Let’s face it: there are too many things that can make us appear older or more tired than we actually are. And on the top of that list? Dark eye circles.

First of all, the skin around our eyes is about four to six times thinner than skin on the rest of our faces. Plus, there are no sebum glands naturally lubricating that area and it’s subjected to hundreds of movements every day, so all these really add up to cause the delicate eye area to be the first area where signs of ageing show up first.

And since its thinner, when microcirculation is poor, the dark blood vessels cast a shadowy appearance around the area, resulting in the look of dark eye circles. In addition, there are other lifestyle factors like lack of sleep or a diet high in sodium, which can lead to puffiness around the eyes, and in turn, can also cast a shadow on the under eye area so that your dark eye circles appear even more obvious.

Here, the best eye creams to effectively combat dark eye circles, no matter what your budget is:

Photo: Shutterstock

This counts vitamin C, caffeine and Pro-Vitamin B5 as key ingredients to target pigmentation, puffiness and improve skin resilience respectively. Plus, it has a cooling metal tip roller-ball applicator to help massage and decongest the area for instantly refreshed eyes.

Photo: Garnier

Great for soothing and depuffing the delicate eye area, this cooling eye cream contains hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and improve skin density.

Photo: Mario Badescu

Formulated with an impressive 80 per cent Centella Asiatica extract, this eye cream supports cellular rejuvenation around the eye contours. This, in turn, improves skin resilience and density so darkened blood vessels appear less visible.

(Also read: 5 Anti-ageing Tricks to Prevent Wrinkles and Dark Circles Under Your Eyes)

Photo: PureHeals

Perfect for those dealing with dark circles, puffiness and a loss of elasticity, this lightweight eye cream packs potent ingredients to soothe, depuff, firm and brighten the eye contours. At the same time, it is rich in polyphenols to strengthen skin against external aggressors and is also enriched with vitamins C and E to condition the fragile skin around the eyes.

Photo: Caudalie

Suitable even for those with sensitive skin, this powerful anti-ageing eye cream combats all visible signs of ageing, including dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness. A combination of dermatological ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and mannose work hand in hand to brighten, firm and depuff the area to take years off your face.

Photo: La Roche-Posay

Working with plastic surgeons, this quick-absorbing formula contains niacinamide, botanical oils and copper peptides to repair, brighten and condition the under eye area gently and effectively.

(Also read: 5 Eye Creams That Effectively Soothe and Brighten Tired Eyes)

Photo: It Cosmetics

Packed with antioxidants, peptides and plant extracts, it restores skin firmness and reduces the appearance of dark circles. Thanks to a multi-pronged approach, these active ingredients improves microcirculation and reinforces skin’s barrier layer so that your eye contours look smoother and more energised.

Photo: Eve Lom

Thanks to a powerful vitamin C derivative, it also counts on vitamin E and Ferulic Acid to strengthen the delicate eye area and diminish the look of fine lines gradually over time. Caffeine works to reduce the look of eye bags while Filmexel forms a protective veil over skin to firm and tighten so makeup glides on after.

Photo: Peter Thomas Roth

Thanks to a unique anti-ageing molecule called Triple DNA, it is able to retain 10,000 times its weight in water to effectively hydrate the eye area. Meanwhile, it also contains a refreshing agent which stimulates microcirculation and energises the eye area while plumping sugars smooth out wrinkles for a youthful appearance.

(Also read: 5 Easy Ways to Prevent Your Dark Eye Circles From Getting Unsightly)

Photo: Valmont

Besides the brand’s deeply rejuvenating properties, this potent eye treatment contains hematite, a magnetically-charged mineral which triggers microcirculation to alleviate the look of dark circles. With continued use, the eye contours look brighter, smoother and firmer.

Photo: La Mer