9 Under Eye Wrinkle Treatments That Actually Work

Save this story Save Story Save this story Maybe you’re legitimately exhausted—or perhaps you just look it. Either way, an under eye wrinkle treatment can help. These formulations go a step beyond the your standard hydrating eye creams and under-eye patches to accomplish a near-impossible task: smoothing the crinkles and laugh lines around the eyes.

These lines can be especially tough to treat, according to Carmen Castilla, MD , board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY. For one, the skin in this area is “the thinnest on the face and is naturally more prone to wrinkling and accelerated aging,” she says. Years of smiling, laughing, or making any number of facial expressions can lead to deeper folds and wrinkles over time. And, because the skin here is more delicate, the eye area tends to be more prone to irritation—making it potentially harder to treat fine lines without setting skin off.

Because of that, not just any eye cream will do. Experts point to ingredients like retinoids , peptides , hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to smooth the look of wrinkles and give the area a fresher, tighter appearance. Still, keep in mind that a cream can only go so far. “While topicals can soften fine lines and improve texture, they will not tighten true laxity or deeper folds,” says Jane Yoo, MD , a board-certified dermatologist in New York. So you may want to consider it part of an overarching strategy for smoother, brighter eyes. With that in mind, here’s what to add to your top shelf.

What eye cream actually works for wrinkles? What to look for in an eye cream for wrinkles Does anything actually help undereye wrinkles? How to get rid of undereye wrinkles What in-office treatments achieve more intensive eye tightening? How We Eested Meet the Experts Best Overall: SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex Save to wishlist Save to wishlist SkinCeuticals

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What eye cream actually works for wrinkles?

An eye cream with targeted ingredients to spur collagen production—such as retinoids and peptides—can make the biggest difference in wrinkles around the eyes. However, early usage can make a world of difference in results, since lines around the eyes, being caused by facial expressions, only get worse over time. To that end, eye creams “are best for prevention and for patients with very fine lines,” Dr. Castilla says. “Once those lines are deep set, creams will make minimal impact.”

What to Look for in an Eye Cream for Wrinkles

Eye creams can be tough to navigate, in part because “everyone is looking for something a little different out of their creams,” says Erum Ilyas, MD , a board-certified dermatologist in King of Prussia, PA. “Some may be seeking support for dark undereye circles, others for puffiness, and others for wrinkles or heavy eyelids.”

Eye creams for wrinkles can also target these other concerns. Dr. Castilla points to retinoids in particular as a good ingredient to look for, as well as hydrators like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. These either “focus on either hydration of the surface of the skin to make it appear more supple and make wrinkles appear less apparent, or try to make the skin less pliable so it does not move as easily when the muscles are contracted,” says Dr. Ilyas.

Also important is what’s not in your eye cream. Since the skin around the eye is so fragile, “avoid alpha or beta hydroxy acids around the eyes for risks of skin sensitivity, and be careful with products containing fragrance,” says Dr. Ilyas.

Does anything actually help undereye wrinkles?

In addition to topical products like an eye cream, fillers or neurotoxin injections can go a long way. Ultimately crow’s-feet and undereye wrinkles “are the result of underlying muscular activity around the eyes that lends to squinting,” says Dr. Ilyas. “A cream won’t stop you from moving those muscles.” However, an injectable neuromodulator like Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin will.

Topicals alone won’t get rid of undereye wrinkles, but they’re a good start. The gold standard is a retinoid, which includes retinol, retinal, or prescription-strength tretinoin. “There is a plethora of clinical data to support their ability to stimulate collagen, accelerate cell turnover, and improve both fine lines and deeper wrinkles,” says Dr. Yoo, who suggests buffering the retinoid with a moisturizer since skin around the eye area is so easily irritated.

Other good options are peptides and growth factors. “Peptides consist of short chains or amino acids that can help with elasticity of the skin and help reduce wrinkles,” she says. “Growth factors are proteins that stimulate cell growth and repair.” These may not have the same kind of evidence behind them as retinoids, but they tend to be gentler in nature—making them an especially good option for getting rid of undereye wrinkles.

For faster results, hydrating ingredients can help, too. “Other ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, give the skin an immediate plumping effect, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines,” says Dr. Yoo. And ceramides can soften the look of crepey skin and fine lines quickly, she adds. But again, topicals can only go so far—so pair these topical formulas with in-office treatments to get and maintain smoother, more youthful-looking eyes.

What in-office treatments achieve more intensive eye tightening?

There are a lot of in-office treatments that can help with undereye wrinkles and tighten skin. Let’s start with lasers. A fractional CO2 laser is the most powerful option out there, according to Dr. Yoo. “It resurfaces the skin and stimulates collagen,” she says, adding that it’s a good option for older patients who might not be surgical candidates.

Then, there are radiofrequency devices, like Thermage and Morpheus 8. “Radiofrequency devices deliver energy into the dermis to tighten and build collagen with less downtime,” Dr. Yoo says. The effects don’t last as long (roughly six to 12 months) so you’ll need to repeat the treatment for the best results.

And finally, you can consider ultrasound devices like Sofwave and Ultherapy, which “go a bit deeper than radiofrequency and target deeper tightening and brow lifting,” says Dr. Yoo. “You can see the peak effect at around the two to three month period, with results lasting up to a year.” That said, there’s a limit to even what non-invasive treatments can achieve. “If you have excess skin or prominent eye bags, "a surgical consultation may be more appropriate," she says.

When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue ’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.

As it relates to under-eye wrinkle treatments, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address (from hollowness to creases to ‌undereye bags). To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.

Asmi Berry, MD , a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles, CA. Carmen Castilla, MD , board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY. Jeanette Graf, MD , a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY. Erum Ilyas, MD , a board-certified dermatologist in King of Prussia, PA. Discover More Beauty Recommendations From Vogue Shopping The Best Eyebrow Pencils for Older Women Create Natural-Looking Volume and Fullness

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Source: Lifestyle