These Korean Creams Are the Secret to Smoother, Brighter Under Eyes

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My Korean parents trained me to wear sunscreen from a young age, but I also realized that my relatives, especially the women, were devoted users of eye cream from their teenage years on. After all, the eye area is often vulnerable to early signs of aging. “The skin around the eye is delicate, so it’s important to use a product specifically made for this area,” says Jamie Jung, the brand manager of Belif. The sensitive nature of that part of the face means it can experience dryness more often, which can lead to fine lines.

Admittedly, I am not as fastidious about applying the product daily, but my first few eye creams were definitely Korean ones. “Korean eye creams are optimized to bring long-lasting hydration to the eye area, and the formulas come in refined textures that work well with the rest of your skincare routine, helping you to avoid pilling and stinging,” says Charlotte Cho, the founder of Soko Glam. According to Cho, Korean skin care brands often incorporate light-reflecting ingredients like gold or pearl extracts to brighten the skin and create the illusion of bag-less under eyes.

Whether you’re on the hunt for a peptide eye cream, an eye cream for your wrinkles and fine lines, or a good caffeine eye cream that’ll help you look more awake, just know that there are several Korean skin care brands that have created five-star formulas. Ahead, I chatted with Korean skin care experts, peered into the routines of my fellow editors, and read through dozens of customer reviews to pull together the most effective elixirs. Keep reading for our guide to the 10 best Korean eye creams to add to your K-beauty cart.

Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream

Ginseng, Sulwhasoo’s signature ingredient, and retinol play a huge role in this formula. Together, they reduce the number and depth of wrinkles and fine lines. Keep the metal tip applicator around for a cooling effect during application.

Key ingredients: Ginseng, retinol, licorice root extract

Size: 0.67 oz.

Sephora rating: 3.8/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “In front of my mom’s laptop is a buffet of luxury eye creams. They look like little jewel boxes, and this one from Sulwhasoo is one of her favorites (along with mine). Although it has a luxury price point, we both favor this one because just a little bit goes a long way. The eye cream is rich, with a texture like a silky balm, thanks to its blend of ginseng botanicals. I like that this cream doesn’t settle into lines, wears really nicely under makeup, and doesn’t ‘travel’ into my eyes to blind me during the day. And with my dark eye circles, my most loyal friend, the extra moisture helps them look a little less dark, too.” —Kathleen Hou, ELLE beauty director

Youth-Enriched Eye Cream with Orchid

We love antioxidants in skin care because they neutralize free radicals, which can contribute to the manifestation of wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. The antioxidants in this Innisfree pick come from an orchid found on Jeju Island in South Korea. Fun fact: The formula’s hyaluronic acid also comes from the island and is extracted from green soybeans.

Key ingredients: Orchid extract, hyaluronic extract

Size: 1.01 fl. oz.

Innisfree rating: 4.7/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “These days, sunglasses and Advil aren’t enough to make my under-eye area feel alive after a late night of TikTok scrolling or binging Love Island. For an extra perk up in the morning, I glaze my eye area in this soothing and hydrating eye cream, which has a creamy, nourishing texture comprised of hyaluronic acid, so I know my skin is getting the TLC it deserves.” —Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor

Moisturizing Eye Bomb Cream with Squalane

This cream “gives the eye area intense moisture for up to 48 hours,” Jung says. Despite the formula’s lightweight texture, its line-reducing peptides, ceramides, and squalane quickly sink into the skin.

Key ingredients: Squalane, tiger grass, comfrey leaf

Size: 0.84 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I don’t deal with any severe problems in the eye area just yet—I mostly use eye creams in the name of prevention. Also, if I don’t apply one, I’ll forget to moisturize under my eyes altogether, which can’t be good. This eye cream is a treat to use because it feels moisturizing and nourishing, but it’s not so thick that it causes milia—something that can happen to me sometimes with eye creams that are too heavy. I want my eye cream to work for me, not against me!” —Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer

Revive Eye Serum

This eye cream features retinal, a form of vitamin A that can provide faster results than retinol. Also infused with ginseng and niacinamide, the formula is the MVP when it comes to improving elasticity, lessening the look of wrinkles, and brightening the under eyes.

Key ingredients: Retinal, niacinamide

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I literally can’t believe how well this product works. My eyelids used to stay tented if I pinched my loose eye skin, but now, they’re tight with elasticity. The skin immediately bounces back when I pinch it. I’m just shocked. You need half a pea-sized amount. It’s never irritated my eyes unless I had rubbed my eyes significantly from crying or allergies, and even then, it was…mild. [Has] not caused any redness.”

CPP Collagen 80% Intensive Eye Cream

Because it has a gel-like consistency, this eye cream doesn’t feel too rich or too light—it’s just right. “It’s cooling and soothing and plumps up those tiny fine lines around my eyes,” shares Cho.

Key ingredients: Peptides, collagen extract, niacinamide

Size: 0.7 oz.

