10 Best Natural Eye Creams
11 min read
A roundup of the best natural eye creams made with nourishing, clean ingredients that help to keep the skin around your eyes hydrated, smooth, and youthful-looking, while also addressing specific concerns such as puffiness, dark circles, and signs of aging.
Given that our eyes are one of the most expressive parts of our face, it’s easy to see why most of us want to keep that area looking bright and healthy.
And while fine lines and wrinkles are a normal sign of aging, we tend to want to minimize them and also to reduce the puffiness and dark circles that can come from stress or lack of good sleep.
Having a good eye cream in your skin care arsenal can help you to make the most of one of your best assets! 🤩
Over the years, I’ve tested out dozens of eye creams on my own eyes and I’ve put together a list of my favorite natural eye creams for you to choose from.
Keep reading to find my top eye cream picks ranging from affordable to luxury and in between.
I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article including Amazon Affiliates. Full Disclosure
Why Natural Eye Creams?
First off, let’s talk about why it’s important to choose an eye cream with clean and natural ingredients instead of any old drugstore eye cream or “luxury brand” from the beauty counter.
Sadly, many eye care products on the market are made with cheap, synthetic ingredients which may do more harm than good to your delicate eye area. While researching eye creams I came across a popular eye cream that has PTFE (the same chemical used in Teflon non-stick coating) in it. You’ll want to steer clear of something like that!
Here are some reasons why opting for a natural eye cream is better for your health and the planet:
- Gentle on Delicate Skin: The skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of the face, making it prone to irritation and allergic reactions. Natural eye creams are formulated with gentle, non-toxic ingredients that are less likely to cause irritation or adverse reactions, making them suitable for the delicate eye area.
- Free from Harsh Chemicals: Conventional eye creams often contain synthetic ingredients, such as parabens, petrolatum-derived ingredients, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, artificial fragrances and synthetic colorants, which may pose potential health risks. Look for the EWG VERIFIED™ seal on the eye creams with the cleanest ingredients.
- Nourishing and Nutrient-Rich: Natural eye creams are often enriched with botanical extracts, antioxidants and essential oils that nourish and replenish the skin. These natural ingredients provide essential nutrients, hydration, and protection, helping to improve the overall health and appearance of the delicate eye area.
- Effective Anti-Aging Benefits: Many natural ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and peptides, offer potent anti-aging benefits without the need for harsh chemicals or synthetic compounds. These ingredients help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness, promoting a more youthful and radiant complexion.
- Environmentally Friendly: Natural eye creams are often produced using sustainable and eco-friendly practices, including environmentally safe ingredients and packaging.
- Cruelty-Free and Ethical: Natural eye creams are often cruelty-free and not tested on animals, aligning with ethical and compassionate values. Look for the Leaping Bunny certification or the PETA approved logo to assure that a product is truly cruelty-free.
Overall, using a naturally formulated eye cream allows you to nourish and protect the delicate skin around your eyes with gentle, non-toxic ingredients from companies that promote ethical and environmental sustainability as well.
Key Eye Cream Ingredients to Look For
When choosing a natural eye cream, you’ll want to look for ingredients that are gentle yet effective at addressing common concerns around the delicate eye area, such as crow’s feet or fine lines, dark circles and puffiness. Here are some top ingredients to look for in a high-quality eye cream:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Known for its ability to hydrate and plump the skin, hyaluronic acid (listed as sodium hyaluronate on the ingredient list) helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes by retaining moisture and improving skin elasticity.
- Squalane: Plant-derived squalane provides intense hydration that leaves skin looking smooth and plump. It also offers antioxidant protection from environmental stressors like UV radiation and pollution.
- Caffeine: Caffeine from coffee seed extract or green tea extract helps to constrict blood vessels, reducing puffiness and under-eye bags. Caffeine also has antioxidant properties that help protect the delicate skin around the eyes from environmental damage.
- Peptides: Peptides are amino acids that help to support collagen production and improve skin elasticity, resulting in smoother, firmer-looking skin around the eyes. They also help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Usually shown on ingredients list as tetrapeptides.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is a natural humectant, meaning it helps to attract and retain moisture in the skin. When applied to the delicate eye area, it hydrates and soothes the skin, preventing dryness and keeping it soft and supple.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E (also known as tocopherol) provides antioxidant protection and helps prevent premature aging and maintains the health and vitality of the skin around the eyes.
- Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C helps to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark circles by inhibiting melanin production. It also boosts collagen synthesis, aiding in firming and tightening the skin around the eyes. Seen as sodium ascorbate on the ingredients list.
- Seed Butters: Seed butters like shea butter and mango seed butter are rich in fatty acids which help form a protective barrier that locks in moisture around the eye area. Shea butter is gentle on the skin and well-tolerated by most individuals, including those with sensitive skin.
