Hooded (or drooping) eyelids are extremely common. As Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Rose Dermatology & Laser Center, explains, everyone’s eyelids can naturally droop over time. Our collagen levels decline, skin becomes thinner and less firm, the muscles that support the lids weaken, and sometimes the fat pads around our eyes can start to shift downward as we get older.

Genetics also play a major role with hooded eyes as someone could just be predisposed to these types of eyelids, Dr. Murphy-Rose explains, and you might also have to take into account some daily habits, such as excess sun exposure, smoking, allergies, and chronic rubbing in the eye area as factors at play. Simply put, there’s nothing wrong with having drooping eyelids. But if you’re like me, a perpetually tired-looking person with slightly hooded eyes, an eye cream that can help mask the sleep I did not get the night before and give me the appearance of a slightly more lifted look is always welcome.

Huge caveat: eye creams aren’t miracle workers; they will not dramatically tighten or change your overall appearance. For that, you’ll need to look into more intense in-office treatments. It’s all about the art of the subtle lift when it comes to these products; behold, the nine best ones below.

Best for Crow’s Feet: Clarins Total Eye Lift

• Why We Love It: Saying that you can notice an immediate lift is a big claim, but Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, swears by it with this eye cream. It’s made with powerful plant extracts like harungana, which is known for its retinol-like properties, and red Jania to smooth out any crow’s feet and see a noticeable difference after application. It also feels super lightweight and silky on the skin.
• Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Red Jania Extract, Peptides, Organic Harungana Extract
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Best All-Around: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye Cream

• Why We Love It: Beloved by editors, derms, and skin-care enthusiasts alike, it’s safe to say that this eye cream is the GOAT. It’s made with a powerful mix of peptides, a concentrated flavonoid blend, and caffeine to tackle your top eye concerns (crow’s feet, undereye bags, dark circles, etc.) while also giving your eyelids a visible lift in just a matter of weeks. There are simply no notes.
• Editor’s Experience: “This is one of the first eye creams I fell in love with because it toys the line of efficacy and sensoriality well. The texture is plush without weighing the under-eyes down while depuffing and brightening over time. It’s an eye cream I always return to because it’s just that good!” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
• Key Ingredients: Peptides, flavonoids, caffeine
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Best for Nighttime: Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye Zone Treatment

• Why We Love It: Dr. Garshick calls this eye cream a great multitasker. It targets the usual anti-aging suspects (crow’s feet, dark circles, etc.), but thanks to the mix of niacinamide and collagen peptides, it also helps lift and firm the delicate skin around the eyes. And as an added bonus, she says it is super lightweight once blended, but because it’s on the richer side, it’s excellent before bed.
• Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, collagen peptides
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Best for Quick Results: Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Lifting Eye Cream

• Why We Love It: Speaking of products that work pretty fast, you’ll notice a more lifted appearance in the eye just after a few uses in this eye cream. It contains a special triple peptide complex that works to firm the skin and smooth out any deep lines. It also has a combo of brown and red algae, and vitamin C to help get rid of pesky dark circles and any puffiness.
• Key Ingredients: Peptides, brown algae, red algae, vitamin C
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Best for Sagging: StriVectin Peptight 360 Tightening Eye Serum

• Why We Love It: StriVectin’s Peptight 360 has a special triple peptide blend that visibly contours the eye area and targets sagging and drooping skin. Pair that with caffeine, and kakadu plum and microalgae extract, and this works to plump thin skin and brighten up any dark circles. “[It] gives a subtle smoothing effect, making the eye area look tighter and more refreshed,” says Dr. Garshick. She also loves its lightweight texture that layers well under makeup.
• Key Ingredients: Peptides, caffeine, kakadu plum extract, microalgae extract
• Size: 1.0 oz.

Best for Dry Skin: Dermalogica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream

• Why We Love It: Don’t let its rich, creamy texture fool (or scare) you. Dr. Garshick says this absorbs fast into the skin and feels ultra nourishing once you blend it in. Its benefits include hydration, the smoothing out of fine lines, and a boost in your skin’s elasticity, and thanks to the peptides and phytoactives, she says it will also visibly lift and firm any droopiness.
• Key Ingredients: Quinoa seed extract, CoQ10, peptides, matcha butter, squalane
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Best Under Makeup: Clinique Repairwear Anti-Gravity Eye Cream

• Why We Love It: Dr. Garshick loves how nourishing this cream is, especially if you’re dealing with dryness. This lightweight formula contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate the delicate eye area and give your eyes a more lifted look without any heavy feeling. It’s one of those formulas you can reach for daily without fear of irritation.
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, green tea extract
• Size: 30 ml.

Best for Brightening: iS Clinical GeneXC Firming Eye Gel

• Why We Love It: You’ll find known anti-aging ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid, and bio-fermented actives, to firm sagging skin and brighten those dark circles. But what sets this eye cream apart is its antioxidant protection. With its vitamin C content, you not only get more brightening properties and a more even texture overall, but also protection from environmental aggressors that can cause skin to age faster.
• Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, hyaluronic acid, bio-fermented actives
• Size: 0.5 oz.

Best Applicator: VT Reedle Shot Lifting Eye Cream

• Why We Love It: The VT Reedle Shot Lifting Eye Cream had me at it’s vibrating applicator (yes, I’m a sucker for the gimmicks), but the formulation really stands on its own. It contains cica and stem cell extract to boost skin density and firmness. Mix those with collagen, bakuchiol, and hyaluronic acid, and you’ve got a potent cream to improve your eye area overall. Plus, on top of the vibrating sensation, it also gives you a really nice cooling effect for a top-tier sensory experience.
• Key Ingredients: Cica extract, collagen, stem cell extract, bakuchiol, hyaluronic acid
• Size: 15 ml.