based on their ingredients, texture, performance, and packaging. So, are you ready to get the glow?

An eye cream is a skincare product, specifically formulated to moisturize the delicate and sensitive area around the eyes. Because there are many proven benefits of using vitamin C under eyes, the market has now been flooded with several eye creams that use vitamin C as one of their key ingredients. And that is how, dear readers, vitamin C eye cream came into being.

A vitamin C eye cream offers a myriad of benefits for the delicate under eye skin. It plays a key role in decreasing the production of melanin (2), effectively correcting pigmentation, reducing discoloration, and age spots (3), leaving you with brighter under eyes. Since vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, it protects against sun damage and combats oxidative stress, especially in combination with other ingredients, including vitamin E, by improving their efficacy (4).  

As we age, the structure of our skin changes leading to loss of collagen and skin thinning. This is where a vitamin C eye cream comes to the rescue! It stimulates collagen production (5) and thickens the under-eye area (6), revitalizing it to its youthful glory. Additionally, it strengthens the skin barrier, promoting healthier, happier under eye skin.

• 1
  Best for Fine Lines

  La Roche-Posay Redermic [C] Eyes Anti-Wrinkle Firming Concentrate

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Unlock the secret to no lines or crow's feet around your eyes with this incredible La Roche Posay vitamin C eye cream. Formulated with key ingredients including 5% pure vitamin C aka L-Ascorbic Acid, Madecassoside derived from Centella Asiatica, and fragmented hyaluronic acid, it will give you a visibly hydrated and plump under-eye area. Drawing from our experience, you only need a little amount to cover your eyes. Bonus points for this product for its packaging which is an air-tight, opaque tube with a tiny tip.

2

Best for Brightening

bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Protecting Eye Cream

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Look forward to refreshed and revitalized eyes with this vitamin C under eye cream from bliss. It features in the brand's Bright Idea collection. It comes in a bright orange-colored jar as if announcing to the world just what it can do. It combines the brightening effects of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable vitamin C derivative, with the collagen-boosting capabilities of tri-peptides. Based on our observations, it has a thick creamy but lightweight texture that visibly brightens the area around the eyes with consistent use.

3

Best Overall

Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream

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This eye cream with vitamin C is a popular choice from the cult favorite beauty brand Drunk Elephant. Formulated with 5 different forms of vitamin C and 8 types of peptides, this is a powerhouse product that targets everything from dark circles and eye bags to fine lines and wrinkles. It is an eye cream that does it all—a one-stop solution for all your under-eye concerns. As per our expertise, the addition of antioxidants like vitamin E and superoxide dismutase makes it an even more potent and effective formula.

4

Best in Budget

Tree of Life Vitamin C Eye Gel

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Vitamin C is a potent ingredient and may irritate some skin types. But, you don't have to worry about that with this hydrating vitamin C eye cream from Tree of Life. It has a gentle gel-based formula packed with soothing ingredients and powerful combination of aloe vera, cucumber, panthenol, and allantoin. As indicated by our tests, it is quite effective on fine lines around the eyes, thanks to the presence of peptides and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a stable and oil-soluble derivative of vitamin C.

5

Best for Oily Skin

MyCHELLE Dermaceuticals Perfect C Eye Cream

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This vitamin C and hyaluronic acid eye cream from MyCHELLE Dermaceuticals is a perfect addition to your beauty arsenal against sun damage and signs of aging. Formulated with the most potent and most studied form of vitamin C, L-Ascorbic acid, along with Edelweiss Meristem stem cells, it promises to brighten, nourish, and promote healthy skin around your eyes. Our team discovered through using this product that it works best for younger skin and people with minimal eye wrinkles/dryness/dark circle issues.

6

Best Skin-Soothing Ingredients

Sweet Chef Turmeric + Vitamin C Booster Eye Cream

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You are in for a treat with this turmeric vitamin C eye cream from Sweet Chef which comes in a cute little jar that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. Apart from the powerful vitamin C, its incredible formula consists of several natural and skin-benefiting ingredients like probiotics, turmeric root, and ginger are the perfect blend of antioxidants. When we trialed this product, we witnessed the magical aftermath of its antioxidant-rich blend. This gentle formula rejuvenates the under-eye skin, leaving it brighter and refreshed.

7

Best in Makeup Friendliness

DERMA-E Vitamin C No Dark Circles Perfecting Eye Cream

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The DERMA-E Vitamin C No Dark Circles Perfecting Eye Cream stands out as the best vitamin C eye cream for dark circles since it offers both short-term and long-term benefits. It color corrects the under-eye area, instantly providing the appearance of an even skin tone. Enriched with key ingredients like turmeric, caffeine, and mica, this eye cream nourishes, hydrates, and brightens the delicate under-eye skin in the long run. Our findings show that it uses natural ingredients and enhances the skin's natural glow. Moreover, it helps reverse signs of skin aging.

