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2024's Top 5 Eye Serums for Youthful, Refreshed Eyes

Here’s What to Know Before Purchasing an Eye Serum


A Quality Eye Serum Can:

  • Brighten dark circles & soothe under-eye bags
  • Visibly reduce fine lines, crow's feet & wrinkles
  • Restore a renewed, youthful glow
  • Reduce the appearance of puffiness 
  • Support a refreshed, wide-eyed look
  • Visibly hydrate & firm the delicate eye area


Eye Serum Buying Guide

An eye serum should be an essential part of your skincare routine since the skin around your eye area is so thin and can show signs of aging before any other place on the body. In fact, a high-quality eye serum may be one of the most critical items you use in order to help prevent wrinkles from becoming visible too early or getting worse over time—such as fine lines, crow's feet, puffiness, under-eye bags, and drooping skin.

With a vast array of eye care products out there, it can be difficult to find the best one for your skin. And, because our eyes are more sensitive and thin-skinned than any other area on the body, they need high-quality ingredients—like those found in top-rated eye serums that penetrate deeply into the skin, supporting a visibly firmer look and smoother texture. 

We'll reveal the two most commonly used products and what to look for when choosing the best solution to help reduce puffiness around your delicate under-eye area and restore youthful radiance.

Should You Choose an Eye Serum or Eye Cream?

The differences between the two are subtle, yet significant. Eye creams are primarily moisturizing and don't always help with dark circles and fine lines.

On the other hand, eye serums often contain highly concentrated ingredients that provide a deeper level of visual enhancement (such as niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid) which help improve skin's firmness faster than an eye cream can do on its own.

Considering these factors, we recommend purchasing eye serum instead of eye cream. Here’s what to look for in an effective eye serum that produces results:

Key Ingredients to Look for & Avoid in an Eye Serum

  • Look For
  • Caffeine
  • Squalane
  • Niacinamide
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Activated Vitamin C
  • Ferulic Acid
  • Avoid
  • Synthetic Dyes or Fragrances
  • Mineral Oil
  • Parabens
  • Petroleum

Avoid Mineral Oil 

Although mineral oil does have moisturizing properties, it's actually derived from petroleum, which can clog pores and cause breakouts. Because mineral oil prevents the skin from absorbing essential nutrients, we recommend steering clear of this cheap ingredient and opt for a serum with a high-quality formula instead.

What Else To Consider Before Buying an Eye Serum

Finding an eye serum that lists all the ingredients mentioned above is important, but it’s also crucial to consider some other factors before you shop: 

Transparent List of Ingredients

Many eye serums only list a handful of their key ingredients. The ingredients on the label should match the ones on their website. If they're inconsistent, then it's likely that brand is trying to hide an ingredient they don't want you to know about.

Positive And Authentic Reviews 

Make sure to check with the ShopOwl algorithm before purchasing a product, so you can get a clear understanding of what other customers liked and didn't like about it. This will help you make a more informed purchase. 

01

a pink and white tubeEye Elixir
Sold by: Tru Alchemy1


Owned by ShopOwl's brand partners

Marketplace Rating:

Adjusted Rating:

Buy On Amazon

A+

  • Quality RankA
  • Review RankA
  • Value RankA
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank A

97/100

After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, Tru Alchemy's Eye Elixir received a high score for its quality. 

Review Rank A 

100/100

Although there are not many reviews yet, our algorithm determined that a majority of the reviews for this product are accurate. 

Value Rank A

95/100

Considering these different variables, we determined that this product has a good purchase value. 

Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:

97.3

of 100

02

bottleSqualane + Peptide Eye Gel
Sold by: Biossance

ShopOwl earns a commission when you click on the link to make a purchase

Marketplace Rating:

Adjusted Rating:

Buy On Amazon

A

  • Quality RankA
  • Review RankA
  • Value RankA-
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank A

93/100

After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel by Biossance received a high score for its quality. 

Review Rank A 

100/100

Our algorithm determined that roughly 100% of reviews were genuine. 

Value Rank A-

90/100

We've determined that this product has an A- value rank due to the slightly higher price point.  

Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:

94.3

of 100

03

bottleRetinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum
Sold by: Murad

ShopOwl earns a commission when you click on the link to make a purchase

Marketplace Rating:

Adjusted Rating:

Buy On Amazon

B+

  • Quality RankB+
  • Review RankA
  • Value RankA-
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank B+ 

85/100

After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, Murad's Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum received a B grade for its quality.

Review Rank A 

95/100

Our algorithm marked 95% of the reviews as genuine.

Value Rank B+

89/100

Considering the somewhat strong quality rank and the strong review rank, our algorithm has determined that this product has a A- value rank. 

Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:

92

of 100

04

a close-up of a tubeShaba Complex™ Eye Serum
Sold by: Drunk Elephant

ShopOwl earns a commission when you click on the link to make a purchase

Marketplace Rating:

Adjusted Rating:

Buy On Amazon

B

  • Quality RankB
  • Review RankA
  • Value RankB
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank B 

81/100

After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, Shaba Complex™ Eye Serum by Drunk Elephant received an average grade of B for its quality.

Review Rank A

100/100

Our algorithm marked 9.4% of the reviews as potentially fraudulent.

Value Rank B 

80/100

Considering the average quality rank and the mediocre review rank, our algorithm has determined that this product has a B value rank. 

Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:

87

of 100

05

a bottle of perfume with Jack Daniel's in the backgroundParsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Serum
Sold by: Aēsop

ShopOwl earns a commission when you click on the link to make a purchase

Marketplace Rating:

Adjusted Rating:

Buy On Amazon

B-

  • Quality RankA
  • Review RankB-
  • Value RankC+
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank A 

95/100

After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, Aēsop's Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Serum received a high score for its quality. 

Review Rank B-

80.4/100

Nearly 26% of the reviews on this product were flagged as being potentially fraudulent. 

Value Rank C+ 

78/100

Considering the high quality rank as well as the higher than average fraudulent reviews, our algorithm determined that this product's value score is a C+. 

Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:

84.4

of 100


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. [online] 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