While the necessity of an eye cream might be debated, an eye serum is a distinct category of skincare. Unlike a traditional eye cream, primarily focused on providing moisture, an eye serum functions as a targeted treatment, acting as a booster for specific concerns such as fine lines, puffiness, or dark circles. This is according to Mamina Turegano, MD, a triple-board-certified dermatologist.
Many individuals would benefit from incorporating an eye serum into their routine, either used alone or beneath an eye cream. "If you’re starting to notice fine lines, puffiness, or dark circles-or just want to be proactive about eye aging-adding a serum can be a game changer," states Turegano. She recommends them to patients over 30 or anyone seeking to enhance their consistent skincare regimen.
Because eye serums are highly targeted, selecting the right formula largely depends on the specific concern you wish to address. The following are some of the top-rated eye serums available, categorized by their primary benefits:
Vogue's Favorite Eye Serums
Best Overall: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
Among the many excellent Korean skincare formulations, this eye serum stands out for its efficacy and results. It is a favorite of Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, due to its potent combination of ginseng and retinal, which she describes as "powerful antiaging ingredients." Retinal, a more potent and potentially gentler cousin to retinol, is a key component. The serum's "lightweight, lotion-like formulation" also earns it high marks. However, due to its retinoid content, it is best used at night.
Key Ingredients: Ginseng, retinal, peptides, macadamia seed oil
Best for: Those with milia, fine lines, or uneven skin texture
Size: 30 ml
Best for Dryness: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
This unassuming bottle contains a strategic and elegant blend of ingredients designed to brighten and tighten the eye area. According to Chang, the combination of peptides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide works to "hydrate, brighten, and reduce the appearance of fine lines." It is an ideal choice for those who are not yet seeking heavy-duty actives or wish to try eye serums before investing in more potent formulas.
Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, niacinamide, peptides, caffeine
Best for: Those seeking benefits on a budget
Size: 15 ml
Best for Hyperpigmentation: Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum
While some dark circles are caused by shadowing from puffiness or bone structure, others result from hyperpigmentation, particularly in individuals with deeper skin tones who are more prone to skin discoloration. This formula, featuring two types of vitamin C, "helps brighten the skin and repair oxidative damage from UV radiation," according to Chang. Its rich antioxidant content makes it a particularly good daytime option.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, tremella mushroom, chia seed oil
Best for: Stubborn dark circles
Size: 15 ml
Best for Brightening: SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel
While SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Cream is a highly-rated eye cream, this gel-based formulation is a suitable alternative for those without mature skin. It mirrors the benefits of the brand's popular CE Ferulic face serum, combining vitamin C with phloretin and ferulic acid-potent antioxidants that work synergistically. Additionally, it contains caffeine to counteract dark circles. Together, these ingredients brighten, smooth, and depuff the eye area while protecting it from future damage.
Editor's Experience: "Since I get milia around my eyes, I keep coming back to this gel. It’s kept dark circles and hyperpigmentation at bay-no small feat, since I’m pregnant and have a two-year-old. I love that the gel sinks in instantly, the metal tube is travel-friendly, and it doesn’t have a discernible scent." -Deanna Pai, contributor
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, phloretin, ferulic acid, caffeine
Best for: Dark circles and undereye bags
Size: 15 ml
Best for Puffiness: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage
This cooling rollerball serum acts like a cold splash of water, helping to wake you up while simultaneously reducing puffiness. In addition to its cooling effect, "it contains caffeine to help depuff the undereyes and is fragrance-free," notes Mina Amin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. Fragrance can be a common allergen that might cause irritation and exacerbate puffiness. She also highlights its antioxidant content, which "helps improve the appearance of undereye circles."
Key Ingredients: Caffeine, panthenol, grape-seed extract
Best For: Puffiness and undereye bags
Size: 15 ml
Best Drugstore: Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream
For those whose primary goal is to maintain healthy and bright undereye skin, the Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream is a commendable option. Turegano describes it as "simple, hydrating, and gentle-perfect if your main goal is moisture and barrier support." She adds, "It’s a great drugstore option that plays well under makeup." Being hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist-tested, it is unlikely to cause irritation for those with sensitive eyes.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
Best for: Dry skin
Size: 14 ml
Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Eye Serum
This serum, visually similar to the brand's well-known hyaluronic acid serum, features a rollerball applicator for easy application around the eye area. The formula is thoughtfully crafted: "It’s hydrating yet weightless, like giving your undereyes a tall glass of water," says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. "The hyaluronic acid visibly plumps fine lines, while vitamin B5 soothes and repairs, making it perfect for tired eyes or those who wake up puffy." It layers well under concealer, providing a long-lasting, crease-free finish.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine, niacinamide, hepes
Best for: Dry or sensitive skin
Size: 15 ml
Best for Blue Light Damage: Chanel N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Eye Serum
Chanel's No.1 De Chanel line celebrates red camellia extract, an ingredient that helps reduce stress lines and wrinkles caused by squinting and blinking. This eye serum pairs this antiaging ingredient with moisturizing squalane and camellia yeast extract to support the skin barrier. It is particularly effective for those experiencing damage from the blue light emitted by electronic devices. The serum's "cooling effect provided by the rotating cryo applicator combined with the gel-like texture improves microcirculation and helps relieve screen-induced eye fatigue," according to Chanel's science team.
