A quality eye cream does more than moisturise. The right product can help brighten dark circles, reduce the appearance of puffiness, and soften fine lines while hydrating the delicate skin around your eyes.
Because the skin around your eyes is thinner than the rest of your face, it’s more prone to dryness and often the first place to show signs of ageing. Over time, collagen and elastin naturally decline, while changes to the fat pads and bone structure around the eyes can contribute to puffiness, hollows and a less defined appearance.
While no eye cream can completely erase wrinkles or under-eye bags, targeted ingredients like caffeine, peptides, retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid can help improve the appearance of tired-looking eyes with regular use.
Whether you’re targeting dark circles, puffiness, fine lines or dryness, we’ve rounded up the best eye creams in New Zealand, from affordable pharmacy favourites to luxurious formulas worth the splurge.
The best eye creams worth adding to your beauty shelf
L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Collagen Eye Cream
$35.99 at Chemist Warehouse
What it does: Tightens the eye area and reduces sagging.
Best for: Mature skin
Key ingredients: Collagen amino acid fractions
Antipodes Anoint H₂O De-Puffing Eye Gel
$62.00 at Antipodes
What it does: De-puffs and cools under eyes while boosting hydration.
Best for: Dehydrated skin
Key ingredients: Coffee berry, red algae, cucumber, plant hyaluronic acid
Emma Lewisham Skin Reset Eye Crème
$142 at Emma Lewisham
What it does: Smooths and brightens the under-eye area while stimulating collagen.
Best for: Dark circles, puffy eyes, and dull skin
Key ingredients: Ribose, CoQ10, caffeic acid, aloe vera
Ask the expert: why use an eye cream?
Emma Lewisham, founder of her globally celebrated, eponymous skincare brand, uses an eye cream every day. “They are specifically formulated to cater to this delicate skin, which is thinner, has less underlying support and experiences creasing from facial expressions,” she says.
“A good eye cream is formulated with specialised ingredients, potencies and combinations targeted to address the unique concerns of this specific area, to offer effective support.”
She adds that a “scientifically backed, 100% natural eye cream has undoubtedly been the most requested product from our customers” – and the brand has definitely delivered with its Skin Reset Eye Crème.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Lift + Sculpt
$195 at Estée Lauder
What it does: Visibly lifts and sculpts the eye area and reduces the appearance of dynamic lines caused by facial movement.
Best for: Crow’s feet lines, under-eye wrinkles and even smile lines
Key ingredients: 2HA volume filler with hyaluronic acid, sculpting hexapeptide-8
Tip: Incorporate this potent cream into your nighttime skincare routine.
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Eye Serum 2.0
$200 at Life Pharmacy
What it does: A potent, antioxidant-rich and retinol-infused formula that protects against environmental damage and visibly reduces signs of ageing.
Best for: Anti-ageing concerns
Key ingredients: Idebenone, encapsulated retinol, peptides, niacinamide, ceramides
M.A.C Fast Response Eye Cream
$82 at M.A.C
What it does: A dual eye cream and primer that instantly hydrates, tightens, and smooths the skin.
Best for: Tired-looking, puffy eyes
Key ingredients: Caffeine, cucumber, sunflower seed oil, squalane
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
$53 at Sephora
What it does: A water-based eye cream that targets signs of ageing while brightening the eyes.
Best for: Fine lines, eye bags and hollow-looking eyes
Key ingredients: Palmitoyl tripeptide-38, de-puffing glucosides, niacinamide and ash bark extract
Ultra Moisturiser Eye Cream
$85 at UltraCeuticals
What it does: A lightweight eye cream that hydrates and softens skin.
Best for: Dry, rough under-eye skin
Key ingredients: Shea butter, panthenol, aloe vera, sodium hyaluronate
Advanced Night Repair Supercharged Gel-Creme Synchronized Multi-Recovery Eye Cream
$160 at Estée Lauder
What it does: Brightens, firms and hydrates the skin overnight.
