If you want to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles around your eye area, there is no ingredient more scientifically proven to do so than retinol. Yes, every dermatologist’s favorite miracle worker is raved about for its ability to help stimulate collagen, retain water, and smooth the texture of the skin, but retinol is very powerful and can cause some irritation, so it needs to be used carefully and in the right potency—especially around the eyes.

This is why we asked New York City dermatologists Dr. Jeremy Fenton, M.D., and Dr. Morgan Rabach, M.D., for their advice on how to keep your peepers looking their best, while avoiding sensitivity issues. "The skin around the eyes is naturally thin and fragile, making it more susceptible to the aging process as collagen and elastin fibers break down with age,"1 Fenton explains. “We also have a lot of movement in the area as we smile, squint, and rub our eyes, which further induces the formation of wrinkles." Dr. Rabach adds that retinol increases collagen production—so it can minimize the look of crepey skin by thickening it while improving fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

After using them for weeks at a time, our testers rated each formula's texture, skin feel, and how well it diminished the signs of aging around the eyes. We then combined these results with the recommendations of board-certified dermatologists and leading aestheticians to find the best retinol eye creams with a range of budgets, skin types, and concerns in mind.

24/7 Retinol Eye Cream