Eye Creams For Your 30s To Minimize Wrinkles, Dark Circles, and Puffiness

Eye cream is an essential part of your skincare routine in your 30s. Most of us realized that a little too late. But we’re going to own under-eye care this decade! Our 30s are when we talk about wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, puffiness, and dryness with random strangers. That’s how preoccupied we are with signs of aging. Luckily, the best eye creams for your 30s are packed with a variety of potent anti-aging ingredients to tackle each of those age-related under-eye concerns.

But let me tell you this. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from using numerous eye creams over the years, or from just life itself, it’s that it’s better to be demanding. Eye creams are not cheap. And if you’re going to pay for one, it’d better make you feel good and help you with whatever it is that you want it to do! So here’s how to choose one.

In a hurry? Here’s my top pick for the best eye cream for your 30s.

What to Look For in an Eye Cream For Your 30s

Maybe you’ve just started with eye creams or you’ve been consistently using one. Either way, there are some key ingredients to look for in an eye cream to use in your 30s. These are unique ingredients that address specific issues related to aging.

For example, do you want your eye cream to minimize wrinkles or puffiness? Do you want something that multi-tasks? Knowing which works on what will help you find the right eye cream for your skin. So, here’s what to look for in an eye cream to master eye care in your 30s.

1. Hyaluronic acid for hydration

Our thirties are when we observe volume loss in the skin (1). It manifests itself as thin skin, which makes wrinkles more apparent. And the first area to show signs of volume loss is the under-eye area.

And for that, hyaluronic acid’s the name of the game. It temporarily “fills in” wrinkles. This humectant draws water into the skin and keeps the skin hydrated and plump. It’s what helps us cover the moisturizing aspect of our under-eye care in our 30s.

2. Antioxidants for free radicals

External factors like unprotected sun exposure and pollution can damage your skin (2). This process is called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress causes the formation of free radicals. And free radicals have the potential to cause the formation of wrinkles.

They can damage the protective skin barrier and even break down healthy collagen in the skin. That’s where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea protect the skin around the eyes and prevent those free radicals from damaging the skin’s integrity. That’s why it’s important to look for antioxidants in eye creams for your 30s.

3. Peptides for collagen

Collagen is an essential protein. It’s what keeps the skin around the eyes firm, tight, and healthy. But you can’t just slather on collagen and expect it to reproduce. Enter peptides!

There are different types of peptides that help with several skin concerns. But signal peptides are specifically helpful in tricking the skin into producing more collagen (3). That’s why eye creams formulated with peptides work so well to target wrinkles and fine lines.

4. Retinol for skin turnover

Retinol (vitamin A) is the mother of all that is anti-aging! Your skin cell turnover slows down as you age. And topical retinol is exceptionally helpful in regulating this process. It speeds up cell renewal and is the absolute best when it comes to getting rid of crow’s feet, dark circles, and fine lines around the eyes.

That’s why retinol eye creams can be of great use when tackling signs of aging in your 30s. But it requires caution. Because retinol is notoriously sensitizing and drying. If your skin is familiar with it, great! But if you’re a beginner, learn how to properly use it before buying a retinol eye cream.

5. Vitamin C & caffeine for dark circles

Vitamin C is an antioxidant. So, it protects the skin against free radical damage. But additionally, it reduces the production of melanin and helps with hyperpigmentation. That’s why it’s so effective in dealing with discolorations and dark circles under the eyes.

If that’s your major concern in your 30s, look for eye creams made with vitamin C. Similarly, caffeine eye creams reduce the visibility of dark circles. As a bonus, they reduce the look of puffy eyes as well.

The Best Eye Creams For Your 30s

Whether you’re looking for an anti-aging eye cream for fine lines or a brightening eye cream for dark circles, find below the best eye creams to use in your 30s.

Best Overall: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme

Pros
Multi-tasker
Instantly plumps under-eyes
Great for under makeup

Cons
Pricey

This is my personal favorite and my recommendation for the overall best eye cream for women in their 30s. First of all, it is anti-aging but not made with potential irritants. It packs signal peptides, and antioxidants from watermelon extract, vitamin E, and soybeans. So it keeps the eye area protected against free radicals but doesn’t infuse the skin with irritating ingredients like retinol. Second of all, it packs caffeine for dark circles, which I love as someone dealing with dark shadows from all the screen time. And lastly, it doesn’t pill around the eyes, applies smoothly, and gives the eye area a more rested, fresh look. Because it’s so restorative and gentle, I think this will work for the majority of 30-somethings. And price-wise, it’s not cheap but it’s still cheaper than many retinol-infused options. You can’t go wrong with it.

