The best Korean eye creams can combat dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness like no other. While they contain many of the same formulas you’ll see in the rest of your products (retinol, caffeine, and hyaluronic acid), they’re often blended with ingredients signature to Korean skin care. Two classic examples are ginseng (an anti-inflammatory that can plump fine lines) and snail mucin (for hydration and antiaging).
To find the very best options, I spent three months in Seoul learning about the latest innovations, talking to dermatologists, estheticians, celebrity makeup artists, and more, who shared their picks. Then I tested them and tapped Glamour editors to do the same. We found that Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Circle Eye Cream worked best for making dark circles look less prominent, for example. Below are the rest of the standouts worth adding to your cart, whether you’re looking for a firming overnight treatment or a refreshing a.m. eye serum to add to your skin care routine.
The best Korean eye creams, at a glance
- Best Overall: Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Circle Eye Cream, $14
- Best for Fine Lines: CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream, $20
- Best for Dark Circles: Belif Aqua Bomb Depuffing Eye Gel, $19
- Best for Wrinkles: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal, $16
- Best for Puffiness: Chasin Rabbits Bunny Line Smoother, $24
- Best for Mature Skin: TirTir Collagen Lifting Eye Cream, $21
What to look for in a Korean eye cream
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Whether or not you’re shopping for Korean beauty brands, the right eye cream depends on your skin type and specific skin needs. “For dark circles, common ingredients include niacinamide and licorice root extract, which are antioxidants that have been shown to brighten the skin,” says Christina Chung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in Pennsylvania. Effective depuffing ingredients include “caffeine to reduce swelling by constricting blood vessels and reducing excess fluid” as well as “anti-inflammatory ingredients like green tea extract and Cica (Centella asiatica) to reduce inflammation,” she says.
If you’re looking for an antiaging Korean eye cream, try ingredients known to target lines and wrinkles, such as peptides, snail mucin, retinol, bakuchiol, and ginseng, says Dr. Chung. “Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, snail mucin, peptides, and squalane help hydrate the thin eyelid skin and reduce the appearance of lines, while ingredients like bakuchiol, retinol, and ginseng can help stimulate collagen to prevent fine lines.” Just keep in mind that the skin around your eyes is very delicate so you should pat very gently when applying creams.
Best Korean Eye Cream Overall: Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Circle Eye Cream
Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Circle Eye Cream
Amazon
- Fast facts: Lightweight yet hydrating; recommended for all skin types (including sensitive skin); subtle brightening effect; layers well under concealer
- Key ingredients: Organic green tangerine extract, niacinamide, adenosine, vitamin C peptide
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Let’s get one thing straight: Don’t expect even the best brightening eye cream to do the camouflaging of an undereye concealer. But if the delicate skin around your eyes could use a subtle glow boost, try the Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Circle Eye Cream. Glamour editors and dermatologists love vitamin C as a key ingredient for brightening, plumping, and protecting skin. This eye cream gets its vitamin C boost from green tangerines, a fruit that’s naturally rich in the antioxidant. It’s paired with niacinamide, another popular ingredient for brightening and helping smooth skin texture and fine lines.
“I always reach for this formula after a late night,” says Glamour contributor Sarah Y. Wu. “I love the lightweight texture that glides on and sinks right in, and it creates a beautiful smooth base for my makeup. It also makes my skin look slightly dewier and glowier, which in turn makes my concealer look extra dewy and glowy—always the effect I’m after.”
Best Korean Eye Cream for Wrinkles: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
Amazon
YesStyle
- Fast facts: Affordable ginseng eye cream; silky, nongreasy texture; dermatologist-recommended ingredients for antiaging; long-lasting hydration
- Key ingredients: Panax ginseng root extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, retinal
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Ginseng is another signature ingredient of Korean skin care. “It makes a lot of sense for eye creams because it’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help balance out irritation,” says Dr. Chung. Much like the ingredient itself, ginseng eye creams can range widely in price. For a more affordable option, try Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum, which Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City, says is one of her favorite antiaging Korean eye creams. “It contains a powerful combination of two antiaging ingredients, retinal and ginseng, which both fight signs of aging and help stimulate collagen,” she says. It’s paired with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid “to help brighten and hydrate the skin, respectively.” Beyond the ingredients list, she also loves the “silky and nongreasy texture,” which “applies nicely and keeps skin feeling moisturized for many hours after I apply it.”
