15 best retinol eye creams to banish bags and improve wrinkles

You can always rely on Medik8 to offer innovative formulas backed by science-heavy ingredients, and these eye creams (available in three strengths) are just that. They’ve been loaded with retinal, a next-generation retinoid, known to work 11 times faster than standard retinol – it’s also been found to be gentler on the skin. Plus, the formulation uses twin encapsulated cosmetic tech, which in simple terms means it can release the active ultra-slowly, so it doesn’t irritate delicate skin.

This is everything a first-class eye cream should be: it’s lightweight, soothing and potent, so you see results quickly. We loved how well it hydrated and depuffed our tired-looking eyes after just one use, thanks to hyaluronic acid, ceramides and chamomile extract. After a month, we started to see a noticeably brighter and smoother contour.

French heritage brand Roc was the first skincare company to stabilise retinol with other ingredients and sell it over the counter. Therefore, it’s no surprise it has a collection of bestselling retinol-based products today, including this affordable and effective eye cream.

The featherweight formula is a pleasure to use in the morning and evening, absorbing in an instant, making it a good base for concealer. After a month of using this product, our eye area looked more vibrant, and, with ongoing use, we saw lines start to soften. If you’re new to retinol, start every other day with this one.

This is a light, refreshing, almost gel-like formula that feels hydrating and cooling on first application. Where it really shines is its ingredient list. Alongside retinol, it includes ferulic acid and bakuchiol. The former is an antioxidant, which helps to slow the skin’s ageing by protecting it from environmental damage, giving the product a protective quality. Ferulic acid also has a stabilising effect on retinol, meaning it helps the formula stay effective for longer inside the bottle.

Meanwhile, Bakuchiol is often touted as a natural alternative to retinol, as it has many of the same effects – in fact, it isn’t a perfect replacement, and the two can be used together for maximum impact.

We saw a considerable reduction in the appearance of some particularly deep lines, and it also eliminated almost all of our milia.

With the brand already boasting a bestselling eye cream that depuffs and brightens, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on Sunday Riley’s retinol eye serum when it first launched. Loaded with gentle retinyl esters, as well as encapsulated retinol that slowly releases over time, we were right to be excited.

This is a better option for those wanting to combat visible signs of ageing in the form of fine lines and wrinkles. We’re already on our second tube, as, with continued use, the delicate area felt much firmer, with less crepiness.

This product is infused with ingredients such as niacinamide and ceramides, to support the skin barrier, and we saw zero irritation from daily use. What’s more, the cooling ceramic tip makes it a real pleasure to apply and encourages lymphatic massage that works on puffiness.

Hollywood aesthetician Kate Somerville is well-versed in making skincare products that stand out from the crowd, and this retinol eye cream is no exception. Its light, silky texture is packaged with a cooling gold applicator tip that becomes rather addictive to use – soothing the delicate area. The formula itself is made up of a dose of retinol and teamed with bio-retinol that mimics its skin-transforming effects but with less sensitivity. Throw in hyaluronic acid, to increase hydration, and you’ve got a gentle but effective formula that we found made our eye area look brighter, smoother and even firmer after just a few weeks of use.

If your eye area is prone to sensitivity, turn to this formula from the French pharma brand that’s been developed with your skin type in mind and has gone through rigorous tolerance testing. The gentle retinol formula is teamed with caffeine, which is great for reducing the look of puffiness. It does so by constricting blood vessels, decreasing inflammation, and forming a temporary tightening effect that eases swelling. We’ve turned to this tube repeatedly, as ongoing use softens fine lines and firms the fragile skin. You can’t go wrong with this, as long as you start slowly if you’re new to the active ingredient.

This is a highly effective, no-frills retinol that reduces crepiness, plumps out hollow circles and generally makes the eye area look brighter and healthier. As with everything from disruptor brand Beauty Pie, this is an incredibly good price for retinol, making it a great option for beginners to try out a retinol eye cream without spending a large chunk of cash. Yes, you have to have a Beauty Pie subscription to access the lower price, but you can trial the service for free, making this the lowest price per millilitre on our list.