Best Anti-Aging: Kate Somerville Retinol Firming Eye Cream

Pros
Packs multiple anti-agers
Elegant applicator tip to depuff

Cons
Pricey

As mentioned above, retinol is the best when it comes to wrinkles. And this eye cream is made with retinol as well as bakuchiol. Bakuchiol is a natural alternative to retinol that doesn’t cause irritation or sensitivity. These two revive the skin around the eyes for a firmer and tighter appearance. To counteract the drying effects of retinol, the cream is filled with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump up the delicate skin around the eyes. Additional antioxidants nourish and protect your under-eyes, making this an effective anti-aging eye cream for your 30s. Plus, the applicator tip makes it convenient to keep the product in the fridge. More elegant than placing cold spoons on your eyes, right?

Best For Sensitive Skin: La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream

Pros
Non-irritating formula
Visibly hydrates
Leaves under-eyes subtly radiant

Cons
Could be a bit more potent considering the price

If you have sensitive eyes and they tend to get watery whenever you apply eye cream or any other eye product, fear not. We’ve got La Roche Posay for that. This is so gentle that it even works for my sensitive eyes from ocular rosacea. It’s very basic but it’s super hydrating for the eye area. It’s made with hyaluronic acid but also contains caffeine to minimize the appearance of dark circles and under-eye bags. And it’s light, absorbs easily, and leaves the eye area smoother.

Best For Dark Circles: Drunk Elephant C-Tango Vitamin C Eye Cream

Pros
Amazing multi-tasker
Works for multiple concerns
Packs gentle vitamin C derivatives
Suitable for all skin types

Cons
Pricey

This eye cream is a life-saver for women in their 30s. It’s a multi-tasker that targets dark circles as well as fine lines and loose skin around the eyes. First of all, it contains several forms of vitamin C to ensure potency and stability. With vitamin C, the cream brightens the eye area, reduces the look of dark circles, repairs free radical damage, and prevents the formation of wrinkles. Second of all, it has a combination of both signal and neuropeptides. Signal peptides stimulate collagen formation. And neuropeptides restrict muscle movement to soften wrinkles. The fragrance-free eye cream keeps the eye area hydrated and plump with hyaluronic acid. And it keeps the skin moisturized and radiant with avocado oil. It’s great for people with sensitive eyes who want to avoid heavy actives like retinol.

Best Firming: Lancome Renergie Lift Multi-Action Eye Cream

Pros
Instantly smoothes skin
Works well under concealer
No pilling
Leaves under-eyes noticeably radiant

Cons
Pricey

If you’re in your mid or late 30s and dealing with thin skin or a bit loose skin around the eyes, I can swear by this one! This is a firming eye cream. And even though that sounds like a catch-all phrase, the eye cream actually helps to give the eye area a firmer, tighter appearance. It’s a tad bit heavier than a gel eye cream but not as heavy as a balm-like eye cream. It utilizes peptides, caffeine, and fermented black tea to lift the eye area and packs several moisture boosters to plump up fine lines. It’s freshly scented and smells amazing for those of you looking for something energizing for the senses too.

Best Tinted: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Brightening Eye Cream

Pros
Tinted, color-correcting formula
Visibly brightens
Instantly freshens up tired-eyes

Cons
Contains silicones

This unique eye cream has a blue tint to it that is perfect for brightening the under-eyes. This one targets all eye concerns but it’s exceptionally hydrating. That’s why it’s perfect for all skin types, but especially for dry skin. It’s brimming with hydrating hyaluronic acid, barrier-restoring niacinamide (vitamin B3), and ceramides. It’s incredible when it comes to repairing the skin to retain moisture. Niacinamide is also helpful in brightening the skin. Now combine that with vitamin C and caffeine, and the eye cream does deliver radiant eyes! One more thing, this one contains all 3 types of peptides; signal, copper, and neuropeptides! So it has both long-term and short-term benefits to successfully reduce wrinkle depth. The gel-like formula absorbs easily. And it leaves the eye area super soft and smooth, making it an effective anti-aging eye cream for your 30s.

