The 10 Best Eye Creams for Under-Eye Bags: A Dermatologist's Advice

If you've never paid much attention to eye creams in the past, just skimming a few labels but never letting a single one make it into your medicine cabinet (let alone your skincare routine), you may want to reconsider their benefits—especially if you've already turned the big 3-0. According to dermatologist Ronald Moy, MD, it's the age when one's skin begins to proverbially downshift.

"We're all born with an optimal amount of DNA repair enzymes that restore skin," says Moy. "After the age of 30, the amount of these enzymes naturally decreases, requiring supplementation with topical DNA repair enzymes to prevent skin's aging." And as our skin thins and loosens over time, unsightly, and highly annoying, bags can begin to form under our eyes.

To help fight this process, Moy recommends using eye balms containing such DNA enzymes (they'll help rebuild and hydrate damaged skin) as well as those with epidermal growth factors, which are dynamic (albeit mystifying) molecular proteins that stimulate skin cells to repair themselves by increasing blood flow and even boosting the production of collagen and elastin. Add a product with this potent combo to your morning and evening skincare routines (after cleansing), and in roughly nine weeks, "you should see a noticeable improvement in the tightening of the under-eye area," says Moy, "which is most commonly recognized as looking less tired."

The following 10 dermatologist-recommended eye creams and serums will further help you treat the appearance of under-eye bags—and come with Moy's stringent seal of approval (heck, he even invented two of them). If you're anything like us, it's welcome advice, especially for those navigating the trickier parts of growing older with grace.

"This one's great if you're looking for a thinner eye cream," says Moy. "It's made with DNA repair enzymes that help plump and hydrate the skin."

"Its serum-meets-lotion texture works great as a makeup primer, and also targets cell renewal and boosts hydration," he says.

"This is good for tightening under-eye bags," Moy continues.

"If you're looking for a natural-ingredient approach, this is a great option," says Moy. "It reduces fine lines and wrinkles and brightens dark circles, too."

"This eye cream has a luxurious texture and feels good on," he explains. "It helps smooth eye bags with its plant-based ingredients."

"This one has powerful peptides that help reduce the appearance of bags instantly," adds Moy.

"The hematite mineral in this product helps de-puff bags and reduce dark circles," Moy explains. "It also offers instant hydration with a powerful seaweed blend."

"This cream has a unique combination of N-hydroxysuccinimide [an organic compound that helps the skin correct dark circles] and chrysin [a skin-conditioning and anti-inflammatory flavonoid] to help improve eye bags," he notes.

"This formula uses time-released retinol to smooth and illuminate the under-eye area," Moy continues.

"This is infused with hyaluronic acid and also works as a makeup primer," says Moy.