Best Brightening Eye Creams of 2026

Lisa Bechard Avatar
Lisa Bechard
Last Updated: Jan 12, 2026

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Brightening eye creams are a popular skincare item that many people use to help reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. These creams are specially formulated with ingredients like vitamin C, caffeine, and niacinamide to help brighten and hydrate the delicate skin around the eyes. Some brightening eye creams also contain light-reflecting particles to instantly brighten the eye area. These creams are easy to apply and can be used as part of a daily skincare routine. With regular use, users may notice a more radiant and refreshed appearance around their eyes.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

LUMIFY Eye Illuminations Hydra-Gel Brightening Eye Cream Cover #TOP 1
LUMIFY Eye Illuminations Hydra-Gel Brightening Eye Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.9
e.l.f. SKIN Bright + Brew-tiful Eye Cream Cover #TOP 2
e.l.f. SKIN Bright + Brew-tiful Eye Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Olay Eyes Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Eye Cream Cover #TOP 3
Olay Eyes Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Eye Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Brightening Eye Creams

LUMIFY Eye Illuminations Hydra-Gel Brightening Eye Cream

Multi
LUMIFY Eye Illuminations Hydra-Gel Brightening Eye Cream Cover
LUMIFY Eye Illuminations Hydra-Gel Brightening Eye Cream, Vitamin C, Caffeine, Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid to Brighten, Smooth & Reduce the Look of Fine Lines & Wrinkles, 0.5 Oz (15 g)

LUMIFY Eye Cream is a brightening and hydrating eye cream specially formulated for the sensitive area around the eye. This unique eye cream contains a blend of optic brighteners and firming ingredients that work together to give your skin a brighter and smoother appearance with a subtle glow. With daily use, the powerful combination of Niacinamide, Vitamins C, Caffeine, and Hyaluronic Acid helps improve the appearance of skin tone, texture, fine lines, and wrinkles. Developed with Ophthalmologists and Dermatologists, this hypoallergenic formula is free of fragrance, alcohol, sulfates, mineral oil, PEG, parabens, or phthalates. Simply apply a small amount of LUMIFY Eye Cream twice daily on cleansed skin and gently pat it around the eye area until absorbed. Experience the science of eye beauty with LUMIFY Eye Cream, brought to you by the eye care experts at Bausch + Lomb.

What We Like
Brightens and smooths skin
Improves skin tone and texture
Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
#TOP 2

e.l.f. SKIN Bright + Brew-tiful Eye Cream

57207
Beige
e.l.f. SKIN Bright + Brew-tiful Eye Cream Cover
e.l.f. SKIN Bright + Brew-tiful Eye Cream, Helps Brighten Appearance Of Undereye Dark Circles & Repair Puffiness, Vegan & Cruelty-Free

The e.l.f. Bright + Brew-tiful Eye Cream is designed to refresh your tired eyes with a blend of vitamin C, banana-tinted powder, and caffeine. This combination helps to brighten the under-eye area, making dark circles less noticeable over time, so you can look more awake. Its cooling effect reduces puffiness, giving your eyes a rejuvenated appearance. Plus, the lightweight and fast-absorbing formula works well under concealer, making it a great addition to your morning routine for a smooth and natural look throughout the day.

What We Like
Brightens dark circles
Reduces under-eye puffiness
Lightweight, fast-absorbing
Works well under makeup
#TOP 3

Olay Eyes Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Eye Cream

Olay Eyes Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Eye Cream Cover
Olay Brightening Eye Cream, Vitamin C, Fragrance-Free, 0.5 oz

The Olay Eyes Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Eye Cream is a fragrance-free, lightweight, and fast-absorbing formula that helps brighten and hydrate the delicate skin around your eyes. It is crafted with Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, and Peptides to improve the appearance of skin and provide a pleasantly cool and smooth feel. Use it day and night after cleansing to achieve a more radiant look. This eye cream is made without synthetic dyes, mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, or fragrance, ensuring clean ingredients for your skin.

What We Like
Hydrates and brightens the delicate skin around your eyes
Lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that feels silky and smooth to the touch
Crafted with Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, and Peptides to improve the appearance of skin
#TOP 4

Origins GinZing Brightening Eye Cream

2499689
White
Origins GinZing Brightening Eye Cream Cover
Origins GinZing Brightening Eye Cream with Vitamin C & Niacinamide| Visibly Reduces Dark Circles, Cool, 0.5 Fl Oz

The Origins GinZing Eye Cream is designed to brighten your under-eye area and reduce dark circles, making you look more awake and refreshed. With Vitamin C, it helps lighten dark circles, giving your eyes a brighter appearance. Niacinamide works to enhance skin brightness, while ingredients like caffeine and Panax ginseng boost your skin’s natural energy, helping to revitalize tired-looking eyes. This eye cream also hydrates and reduces puffiness, so you can enjoy a smoother, more rested look every day. It’s a great choice if you want a quick and effective way to refresh your eyes.

What We Like
Brightens dark circles
Reduces puffiness
Hydrating formula
Contains Vitamin C and Niacinamide
Revitalizes tired skin

CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream

3606000606876
CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream Cover
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Eye Cream, Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides & Caffeine, Under Eye Cream For Dark Circles and Puffiness, Fragrance Free & Ophthalmologist Tested, 0.5 Fl. Oz

CeraVe Eye Cream is a daily solution designed to brighten dark circles and reduce puffiness under your eyes. With 5% pure vitamin C, it offers antioxidant benefits that help enhance your skin's appearance. This cream is also tested by ophthalmologists, making it safe for those who wear contact lenses. Additionally, the inclusion of caffeine helps minimize the look of bags and swelling, giving you a refreshed look. Formulated with essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it ensures your skin stays hydrated and plump throughout the day.

