Some may debate the value of an eye cream—after all, what does it do that a face moisturizer doesn’t? But the best eye serum is a different matter. Unlike a traditional eye cream, which is largely meant to provide moisture, “an eye serum serves more as a treatment step—like a booster—for concerns like fine lines, puffiness, or dark circles,” says Mamina Turegano, MD, a triple-board-certified dermatologist in New Orleans.
Vogue’s Favorite Eye Serums
Featured in this article
And many would benefit from incorporating an eye serum into their routine, either 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,” says Turegano, who recommends them to her patients over 30 or anyone who’s consistent with their skin-care routine and wants to add to it.
Because eye serums are so targeted, the right formula largely depends on what concern you want to address. With that in mind, here’s what experts recommend.
In This Story
- What is an eye serum?
- What’s the difference between an eye serum and eye cream?
- What to look for in an eye serum
- How to apply an eye serum
- When to use an eye serum
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Best Overall: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: There’s no shortage of excellent formulations among Korean skin-care products, but few have matched the efficacy and results of this eye serum. It’s a favorite of Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, for its combination of ginseng and retinal, which she calls “powerful antiaging ingredients.” (Retinal is a more potent cousin to retinol; it’s thought to be gentler too.) She also gives it bonus points for its “lightweight, lotion-like formulation,” she says. However, because it contains a retinoid, it’s better used only at night.
- Key Ingredients: Ginseng, retinal, peptides, macadamia seed oil
- Best for: Those with milia, fine lines, or uneven skin texture
- Size: 30 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Contains time-tested ingredients | May be irritating for new retinoid users |
| Doesn’t feel sticky or tacky |
Best for Dryness: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: Don’t be fooled: This unassuming bottle houses a strategic (and elegant) combination of ingredients designed to brighten and tighten the eye area. The blend of peptides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide work to “hydrate, brighten, and reduce appearance of fine lines,” says Chang, who counts it among her favorites. It’s ideal if you aren’t seeking heavy-duty actives just yet or want to try eye serums before investing in an even more powerful formula.
- Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, niacinamide, peptides, caffeine
- Best for: Those seeking benefits on a budget
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Budget-friendly price | Dropper applicator can make application messy |
| Has a smooth texture |
Best for Brightening: SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel
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- Why We Love It: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Cream consistently ranks among the best eye creams, but if you don’t have mature skin, consider this gel-based formulation instead. It’s essentially an eye-minded version of the brand’s beloved CE Ferulic face serum, pairing vitamin C with phloretin and ferulic acid (two potent antioxidants with a synergistic effect). Also within is caffeine to offset dark circles. Together, they brighten, smooth, and depuff the eye area—all 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
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Quick to absorb | May be too potent for sensitive skin |
| Fragrance-free |
Best for Hyperpigmentation: Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: While some dark circles are actually shadowing caused by puffiness or one’s natural bone structure, others are the result of hyperpigmentation—particularly among those with deeper skin tones, who are more vulnerable to skin discoloration in general. With not one but two types of vitamin C, then, this formula “helps brighten the skin and repair oxidative damage from UV radiation,” says Chang. Because it’s rich in antioxidants, it’s a particularly good daytime option as well.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, tremella mushroom, chia seed oil
- Best for: Stubborn dark circles
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Can be used around the orbital bone | Takes a few moments to absorb |
| Has a nice, citrusy scent |
Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Eye Serum
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- Why We Love It: You might be familiar with the brand’s hyaluronic acid serum—it looks practically identical—but this comes with a rollerball applicator that makes it easy to apply around the eye area. The formula within is similarly thoughtful: “It’s hydrating yet weightless, like giving your undereyes a tall glass of water,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Haven, Connecticut. “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.” She likes that it layers well under concealer to deliver a long-lasting, crease-free finish.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine, niacinamide, hepes
- Best for: Dry or sensitive skin
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Fragrance-free | Can feel a little sticky before it sets |
| Suits sensitive skin |
Best for Blue Light Damage: Chanel N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Eye Serum
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- Why We Love It: Chanel’s No.1 De Chanel line is a celebration of—and homage to—red camellia extract, which helps reduce the stress lines and wrinkles developed from repeatedly squinting and blinking over the years; here, the antiaging ingredient is also paired with moisturizing squalane and camellia yeast extract to support the skin barrier. It’s especially impactful for those struggling with damage from the blue light of electronic devices—and informs both the eye serum’s formula and packaging. “The cooling effect provided by the rotating cryo applicator combined with the gel-like texture improves microcirculation and helps relieve screen-induced eye fatigue,” the science team at Chanel shared with Vogue.
