Love it or Leave it: The Best Eye Creams and the Worst Eye Creams

Hope in a jar doesn’t come cheaply for those looking to repair and protect the delicate skin around their eyes.  From dark circles to fine lines to under eye puffiness, there are a bevy of products that promise to turn back the clock, or stop it all together. But, only a handful of products deliver on their promises to rejuvenate under eye skin. (And we should know, we tested 96 eye products in all.) Here's what you'll want, and what you'll want to walk away from.

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Love it! Verikira Naturals' Cucumber
and Cranberry Under Eye Gel ($24)
Remember those cucumber slices you turned to for help as an adolescent? Verikira Naturals' Cucumber and Cranberry Under Eye Gel is the grown-up version of cucumber slices, kicked up a notch thanks to cranberry, green tea and other extracts that reduce puffiness around the eyes. Store this in the fridge and apply the cooled gel under the eyes for instant de-puffing; $24 at verikira.com.

Leave it: Anti-Oxidant Age Reverse eye cream from Neutrogena ($16.99)
Priced right at $16.99, this product boasts a fresh scent and a lightweight formula that we loved. However, perhaps because of the fragrance in the product, the eye cream made our eyes water and left us crying for something less irritating.

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Love it! Holly Beth Natural’s Eye Cream ($30)
After a few days of using Holly Beth’s Eye Cream, we saw a marked improvement in the appearance of dark circles and puffiness that plagues us. Packed with organic Vitamin E, the cream also moisturized the delicate under the eye skin without leaving it feeling greasy; $30 at hollybeth.net.

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Leave it: Sue Devitt's Microquatic Prime Target Intensive Eye Treatment ($28)
Touted on one highly regarded site as a gel that "targets areas that require intensive nutrition and hydration, similar in nature to the GPS tracking system, " the appeal of this product was lost on us. Retailing for $28, there's nothing particularly offensive about Microquatic Prime Target Intensive Eye Treatment, except that it did not appear to deliver on its promise to firm the under eye skin or banish dark circles.

Love it! Purist Naturals Restoring Gingko Eye Cream ($11.49)
This thicker-than-serum, lighter-than-lotion eye cream goes on smooth to reduce puffiness and moisturizes to smooth fine lines. This fix-all cream also does well reducing dark circles and helping tired eyes appear rejuvenated. What’s more, the cream leaves behind no hint of oil or shine but does lend a sweet botanical scent. For a measly $11.49 at Sally Beauty Stores, this product is well worth its price.

Leave it: Active Botanical Eye Creme and Firming Eye Revitalizer from Seven Skincare ($32 each)
Active Botanical Eye Creme and Firming Eye Revitalizer from Seven Skincare promise to work in tandem to combat key concerns including fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness. Unfortunately, the Revitalizer and Creme irritated the skin under our eyes, so we had to discontinue use immediately.

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Love it! Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion from Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare ($18.50)
Remember the last time you were at a spa enjoying a luscious facial and the esthetician placed cool cotton compresses that smelled like heaven and made you look like you'd slept for days over your eyes? Get that feeling-- and the results-- in between spa visits thanks to Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion from Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare. This mild herbal liquid is kept at an ideal temperature when stored in the fridge. Apply the product to cotton compresses first thing in the morning, then apply the compresses and relax for 5 to 10 minutes as they work their magic; $18.50 for 5oz. at lizearle.com.

Leave it: Age Reversal Pomegranate Eye Serum from Organics Desert Essence ($14.99)
We wanted to love Age Reversal Pomegranate Eye Serum from Organics Desert Essence because of its biodegradable packaging and its promise to improve skin tone and firmness. Unfortunately, the “warming effect” this product delivers felt, to us, like the sting of a summer sunburn rather than the comfort of a warm eye pillow. Plus, it leaves behind an unwelcome oily residue.

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Love it! Kinara Eye Cream ($60)
Just one of the many products within the Kinara Skin Care collection created by Olga Lorencin-Northrup, the renowned LA facialist, Kinara's eye cream touts "firming and hydrating" benefits amongst others. Kudos to Kinara for keeping its promises. The product's thick consistency creates a layer of moisture that plumps the under eye area without a strong odor or an irritating sting.  Lastly, Kinara Eye Cream doubles as an intense lip nourisher, helping to justify the high price tag; $60 at kinaraspa.com.

Love it! r3p eye from Dr. Brandt
Skincare ($80)
Rich in peptides and Vitamins A, C & E, this product has a clean, freshscent and is absorbed immediately into the delicate skin around eyes. Fine lines are softenedand after a few days of use, under eye circles are greatly diminished. Plus, we loved the rich, yet surprisingly non-greasy, texture; $80 at drbrandtskincare.com.

Love it! Somme Eye Contour from Somme Institute ($72)
Somme Eye Contour from Somme Institute is a lightweight, moisturizing cream with a gentle scent. The non-comedogenic formula is ideal for oily/problem skin. Best of all, the product delivered on its promise to hydrate and contour while reducing the appearance of fine lines, puffiness and dark circles; $72 at upscale spas or online at sommeinstitute.com.

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Leave it: Exuviance Hydrating Eye Complex by NeoStrata ($33)
while we loved the idea of "visibly reduce fine lines with potent anti-aging Polyhydroxy Acids," we didn't see any improvement when using this product. We also liked that the Hydrating Eye Complex is fragrance-free but the product, which promised to be perfect under makeup, went on thick, left a greasy residue, and had our eye makeup running for the hills. You should, too.

Love it! The Eyes Have It from Prescribed Solutions ($90)
Hold onto your wallets ladies, because if you've been searching for an eye cream that works, this pricey product is out to prove that you get what you pay for. That's right, The Eyes Have It made us eye cream believers. Once applied, the Vitamin K formula imparts a faint shimmer that instantly lends the appearance of brighter eyes. And, within just days, the skin under our eyes was firmer and our under eye puffiness was visibly reduced. This product’s promise to reduce puffiness, dark circles, and crow’s feet actually rings true but at $90 a bottle, it'll cost ya. Available through medical professionals; log on to prescribedsolutions.com to locate a doctor near you.