Soko Glam rating: 4/5 stars

A Soko Glam reviewer says: “I tried so many eye creams and I always come back to this one. It’s such a great cream. It’s not too thick and not too thin, it works well with my sensitive skin, and it looks like it keeps my fine lines in check too. I’ve been using it for several years during my day and night routine, and I love it so much that I give it to my mom and my sister for Christmas every year, and they love it too.”

Snail Peptide Eye Cream

Cosrx’s Snail Mucin serum boasts thousands of fans, and the accompanying eye cream deserves a try, too. The snail mucin, aided by peptides, nourishes the skin and firms the eye area for a smoother look. Also, its thin consistency sinks into the skin without a hitch, and you won’t be left with any greasy or sticky residue.

Key ingredients: Snail mucin, niacinamide, peptides

Size: o.84 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “The cream boasts a whopping 73.7% snail mucin along with niacinamide, which sounds fancy, and frankly, it kind of is. The snail mucin is all about hydration and repair, while niacinamide is your go-to for brightening and reducing inflammation. Together, it’s like sending your under-eye bags on a spa retreat. Using it feels luxurious but without the hefty price tag you might expect. The cream is surprisingly lightweight, which threw me off at first. I mean, can something so light really pack a punch? Spoiler: It does. It sinks right in, leaving no greasy residue, which is a plus if you’re impatient like me and need to slap on concealer right after.”

Ceramidin Eye Cream

If you need moisture, this Dr. Jart eye cream is for you. The Ceramidin Eye Cream harnesses the power of five different ceramides to pull moisture into the skin and keep it there.

Key ingredients: Ceramidin, niacinamide

Size: 0.52 oz.

Sephora rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “It’s my favorite. The texture is luxe and doesn’t drag the eye skin. Been using it for several months now, and I never look tired. Great addition for those who focus on skin barrier as part of their routine.”

Banana Conceal Eye Cream

Shaishaishai is one of the trendiest brands in South Korea these days, and it’s all thanks to this “tinted banana-based eye cream that has 48-hour moisture retention,” says Cho. The product has a dark circle-canceling tint to it, so it could even double as a light concealer on no-makeup-makeup days.

Key ingredients: Banana fruit extract, collagen, adenosine, panthenol

Size: o.53 oz.

Olive Young rating: 4.3/5 stars

An Olive Young reviewer says: “I love this stuff. I have already gone through a full tube, and that’s rare for me. It looks beautiful by itself or under concealer.”

Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream

This pick from Laneige is a triple threat; the three main ingredients are hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening niacinamide, and de-puffing caffeine. A small dot is all you need to replenish and boost your under-eyes.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, caffeine

Size: o.8 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “A very tiny bit goes a long way, so this tub will last for quite some time. There was no scent to it, and my skin wasn’t irritated. It made my eye bag area soft and supple—gave me all the moisture that my skin was craving.”

Licorice pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream

“Licorice is my favorite natural brightener, so having it be the main ingredient in this creamy eye cream has given me great brightening and hydrating results for my sensitive eye area,” Cho explains. Meanwhile, a supporting cast of caffeine, peptides, and antioxidants tighten the skin, reduce puffiness, and combat signs of aging.

Key ingredients: Licorice water, licorice extract, glutathione, blueberry fruit extract, bifida erment extract, caffeine

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Soko Glam rating: 4.2/5 stars

A Soko Glam reviewer says: “Very happy with this. This has a nice texture, is very smooth, nice prep for eye makeup. I purchased it to assist with puffiness and reduction in dark circles. Definitely assists with decreasing puffiness, particularly in the morning. I have noticed a small reduction in dark circles as well. One of my favorite eye creams ever.”

Meet the Experts

Charlotte Cho is the founder of Soko Glam.

Jamie Jung is the brand manager of Belif.

Who should use an eye cream?

“Anyone who has concerns about dryness, loss of firmness, elasticity, fine lines, and wrinkles around the eye area,” says Jung. The moisture that eye creams deliver into those delicate areas can treat each concern.

What should you look for in an eye cream?

According to our experts, it’s important to choose wisely. “If the eye cream is too emollient, it will lead to clog pores and tiny white dots appearing near the skin around the eyes. The white dots, also known as milia, are incredibly stubborn and it usually takes a trip to the dermatologist to get them completely removed,” Cho says.

“You should look for an eye cream that is dermatologically tested and also has clinical results. Look for a cream that provides moisture and if you have certain concerns such fine lines, look for eye creams that target your specific concerns,” Jung adds.

Why Trust ELLE Beauty

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writer Carol Lee spoke with trusted skin experts about Korean eye creams. She also searched the internet for Korean eye creams, perused reviews for dozens of popular options, and evaluated each on their features and customer reviews.

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• The Best Drugstore Eye Creams That Are Just As Good As Luxury Options

• The Best Retinol Eye Creams to Fight Fine Lines and Wrinkles

• The Best Caffeine Eye Creams for Brighter, Youthful-Looking Eyes

• The Best Peptide Eye Creams for Smoother Under Eyes

• The Best Eye Creams for Wrinkles and Fine Lines

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