The 13 Best Eye Serums of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Tula Skincare Eye Renewal Serum

$58 at Sephora $58 at Ulta View on Tula

If you're looking for a top notch beauty product, the Tula Eye Renewal Serum is our top pick for the best eye serum overall because it feels more like a cross between an eye cream and a serum, delivering potent ingredients and deeply nourishing moisture to the under-eye area.

Enhanced with noteworthy ingredients such as peptides for targeting wrinkles, pink silk tree for reducing the look of dark circles, and sea algae for hydrating and toning the skin, plus probiotic extract for de-puffing the complexion, this formula has a rich, creamy consistency that provides a burst of hydration that smooths and nourishes the under-eye area. In addition to its formula, the Tula eye serum comes with a cooling applicator that makes it easier to massage the creamy concoction into the skin while effectively eliminating puffy under-eye bags.

While testing, we found that it works best as an everyday eye serum, though it’s worth noting that the heavier formula might not be ideal for skin types that are more prone to blemishes. We tested this formula on sensitive skin and found it to be cool and hydrating without causing irritation. We saw improved skin texture, radiant skin, and less puffiness around the eyes after seven to 10 days of regular use. 

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Peptides, pink silk tree, sea algae, probiotic extract | Good For: Reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, diminishing dark circles, de-puffing skin

Best Budget

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum

$16 at Amazon View on Beautyofjoseon.com $14 at Yesstyle.com

For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum with Ginseng + Retinal. As its name suggests, this formula is created with ginseng extract and retinal, which work together to target the fine lines and wrinkles caused by the effects of aging, including a loss of elasticity caused by decreased hyaluronic acid and collagen production.

During our tests, we found that the eye serum has a super lightweight feel that is cooling and refreshing to the touch — not to mention it’s compatible with most skin types. We also noted how well the high-quality formula layers with other skincare and makeup formulas without lifting or clumping. Since it is so lightweight, the formula is also fast-absorbing, too. This not only ensures that the complexion absorbs all of its goodness but also means a little goes a long way, so you can really get the most out of this budget-friendly eye serum. Since it is formulated with retinal which can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, you'll want to use a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen while using this product.

Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredients: Ginseng extract, retinal | Good For: Targeting fine lines and wrinkles around the eye

Best for Mature Skin

StriVectin Tightening Eye Serum

$72 at Amazon $72 at Sephora $72 at Ulta

We tested 27 different formulas to see which would be the best option for mature skin, ultimately landing on the StriVectin Peptight 360 Tightening Eye Serum after being especially impressed with the results. After using this formula regularly over a few weeks, our tester found that the fine lines and wrinkles around her eyes appeared less noticeable. Her skin also felt radiant, firmer, and less puffy.

Enriched with a triple peptide blend, caffeine, and Kakadu plum extract, the eye serum works well at tightening and firming loose skin under the eyes while reducing the look of dark circles. This serum also features a cooling applicator that doubles as a massage tool to reduce the look of puffiness with every application.

While we think the price is a bit pricey relative to some other options we tested (especially when it's not on sale), our tester noted that the price is comparable to similar anti-aging products on the market. Her only regret? She wishes she had used it earlier throughout her 20s and 30s.

Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredients: Triple peptide blend, oligopeptide, dipeptide, tetrapeptide, caffeine, Kakadu plum extract, microalgae, marine ferment algae | Good For: Targeting fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet

Best for Puffiness

Clinique Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

$42 at Amazon $42 at Nordstrom $42 at Sephora

After testing several formulas, we found that the Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage is the best for addressing under-eye puffiness. We loved this product because it comes in a roller ball applicator which acts like a mini massager and helps drain water retention under the eyes while also softening and soothing with a nourishing formula. It's also quick-absorbing so it leaves the skin looking and feeling moisturized.

In addition to the applicator, the ultra-lightweight formula features caffeine for its firming effect and helps to further de-puff, as well as antioxidants for protecting the skin against harmful environmental aggressors and botanicals for soothing. Compared to other products, the applicator distributes the product slowly, which takes some getting used to but also allows you a little more control over the application. 