8

Best for Dark Circles

Lumene Nordic-C [Valo] All-in-One Eye Treatment

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Prepare to be amazed as your dark circles disappear swiftly with the Lumene Nordic-C [Valo] All-in-One Eye Treatment. This vitamin C eye cream is a multipurpose product that targets dark circles, wrinkles, and puffiness. It is a powerhouse of antioxidants that combines hyaluronic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, a gentle vitamin C derivative for sensitive skin, and Arctic Cloudberry to provide you with the most radiant results. We have found from using this product that its non-irritating nature makes it an excellent choice for those with a sensitive skin type.

9

Best for Puffiness

Honest Beauty Depuff + C Eye Cream

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This eye cream with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid from Jessica Alba's beauty brand, Honest Beauty is a holy grail for those battling tired and puffy eyes. It contains Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a more stable and brightening vitamin C derivative, daisy flower extract, peptides, and two types of hyaluronic acid. After trying out this product, we discovered that it works efficiently for all age groups and improves elasticity. And, whether the puffiness or the droopy look is caused due to lack of sleep, tiredness, or age, this eye cream works wonders!

10

Best in User Experience

Farmacy Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream

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For radiant and refreshed eyes look no further than this luscious eye cream with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C from Farmacy. It is formulated with 4% vitamin C including Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, a stable and oil-soluble derivative of vitamin C known for its superb absorption, and acerola cherry. Our analysis of this product revealed that it has a fragrance-free formula that rejuvenates the skin around the eyes for a visibly firm, brighter, and more awake look.

11

LilyAna Naturals Vitamin C Eye Cream

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Get brighter under the eyes with this all-natural and vegan vitamin C eye cream from LilyAna Naturals. It is formulated with Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a stable and effective derivative of vitamin C whose strong point is its skin-brightening property. Additionally, it boasts of the goodness of several other skin-brightening and plumping ingredients such as aloe vera, rosehip oil, licorice root, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. We determined through our tests that it works best for mature and super dry skin, given its thick and nourishing consistency.

12

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Eye Cream

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The Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Eye Cream is an absolute game-changer when it comes to reducing the appearance of dark circles and fine lines. It is an antioxidant powerhouse that is formulated with some very potent key ingredients including 10% Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, 3% vitamin E, and 2% Ferulic Acid, allowing it to do exactly what it says. Our research indicates that this caffeine and vitamin C eye cream is also effective for reducing puffiness.

13

No7 Radiance+ Roll & Glow Eye Cream

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For those tired of tired eyes, this No7 Radiance+ Roll & Glow Eye Cream may be of help. This rich cream is a roll-on eye cream with caffeine and vitamin C that targets dark circles and puffiness at the same time. It may even help you fake a good night’s sleep with its targeted action. It has a tri-ball applicator that rolls on smoothly around the contours of the eyes. Based on our firsthand experience, this metal applicator provides an instant cooling effect that further helps in reducing puffiness. It has a slight tint that may provide some coverage.

With us, choosing the best vitamin C eye cream can be as easy and fun as strolling through Sephora (be it their store or their website). You can rest assured with our easy-to-follow guide that will simplify everything for you and ensure you find your perfect eye cream match. Here's what you need to know:

Skin Type

Assess your skin type before choosing a vitamin C eye cream, whether you have oily, normal, dry, combination, or sensitive skin.

Skin Concerns

Different eye creams target different concerns. Therefore, you must consider the skin concerns you want to address. Typically, all eye creams have a varying degree of hydrating and moisturizing effect. So, you must focus on specific concerns like dark circles, puffiness, tired eyes, fine lines, eye bags, crow's feet, etc. For instance, Kiehl's vitamin C eye cream specifically targets dark circles.

Type and Concentration of Vitamin C

You are in the market for a vitamin C eye cream, but what kind of vitamin C? You must check the active ingredient list to determine which derivative of vitamin C is used, whether it is L-Ascorbic Acid, which is the most potent but also quite unstable form of vitamin C, or 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, which is a stable and one of the most used derivatives. Many other derivatives are more gentle and stable and have varying efficacy. Our contributor Dr. Zeeshan Afzal, MD at Welzo, an online healthcare platform, shares, “Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a vitamin C derivative that is often considered suitable for sensitive skin. Unlike some other forms of vitamin C, such as L-ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate is less likely to cause skin irritation. However, individual sensitivities can vary, so it's a good idea to do a patch test before using any new skincare product, even those containing milder vitamin C derivatives. Start with a lower concentration to assess your skin's tolerance.”