What We Like
Reduces puffiness and dark circles
Lightweight, non-greasy texture
Gentle for sensitive skin
Hydrates and smooths skin
Absorbs quickly, no strong scent
#TOP 6

Pacifica Glow Baby Brightening Eye Cream

0687735305060
White
Pacifica Glow Baby Brightening Eye Cream Cover
Pacifica Glow Baby Brightening Eye Cream – Vitamin C Under Eye Cream for Dark Circles & Puffiness, Caffeine-Infused Eye Brightener for Tired Eyes Fragrance-Free 0.5 oz Clean Vegan Dermatologist Tested

The Pacifica Glow Baby Eye Cream is designed to brighten your under-eye area by reducing dark circles with the help of vitamin C, giving you a fresh and awake look. It contains caffeine, which helps reduce puffiness and tiredness around your eyes, making them appear firmer and more energized. The cream also deeply hydrates with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, smoothing fine lines and keeping your skin soft without feeling greasy. Plus, it's gentle enough for daily use, safe for sensitive skin, and won't irritate your eyes, so you can easily include it in your morning and nighttime routine.

What We Like
Brightens dark circles
Reduces puffiness
Hydrating and lightweight
Gentle for sensitive skin
#TOP 7

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream

Sunday Riley
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream Cover
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream

The Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream instantly lifts and depuffs the eye area, while also reducing the appearance of dark circles and fine lines. Caffeine and Brazilian ginseng root extract energize tired-looking eyes, while horse chestnut and acmella oleracea extracts smooth the appearance of crow's feet and fine lines to give an instantly lifted look. This eye cream is also cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, soy-free, phthalate-free, and fragrance-free.

What We Like
Instantly lifts and depuffs the eye area
Reduces the appearance of dark circles and fine lines
Energizes tired-looking eyes
Smooths the appearance of crow's feet and fine lines
Free of harmful ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, and phthalates

First Aid Beauty Brighten + Glow Eye Cream

First Aid Beauty Brighten + Glow Eye Cream Cover
First Aid Beauty - Brighten + Glow Eye Cream with Niacinamide, Gives Skin an Instant Glow and Hydrates to Gradually Brighten & Help Reduce Appearance of Dark Circles, Safe for Sensitive Skin, 0.5 oz

First Aid Beauty Eye Cream is designed to brighten and hydrate the delicate under-eye area. It helps reduce the appearance of dark circles, giving you a refreshed look over time. With its illuminating formula, this cream not only boosts hydration but also smooths the skin, making it feel soft and revitalized. The inclusion of Niacinamide ensures that the cream works gradually, helping you achieve a brighter eye area with continued use. Safe for sensitive skin, this cream is free from harsh chemicals, making it a convenient choice for daily skincare.

What We Like
Instant brightening effect
Hydration for the under-eye
Gradual reduction of dark circles
Safe for sensitive skin

CeraVe Eye Cream for Wrinkles

SA020300
CeraVe Eye Cream for Wrinkles Cover
CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream For Wrinkles, Under Eye Cream With Peptides + Caffeine + Niacinamide, For Wrinkles & Crows Feet, Paraben Free & Opthalmologist Tested

CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream is a powerful anti-aging eye cream that deeply hydrates, visibly smooths, firms, and brightens delicate skin around eyes while helping restore the protective skin barrier. Formulated with caffeine to help reduce puffiness, peptides to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and niacinamide to help smooth and brighten skin, this eye cream is fragrance-free, paraben-free, allergy-tested, and suitable for contact lens wearers. It contains three essential ceramides to help maintain the skin's natural barrier and is developed with dermatologists for all skin types.

What We Like
Lightweight and non-greasy
Hydrates and nourishes skin
Fragrance-free and gentle
Absorbs quickly
Reduces fine lines

No7 Lift & Luminate Eye Cream

No7
1_SML
No7 Lift & Luminate Eye Cream Cover
No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Under Eye Cream - Dark Circles Under Eye Treatment with Vitamin C & Collagen Peptide Technology - Helps Reduce Puffiness, Bags & the Appearance of Wrinkles (0.5 Oz)

No7 Eye Cream is a powerful solution designed specifically for the delicate skin around the eyes. It targets the three key signs of aging, including dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles. With the hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid, this eye cream also acts as a depuffer, reducing under-eye bags. The formula contains Matrixyl 3000+, a potent anti-wrinkle peptide, along with shea butter and ginseng, which help to lift and brighten the skin. The eye cream also includes a firming complex with hyaluronic acid and hibiscus, as well as No7's unique pigmentation complex with Vitamin C, leaving your skin with a smooth, glowing appearance. No7 Eye Cream empowers women with luxurious beauty at an affordable price, giving them the support and confidence to live life on their own terms.

What We Like
Targets dark circles
Reduces under-eye puffiness
Contains anti-wrinkle peptides
Buying Guide Image
Editor's Notes

During our brightening eye cream research, we found 48 brightening eye cream products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 82,928 customer reviews through our big data system to write the brightening eye creams list. We found that most customers choose brightening eye creams with an average price of $26.55.

The brightening eye creams are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of brightening eye creams, including LUMIFY, e.l.f., Olay, Origins, CeraVe. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Lisa Bechard Avatar

Lisa Bechard is a skin therapist with 12 years of working experience in the beauty industry and also an experienced beauty writer who has expertise in skincare, medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery, and wellness. Her writing skills are excellent and all her content is very persuasive and insightful.