Wu also regularly uses this ginseng-infused eye serum. “It feels very rich and nourishing without being greasy or causing milia around my eyes,” she says. “I first heard about Beauty of Joseon because of its TikTok-viral Korean sunscreen, but this is one of the line’s sleeper hits. I only need a little bit to make my undereyes feel hydrated and smooth, and I love how it just melts into my skin.”
Best Korean Eye Cream for Dry Skin: Medicube Deep Reviving Peptide Eye Cream
Medicube Deep Reviving Peptide Eye Cream
Amazon
YesStyle
- Fast facts: Intensely moisturizing; lightweight; contains hydrating and firming ingredients to target fine lines
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptide complex, niacinamide, squalane
- Fragrance-free: No
If you have dry skin, try the intensely moisturizing Medicube Deep Reviving Peptide Eye Cream, which feels more nourishing than most of the other Korean eye creams we tested. It’s made with hyaluronic acid to target dryness along with a blend of peptides, an ingredient Dr. Chang says helps target fine lines.
Wu says this is the eye cream she uses most in cold weather, when her skin tends to dry out. “I have combination skin, but my midface gets dry and irritated,” she says. “I actually love taking this down past my undereyes and tapping a little on top of my cheeks too. The hydration lasts and lasts without getting greasy or clogging my pores. It also makes my skin feel so smooth. I’m impressed that the formula still feels relatively lightweight despite how moisturizing it is. Also—you only need the tiniest amount, so one tube will last you forever.”
Best Korean Eye Cream for Evening: Laneige Bouncy + Firm Eye Sleeping Mask
Laneige Bouncy & Firm Eye Sleeping Mask
Amazon
Sephora
- Fast facts: Best for overnight use; thicker texture; hydrating and firming; recommended by dermatologists for reducing puffiness
- Key ingredients: Caffeine, niacinamide, peony extract, peptides
- Fragrance-free: Yes
You’ve probably heard of Laneige’s TikTok-viral, celebrity-loved Lip Sleeping Mask, a Glamour-editor favorite. The Laneige Bouncy Firm Eye Sleeping Mask applies the same concept of a concentrated overnight treatment—but one that’s made for your undereyes. According to Christina Chung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in Pennsylvania, it’s a “great nighttime option for those who have a tendency to wake up with puffy eyes.”
Wu, who says she often wakes up with puffy eyes after late nights, agrees. “This eye sleeping mask has such an interesting texture,” she says. “It feels like a cushiony whipped gel that cocoons my undereyes in moisture. It’s meant to be worn at night, and I do find it a little heavy for daytime. I’ve noticed that when I apply this before bed, my undereyes don’t look as tired in the morning. It’s got a lot of brightening, hydrating, and firming ingredients that dermatologists like to recommend for eye treatments. I usually slap on some undereye patches before bed if I’m up late working on deadlines, but this is a much more convenient way to get a similar effect.”
Best Korean Eye Cream for Firming: Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Eye Serum
Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Eye Serum
Amazon
Soko Glam
- Fast facts: Triple rollerball applicator; recommended for visible plumping effect; watery serum texture; lightweight hydration
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, sugarcane extract, Centella asiatica
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Dr. Chung calls Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Eye Serum “an HA (hyaluronic acid) monster.” You’ll often find this ingredient in eye creams because it’s “fabulous for keeping the thin skin around the eyes hydrated,” she says. Try this eye serum if you want to target fine lines or wrinkles around your eyes. While it won’t erase them entirely, the extra moisture will help them look smoother. “It’s great for plumping the appearance of fine lines, especially in the 35+-year-old crew who are just starting to notice age-related changes around the eyes,” she says.
Wu’s favorite feature of this eye serum is the applicator. “I was surprised when I uncapped this for the first time,” she says. “Instead of a single rollerball, it has three tiny ones, which helps disperse the cooling effect when I apply this. I squeeze the tube to get a little bit of serum out and then gently swipe it back and forth across my undereyes. I tend to love any type of massage applicator for morning because that’s when I need the depuffing benefits most.” As for the formula, she confirms it’s as hydrating as Dr. Chung says. “The texture itself is very watery,” she says. “It makes my undereyes feel instantly plumped and hydrated, and the effect lasts all day.”