 

You should also check for the concentration of vitamin C used. For instance, Paula's Choice Vitamin C Eye Cream uses 5% of vitamin C in its formulation. The form and concentration of vitamin C will, of course,  depend on your skin type, concerns, and sensitivity.

 

Other Ingredients

While vitamin C is a powerful ingredient, you cannot ignore the capabilities of other powerhouse ingredients in an eye cream. Look for licorice root extract, creams with caffeine, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, cucumber extracts, and aloe vera for hydration. If you have dry skin, look for shea butter, green tea extract, rosehip oil, gamma protein, argan oil, or jojoba oil that can be used on a daily basis. For sensitive skin, niacinamide, panthenol, allantoin, and Centella Asiatica will do wonders. Peptides increase the efficiency of a vitamin C eye cream since they stimulate collagen and have incredible anti-aging properties, so don't sleep on them. 

As per our contributor Dr. Afzal, in addition to vitamin C, effective eye creams for reducing fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes may contain many other ingredients. Some of these ingredients are listed below-

“Retinol: A derivative of vitamin A that can promote collagen production and improve skin texture.

Peptides: These can stimulate collagen synthesis and help with firmness.

Hyaluronic acid: Provides hydration and plumps the skin.

Niacinamide: Can improve skin elasticity and texture.

Look for an eye cream with a combination of these ingredients for comprehensive anti-aging benefits.”

Texture

The texture of a vitamin C eye cream is important and may depend on your skin type. Oily skin types and those prone to milia must opt for a super lightweight and non-greasy texture. Dry skin types and those with mature skin may look for an eye cream with a thick creamy texture for ample moisturization. A rich formula or gel formula calms the blood vessels, and reduces the enviromental damage as well as reduces dark circles over time. Instead of opting for risky chemical peels and making the circles worse, an enriched night cream with a ceramic applicator and creamy formula will reduce dark discoloration. 

 

Packaging

Vitamin C is an effective ingredient to achieve brighter eyes but it is also quite unstable. It is sensitive to air and light and if exposed to either, it may break down or oxidize aka become unusable and ineffective. Therefore, you must look for air-tight, opaque packaging to prevent your eye cream's potency. 

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Research online for customer reviews and ratings to get a better understanding of the product's performance and effectiveness before purchasing it.

Expert Opinion

Don't shy away from talking to a dermatologist if you are not sure which vitamin C eye cream suits your skin concerns the best.

Using a vitamin C eye cream is not rocket science. It is quite an easy and simple process. But, here are some things that you must keep in mind as you apply your eye cream to get the best results:

Cleanse: This is a no-brainer. Always start with a clean face.

Treat: If you use a toner or a serum, it goes on as the second step. However, you must ensure that you are not using any other actives that may clash with vitamin C. Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, retinol, and benzoyl peroxide are some such actives that must not be used with vitamin C.

Eye Cream: Take a small amount of your eye cream and dab it along the orbital bone (the bone surrounding your eye socket using your ring finger. Why the ring finger? Because it is said to be the weakest and doesn't put unnecessary pressure on the delicate under-eye area.

Tap and Massage: Massage with your ring finger using gentle motions from the inner corner of your eye to the outer corners. Include some light tapping motions as well. Use gentle circular motions to massage the outer corners where the crow's feet usually appear. 

Avoid These: Don't apply the eye cream too close to the waterline to avoid irritation. Additionally, don't pull or tug at your under-eye skin

Give It Time: Wait a few minutes before applying any other products including sunscreen or makeup.

Patch Test: Always patch test before using an eye cream. Apply a little amount on your wrist, jawline, neck, or behind the ears, and monitor that area for about 24 hours. Wash off if any irritation occurs. If nothing happens, you are good to go.

Check for Oxidation: Vitamin C is prone to oxidation when exposed to light and air. So, before applying your eye cream with vitamin C, you must check it for a change in color, consistency, and odor. 

The skin under our eyes is thinner, more delicate, and more sensitive than the rest of our facial skin, which is why it needs special care. With the best vitamin C eye creams, it becomes easier to take care of the under-eye area and effectively target the concerned skin issues, including dark circles, eye bags, fine lines, and puffiness. The lightweight formula that you choose needs to correct radical damage, reverse uneven skin tone, dull skin, promote blood circulation. reduce eye puffiness, appearance of wrinkles, environmental stressors among other factors. Add one of the above enlisted Vitamin C creams to your skincare routine to get firm skin, reduce dark eye cirlces, skin elasticity in a short span of time. 

Finding the ideal vitamin C eye cream in this ever-evolving world of skincare may get overwhelming but we have tried to make it easier with our handpicked recommendations. There is something for everyone as we have covered a wide array of options. Embrace the transformative power of this star ingredient and get ready for an eye-opening brightness!

Contributor: Dr. Zeeshan Afzal, MD, Welzo Medical Officer