Best For Dry Under-Eyes: Youth To The People Dream Eye Cream

Pros
Potent anti-aging night eye cream
Incredibly moisturizing
Fills in fine lines
Eliminates flaky skin

Cons
Cream turns buttery, remember to tightly seal the cap

This anti-wrinkle vegan eye cream is packed with an impressive bunch. It’s an overnight treatment to care for the eyes and to help you wake up to fresh-looking under-eyes. It contains plant stem cells, vitamin C, and vitamin E to reverse sun damage around the eyes. The power duo vitamins C and E protect the eye area from free radicals while vitamin C brightens and reduces the look of dark under-eyes. And to instantly reduce the visibility of lines and wrinkles, it contains hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides. Collectively, they plump up the skin and eliminate dry and flaky under-eyes. And because it has such a rich, emollient base, it works amazingly well for people with dry skin around the eyes.

Best For Puffiness: Fresh Black Tea Firming And De-Puffing Eye Cream

Pros
Great for tired-looking eyes
Very moisturizing emollient cream
Layers well under makeup

Cons
Contains fragrance

The anti-aging eye cream is formulated around antioxidant-rich black tea extract. Well, we all know how effective tea is to de-puff the eyes. Additionally, it has noni fruit juice, which is super rich in skin-restoring fatty acids. And it contains fermented yeast, which is highly replenishing thanks to amino acids and minerals. This effective eye cream utilizes hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane to fill in wrinkles. And it reduces the signs of photo-aging and diminishes wrinkles and dark spots with vitamins C & E. It’s lightweight and leaves the eye area looking radiant. If puffiness is your main concern, this is it!

Best For Wrinkles: Murad Renewing Eye Cream

Pros
Perfect for under-eye wrinkles
Multi-tasks big time
Ideal for your late 30s

Cons
Results take time to show

This one has lots of goodies to target multiple skin concerns around the eyes. It smooths out the wrinkles with retinol and tightens up the skin with signal peptides. Additionally, it reduces dark circles and pigmentation with skin-brightening vitamin C. It hydrates with hyaluronic acid and locks moisture in with the amazing emollient mango butter. The anti-aging eye cream is a targeted one to keep the eyes looking youthful and fresh and is worth every penny! Plus, if you have oily skin and are prone to milia, this retinol eye cream can help with that too.

Best Affordable: Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Eye Cream

Pros
Budget-friendly
Packs gentle vitamin C derivative
Has several skin brighteners

Cons
Could be more anti-aging

This one is absolutely one of the most affordable and equally effective eye creams you can use in your 30s. It’s made with impressive ingredients to rejuvenate the eye area. It contains vitamin C to effectively cancel out free radicals and illuminate the under-eyes. And it contains vitamin B5 to moisturize while soothing the skin. It also has a signal peptide to keep the skin lifted and youthful. Several skin-hugging botanical extracts including green tea and licorice root calm and soothe the skin. The eye cream is lightweight and absorbs easily, leaving the skin feeling refreshed and energized.

Best Mask: Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask

Pros
Works instantly
Covers a large area
Absolutely amazing before a special event

Cons
Pricey
May not be great for sensitive skin

This intense anti-aging under-eye patch is perfect for when you need a quick boost. It contains skin-transforming retinol for the ultimate long-term results. But it instantly plumps up fine lines around the eyes with a deeply penetrating form of hyaluronic acid. To double the plumping action and to fill in the wrinkles, it has squalane that keeps the eye area smooth, moist, and bouncy. It’s super travel-friendly and perfect for long flights, making it an amazing eye mask to use in your 30s.

Best Drugstore: Olay Total Effects 7-In-One Eye Transforming Cream

Pros
Affordable anti-aging eye cream
Helps with dark circles

Cons
Can feel heavy
Contains silicones

The drugstore anti-aging eye cream utilizes a retinol derivate to target wrinkles. And it has a blend of vitamins to provide antioxidant benefits. Retinol esters take longer to work but are generally less irritating than retinol. So this can be your gentle gateway product to retinol. It also has vitamins C & E to guard the skin against oxidative stress. And it has niacinamide and panthenol to replenish the skin. Additionally, the budget-friendly eye cream has cucumber and green tea to avoid irritation, redness, and sensitivity around the eyes.

Best Brightening: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Creme

Pros
Instantly illuminates
Doubles as an eye primer
Orange tint provides quick color-correcting action
Super hydrating

Cons
Requires time to visibly reduce hyperpigmentation

And speaking of bright and youthful eyes, this is another radiance-boosting eye cream made with vitamin C. It instantly awakens and energizes tired-looking eyes. The texture of it is super-replenishing all thanks to shea butter and jojoba oil. They’re rich in skin-restoring fatty acids and they literally lock moisture into the skin. The eye cream is also suitable to use as a primer for your concealer too. Plus, the vegetable collagen in the formula keeps the skin plump and softens the look of wrinkles. The cream is tinted, which disappears into the skin but makes it cosmetically more convenient to cancel out dark shadows.

