12 Best Retinol Eye Creams to Target Fine Lines and Crepiness

The delicate eye area requires a gentle retinol that won’t dry out or irritate the skin—read on to find out our top recommendations.

Fine lines, loss of elasticity, crow’s feet, and other signs of aging are inevitable over time (thanks to reduced collagen production).

However, there are ways to slow the process if you’re willing. Using retinoids (also known as the umbrella term for all vitamin A derivatives, including retinol) in your skincare routine is highly recommended by nearly every dermatologist.

“Retinoids work by boosting collagen production, which speeds up skin cell turnover. This makes them very effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles,” Dr. Sally Marchbein, a New York City dermatologist, explained to Allure.

She adds that eye creams with active ingredients are a great option for those who want to reduce the appearance of fine lines and prevent them from forming.

Why not just use a regular retinol directly under your eyes? These are often more intense and can cause irritation and dryness to the sensitive eye area.

Additionally, if retinol is applied too close to your eyes, it can trigger dry eye symptoms, as optometrist Tanya Gill, OD, mentioned earlier. Another top tip: Always wear sunscreen (at least SPF 30) the next morning.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on an eye cream with retinol, either. Sure, there are some premium products that dermatologists swear by, but there are also affordable options that you can easily find at your local drugstore. Explore the 12 best retinol eye creams in every price range below—straight from the pros.

Best Overall Retinol Eye Cream: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream

Why It’s Worth It: A three-time Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream is recommended by Dr. Marchbein and Canton, Michigan, dermatologist Dr. Fatima Fahs for treating fine lines.

The fact that it’s one of the least expensive options on this list speaks volumes, too. In addition to professional hair-plucking methods, Dr. Mona Gohara, a Connecticut dermatologist and associate professor of clinical medicine at Yale School of Medicine, recommends retinol as the best way to treat milia, tiny white bumps also known as keratin cysts.

TSA-approved: Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Anti-Wrinkle Night Serum

Why it’s worth it: Another Dr. Marchbein recommendation, this serum comes in individual, single-use capsules that protect against exposure to light and air for optimal efficacy.

“Sensitive or unstable ingredients like vitamin C and retinol are well suited to this delivery system,” explains Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat in New York City.

Best Retinol Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin: Eau Thermale Avène RetrinAL Eyes

Why it’s worth it: Dr. Melissa Levin, a New York dermatologist, recommends RetrinAL Eyes as a great option for smoothing the skin around the eyes. “It combines retinaldehyde (a stabilized version of retinol) to create collagen, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and dextran sulfate as a decongestant,” she explains.

Most Effective Formula: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum

Why It’s Worth It: Not only does this eye serum contain two retinols and bakuchiol (a popular plant-based retinol alternative) to firm and smooth fine lines and wrinkles, but its slightly tacky texture also acts as a base for concealer and other makeup.

Best Brightening Product: Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum

Why It’s Worth It: The astrology-inspired packaging may look pretty, but don’t be fooled. This lightweight formula is packed with powerful ingredients like retinol esters and liposomally encapsulated retinol to boost collagen production, brightening niacinamide to fight dark circles, and barrier-strengthening ceramides.

In other words, this treatment does everything you need it to, and the ceramic applicator also provides a cooling, soothing effect.

Best Prescription Retinoid: Musely Eye Serum

Why it’s worth it: In case you didn’t know, Musely makes it easy to order prescription medications through your dermatologist (including those containing tretinoin) from the comfort of your own home.

Retinoic acid, also known as retinoic acid, doesn’t require conversion, making it easily available, and it works faster than other retinoids, explains Dr. Sheila Farhang, dermatologist and founder of Avant Dermatology & Aesthetics, to Allure. In short: This product works.

Drugstore Tip: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Eye Cream

Why it’s worth it: First and foremost, because of the price, but also because Dr. Marchbein highly recommends this cream, which costs less than $20. She appreciates the combination of retinol and soothing Centella asiatica (also known as tiger grass), which tightens and smoothes the skin without irritating it.

Top Pick: Shiseido Benelux Wrinkle-Reducing Eye Cream

Why It’s Worth It: Despite its creamy texture, this luxurious formula absorbs quickly and instantly plumps the eye area thanks to hydrating squalane and wrinkle-reducing water peptides.

Best Retinol Eye Cream for Dry Skin: Murad Retinol Youth Radiance Eye Cream

Why It’s Worth It: If you want a more effective skin treatment, try this eye serum. It combines two forms of retinol: retinol and a vitamin A derivative called retinyl propionate.

“The latter isn’t as effective as retinol, but by combining the two, you get the almost immediate effects of retinol and the longer-lasting effects of retinyl propionate,” cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson previously explained, adding that this special combination is designed to reduce irritation and dryness.

Best Applicator: StriVectin Advanced Retinol Multi-Repair Eye Cream

Why it’s worth it: It contains topically released retinol to minimize irritation, as well as ingredients like rambutan, hibiscus, and rice bran extracts to further reduce signs of sensitivity. StriVectin also adds its proprietary niacin to boost the retinol’s effectiveness and enhance the color-balancing effect.

Best for Dark Circles: Josie Maran Argan Pro-Retinol Eye Cream

Why it’s worth it: Dark circles are no match for this cream’s trio of hydrating ingredients—horse fat, chestnut extract, arjun (an Ayurvedic ingredient), and encapsulated hyaluronic acid—which visibly increase the volume of dark circles.

Pink algae, a natural source of vitamin A, or retinol, is its star ingredient. Caffeine and coffee seed extract also help to tighten eye bags and fine lines.

Best Non-irritating Retinol Product: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream

Why it’s worth it: It’s all about finding the right balance. From the renowned Rapid Wrinkle line, this reliable eye cream combines retinol and hyaluronic acid to soften fine lines and wrinkles while moisturizing the eye area.

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Before evaluating a makeup product, we consider several factors: What ingredients are included? Does the brand offer a wide range of colors to suit all skin tones and undertones? Is it suitable for sensitive skin or contact lens wearers?

Is it affordable or is it more about whether the packaging is intentional or needlessly wasteful?

To select the best retinol eye creams, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and board-certified dermatologists. This ensured that our group of testers spanned a diverse range of skin tones, genders, and skin conditions.

We evaluated each product’s performance in four main categories: ingredients, shelf life and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more information on our reports, visit our full testing process and methodology page.

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We believe that in addition to a wide selection, a diverse team of writers and editors, as well as regular involvement from outside testers and industry experts, are essential to achieving this goal.

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