The Top 5 Eye Serums On The Market

Here's what you need to know when shopping for a high quality eye serum that can deliver results.

The first signs of aging often show up around your eyes; this can come in the form of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles, crow's feet, and even saggy skin. Even just one sleepless night or feeling overly stressed can also cause these frustrating symptoms to pop up around your eyes.

There are literally thousands of products available to help you combat these visible signs, but which one should you choose?

After all, the area around your eyes is the most delicate of your entire face, so picking the right product is very important.

The two most common eye care products are creams and serums.

EYE CREAM VS. EYE SERUM 


 At first glance, they may seem more or less the same, but there is a difference ; and it's an important one.

Eye creams; purpose is to moisturize, but they can also sometimes help with dark circles and fine lines, just like eye serums. 

However, a good eye care product should also help smooth out fine lines, reduce puffiness, restore a youthful glow, and help rebuild firmness.

Eye serum, on the other hand, is more potent than its eye cream predecessors.

Eye serums will often also have hyaluronic acid and retinol, which are two powerhouse ingredients that penetrate your skin on a deeper level, and help deliver the best results. 

So after using an eye serum consistently, you'll be able to notice:

  • Reduced puffiness
    Increased firmness and elasticity
    Fewer fine lines and wrinkles
    Minimized crow's feet
  • Diminished dark circles 
    A renewed, youthful glow

And for these reasons, we recommend purchasing an eye serum.

There are a lot of eye serums available on the market, and many don't always do what they claim to do.

So when shopping for an eye serum, it's important to know which ingredients to look for and which to avoid.

TOP 6 INGREDIENTS to look for IN EYE SERUM


Eyeliss is a patented skincare ingredient made with a combination of protein peptides that help reduce swelling and puffiness, as well as increase firmness.

Matrixyl naturally supports the production of collagen in your body, which helps improve elasticity in your skin and eases the appearance of fine lines. (1)

Chamomile Extract (often listed as Matricaria chamomilla L) is a natural ingredient that moisturizes the skin and helps rejuvenate cells. It also can calm some redness or irritation. (2)

Hyaluronic Acid is a super ingredient that supports the production of collagen and deeply moisturizes, leaving your skin looking more plump and refreshed. (Sodium hyaluronate, a hyaluronic acid mimicker, will also get the job done.) (3)

Vitamin E is another natural ingredient that helps fight signs of aging, as well as helps protect your skin against damaging UV rays. (4)

Retinol  is a powerful ingredient that's derived from vitamin A. It can speed up the production of collagen in your skin and help smooth out even the most stubborn wrinkles. (5)

Ingredients To Avoid 
 

Petroleum is a toxic carcinogen that studies have found can block the skin from absorbing moisture and other important vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, petroleum is present in many skincare products, so be sure to pay close attention to labels. (6)

Sulfates are a synthetic ingredient that can irritate your skin, clog pores, and in some cases, cause acne. They can also strip your skin of important nutrients and oils.

Finding an eye serum with the ingredients listed above is just the first step. There are some other important factors to consider before actually purchasing an eye serum. 

What Else To Consider When Buying Eye Serum
 

Transparent List Of Ingredients  
Many eye serums list a handful of the their key ingredients. Beware of this practice, because that's when the manufacturer can slip in some potentially harmful, synthetic ingredients.

Money-Back Guarantee 
Skincare is a multi-billion dollar a year industry, which makes it easy for manufacturers with poor products to slip through the cracks. So make sure to buy an eye serum from a brand that's willing to standby its product with a 100% money-back guarantee.

Positive Reviews  
Make sure to read through the reviews and see what other customers, just like you, have to say about the product. That way you can get a strong understanding of what others liked about the product and what they didn't like about it.

Beware Of Amazon Reviews 
Up to 60% of reviews on Amazon were written by people paid to leave positive feedback. So don't rely on Amazon's review section to help you find the best eye serum because you might be tricked into buying a product that's completely ineffective. 