Best Collagen Korean Eye Cream: Abib Collagen Eye Crème
Abib Collagen Eye Crème
Amazon
- Fast facts: Creamy texture that doesn’t feel greasy; intensely moisturizing; subtle smoothing and plumping effect
- Key ingredients: Niacinamide, bakuchiol, peptides, ceramide NP, caffeine, hyaluronic acid, rose of Jericho, collagen extract
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Collagen is one of K-beauty’s most popular moisturizing ingredients, and the Abib Collagen Eye Crème packs on all the long-lasting hydration you could want. Along with plant-derived collagen extract, it’s formulated with plenty of dermatologist-recommended ingredients for undereyes, such as niacinamide, bakuchiol, peptides, and caffeine. The creamy texture and intense nourishing effect help immediately make your under eyes look smoother and firmer.
“This eye cream is just incredibly luxurious, without the luxury price tag,” says Wu. “The texture is on the thicker side, but it’s not greasy and doesn’t cause any irritation or milia around my eyes. I love how hydrating the formula is, and the ingredients really help my eye area feel bouncier and smoother as soon as I apply.”
Best Korean Eye Cream for Mature Skin: TirTir Collagen Lifting Eye Cream
TirTir Collagen Lifting Eye Cream
Amazon
- Fast facts: Recommended for targeting signs of aging; cooling massage roller; instant depuffing effect
- Key ingredients: Niacinamide, avocado oil, hibiscus extract, plant-based collagen, peptides, adenosine
- Fragrance-free: No
TirTir Collagen Lifting Eye Cream pairs hydrating, firming, and smoothing ingredients with a cooling metal roller that instantly helps take down your morning puffiness. While all skin types can get in on this formula, it’s particularly great for mature skin and for targeting the signs of aging like fine lines and crepiness. Along with popular hydrating ingredients like avocado oil and plant-based collagen, it also contains peptides to help firm and niacinamide to help smooth and keep your skin supple.
“I always enjoy an eye cream with a built-in massager,” says Wu. “This formula makes my undereyes feel firmer and look more refreshed, and I love that the ingredients list features dermatologist favorites like peptides. The texture is both lightweight and nourishing, so I can easily use this in both my morning and evening skin care routines.”
Best Korean Eye Cream for Puffiness: Chasin Rabbits Bunny Line Smoother
- Curtesy of brand
- Oiginal photo from Audrey Noble testing Chasin Rabbits Bunny Line Smoother
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Chasin Rabbits Bunny Line Smoother
Soko Glam
- Fast facts: Lightweight; firms and brightens skin; easy cooling application
- Key ingredients: Probiotics, Matcha
- Fragrance-free: Yes
The cooling sensation of this eye cream roller not only helps with blood circulation, but it also makes for an enjoyable sensory experience during your skincare routine. Sarah Chung Park, founder and CEO of Landing, agrees and loves the Chasin Rabbits Bunny Line Smoother for that reason. “It’s a refreshing roller that instantly cools and smooths my undereyes, [making it] perfect for mornings when I wake up puffy,” says Park. You’ll find a lightweight formula made with probiotics, matcha, and Plukenetia Volubilis seed oil, a cold-pressed oil from a vine plant found in the Amazon rainforest, to reduce the appearance of those under eye bags.
Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle is also a fan. “I wake up with very puffy eyes and I love the cooling sensation of this eye cream roller. I also like that it’s so lightweight. In the past I’ve been plagued with milia from using heavy eye creams but I don’t have to worry about that with this one. I actually use it in the evenings and mornings.”
Best Korean Eye Cream for Dark Circles: Belif Aqua Bomb Eye Gel
Belif Aqua Bomb Eye Gel
Amazon
Sephora
- Fast facts: Cooling ceramic tip; instantly helps reduce swelling; lightweight clear gel; brightening and hydrating ingredients
- Key ingredients: Caffeine, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, adenosine, collagen
- Fragrance-free: No
Glamour editors chose Belif’s The True Cream Aqua Bomb as one of the best Korean moisturizers, and the Belif Aqua Bomb Eye Gel is just as good. It’s also a dermatologist pick for its instant depuffing effects. “I love the instant cooling effect you get when applying this eye gel,” says Dr. Chang. “It also absorbs into the skin well so that makeup can be applied smoothly after, without any pilling.” The formula contains caffeine, which Dr. Chang says “reduces swelling around the eyelids,” along with niacinamide and vitamin C “to brighten dark circles” and hyaluronic acid “to improve hydration.” Part of the depuffing effect comes from the cooling ceramic tip, which she advises using “to massage the eye area and help drain away swelling.”
