3 eye creams that can minimize fine lines and dark circles, according to dermatologists

• Some eye creams claim to do a lot, from erasing dark circles to vanishing eye bags.
• While eye bags won't go away without lasers, the right eye creams can improve your skin.

Eye cream is perhaps one of the most polarizing skincare products, and is often considered a scam by people online. Some, like skincare TikToker Cassandra Bankson, see the tiny, expensive jars and tubes as nothing but "overpriced moisturizers," promising impossible feats like making eye bags magically disappear.

Dr. Debra Jaliman, a dermatologist in New York City, said that while eye bags and deep lines can only truly be removed with procedures like laser treatments and surgery, some eye creams can make a difference if you have fine lines or dark circles.

The best eye creams should have moisturizing and antioxidant qualities

According to Dr. Ivy Lee, a dermatologist practicing in Los Angeles, a good eye cream should have two components: "A moisturizer (such as hyaluronic acid or squalene) and antioxidant (vitamin C, vitamin E, or niacinamide)."

Jaliman agrees that moisturization is important in an eye cream. The moisturization "can help reduce the appearance of fine lines by hydration," she said, while ingredients like vitamin C and niacinamide can lighten dark circles by impacting melanin production.

Creams with retinol and peptides can bring more drastic results

Retinol, a popular skincare ingredient, is another good ingredient to look for in eye creams, according to both dermatologists.

"For dark circles or laxity, I often recommend a conservative trial of eye creams with retinol which can help with epidermal turnover and collagenesis," Lee said.

Retinol inhibits tyrosinase, an enzyme crucial to melanin production, and "also causes the epidermal cells to be shed more quickly," Jaliman said. "This peels off the dead, darker skin layers."

Increased cell turnover can result in a tighter look around the eyes.

"Other good ingredients to look for are peptides, which can stimulate collagen production," Jaliman said.

3 best eye creams for all budgets

Dr. Lee said her three favorite eye creams are:

• CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, $14.44. With brightening niacinamide and hydrating ceramides and hyaluronic acid, this cream is also budget-friendly and easy to find in many stores.
• RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream, $29.99. According to the brand, this retinol-based cream is meant to address "lines, dark circles, and puffiness."
• ISDIN K-Ox Eyes Vitamin K Eye Cream for Dark Circles, $77.60. Using vitamin K to lighten dark circles and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, this cream also has a cooling ceramic tip to leave skin feeling refreshed.