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Caffeine, antioxidants, botanicals | Good For: De-puffing the skin, targeting signs of fatigue

Best for Sensitive Skin

Caracol Natural Skincare The Eye Contour Serum

$26 at Amazon

If you have sensitive skin, we recommend Caracol's The Eye Contour Serum for its soothing formula, which contains lots of nourishing, protecting, calming, and healing ingredients. Designed with snail secretion filtrate, eyeseryl, xpertmoist, chamomile, aloe vera, and vitamin E, this eye serum packs a hydration punch with its thick yet lightweight moisturizing ingredients that also support more youthful-looking skin by keeping dark circles at bay, de-puffing swollen eyes, increasing hydration, and warding off oxidative stress caused by environmental aggressors. 

With all of these nourishing ingredients, the product claims to smooth out the look of wrinkles and have a firming effect on the skin. While we didn’t really notice those at the end of the testing period (we may need to test it for a longer period to see those results), we did find that this lightweight hydrator smoothed and softened the skin under our eyes, providing deep nourishment and helped blur the crow’s feet around the eyes ever so slightly. It also layers well under makeup and other skincare products.

Size: 0.7 ounces | Key Ingredients: Snail secretion filtrate, eyeseryl, xpertmoist, chamomile, aloe vera, vitamin E | Good For: Reducing fine lines, hydrating skin, targeting signs of fatigue, reducing dark circles

Best for Dark Circles

Dermalogica BioLumin-C Eye Serum

$74 at Amazon $74 at Nordstrom $74 at Sephora

When targeting discoloration — including under-eye dark circles — a radiance-boosting formula is a must. Dermalogica's vitamin C eye serum is enriched with a potent, bioavailable vitamin C complex that works overtime to boost the skin's radiance under the eyes while also providing protection against environmental aggressors that cause some of the most common premature signs of aging under the eyes.

While the formula comes out fast and product distribution is a little tricky, we found that this product absorbs well into the complexion and you don’t actually need a lot to get effective coverage. The lightweight serum also works well with a variety of skin types, including oily skin, and layers well under other skincare and makeup products without piling or lifting, too. 

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Vitamin C complex | Good For: Targeting dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles, and dullness.  

Best for Fine Lines

Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum

$64 at Sephora $64 at Ulta View on Spacenk.com

Targeting fine lines around the eyes requires effective formulas with high-quality ingredients designed to reduce this common sign of premature aging. If you're looking for a retinol product, our top pick for this category is the Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides, which is formulated to soften and smooth fine lines while also targeting a loss of firmness and puffy under-eye bags.

The eye serum features retinol, which helps effectively diminish fine lines and wrinkles (though it can make skin more sensitive to the sun, so don’t forget to apply a good face sunscreen!). It’s also enhanced by copper tripeptide-1 for its antioxidants and collagen support, as well as caffeine for de-puffing skin and helping eyes appear more awake. 

This thin and lightweight formula is super easy to apply. When testing this formula, it worked well at de-puffing our skin, and with regular use, we actually saw a firming effect around the eyes, and our fine lines and wrinkles were less noticeable, too. The formula is on the expensive side, so we were also pleased by how little you need — just a small pea-sized amount — to get the job done. And, although it took longer to absorb into the skin compared to other formulas, once it did, our skin appeared deeply nourished and soothed. 

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Retinol, copper tripeptide-1, caffeine | Good For: Targeting fine lines, loss of firmness, and puffiness

Best Plumping

Environ Skin EssentiA Antioxidant & Peptide Eye Gel

View on Environskincare.com

To restore some of the skin’s supple texture back into the under-eye area, we recommend the Environ Skin EssentiA Antioxidant & Peptide Eye Gel. This gel formula has a lightweight, watery consistency that, albeit a little tricky to apply at first, applies nicely to the complexion, absorbs quickly, and dries fast, making it a good treatment for layering under other skincare and makeup formulas.

Featuring vitamins A, B5, C, and E along with wild thyme and lupin, this deeply hydrating formula protects the skin against the environmental aggressors that lead to volume loss while also restoring and firming the skin under the eyes. It also has a slightly cooling effect that soothes the under-eye skin.

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Vitamins A, B5, C, and E, wild thyme, lupin | Good For: Repairing and firming the skin

Best Roller

Korres Greek Yoghurt Wide Awake Eye Gel

$29 $25 at Amazon $29 at Ulta $29 at Dermstore

The KORRES Greek Yoghurt Wide Awake Eye Gel is our top pick for the best roller, thanks to its easy-to-use formula that evenly distributes formula to the under-eye area while acting like a mini massage tool to de-puff the skin. Enriched with Greek yogurt and caffeine, this eye serum is designed to reduce the look of dark circles by boosting the radiance of the skin under the eyes, de-puffing, and cooling the skin for an overall soothed sensation.

