Have your days become more work, less sleep? Instead of a third iced latte, you might want to consider the best eye brighteners—hydrating and light reflective, they’re designed to make your under eye area look like you got a full eight hours sleep (even if that couldn’t be farther from reality). Not to be mistaken for concealer or color corrector, these illuminating serums impact a soft-focus radiance before under-eye concealer even enters the picture. Think of them as your skin’s private lighting crew, for all-day wear.
Celebrity makeup artist Melissa Murdick explains the difference between color correctors and brightening serums even further. In a recent TikTok, she showed how the former are highly pigmented and designed to neutralize, say, blue or red undertones (i.e. deeper discoloration), whereas brighteners are gentler, more refined. They contain moderate color-correcting pigments—but their true magic lies in the light-reflecting particles that diffuse shadows in just the right way, reviving tired eyes without the cakey weight. My mind instantly went to the (now-discontinued) KKW Beauty under-eye brightening powder in its perfect pink hue and matte finish—a former mainstay in my routine that I still think of fondly.
Vogue’s Favorite Eye Brighteners:
All to say: just a few strategic dabs stand between you and a visibly brighter, wide-awake under-eye. Still need convincing? It-girl and clean beauty muse Hailey Bieber revealed recently that her simple yet efficacious eight-step routine includes one, too. Keep reading for her go-to—and more editor-approved formulas to add to your beauty arsenal.
In This Story
Best Overall: Kosas Revealer Extra Bright Serum-Powered Color Corrector
Kosas
Revealer Extra Bright Color Corrector
- Why We Love It: In her recent Vogue Beauty Secrets, Hailey Bieber revealed a new trick for brightening the under eye: applying a pink eye brightener on top of her concealer extra “luminosity to the skin.” Kosas is a mainstay in her beauty bag; the cruelty-free formula features peptides, caffeine, and hyaluronic acid to actively reduce dull skin and puffiness. Pro makeup artist El DeBratto adds that it’s their all-time favorite, too. “This is the go-to eye brightener in my MUA kit—I absolutely love the lightweight texture,” they tell Vogue.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine, light reflecting minerals
- Shades: 5
- Formulation: cream
- Size: 0.17 oz
Best Affordable: Catrice Under Eye Brightener
- Why We Love It: Infused with hyaluronic acid and shea butter, he Catrice Under Eye Brightener is a creamy, cushion-soft formula that feels more like an eye treatment than makeup. It melts into the skin to softly blur and brighten without creasing or caking. Taking cues from Bieber, I like to dot this eye brightener atop my concealer, just in the inner corner, and then finish off with setting powder. If you’d rather stick to a single step, it’s also pigmented enough to be worn on its own.
- Key Ingredients: Candelila wax, mica, shea butter
- Shades: 4
- Formulation: Cream
- Size: 0.15 oz
Best for Coverage: Smashbox x BECCA Undereye Brightening Corrector
Smashbox
x BECCA Undereye Brightening Corrector
- Why We Love It: Rest in peace Becca cosmetics—I loved your eye brightener (as did many—it was one of brand’s bestsellers back in 2018). Thankfully, Smashbox revived it. The most emollient formula on this list, it melts down effortlessly after warming on the back of your hand. In my experience, a little goes a long way in hiding dark under eyes, and leaves behind medium to buildable coverage. Plus, this pick offers four different brightening shades to cover a range of skin tones.
- Key Ingredients: castor seed oil, berry wax, kaolin, sunflower seed oil, squalane
- Shades: 4
- Formulation: Cream
- Size: 0.15 oz
Best TikTok Viral: Tarte CC Undereye Corrector
- Why We Love It: There was a stretch of time when I couldn’t swipe through my TikTok FYP without someone raving about this under-eye savior. Tutorials, GRWMs, and before-and-afters flooded my feed until I finally gave in—“Fine,” I thought. “I’ll add it to my TikTok Shop cart.” The hype was justified. The creamy texture doesn’t settle into fine lines thanks to an emollient-rich formula, and provides almost full coverage. Pro makeup artist Kasey Spickard found this pick from TikTok too. “It color corrects beautifully and has this hint of reflective illumination that helps bring light and radiance to the under eye,” Spickard shares.
- Key Ingredients: Castor seed oil, caffeine, licorice root extract, kaolin, mica, sodium hyaluronate, squalane, tocopherol
- Shades: 4
- Formulation: Cream
- Size: 0.08 oz
Best Drugstore: e.l.f. Putty Color-Correcting Eye Brightener
e.l.f.