OUR SPECIALIZED RANKING SYSTEM

At Smarter Reviews, we employ a comprehensive evaluation system to analyze and measure the full value of products, by looking at the safety, projected effectiveness, return policies, and overall customer satisfaction. This method is known as the Smarter Reviews Ranking System.

THE 5 BEST eye SERUMS ON THE MARKET

After extensive research, testing, and metrics provided by our Smart Review Ranking System, we've put together this definitive list of the best eye serums available right now. When putting together our rankings, we consider quality of ingredients, safety, return policies, projected effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.

1. Fine Line Eye Serum

by Simple Beauty

Total Ranking

883 votes

9.7/10

A+

Overall Grade

  • Ingredient Safety
    7.9 Avg.

    9.9/10

  • Projected Effectiveness
    7.9 Avg.

    9.4/10

  • Value
    8.0 Avg.

    9.7/10

  • Return Policy
    7.8 Avg.

    9.7/10

  • Customer Satisfaction
    7.9 Avg.

    9.8/10

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Ingredients listed clearly and back by scientific research*
  • Free from parabens, petroleum, harsh sulfates, fragrances, and mineral oil
  • Lightweight, yet powerful formula 
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Positive reviews 

CONS

  • Frequently out of stock
The Bottom Line

The Fine Line Eye Serum by Simple Beauty is our #1 pick because of its potent botanical formula that deeply hydrates, helps smooth out fine lines and crow's feet, eases the appearance of dark circles, and helps restore a youthful glow.

It's formulated with Eyeliss, Matrixyl, aloe vera juice, chamomile flower extract, sodium hyaluronate, and green tea leaf extract, as well as other powerful ingredients that work together to improve elasticity in the skin and help encourage collagen production.

Plus, the Fine Line Eye Serum is backed by Simple Beautys 30-day, no questions asked money back guarantee.

And after carefully combing through the overwhelmingly positive reviews, the Fine Line Eye Serum by Simple Beauty was the clear choice for our #1 spot.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

I Want the Smarter Choice

2. Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum

by Murad

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Total Ranking

591 votes

9.1/10

A-

Overall Grade

  • Ingredient Safety
    7.9 Avg.

    9.3/10

  • Projected Effectiveness
    7.9 Avg.

    8.9/10

  • Value
    8.0 Avg.

    9/10

  • Return Policy
    7.8 Avg.

    9.2/10

  • Customer Satisfaction
    7.9 Avg.

    9.1/10

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates
  • Good for sensitive skin
  • Strong reviews

CONS

  • Expensive
  • No money-back guarantee
The Bottom Line

Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum by Murad came in at #2 on our list because it's made with a potent retinol formula that targets crow's feet and helps improve the appearance of dark circles.

The formula is free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, so it's gentle enough for sensitive skin. The eye serum also has received positive reviews.

However, at $84.99 per .5 oz bottle, this eye serum has the highest price tag of any other product on the list. And in order to see the most benefits, Murad recommends using the eye serum as just one step of an entire regimen, which will end up costing you quite a bit.

There's also no money-back guarantee, which you may want to be careful of. *

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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3. Intensive Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles 

by StriVectin

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Total Ranking

415 votes

8.8/10

B+

Overall Grade

  • Ingredient Safety
    7.9 Avg.

    8.8/10

  • Projected Effectiveness
    7.9 Avg.

    9/10

  • Value
    8.0 Avg.

    8.7/10

  • Return Policy
    7.8 Avg.

    8.8/10

  • Customer Satisfaction
    7.9 Avg.

    8.9/10

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Lightweight moisturizing formula
  • Good for twice daily wear

CONS

  • Not recommended for sensitive skin
The Bottom Line

Coming at #3 on our list is Intensive Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles by StriVectin. This eye serum is made with patented NIA-114™ technology that works to brighten the area around your eye, help reduce puffiness, and help smooth out the look of fine lines.

It's lightweight and moisturizing, so it's suitable to for twice daily wear.

