I Thought Under-Eye Puffiness Was Part of My Anatomy—Then I Tried These Eye Creams

Best for: Awakening the eye area

Why it's the best: Yes, the Sunday Riley Auto Correct eye cream is expensive, but it really is one of the best eye creams I've ever tried. Designed to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, the lightweight formula contains caffeine and Brazilian ginseng root extract to deliver an energising boost to the skin. Plus, shea butter, cocoa butter and watermelon rind extract hydrate the skin while light-reflecting particles add a beautiful glow.

Who What Wear editor review: "I don't know what I did before this eye cream. It's my favourite product to reach for in the mornings as it sinks into the skin in seconds, hydrates my under-eyes and sits perfectly under makeup. Not only does it help with puffiness, but the light-reflecting particles add such a glow that people have even commented on how refreshed I look after using this," says junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

Best for: A cooling sensation

Why it's the best: If you're looking for a more affordable eye cream option, you can't go wrong with L'Oréal Paris. This eye cream took over social media thanks to the unique applicator, and we can confirm it's worth the hype, Packed with hyaluronic acid and caffeine, the hydrating formula plumps the under eyes while the triple roller applicator massages and cools the skin to help reduce puffiness.

Who What Wear editor review: "This is such a fun eye cream to use, and the best bit is that the applicator really does work. It feels amazing to use in the mornings as it creates a refreshing, cooling effect and the hydrating serum is lightweight enough to sit under makeup, but effective enough to banish dry skin," says junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

Best for: Tackling a wide range of skincare concerns

Why it's the best: This Kate Somerville eye cream is seriously impressive. Not only does it contain brown and red algae and vitamin C to help fight puffiness and dark circles, but it also features a triple peptide complex and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump fine lines.

Expert review: "Using an eye cream specifically designed with ingredients to treat puffiness is going to give you the best results," says Somerville. "Our KateCeuticals Lifting Eye Cream is perfect as it is uniquely formulated to not only treat all signs of ageing around the eyes by relaxing the look of lines and wrinkles, but also contains brown and red algae to target puffiness and dark circles, and cucumber extract to soothe those tired under-eyes."

Best for: Sensitive skin

Why it's the best: La Roche-Posay has so many great products for sensitive skin, and this de-puffing eye cream is no exception. It's infused with the brand's famous thermal spring water to soothe and hydrate the skin, but it also includes a niacinamide complex to strengthen the skin's barrier and reduce puffiness. It comes with an easy-to-use pump and the smaller bottle is perfect for travelling.

Who What Wear editor review: "I have very sensitive skin around my eyes, but I never get any irritation when using this. In fact, whenever my skin does feel irritated this provides a soothing effect. It's a very lightweight cream but still manages to hydrate the skin and add a subtle glow while also helping to reduce puffiness," says junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

Best for: A brightening effect

Why it's the best: We've written a whole feature on this Origins eye cream as it really is that good. Packed with caffeine, vitamin C, niacinamide and ginseng, it works to reduce puffiness and brighten the under eye area. It comes in two different tones (cool and warm) to add an illuminating finish to the skin, so it's a great option for under makeup.

Who What Wear editor review: "If you're looking for a quick and easy way to awaken your eye area in the morning, then I'd definitely suggest giving this eye cream a go. It feels refreshing to apply and adds a beautiful luminosity to the skin. Add a little bit of concealer over the top and you are good to go," says junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

Best for: Instant and long-lasting results

Why it's the best: Remember when I said to look for an eye cream with a cooling metal applicator? This Murad one ticks all the boxes. The metal tip instantly helps to reduce puffiness while ginseng, caffeine and peptides work to lift puffy eyes and make them look a whole lot more awake. Oh, and did I mention it comes with a light-reflecting complex to illuminate skin too? Told you it ticks all the boxes.

Who What Wear editor review: "When I'm finding it really hard to wake up in the morning, I know I can rely on this eye cream to give my skin a boost. The metal tip feels so nice on the skin and the formula itself immediately makes my eyes look more awake. It is an investment, but like many Murad products, you know you're going to see results," says junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

Best for: Dry skin

Why it's the best: CeraVe is one of those skincare brands that you know you can rely on when your complexion is in need of some TLC. The brand's Eye Repair cream is packed with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to hydrate and plump the skin and nourish the skin barrier. The result? Soft, smooth looking under-eyes that will trick anyone into thinking you got a good night's sleep.

Who What Wear editor review: "Another eye cream that never irritates my sensitive skin is the CeraVe Eye Repair Cream. The nourishing formula glides onto the skin and makes my under eyes look totally replenished after a bad night's sleep. I just wish it came with a cooling metal applicator like the eye cream above," says junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

Best for: A morning boost

Why it's the best: As the name suggests, this Charlotte Tilbury eye cream delivers an instant cooling effect to the eyes, which is why I love to use it in the morning. The serum features the brand's IceAwake complex which is made with Swiss glacial soil and Swiss ice wine essence, and comes with a metal tip, so you can only imagine how refreshing it feels to use.

Who What Wear editor review: "This is one of the brand's more lightweight eye cream formulas, so I love using it under makeup. It sinks in quickly, depuffs the under eyes thanks to the cooling effects and really awakens the eye area," says junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

Best for: Easy application

Why it's the best: This eye cream is really clever as it comes with a cooling rollerball applicator that feels refreshing but also helps to massage the under eyes, helping to get rid of fluid build-up that may be contributing to your dark circles and puffiness. The formula itself contains caffeine to also help reduce puffiness and awaken the eye area. Oh, and it features five types of hyaluronic acid for serious hydration.

Who What Wear editor review: "I've been using this every morning and have noticed my eyes looking less tired and my concealer applies better without creasing so much," says beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden.

Best for: Very tired eyes

Why it's the best: Not only is this eye cream much more affordable than more luxury options out there, but the ingredients speak for themselves. Packed with peptides and caffeine, I like to think of this as a cup of coffee for my under-eye area. It depuffs, helps to reduce the appearance of dark circles and smooths the skin.

Who What Wear editor review: "This eye cream from The Inkey List has a cooling gel consistency that melts instantly into the skin, making it great to use on busy mornings and as prep for makeup too," says beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden.

Best for: Effective skincare ingredients

Last but by no means least, say hello to Ilia's Bright Start Activated Eye Cream. I have to admit, I hadn't used any skincare from the brand before testing this eye cream, but I was impressed. The applicator comes with a cooling tip to help reduce puffiness, while the non-irritating cream features caffeine, avocado extract, peptides and a sea fennel-derived retinol alternative to hydrate, depuff and smooth the skin.

Who What Wear editor review: "If you've used any makeup products from this brand, then you'll know that skincare is always front of mind, and I can totally see this when using the eye cream. Not only are the ingredients top notch, but it's a joy to apply," says junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.