Editor Tip: The bottle comes with a dropper that dispenses just enough product to cover both undereyes. Han is a fan of this delivery method as well as the silky, slightly cooling texture that sinks into skin without an ounce of heaviness. Also notable, she says, is the inclusion (albeit, quite lower in the ingredients list) is ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, a stable and oil-stable form of vitamin C, for a brightening boost alongside its fellow star ingredients.
Key Ingredients: Matcha tea extract, caffeine, bakuchiol | Who It’s For: People seeking to repair and prevent sun damage | Fragrance-Free: Yes
Best for Fine Lines: Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum
Why It’s Worth It: If it’s not the bright-topped cap that gets you, what’s inside the bottle will. The Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum is enhanced with copper peptides, which Dr. Sajic says boosts skin elasticity, 0.1% retinol for softening up those fine lines exacerbated by concealer, and a high concentration of caffeine (3%) to target fatigue and dark circles around the eyes.
Editor Tip: Some say the retinol can be intense, so try combining it with brand’s Ceramighty AF Eye Cream if you’re a newbie or simply want to take the concentration down a notch.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, caffeine, peptides | Who It’s For: Those with crow’s feet | Fragrance-Free: Yes
Best for Undereye Bags: Blue Lagoon Iceland Skincare BL+ Eye Serum
Why It’s Worth It: Can’t make it to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in Iceland? The Blue Lagoon Iceland Skincare BL+ Eye Serum, which won a 2022 Best of Beauty Award, is the next best thing. Harnessing the power of the Blue Lagoon’s healing bioactive water, which is packed with barrier-strengthening minerals, silica, and blue-green algae, the serum works at a cellular level to effectively stimulate collagen production and erase puffy eyes.
Editor Tip: For tip-top results, apply it underneath the brand’s BL+ Eye Cream, which also features the proprietary BL+ Complex.
Key Ingredients: Bioactive water, silica, blue-green algae | Who It’s For: People with puffiness | Fragrance-Free: Yes
Best for Undereye Dryness: Dieux Skin Auracle
Why It’s Worth It: We like to think of skin-care brand Dieux as wizards in the world of eye care (it offers an editor-favorite, reusable Forever Eye Mask), so it’s no wonder Skin Auracle made our list. The gel-serum hybrid is packed with gentle yet effective eye-boosting ingredients like algae, glycerin, and peptides for plumper, more hydrated undereyes. That said, we appreciate that the brand is delightfully up-front: While it can address dark circles caused by late nights, it’s not formulated to handle those caused by hyperpigmentation.