For a light serum that works on the lids too, make this your go-to. Packed with Dr Murad’s retinol tri-active technology, it features a gentle retinoid, a slow-release retinol and even a retinol booster, for maximum results. It’s effective, but still gentle on the skin – we saw no signs of redness or peeling – so much so, the brand promises it’s safe for sensitive skin types, too. Add a dose of marine kelp and light-diffusing mica, and you’ve got a beautifully light-textured serum that gives you a youthful, bright-eyed appearance both instantly and over time.

This is a very gentle, hydrating formula that’s a joy to apply. A thick (but not heavy) cream with a generous, satin-like slip, it leaves skin soft and hydrated – a perfect base for make-up. It has a low concentration of retinol, so it’s perfect for those in their late 20s or early 30s who are just starting out with retinol. It also contains ceramides (which strengthen the skin’s barrier and improve water retention), along with brightening and smoothing vitamin C. 

In the growing retinol range at No7 lies this first-rate purse-friendly eye cream that’s as good as its prestigious counterparts. It’s enriched, like many of the brand’s bestselling products, with matrixyl 3000 plus – a powerful peptide that boosts collagen and elastin production, with numerous studies behind it. This is paired with encapsulated pure retinol for slow release throughout the night (so there’s less chance of irritation), as well as skin-soothing bisabolol and hydrating shea butter. It packs a revitalising punch, and we saw a clear softening of crow’s feet and under-eye fine lines in just four weeks.

This product is new to the beauty shelves, and we got our hands on it before launch. We’re pleased to report it did far from disappoint. Packed with glycerin and ceramides, just like the mask in the brand’s range, it’s incredibly hydrating and ideal for those who suffer from dryness around the eye area.

The rich serum’s moisturising properties are joined by a gentle retinol blend, as well as skin soothers such as bisabolol and oat extract, which are beautifully comforting on the skin and minimise any form of irritation. Over time, you can expect hydration to improve, as well as a smoother-looking eye area.

While there might be an ever-growing Gen Z obsession with this skincare brand, this eye serum should only be in the hands of Millennials who are seeing their first signs of ageing. It’s a gentle 0.01 per cent concentration of retinol, making it ideal for first-time users or those whose skin is on the sensitive side. Like all Drunk Elephant products, it’s free from what the brand calls the “suspicious six” – essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones fragrances/dyes, SLS and chemical sunscreens – further minimising chances of irritation.

Its lightweight texture and formulation make it suitable for morning use as well as night-time use. Packed with depuffing caffeine, it’s like a morning cuppa for tired-looking eyes. Keep it in the fridge, and you’ll reap even more eye-awakening rewards, soothing and cooling the area instantly. To see an improvement in lines and elasticity, make it a permanent part of your daily routine.

We’re already huge fans of the existing retinol eye serum from Murad, but this one packs more of a potent punch for those with more advanced signs of ageing – think deep-set lines and wrinkles, and a loss of elasticity. This is another one that uses retinal as its star ingredient, the next-generation fast and effective retinoid that’s still gentle on the delicate eye area. It also uses encapsulated skincare tech, which allows for better efficacy and ensures the active stays stable.

Murad is another trusted skincare brand that, in our view, you can always rely on to be a pleasure to use and, most importantly, perform. This green jar is no exception – it’s a soothing treat for tired eyes, and we saw zero irritation or sensitivity with daily use. We also loved that it targets sagging eyelids, making the area feel lifted.

With a rich heritage in using the power of plants and science, Origins knows how to formulate a first-rate eye cream, as the brand’s much-loved ginzing refreshing eye cream shows. While the ginzing formula is ideal for those looking to depuff and brighten the under-eye area, this new jar is for those wishing to target wrinkles, and we’re predicting it’s going to be another bestseller for the brand.

Encapsulated retinol is joined by skin-plumping peptides, as well as a selection of skin-loving moisturisers and botanical extracts. This cocktail makes up an eye cream that instantly melts into the skin, leaving behind a veil of softness. Play the long game with this and you’ll see bags and lines diminished.

You can pick up this fragrance-free retinol eye cream readily on the high street, and it’s worth it for its silky-smooth texture that instantly made our eye area feel hydrated. Here, Olay has paired retinol with niacinamide, which is another skin rejuvenating and scientifically backed skincare ingredient that will aid in strengthening and smoothing the skin, as well as reducing uneven skin tone.

A little goes a long way with this eye cream – this, coupled with the fact it’s often found on offer, makes it a great value option. Those new to retinol should still introduce it slowly into their routine, to minimise chances of irritation.