Best eye creams for every age: 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s

Your under-eye skin is the thinnest and most delicate - so tailor your skincare at every age to keep it looking youthful, bright, and refreshed!

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From diet and sun exposure to sleep habits, countless factors affect the delicate skin around your eyes. It’s no wonder your under-eye area is often the first to show signs of aging - late nights, skipping sunscreen, and hours at the screen take their toll. The skin around our eyes is the thinnest and most fragile part of the face – meaning it’s far more susceptible to signs of ageing.

This just means we’ve got to take every precaution when treating and preventing them before crow’s feet start to appear. We know that when such fine lines and wrinkles start to manifest, it is hard to turn back time.

The tricky part is choosing the right under-eye cream to hydrate, de-puff and lift because what works for a 20-something just wouldn’t be as effective for a 50-something — and vice-versa. To help you, here’s a guide on why, when and how you should start taking care of your eye area. And if you haven’t started paying attention to it, maybe you should start today.

Why do our eyes age?

As we age, elastin and collagen levels in the skin begin to decrease. Naturally, this leads to a loss of firmness and density in our skin, hence the gradual appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the eye area over time.

Though it’s a general rule of thumb to combat the big bad trio (a.k.a other factors which accelerate ageing around the eyes) - the sun, fatigue, and pollution — by drinking loads of water, daily SPF and getting well rested, an eye care routine tailored to fit your age can play an even bigger role to re-stimulate the skin’s production of collagen and elastin fibers.

So, shall we begin?

If you’re in your 20s

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Skincare regimes for women in their 20s should be all about prevention. It’s important to slab on daily moisturizer with sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before you head out during the day.

C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, S$ 78,40, Drunk Elephant

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Drunk Elephant’s C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream (S$ 78.40) is packed with a mix of powerful antioxidants, peptides, and vitamins to brighten, hydrate, and smooth the delicate skin around your eyes. It tackles dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines, leaving you with a refreshed, youthful look every time.

Creamy Eye Treatment, S$ 70, Kiehl’s

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This Avocado Eye Cream gives your under-eyes a quick boost of hydration and starts smoothing and brightening right away. With nourishing Avocado Oil, Beta-Carotene, and Shea Butter, it helps improve texture, soften fine lines, and reduce puffiness - especially from too much screen time.

If you’re in your 30s

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At this age, you may begin to see some signs of ageing which include hyperpigmentation and sullen, dark rings under the eyes. In your late 30s, you may also start to see some fine lines and textural changes. For those who can tolerate them, use retinol-based treatments to help to increase cell turnover and resurface your skin overnight.

 

Vinoperfect Brightening Eye Cream, S$65, Caudalie

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Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Radiance Serum is a go-to for brightening and reducing pigmentation. Packed with natural ingredients, this gentle yet effective serum targets dark spots and uneven skin tone, making it perfect for women in their 30s looking to enhance their skin’s radiance and fight early signs of aging.

Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream, $72, IT Cosmetics

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It Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream has a quick-drying formula which leaves the under eyes well hydrated and de-puffed while smoothing out fine lines.

If you’re in your 40s

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In your 40s, dark eye circles become more prominent alongside deeper set wrinkles. Look for concentrated products which really target the area, and layer serums on top of more hydrating eye creams. Antioxidant-rich creams with ingredients like vitamin A, C, and E can also help to ward off free-radicals and support collagen production.

The Silk Peony Eye Cream, S$ 117, Tatcha

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Tatcha’s Silk Peony Eye Cream is a silky, lightweight formula that hydrates and brightens the under-eye area. With a blend of antioxidants, peptides, and squalane, it smooths fine lines, reduces puffiness, and gives your eyes a refreshed, youthful look.

C5 Super Boost Eye Cream, S$ 60, Paula’s Choice

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Perfect for your 30s, the Eye and Lip Contour Balm hydrates and smooths the delicate skin around your eyes and lips. Packed with natural plant extracts like Witch Hazel and Tomato Phytostimulines, this gel reduces puffiness, softens fine lines, and fights dryness, leaving skin refreshed and youthful.

Total Eye Lift, S$110, Clarins

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The ultimate eye solution, powered by Clarins’ ‘LIFT’ expertise, designed to visibly enhance the delicate eye area. Perfect for your 40s, it helps firm, lift, and smooth fine lines around the eyes.

If you’re in your 50s

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The same guideline for the above applies crucially at this age. As we age, the skin around our eyelids tends to droop and loosen because our bodies produce less collagen. That’s where this good stuff comes in.

 

Rénergie Yeux Multi-Lift Ultra Eye Cream, $110, Lancome

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Lancome Rénergie Yeux Multi-Lift Ultra Eye Cream is formulated with caffeine to eliminate dark circles and puffiness while also removing excess fluid and constricting blood vessels. It also supports natural collagen to improve the appearance of skin firmness.

Botanical Eye and Lip Contour Balm, S$ 190, Sisley

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Pamper your eyes and lips with Sisley’s Botanical Eye and Lip Contour Balm (S$ 190). In your 50s, this nourishing balm works wonders to hydrate, smooth fine lines, and reduce puffiness. With powerful plant extracts, it helps restore firmness and radiance, giving your delicate skin a more youthful, refreshed look

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