- 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
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Cooling applicator feels nice | Serum can take a second to sink into skin |
| Goes on smoothly |
Best Drugstore: Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream
- Why We Love It: While some may ask the world of their eye serum, others are content with keeping the delicate undereye skin healthy and bright. For that, Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream is a good option. “Simple, hydrating, and gentle—this one’s perfect if your main goal is moisture and barrier support,” Turegano says. “It’s a great drugstore option that plays well under makeup.” As it’s hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist-tested, it’s also unlikely to irritate those with sensitive eyes.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
- Best for: Dry skin
- Size: 14 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Layers under makeup without pilling | May not be powerful enough for deep wrinkles |
| Delivers adequate hydration |
Best for Puffiness: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage for Dark Circles
- Why We Love It: Like a cold splash of water, this cooling rollerball helps you wake up—and simultaneously works to bring down puffiness. The chill is only one way in which it delivers results. On top of that, “it contains caffeine to help depuff the undereyes and is fragrance-free,” says Mina Amin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles. (Fragrance is a common allergen, which could stoke irritation—and thus exacerbate puffiness.) She also likes that it contains antioxidants, as these “help improve the appearance of undereye circles,” she says.
- Key Ingredients: Caffeine, panthenol, grape-seed extract
- Best For: Puffiness and undereye bags
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Rollerball applicator feels refreshing | Takes time to see results |
| Travel-friendly |
Best for Deep Lines and Wrinkles: Tata Harper Elixir Vitae Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: As Tata Harper is a pioneer in clean beauty, it’s little surprise that Tata Harper Elixir Vitae Eye Serum brings together 54 active ingredients meant to minimize wrinkles, reduce puffiness, improve dark circles, and subtly plump skin. Together, they’re meant to target even the deeper lines and fields around the eyes—to yield similar results to in-office treatments. “With injectables, Botox paralyzes the muscles, and filler acts like an instantaneous layer of hyaluronic acid in your dermal layer,” Harper told Vogue when the formula first debuted. “With topicals, the mode of action is different, but you’re getting a daily dose of similar effects.”
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Lactobacillus ferment, algae extract, date seed extract
- Best for: Mature skin
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Leaves skin soft and smooth | Price can be high for some |
| Has a fresh scent |
Best for Firming: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: A bit closer to eye cream than most serums, the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal eye serum stands apart for its glycerin and pomegranate seed oils, which together help maintain skin hydration for hours. That sets the ideal environment for both the formula’s retinol and retinol booster, which are gradually released throughout the night to deliver results with minimal irritation or dryness—if any.
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, Swertia flower extract, hyaluronic acid
- Best for: Sagging or thinning skin
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| One bottle can last for months | May be irritating for those with very sensitive skin |
| Lightweight and nongreasy |
Best for Dark Circles: Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum With Niacinamide
- Why We Love It: This slim tube offers a who’s who of eye-brightening ingredients, among them green tea, which is rich in amino acids and antioxidants to hydrate and protect this delicate area. But it’s “also made with 2% caffeine to help visibly depuff, and also contains niacinamide to help brighten discoloration,” Amin says. To further quell puffiness, the rollerball doubles as a mini massager, helping to move fluids that may be causing bags.
- Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, caffeine, niacinamide, hyaluronic
- Best for: Dark circles
- Size: 10 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Convenient rollerball applicator | Nothing to note |
| Has an immediate brightening effect |
Best Applicator: Axis-Y Vegan Collagen Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: Turegano is a fan of this Korean-made eye serum, which is lightweight and brimming with a blend of vegan collagen, peptides, and fruit extract, which work together to brighten and firm the eye area. Moreover, “it has a metal applicator tip, which gives an instant cooling, depuffing effect,” she says. Testing by the brand has found that the formula can reduce wrinkles in addition to undereye bags and puffiness.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, vitamin c, hyaluronic acid
- Best for: Dry or sensitive skin
- Size: 10 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Very moisturizing for an eye serum | Nothing to note |
| Not sticky or tacky |
Best for Crow’s-feet: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: For those seeking to smooth crow’s-feet, it doesn’t get much more effective than retinol. And this particular formula “combines retinol, ferulic acid, and niacinamide to target fine lines, dullness, and puffiness,” Turegano says. “It’s strong but still lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy around the eyes.” It also contains rambutan and bakuchiol—two plant-derived ingredients that work similarly to retinol but with less irritation—to bolster its effects.