Editor's Experience: "The mid-weight gel-like serum delivers ample hydration without weighing skin down-perfect for applying under makeup or when your regimen doesn’t need a rich eye cream. This texture was one of the factors that initially drew me to the formula, second only to the rotating and cooling metal applicator that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The metal delivers an instant chill-boosting my circulation to bring life to tired skin. The effect is reduced puffiness and an improvement in my discoloration. I wasn’t even partial to a particular eye cream applicator until I tried this one; to be fair, I thought they were just added bonuses rather than an actual treatment. Now I can’t imagine my routine without it." -Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
Key Ingredients: Red camellia extract, camellia yeast extract, azalea yeast extract, squalane
Best for: Those with dark circles and fine lines
Size: 0.53 oz
THE N°1 DE CHANEL TECHNIQUES — CHANEL Skincare
Best for Deep Lines and Wrinkles: Tata Harper Elixir Vitae Eye Serum
As a pioneer in clean beauty, Tata Harper's Elixir Vitae Eye Serum features 54 active ingredients designed to minimize wrinkles, reduce puffiness, improve dark circles, and subtly plump the skin. These ingredients collectively target even the deepest lines and areas around the eyes, aiming to achieve results comparable to in-office treatments. Harper explains that while injectables work by paralyzing muscles or adding hyaluronic acid, topicals offer a different mode of action with daily effects.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Lactobacillus ferment, algae extract, date seed extract
Best for: Mature skin
Size: 15 ml
Best for Firming: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum
This eye serum, which is closer to an eye cream in texture, distinguishes itself with its blend of glycerin and pomegranate seed oils, which help maintain skin hydration for hours. This creates an optimal environment for the formula's retinol and retinol booster, which are gradually released overnight to deliver results with minimal irritation or dryness.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, Swertia flower extract, hyaluronic acid
Best for: Sagging or thinning skin
Size: 15 ml
Best for Dark Circles: Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum With Niacinamide
This slim tube is packed with effective ingredients for brightening the eye area. Green tea, rich in amino acids and antioxidants, hydrates and protects this delicate skin. Amin notes that it is "also made with 2% caffeine to help visibly depuff, and also contains niacinamide to help brighten discoloration." The rollerball applicator also functions as a mini massager, aiding in fluid circulation to reduce puffiness.
Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, caffeine, niacinamide, hyaluronic
Best for: Dark circles
Size: 10 ml
Best Applicator: Axis-Y Vegan Collagen Eye Serum
Turegano endorses this Korean-made eye serum, which is lightweight and contains a blend of vegan collagen, peptides, and fruit extract to brighten and firm the eye area. She highlights that "it has a metal applicator tip, which gives an instant cooling, depuffing effect." Brand testing suggests the formula can reduce wrinkles, undereye bags, and puffiness.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, vitamin c, hyaluronic acid
Best for: Dry or sensitive skin
Size: 10 ml
Best for Crow’s-feet: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Eye Serum
For smoothing crow's-feet, retinol is exceptionally effective. This formula "combines retinol, ferulic acid, and niacinamide to target fine lines, dullness, and puffiness," according to Turegano. She describes it as "strong but still lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy around the eyes." It also includes rambutan and bakuchiol, plant-derived ingredients that offer retinol-like effects with potentially less irritation, to enhance its efficacy.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, ferulic acid, rambutan, bakuchiol
Best for: All signs of aging
Size: 15 ml
Best for Early Signs of Aging: Alastin Restorative Eye Treatment
This multitasking treatment can address puffiness, dark circles, and crow's-feet, according to Turegano. "It uses a peptide blend to support collagen and elastin and works well even for sensitive or post-procedure skin," she states. It smooths fine lines and wrinkles with a low concentration of retinol to avoid irritating the delicate eye area, complemented by a strategic blend of skin-firming peptides. Lipids are included to fortify the skin barrier, ensuring comfort. The treatment can also be applied around the upper lip and on the forehead to target fine lines in those areas.
Editor’s Note: “Klur’s Powers of Ten was love at first try. Its mix of 10 exceptional actives, among them retinol and peptides, feels featherweight on the skin. And though potent, it lends the undereye much-welcome hydration.” -Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
Key Ingredients: Retinol, acetyl hexapeptide-8 (argireline), palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, Centella asiatica
Best for: Expression lines like crow’s-feet and laugh lines
Size: 15 ml
Everything You Need to Know About Eye Serums
What is an Eye Serum?
An eye serum is a lightweight, highly concentrated skincare product specifically formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes. As Amin explains, they "typically contain higher concentrations of active ingredients compared to regular eye creams or face creams." The skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive, allowing it to absorb and respond more effectively to these potent ingredients.
