Most Eye Creams Are Snake Oil, but This Rich Formula Instantly Reduces My Morning Puffiness

And brightens my dark under-eye circles, too

If I’m being honest, I think most eye creams are snake oil: They don’t work for me, and they tend to be costly.

As told to me by derms, age-related changes in skin, bone structure, and fat around the eyes can lead to discoloration and the darkening of the eye area. For me, most eye creams for puffiness barely move the needle. With the exception of an eye serum or two that help with hydration (only!), I’ve always considered eye creams a waste of money. And as a beauty editor, I’ve used dozens.

Experts Say

“Dark circles under the eyes are a common concern that can appear for many reasons — some of them are simply due to aging,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Naana Boakye tells PEOPLE. “Over time, the natural shifts in fat distribution, muscle changes, and volume loss in the midface can all contribute to that familiar shadowed look beneath the eyes.”

Then a few years ago I discovered Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening + Depuffing Eye Cream for Dark Circles, and it changed my world. 

This eye cream not only hydrates my eye area, but it instantly depuffs my eye bags and brightens my dark circles in a way no other eye cream does. It’s the best eye cream I’ve ever used, and that’s why you’ll always find a bottle on my vanity or in my fridge.

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening + Depuffing Eye Cream for Dark Circles

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Size: 0.5 oz. | Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Brazilian ginseng, horse chestnut, watermelon extract, lutein | Skin types: Balanced, Dry, Combination, Oily

Related: The 18 Best Face Moisturizers for Dry Skin of 2024, Tested by Real People

Is Sunday Riley Eye Cream Worth It?

Absolutely. My morning skincare routine used to get long when I woke up with particularly puffy eyes. I’d have to take a few minutes to put a cold spoon against the skin to help with puffiness and dark circles. But once I started using Sunday Riley Auto Correct, I reserved that spoon exclusively for my morning cup of coffee. 

There are a couple of things that really make this eye cream worth the investment.

Rich Texture

Sunday Riley Auto Correct has a thick, creamy texture that you expect from a $65 eye cream. Because it’s so rich, it does take about a full minute to absorb, and you want to massage it into the eye area for about a minute before that, but it’s well worth the time investment (and coin). 

The buttery smooth eye cream hydrates the eye area so well, I wholeheartedly believe it’s the reason why my dark circles look less pronounced just ten minutes after application. Plus, it never feels greasy or sticky and doesn’t pill when layered with other skincare or makeup. Nothing else erases the darkness under my eyes so quickly and keeps my eyes looking refreshed for the entire day.

Related: My Eye Bags Flattened Out in Seconds After Trying This Magical Depuffing Treatment

Instant Results

After just four weeks of using Sunday Riley eye cream, my under-eye bags look reduced, my dark circles look brighter, less sallow and deep, and my under-eye area feels more hydrated. And I love that for me! I admit, because I’ve been so underwhelmed with most eye creams I can be a bit lazy about using it consistently, but whenever I pick it up, I’m never disappointed. 

Day to day, I feel like my eyes look better, and overall my eye area shows vast improvement. When I catch the right golden hour light wearing just skincare and my favorite sunscreen, my face looks flawless. I’m talking, “What dark circles?” flawless. 

And I’m not the only one. Just days ago, a Sunday Riley Auto Correct customer said, “I love this stuff! It feels good under your eyes and it gives nearly instant results. Does exactly what it says it does!”

Did You Know?

Dr. Boakye explains that while age plays a big role in why you may have dark circles, there are other factors that can cause them, or make them worse, including genetics, skin conditions, lifestyle habits — like lack of sleep and smoking — and certain medications used for glaucoma.

Effective Ingredients

Fortunately for us ingredients nerds, Sunday Riley is transparent about everything that goes into Auto Correct eye cream. 

To effectively target dark circles, Sunday Riley eye cream contains caffeine, Brazilian ginseng, and horse chestnut (all known for their anti-inflammatory properties), and light-reflecting particles (which would explain the immediate brightness). It also has watermelon extract for hydration, and lutein, an antioxidant known for protecting the eyes from ultraviolet light and oxidative damage. 

Dr. Boakye says that certain ingredients can help with dark circles, including retinoids, peptides, kojic acid, azelaic acid and caffeine. When used topically, caffeine, one of Auto Correct’s main ingredients, “can help reduce puffiness and pigmentation by constricting blood vessels, giving eyes a brighter appearance.”

Related: The 12 Best Under-Eye Patches That Boost Radiance, De-Puff, and Smooth

Add to Cart

Picked up a bottle of Sunday Riley Auto Correct? Sa-weet! Now check out a few accompanying products that can enhance your skincare regimen.

Why Trust PEOPLE? 

Shalwah Evans is a senior shopping editor for PEOPLE. She has covered beauty for more than 10 years, with a specialty in skincare and skincare ingredients. She has tried hundreds of products over the years and has consulted with experts on various topics in skincare. 

She has used dozens of eye creams, eye serums, and eye gels — and has been impressed by /seen results from very few. She discovered Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream about five years ago and always takes the opportunity to add it into her skincare routine when her budget allows (though she thinks it’s worth the investment of permanently adding it to her regimen).

Our Expert Panel

Naana Boakye, MD MPH is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of her eponymous skincare brand. She was instrumental in formulating celebrity-led skincare lines such as John Legend's Loved01, Naomi Osaka’s KINLO, and Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union’s baby personal care line PROUDLY.

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