However, this eye serum is made with some fragrance and alcohol, which can cause skin irritability for people who are sensitive. In fact, some reviewers complained about visible skin irritation after use of this product.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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4. Shaba Complex Eye Serum

by Drunk Elephant

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Total Ranking

294 votes

8.4/10

B

Overall Grade

  • Ingredient Safety
    7.9 Avg.

    8.3/10

  • Projected Effectiveness
    7.9 Avg.

    8.4/10

  • Value
    8.0 Avg.

    8.5/10

  • Return Policy
    7.8 Avg.

    8.5/10

  • Customer Satisfaction
    7.9 Avg.

    8.3/10

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Fragrance-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • Manufactured in the USA

CONS

  • Heavier formula
  • Mixed reviews
  • No money-back guarantee
The Bottom Line

Shaba Complex Eye Serum by Drunk Elephant ranks a bit lower on the list, coming in at #4. This eye serum is formulated with black tea ferment and copper peptides that work together to help slow down visible signs of aging and improve firmness around the eyes.

This eye serum is a bit thicker than the others on this list, so if you prefer a lightweight formula, this product might not be for you.  

Also, some reviewers say that for the price ($60), the product was not as effective as they would have liked it to be. There is also no money-back guarantee.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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5. Ferulic Plus Retinol Triple Correction Eye Serum 

by Dr. Dennis Gross 

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Total Ranking

487 votes

8.0/10

B-

Overall Grade

  • Ingredient Safety
    7.9 Avg.

    8.1/10

  • Projected Effectiveness
    7.9 Avg.

    7.8/10

  • Value
    8.0 Avg.

    8.2/10

  • Return Policy
    7.8 Avg.

    8/10

  • Customer Satisfaction
    7.9 Avg.

    8/10

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Lightweight formula easily absorbs into skin
  • Paraben-free and cruelty-free
  • Safe to wear for contact lens users

CONS

  • Mixed Reviews
  • No money-back guarantee
The Bottom Line

Ferulic Plus Retinol Triple Correction Eye Serum by Dr. Dennis Gross comes in at the bottom of the list at #5. This eye serum was specifically formulated with retinol and willow bark as two of its star ingredients to target wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles.

It's also lightweight, making this eye serum ideal for both day and night use.

However, moisturizing the skin around your eyes rankers lower on this serum priorities. And keeping the skin around your eyes moisturized and nourished is vital.

This eye serum has also received mixed reviews, with some customers saying they did not see the results they were hoping for. A few other reviewers said that this product dried out their skin.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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Citations

    1. Bauza, E., Oberto, G., Berghi, A., Dal, C. and Domloge, N. (2004). Collagen-like peptide exhibits a remarkable antiwrinkle effect on the skin when topically applied: in vivo study. International Journal of Tissue Reactions. Available at: http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/15648443

    2. Singh, O., Khanam, Z., Misra, N., & Srivastava, M. (2011). Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): An overview. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 5(9), 82. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.79103

    3. Necas, J., Bartosikova, L., Brauner, P., & Kolar, J. (2008). Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan): a review. Veterinární Medicína, 53(No. 8), 397-411. doi: 10.17221/1930-vetmed

    4. Chan, A. (1993). Partners in defense, vitamin E and vitamin C. Canadian Journal Of Physiology And Pharmacology, 71(9), 725-731. doi: 10.1139/y93-109
    5. Kafi, R., Kwak, H., Schumacher, W., Cho, S., Hanft, V., & Hamilton, T. et al. (2007). Improvement of Naturally Aged Skin With Vitamin A (Retinol). Archives Of Dermatology, 143(5). doi: 10.1001/archderm.143.5.606
    6. Lu, Y., Lou, Y., Xie, J., Peng, Q., Shih, W., Lin, Y., & Conney, A. (2009). Tumorigenic Effect of Some Commonly Used Moisturizing Creams when Applied Topically to UVB-Pretreated High-Risk Mice. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology, 129(2), 468-475. doi: 10.1038/jid.2008.241

Author

Tanya

Tanya is a skin specialist with over 25 years experience. She specializes in helping women look and feel their best as they get older.