- Moisturizing Oils: Rich natural oils like jojoba oil, moringa oil, argan oil, avocado oil and macadamia seed oil are popular in eye creams because they nourish the delicate skin around the eyes while providing essential nutrients and antioxidants. Jojoba oil is especially popular because it is lightweight and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores or contribute to breakouts.
When selecting a natural eye cream, consider your specific skin concerns and choose products that contain a combination of these key ingredients for optimal results.
Related: Favorite Natural Face Moisturizer Brands
Top Picks for Natural Eye Creams
Whether you’re a seasoned advocate of green beauty or a newcomer to the world of natural skincare products, our recommendations cover the gamut from affordable natural eye creams to more complex formulas made with specialized ingredients.
No matter your skin type or budget, you are bound to find a favorite eye cream from this curated list.
1.) Best MADE SAFE® Certified Eye Cream: True Botanicals Resurrection Radiance Eye Cream
True Botanicals eye cream is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines and wrinkles. This luscious, natural formula is infused with functional plant actives and is free from silicones and waxes.
- Key Ingredients: Mango seed butter, jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E and extracts from resurrection plant, tree bark, turmeric, coffee & licorice
- Certifications: EWG VERIFIED™, MADE SAFE® Certified, PETA Approved, Leaping Bunny Certified
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $78 for 0.5 oz
- My take: This is my current favorite eye cream!
- Discount code: Sign up for their email list for 10% off your first order.
2.) Best Eye Cream with Bakuchiol: Beautycounter Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream
A high-performance, clinically certified eye cream that combines plant-derived Bakuchiol (a safe retinol alternative) and other nourishing ingredients to reduce the appearance of under-eye shadows and crow’s feet.
- Key Ingredients: Retinatural Complex (bakuchiol and Swiss alpine rose), Persian silk tree extract, shea butter, squalane
- Certifications: EWG VERIFIED™, Leaping Bunny Certified
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $76 for 0.5 oz
- My take: Love this eye cream – it pairs well with the whole Countertime line.
- Discount code: Sign up for their email list for 20% off your first order.
3.) Best Anti-Aging Eye Cream: OSEA Advanced Repair Eye Cream
An extremely rich eye cream enriched with seaweed and sugarcane-derived squalane that is clinically proven to target signs of aging.
- Key Ingredients: Bladderwrack algae, green microalgae, fermented plant extract, plant-derived squalane, caffiene, Vitamin E, shea butter, macadamia seed oil
- Certifications: Leaping Bunny Certified, PETA Approved
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $68 for 0.6 oz
- My take: This eye cream is incredibly rich and I also LOVE their roll-on Ocean Eyes Eye Serum!
- Discount code: Use code MINDFULMOMMA for 10% off your order
4.) Best Firming Eye Cream: Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
An award winning eye cream that combines marine algae and paracress extract to lift, firm, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area.
- Key Ingredients: Sugarcane-derived squalane, paracress extract, pink marine algae extract, peptides, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E
- Certifications: EWG VERIFIED™, Leaping Bunny Certified, PETA Approved
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $56 for 0.5 oz
- My take: Has nice staying power and I love the peachy color that comes from the algae.
- Discount code: See website for current specials.
5.) Best Eye Cream for Dark Circles: 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
This popular eye cream contains caffeine rich green tea and coffee to increase circulation, de-puff and brighten dark circles. In a clinical trial, 97% saw reduction of puffiness and 87% saw reduction of dark circles.
- Key Ingredients: Green tea, green coffee, rosehip oil, aloe vera, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
- Certifications: PETA Approved
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $29 for 1 oz
- My take: One of he first natural eye creams I tried – I know why it’s so popular!
- Discount code: See website for current specials.
6.) Best Eye Cream with Applicator: Ilia Bright Start Activated Eye Cream
Bright Start uses sea fennel extract, a plant-based retinol alternative and light-reflecting mica to revive tired eyes instantly. The cooling ceramic tip doubles as a massage tool.
- Key Ingredients: Sea fennel extract, upcycled avocado extract, caffeine, peptides, jojoba oil and moringa oil
- Certifications: Leaping Bunny Certified
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $46 for 0.5 oz
- My take: I love the very light shimmer it provides and the applicator is very cool.
- Discount code: See website for current specials.
7.) Best Botanical Eye Cream: Fleur & Bee Eyes Eyes Baby
This best-selling eye cream combines the anti-aging power of caffeine and peptides with other potent ingredients to keep the eye area bright and hydrated.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, caffeine, Vitamin B3, squalane, sodium hyaluronate, Vitamin E, aloe vera
- Certifications: Leaping Bunny Certified
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $65 for 0.6 oz
- My take: A great basic eye cream
- Discount code: See website for current specials – they often have sales!