Best with Gentle Retinol: First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Eye Cream

Pros
Gentle anti-aging eye cream
Suitable for beginner retinol users
Works great for milia
Major multi-tasker
Packs anti-inflammatories

Cons
Results can take time to show

Just a heads-up; micro-encapsulation is when you trap active ingredients in microscopic capsules. The ingredients are released slowly and gradually into the skin. It might sound random, but it’s great for people with sensitive skin who are having trouble tolerating retinol. This eye cream uses encapsulated retinol to avoid irritating the skin while improving the look of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. It’s also packed with soothing oatmeal, allantoin, and aloe. And it contains the gentlest form of vitamin C, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, to provide antioxidant protection for sensitive eyes. With shea butter, the eye cream leaves the skin soft and silky, making the cream perfect for 30-somethings with dry and sensitive skin.

Best Serum: iS Clinical C Eye Serum Advance Plus

Pros
Contains pure vitamin C in a high concentration
Absorbs fast
Potent dark circle treatment

Cons
Lacks creamy emollients to moisturize
You may need a separate eye cream

This one is a targeted eye serum with minimal but incredibly potent ingredients. It’s made with 7.5% vitamin C to retexturize and brighten the skin around the eyes. The all-mighty antioxidant vitamin C smoothes out wrinkles and minimizes pigmentation. Using a signal peptide that works with copper in the skin, the serum signals the skin into producing more collagen. And because of the light texture, the eye serum effectively penetrates the skin and plumps up wrinkles with hyaluronic acid, making it an amazing eye cream for women in their 30s.

Best For Night: Paula’s Choice Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Pros
Night-time eye treatment
Rich cream maximizes moisture
Contains several botanical antioxidants

Cons
Feels a bit heavy

This night eye cream is nourishing + replenishing + rejuvenating. It checks all the boxes with vitamins C and E as well as another potent antioxidant; resveratrol. Resveratrol is exceptionally helpful in diminishing discolorations aka dark circles. Additionally, it has signal peptides to improve the visibility of crow’s feet and fine lines. A blend of soothing botanicals keeps itching and flakiness at bay. Plus, it’s formulated with shea butter to glide easily on the skin, leaving it smooth and silky.

So these are some of the best eye creams you can use in your 30s. It’s all about prioritizing. Keep your main under-eye concern in mind and depending on that, look for ingredients to tackle those issues. Now, here are some under-eye care tips to help you maximize your results from your eye cream.

Under-Eye Care Tips For Your 30s

• Keep your eye creams and eye serums in the fridge. The cooling effect will help immensely to depuff the eyes and get rid of the under-eye bags.
• For your evening routine, try using a Jade roller with your eye products. The actives will better penetrate the skin and the roller will help with lymph drainage to reduce puffiness and dark circles.
• If you’re using a retinol eye cream, remember to apply sunscreen around the eyes. Well, you should use SPF anyways, but retinol makes the skin more prone to sunburn. So, keep that in mind.
• Never use wipes to remove your eye makeup! The pulling has the potential to hurt the skin’s elasticity. Instead, try an oil cleanser.
• Do not use eye creams with active ingredients on wet skin. It may cause sensitivity as wet skin absorbs faster than dry skin.
• To maximize your eye cream, exfoliate the under-eye area VERY gently with a damp cloth once a week.

FAQs

Read Next: The Best Anti-Aging Creams For Your 30s

References:

1. Farage, M. A., Miller, K. W., & Maibach, H. I. (2009). 106 Facial rejuvenation: A chronology of procedures: Thirties [E-book]. In Text Book of Aging Skin (pp. 1175–1177). Springer Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-89656-2
2. Clatici, V. G., Racoceanu, D., Dalle, C., Voicu, C., Tomas-Aragones, L., Marron, S. E., Wollina, U., & Fica, S. (2017). Perceived Age and Life Style. The Specific Contributions of Seven Factors Involved in Health and Beauty. Maedica, 12(3), 191–201.
3. Ganceviciene, R., Liakou, A. I., Theodoridis, A., Makrantonaki, E., & Zouboulis, C. C. (2012). Skin anti-aging strategies. Dermato-endocrinology, 4(3), 308–319. https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.22804