Best for: Dark circles and fatigued eyes
Key ingredients: Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, peptides
Clinique Moisture Surge Eye 96-Hour Hydro-Filler Concentrate Serum
$92 at Clinique
What it does: Plumps, hydrates, and brightens delicate skin while protecting against moisture loss.
Best for: Dry, dull skin and fine lines
Key ingredients: Encapsulated antioxidants, niacinamide, algae extract, green tea leaf extract
Clarins Total Eye Smooth
$95.20 (usually $119) at Adore Beauty
What it does: A rich, balm-textured eye cream that doubles as an eye mask to smooth and enhance luminosity.
Best for: Mature skin
Key ingredients: Albizia, white horehound, oat sugars, furcellaria
Tip: Mix half a pump of Clarins Total Eye Smooth with a drop of Clarins Everlasting Concealer for instant under-eye brightening!
Tula Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm
$75 at Mecca
What it does: An eye balm that doubles as a highlighter, brightening, hydrating and cooling skin while leaving a subtle, dewy glow.
Best for: Uneven tone and irritation
Key ingredients: Probiotic extracts, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, apple & watermelon
Tip: This true multitasker doubles as a highlighter – apply it to cheekbones, Cupid’s bow or bridge of the nose.
What it does: Revives sun-damaged skin and tired-looking eyes
Best for: Puffy, dry eyes and fine lines
Key ingredients: East Cape mānuka oil, rosehip oil, sweet almond oil, and green tea extract
Lucas Papaw Ointment
$9.99 at Chemist Warehouse
Celebrity beauty tip: While this may not be your typical eye cream, actress Chloe Grace Mortez says she’s a big fan of Aussie staple Lucas Papaw Ointment, saying, “I cover my lips in it and then I put it underneath my eyes.”
How to apply eye cream correctly
After cleansing and applying your skincare serums, use your ring finger to gently tap a small amount around the eye area, following the orbital bone from the inner corner outwards.
Avoid rubbing or tugging the skin, as the eye area is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face.
Applying too much product won’t deliver better results, so a pea-sized amount is usually enough for both eyes.
In what order should I apply eye creams, serums, and balms in my skincare routine?
The correct order to apply your skincare is from lightest to heaviest. So, after giving your face a double cleanse, follow with your serums, then your creams, and finish with your moisturiser (usually the thickest cream), then face oil to lock in hydration.
Eye makeup application tips for brighter-looking, wide awake eyes
Use a soft-hued eyeshadow palette
Call in a neutral palette, like Natio Mineral Eyeshadow Palette in Nudes. Taupes, beiges and warm browns are universally flattering, and won’t weigh down the area or accentuate fine lines like heavier hues can. Go one step further and create a fake crease by applying a matte shadow just above your natural crease; this will give the illusion of lifted, open eyes.
Brighten with concealer
Apply concealer in a triangle from the inner corner of your eye to the middle of your cheek. Next, blend upwards to boost and brighten. Choose a multi-purpose formula, likeL’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer. This product corrects like a concealer and hydrates like an eye serum, and won’t settle into fine lines.
Instant lifting with an eyelash curler
Use an eyelash curler to open up the eyes and create an instant lift. Follow with Elizabeth Arden Lasting Impression Mascara, concentrating on the outer lashes. Keep the focus upward and apply two coats to your top lashes for a wide-eyed look. After that, apply a single coat to your bottom lashes or skip your lower-lash mascara altogether to avoid heaviness.
Frame the eyes with fuller-looking, filled-in brows
Fuller brows frame the eyes and provide subtle structure, helping to create a youthful look. Softly fill in any sparse areas with Glossier Boy Brow Arch. Using short, feathery strokes, brush eyebrows upwards with MCoBeauty Hair & Brow Magic Wand for a natural brow lift.
Read next:
- Why Antipodes’ move into haircare is anything but ordinary
- The best Emma Lewisham skincare products according to long-time users
- 10 of the best night creams for hydrated, glowing skin by morning