While testing this formula, we found that its lightweight consistency made it easy to apply and quick to absorb, which contributed to more cohesive layering with other skincare formulas and makeup products. Although we didn’t notice a major difference in the skin’s firmness and elasticity, the dark circles under our eyes were reduced, and our skin looked and felt smoother, softer, and more hydrated at the end of the testing period. 

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Greek yogurt, caffeine | Good For: Reducing dark circles, de-puffing eyes, cooling and soothing skin

Best Quick-Acting

Mario Badescu Skincare Brightening Eye Serum

$24 at Amazon $24 at Nordstrom $24 at Nordstrom

While it can take some time for the best eye serums to work their magic, you can get somewhat of a quick fix with the Mario Badescu Skincare Brightening Eye Serum. Enriched with caffeine, squalane, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, this formula is an excellent option for those looking for an eye serum that provides instant nourishment as it softens and soothes the skin in just a few minutes.

When used regularly, we also found that the eye serum works well at smoothing and firming the skin under the eyes, helping to target fine lines and wrinkles and create an overall more youthful look. And, although we found that the squalane made it a little oily, the consistency still worked well when layered under makeup — in fact, we preferred it as a primer for our favorite drugstore concealer.  

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Caffeine, squalane, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Good For: Boosting radiance, smoothing, and de-puffing skin under the eyes 

Best Brightening

Perricone MD Brightening Eye Serum

$75 at Amazon $75 at Dermstore View on Perriconemd.com

To boost radiance for dark circles under the eye, a powerhouse ingredient such as vitamin C is required. With this in mind, we recommend the Perricone MD Brightening Eye Serum for this category which, after testing it out, had a lasting effect on our dark circles. Formulated with vitamin C and DMAE, the eye serum comes in a dropper and is designed to boost radiance and firm the complexion while evening out the skin tone.

During our testing, we noticed our skin felt instantly hydrated and nourished after application — and it only took a few weeks for us to notice the boosting results, too. Although we love this formula’s radiance-boosting effects, we think it’s best for a nighttime regimen as the oily consistency doesn’t layer as well with makeup. 

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, DMAE | Good For: Boosting radiance, firming, and toning the skin

Best with Retinol

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Triple Correction Eye Serum

$71 at Amazon $71 at Nordstrom $71 at Sephora

If you’re looking to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and a bit of crepiness around the eyes, the Triple Correction Eye Serum from Dr. Dennis Gross is worth a try. This eye serum contains retinol to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and even out skin tone. It also has natural retinol alternatives bakuchiol and rambutan to target fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin elasticity.

With just a single pump of the product, we were able to cover both eyes completely. The gel-based product was absorbed instantly, and the area around our eyes felt much more hydrated. It layered easily with other products and could replace your eye primer. We noticed that our under-eye area felt softer and smoother after using the product, and our eyelids felt a little more firm. Even though our tester has sensitive skin, she reported no burning, tingling, or discomfort after using the product. While we didn’t notice any less puffiness around the eyes, what we did notice was smoother skin with less pronounced crow’s feet and less crepiness around the eyes.

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol, rambutan | Good For: Wrinkles, dark circles

Best Cooling

Charlotte Tilbury Depuffing Eye Serum

$45 at Amazon $70 at Nordstrom $70 at Sephora

This lightweight, milky cream from Charlotte Tilbury felt very comfortable and hydrating after we applied it to our eye area. It goes on smooth and clear and fully absorbs in about four to five minutes. It didn't tingle or burn or leave the skin feeling greasy or oily. The product has an instantly cooling effect that can be enhanced even more by following the manufacturer’s suggestion and storing it in the refrigerator. We loved the metal applicator, which made it easy to determine just the right amount of product to apply.

The skin around our eyes felt a little softer, firmer, and tighter after using the product. After it was fully absorbed, we found it easy to layer the serum with sunscreen and under-eye concealer. In addition to cooling, this formula contains caffeine to give your eyes a much-needed wake-up boost in the morning.

Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Iceawake, caffeine, Swiss ice wine essence | Good For: De-puffing, firming, smoothing, tightening