Benefits of Using an Eye Serum
Due to their lightweight nature, eye serums absorb quickly and layer seamlessly under other skincare products. Chang suggests that an eye serum "is great to use in the morning if you have to apply other skin-care products and makeup on top." She recommends choosing ingredients that target your specific concerns, such as peptides or retinoids for fine lines, niacinamide and vitamin C for dark circles, and caffeine for puffiness.
What to Look for in an Eye Serum
When selecting an eye serum, consider both the ingredients present and those that are absent from the formula. Gohara advises looking for ingredients like peptides (to support collagen), hyaluronic acid (to plump fine lines), caffeine (to reduce puffiness), and antioxidants such as vitamin C or niacinamide (to brighten). Ultimately, the best active ingredient depends on your individual concerns, allowing for a personalized selection.
It is advisable to consider fragrance-free formulas, as the eye area's delicate skin can be easily irritated by fragrances, potentially exacerbating puffiness.
Does Eye-Tightening Cream Work?
Yes, eye-tightening creams can be effective. Some offer temporary skin-smoothing effects, while others work over time with consistent use to minimize the appearance of fine lines, sagging, and wrinkles. Ingredients like silicates can provide an instant tightening effect on the undereye area, as noted by Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. Additionally, increased hydration in the eye area can make the skin appear tighter, according to Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist.
Collagen-stimulating ingredients such as peptides, retinol, and vitamin C also contribute to firming and tightening the delicate skin around the eyes with regular use. While these creams cannot restore the skin to its original state, they can effectively diminish the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness.
How to Apply Eye Cream
Dermatologists generally recommend gently tapping eye cream onto the eye area using your ring finger, as this applies the least pressure and is less likely to tug at the delicate skin. Gohara advises applying "along the orbital bone, not too close to the lash line." For an enhanced experience, she suggests using a chilled roller or gua sha with your eye cream.
Should You Use Eye Cream or Serum First?
Eye serum should be applied before eye cream. The general guideline is to layer skincare products from the thinnest to the thickest consistency.
When to Apply Eye Cream
Firming eye cream can be incorporated into both morning and nighttime skincare routines. However, eye creams containing retinol should only be used at night. In the morning, an eye cream with SPF is a suitable alternative.
In-Office Treatments for Intensive Eye Tightening
For more intensive eye tightening, professional treatments are available. Dr. Gohara recommends radiofrequency microneedling (e.g., Morpheus8) as her "go-to for boosting collagen and elastin deep in the dermis." For a non-invasive option, ultrasound-based devices like Ultherapy can precisely target deeper layers to contour and tighten the skin, providing a more lifted appearance. Even with professional treatments, consistent at-home care with topical products is crucial for optimal results.
Meet the Experts
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
- Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group based in Hackensack, New Jersey
- Debra Luftman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group based in Beverly Hills and Calabasas, California
- Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Kunal Malik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology based in New York City
- Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Radiant Dermatology Associates based in Fort Wayne, IN
- Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
How We Test and Review Products
Allure's product testing involves a comprehensive evaluation from every angle. This includes reviewing ingredients, scrutinizing brand claims, and, when necessary, examining peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to hands-on testing of each product, we consult with experts in dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine to vet ingredients and formulations. For our selection of the best eye-tightening creams, products were assessed based on ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and wear performance. Our editorial team, comprising in-house writers and editors, along with external testers and industry experts, determined that every product excelled in these categories.
The Eye Cream Debate
There are differing opinions on the efficacy of eye creams. Some individuals swear by their benefits for reducing fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness, while others believe that facial moisturizers are sufficient for the eye area. The consensus among specialists is that while certain concerns can be addressed by eye creams, some issues may be beyond their scope.
The skin around the eyes is particularly fragile and delicate, subject to constant micromovements. This fragility is why it is often the first area to show signs of aging. Dehydration can also contribute to wrinkles, making moisturizers beneficial for the eye area. Some studies suggest that certain anti-aging eye treatments can improve under-eye smoothness and reduce the depth of wrinkles.
Ingredients like retinol are known to boost cell turnover and fight aging. Vitamin C and peptides can strengthen the skin, while antioxidants protect against free radical damage. Ingredients like sodium pyroglutamic acid (NaPCA) and ceramides can aid in moisturization, and hyaluronic acid can provide immediate plumping effects to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
It is important to use eye products with caution and discontinue use if redness, irritation, or swelling occurs. Hereditary factors can contribute to bags under the eyes, making them resistant to topical treatments. Lifestyle adjustments such as increasing water intake or maintaining a consistent sleep schedule may offer some improvement for sunken eyes.
Fluid buildup from permeable microvessels can cause swelling under the eyes. Gentle facial massage, including the undereye area, can help improve circulation and reduce fluid retention. While patting eye cream gently in an upward motion is a common recommendation, its effectiveness for hereditary issues is limited. For many, the most effective approach involves consistent sunscreen use and overall body care. Basic healthy habits like a balanced diet, adequate hydration, exercise, sufficient sleep, and sun protection are fundamental to skincare.
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