8.) Best Easy to Find Natural Eye Cream: Derma E Stem Cell Eye Lifting Treatment
A multi-action eye cream made with copper peptides and kakadu plum to help to lift, firm and smooth lines.
- Key Ingredients: Copper peptides, Kakadu plum, Goji fruit extract, green tea extract, hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil
- Certifications: PETA Approved
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $24.95 for 0.5 oz
- My take: I like the smoothing applicator. Easy to find at Target, Whole Foods or other local stores
- Discount code: See website for current specials.
9.) Best Balm-Like Eye Cream: Ursa Major Forest Alchemy Eye Cream
This dense eye cream formula is almost like a balm and provides deep hydration to the area around the eyes. Powerful plant actives help boost collagen to support skin cell repair.
- Key Ingredients: Chaga, tremella, pink snow algae, wild birch, green tea leaf extract, Vitamin E and shea butter
- Certifications: Leaping Bunny Certified, Certified B-Corp
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $56 for 0.5 oz
- My take: I have not used this eye cream yet but it is on my list!
- Discount code: See website for current specials.
10.) Best Budget Natural Eye Cream: Acure Ultra Hydrating Eye Cream
This energizing eye cream targets puffiness and dark circles with adaptogens and stimulating green coffee oil.
- Key Ingredients: Ashwagandha, holy basil, reishi mushroom, turmeric, green coffee seed oil, Vitamin E, jojoba oil and avocado oil
- Certifications: PETA Approved
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $22.99 for 0.5 oz (often less on Amazon)
- My take: Most affordable natural eye cream on the list. Plus great for travel.
- Discount code: See website for current specials.
11.) Best Organic Eye Cream: Nourish Organic Eye Treatment
A rich, fast-absorbing eye cream made with 75% organic ingredients that works to hydrate and smooth the eye area.
- Key Ingredients: Organic avocado oil, argan oil, rosehip fruit oil, shea butter, aloe vera, sweet orange oil and Vitamins E and C.
- Certifications: PETA Approved, Leaping Bunny Certified
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $22.99 for 0.5 oz
- My take: I haven’t tried this one but appreciate that it is affordable and made with many organic ingredients.
- Discount code: See website for current specials.
12.) Best Eye Cream for Men: Jackfir Evergreen Eye Cream
This lightweight eye cream for men is infused with humectants and emollients to hydrate and condition the eye area.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, Albizia Julibrissin bark extract, organic aloe and macadamia seed oil.
- Certifications: Leaping Bunny Certified, EWG VERIFIED™
- Vegan: YES
- Price: $48 for 0.5 oz
- My take: A really nice, lightweight eye cream for men.
- Discount code: See website for current specials.
Application Tips for Eye Cream
Here are answers to some common questions about using eye creams as part of your daily skin care routine.
Should I apply eye cream in the morning, at night, or both?
Generally, it’s beneficial to apply eye cream both in the morning and at night for comprehensive care. In the morning, eye cream helps to hydrate and prep the delicate under-eye area before makeup application, while also providing protection against environmental stressors.
At night, applying eye cream allows for deeper penetration and absorption of nourishing ingredients, aiding in the repair and rejuvenation of the skin during the body’s natural repair cycle.
Consistent application both morning and night ensures continuous hydration, protection, and support for the delicate skin around the eyes, leading to improved texture, reduced fine lines, and a brighter, more youthful appearance over time.
Related: Favorite Natural Face Cleanser Brands
When should I apply eye cream in my facial care routine?
In your facial care routine, it’s generally recommended to apply eye cream after cleansing, toning and applying serum but before using moisturizers or facial sunscreens. Serums typically contain potent active ingredients and by applying serums first, you ensure that its beneficial ingredients can fully absorb and target specific skin concerns.
By applying eye cream before heavier moisturizers, you allow it to penetrate the delicate skin around the eyes effectively, providing hydration, nourishment, and targeted treatment for concerns such as fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles.
Can I apply eye cream around the entire eye area?
Yes, most eye creams can be safely used around the 360 eye area, including the under-eye area and the eyelids. However, caution should be used to avoid direct contact with the eyes themselves.
Does everyone need an eye cream?
While not everyone may need an eye cream, incorporating one into your skincare routine can offer specific benefits, especially for those concerned with the delicate skin around the eyes. The skin in this area is thinner and more prone to dryness, fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles compared to the rest of the face. Eye creams are formulated with ingredients tailored to address these concerns, such as hydrating agents, antioxidants and peptides.
Additionally, eye creams can provide a protective barrier against environmental stressors and help to maintain the skin’s elasticity. However, individuals with minimal concerns in the eye area or those who already use a well-formulated facial moisturizer may find that they can achieve similar benefits without a dedicated eye cream. Ultimately, the decision to use an eye cream depends on your personal preferences and skincare goals.
Do you have a favorite natural eye cream? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