Putty Color-Correcting Eye Brightener
- Why We Love It: Another drugstore pick, e.l.f.’s velvety, putty-like texture, smooths on effortlessly and blurs shadows while hydrating with squalane and hyaluronic acid. The finish is soft, natural, and radiant—ideal for light coverage days or as a base beneath concealer. At its price point, it’s a small jar of serious payoff.
- Key Ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid, ginseng root extract, pearl extract (
- Shades: 6
- Formulation: Putty
- Size: 0.14 oz
Best Shade Range: Fenty Beauty Brightfix Eye brightener
- Why We Love It: “Anything queen Riri does has to be good,” says DeBratto, noting how Rihanna never fails on shade range, including this eye brightener. This hydrating, serum‑like formula offers has hands down the most inclusive shade range on the market with 16 options tailored to every skin tone. Delivering sheer to buildable coverage that truly looks like your skin—but better. Infused with sodium hyaluronate and jojoba oil, this weightless formula whispers luxury rather than announcing makeup, delivering a long‑wear, crease‑ and sweat‑resistant finish that effortlessly layers under concealer.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, glycerin, jojoba Seed Oil, allantoin
- Shades: 16
- Formulation: Liquid
- Size: 0.34 oz
Best with Peptides: Palladio Under Eye Brightener
- Why We Love It: Infused with a hardworking blend of caffeine, peptides, biotin, and vitamin E, Palladio’s under-eye brightener plumps skin while simultaneously combatting dryness. The buttery texture blends with ease, imparting medium buildable coverage to disguise dark circles. With only one shade available, this pick will is better suited for light to medium skin tones.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, microcrystalline wax, silica, biotin, caffeine, glycerin
- Shades: 1
- Formulation: Cream
- Size: 0.12 oz
Best Two-in-One: Morphe Wake Up Artist
Morphe
Wakeup Artist Under Eye Correcting Concealer
- Why We Love It: This pick is a two-in-one concealer and eye brightener. “This is one of my favorite under-eye brighteners right now,” says Murdick. “They have four shades in this line that color correct (I use the shade Blossom) and brighten beautifully, and I love how they dry down to stay put beneath your concealer. Plus, it’s very friendly on your wallet.” For more olive-toned skin, experts suggest opting Peach.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, jojoba seed oil, copolymer, tocopherol
- Shades: 4
- Formulation: Cream
- Size: 0.2 fl oz
Everything You Need To Know
What’s the difference between concealer and eye brighteners?
“A concealer is primarily focused on coverage. At its most basic, a concealer should match your natural skin tone and shade is is meant to cover imperfections and discoloration,” says Spickard. “Eye brighteners are exactly as the name implies—they’re meant to brighten the face. They typically have color-correcting benefits and illuminating properties, with a radiant finish.”
The Benefits of Using an Eye Brightener
As celebrity makeup artist Melissa Murdick explains, the magic of eye brighteners lies in their dual-action formula: “Eye brighteners are a true two-in-one product: they not only color correct the discoloration under your eyes, but they also help reduce the shadowy look using optical brighteners that reflect the light!” she says. “They are genius for people (like me) with strong eye hollows because they visually bring the under eye area forward.”
How To Choose Your Eye Brightener Shade
It’s easier than you think to pick the perfect eye brightener shade for your skin tone. “Eye brighteners should be a similar depth to your own skin tone—not too light and not too dark!” says Murdick. “Most brands release shades in varying depths, so choose something that looks as close to your skin as possible. When in doubt, go a little bit lighter, not darker.”
Plus, eye brighteners are incredibly versatile. “You can use an eye brightener on its own for no-makeup makeup days—this simply neutralizes undereye blue and purple tones,” says Spickard. “You can also use eye brighteners as a first step underneath a concealer. That way, you’ll use less concealer and still get that nice bright under eye area that everyone loves.”
- El DeBratto is a non-binary New York-based editorial makeup artist whose clients include Coco Rocha, Flower Beauty, Kristin Ess, and Glamour Magazine.
- Melissa Murdick is a Los Angeles based celebrity makeup artist. Her clientele includes Selena Gomez, Billie Eillish, Doja Cat, Lizzy Caplan, Devery Jacobs, Kim Petras, Blair Imani, and Rosalia.
- Kasey Spickard is a professional makeup artist based in New York and Los Angeles. Spickard’s roster includes Jenna Lyons, Kamie Crawford, Brynn Whitfield, and more