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, ferulic acid, rambutan, bakuchiol
- Best for: All signs of aging
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Absorbs instantly | May be irritating for retinol beginners |
| Pairs retinol with retinol-like ingredients |
Best for Early Signs of Aging: Alastin Restorative Eye Treatment
- Why We Love It: Whether you’re targeting puffiness, dark circles, crow’s-feet, or all of the above, this multitasking treatment can help on all fronts, according to Turegano. “It uses a peptide blend to support collagen and elastin and works well even for sensitive or post-procedure skin,” she says. It goes beyond simply supporting collagen production and actually clears out damaged collagen and elastin, thus clearing the way for those new fibers that deliver firmer, smoother skin.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, green tea extract
- Best for: Those seeking a one-and-done solution
- Size: 14.8 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Makes a notable difference in puffiness | Nothing to note |
| Can be used morning and night |
Best for Expression Lines: Klur Powers of Ten Eye Line Support
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- Why We Love It: It’s possible to see results without compromising your skin health—and this eye serum is proof. It smooths fine lines and wrinkles with a low concentration of retinol, so as not to irritate the delicate eye area, and a strategic blend of skin-firming peptides. To ensure comfort, though, the formula also contains lipids to fortify the skin barrier. You can also use it around the upper lip and on the forehead to more precisely target fine lines there too.
- 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
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ideal for mature skin | Low concentration of retinol takes longer to work |
| Minimal risk of irritation |
Everything You Need to Know
What is an eye serum?
An eye serum is a lightweight and highly concentrated skin-care product that’s specifically formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes. They “typically contain higher concentrations of active ingredients compared to regular eye creams or face creams,” Amin says. “The skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive, so it can absorb and respond better to these potent ingredients.”
Because they’re so lightweight, they absorb quickly and layer seamlessly under other skin-care products; for that reason, an eye serum “is great to use in the morning if you have to apply other skin-care products and makeup on top,” Chang says. She recommends seeking out ingredients that target your specific concern; for instance, try 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
As with an eye cream, it helps to focus on the ingredients in your eye serum—as well as what’s not in the formula. Here’s what to consider:
- Ingredients: According to Gohara, it’s worth seeking out peptides (to support collagen), hyaluronic acid (to plump fine lines), caffeine (to deflate puffiness), and antioxidants like vitamin C or niacinamide (to brighten). However, the best active for you ultimately comes down to your individual concerns, so you can pick and choose accordingly.
- Fragrance: Consider opting for fragrance-free formulas. “Your eye area is the thinnest skin on your face, and you wouldn’t want to irritate it with unnecessary extras,” says Gohara.
- Ophthalmologist-Tested: Gohara also recommends looking for this label, which indicates that the formula has been vetted by an ophthalmologist to ensure it’s safe for the eye area.
How to Apply an Eye Serum
First, tap your eye serum into skin using your ring finger instead of rubbing or massaging it in. “It applies the perfect light pressure without tugging at delicate skin,” says Gohara.
Also, she recommends using a serum first and topping it with a cream if your skin needs extra moisture. “The serum sinks in fast, delivering active ingredients deep into the skin, while the cream locks everything in with nourishing moisture,” she says.
What’s the difference between an eye serum and eye cream?
There’s always a time and a place for eye cream. “Eye creams tend to focus on hydration and barrier support, often containing emollients and occlusives,” Chang says. Meanwhile, eye serums have a lighter texture, sink in more quickly, and may offer a greater variety or higher quantities of active ingredients than their richer counterparts, she says, that may make them better able to target issues like fine lines or puffiness.
When to Use an Eye Serum
Your eye serum should go before your eye cream—or in lieu of it. And in general, an eye cream can be especially helpful when you’re experiencing certain undereye issues. “If you’re dealing with milia, skin tags, or general undereye congestion—hello, pregnancy hormones and menopause—a serum is your smoother, lighter option,” says Gohara. “Creams can sometimes trap too much moisture or oil, creating those little white bumps.” Instead, serums can offer hydration without heaviness, making it ideal for this delicate area.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity aestheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to eye serums, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, applicator, ophthalmologist testing, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Mamina Turegano, MD, is a triple-board-certified dermatologist in New Orleans.
- Y. Claire Chang, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York.
- Mina Amin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles.
- Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New Haven, Connecticut.
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