Wu has used this eye gel since it launched and still keeps it in her regular rotation for combatting dark circles. “I give myself a little massage with this every morning, and it feels heavenly. Combined with a giant iced coffee and a layer of concealer, it actually makes me look and feel like I got a solid night’s sleep,” says Wu.
Best Korean Eye Cream for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Eye Cream
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Eye Cream
Amazon
- Fast facts: Lightweight; rich in ginseng; brightens eyes
- Key ingredients: Ginseng peptides, flower extract, and retinol
- Fragrance-free: No
The hero ingredient in this Sulwhasoo eye cream is ginseng, which firms the skin to smooth out fine lines and help boost your skin’s natural radiance. As an added bonus, it’s super lightweight and blends so smoothly into the skin for easy application. In terms of cost per use, Glamour contributor Audrey Noble says it’s an investment that pays back in dividends—skin wise of course. “Can a $120 eye cream live up to its hype (a.k.a. steep asking price)? In the case of the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Eye Cream, absolutely,” she says.
Best Korean Eye Cream for Dry Eyes: Mixsoon Bean Eye Cream
Mixsoon Bean Eye Cream
Amazon
- Fast facts: Gentle enough for the most sensitive skin;
- Key ingredients: Soybean Amino Acids, Hibiscus Syriacus Callus Extract
- Fragrance-free: No
Another pick from Park, the Mixsoon Bean Eye Cream is ideal for those with dry skin. “It’s lightweight yet deeply hydrating; a perfect daily eye cream that layers well under makeup and brightens [skin] over time,” she says. It uses soybean amino acids, hibiscus syriacus callus extract, and phytoestrogen to improve uneven texture and your skin’s elasticity to smooth over those fine lines. As an added bonus, she says it’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin to use.
Best Korean Eye Cream for Fine Lines: CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
CosRx Snail Peptide Eye Cream
Amazon
- Fast facts: Recommended for sensitive skin; lightweight hydration; subtle brightening; has a temporary smoothing effect on fine lines
- Key ingredients: Snail secretion filtrate, peptides
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Snail mucin is one of K-beauty’s most popular ingredients, and you can find it in Korean eye cream. Dr. Chang says “snail mucin contains a complex mix of glycoproteins, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, copper peptides, and antimicrobial peptides,” and the “potential benefits” include “improved hydration, brightening, soothing, and antiaging.” Although she adds that “unfortunately, large, randomized, controlled trials that specifically evaluate impact of snail mucin on human skin are lacking.” Still, CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream remains one of her personal favorite formulas. (The brand also makes one of the most popular Korean toners.) “It has 72% snail mucin to hydrate, soothe, and brighten the skin,” she says. “It’s also formulated with my favorite brightening ingredient, niacinamide, as well as five types of peptides to increase collagen production.”
Dr. Chang also recommends this eye cream if you have sensitive skin. “It’s very lightweight and has no fragrance,” she says. Cho swears by this formula for “gently filling in fine lines when my undereye area is dry, irritated, and crepey.” Like Dr. Chang, she notes that the formula “does not irritate,” so she applies it “all over my undereye and on my eyelids.”
Best Retinol Alternative Korean Eye Cream: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio Cica Bakuchiol
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio Cica Bakuchiol
Amazon
- Fast facts: Calms irritation; boosts collagen production; smooths fine lines; hydrates
- Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, collagen, and hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free: No
Though it comes with loads of benefits, the sad truth about retinol is that it can be harsh on the skin. That’s where bakuchiol comes in. The retinol alternative gives the same exfoliating and smoothing benefits sans the irritation. Dr. Chung adds that the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio Cica Bakuchiol eye cream also has hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help skin retain moisture.
Best Korean Eye Cream for Skin Barrier: Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream
Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream
Amazon
- Fast facts: Smooths fine lines and wrinkles; boosts moisture; strengthens skin barrier
- Key ingredients: Snail mucin, niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Vivian Chin, MD, MPH, cosmetic physician and founder of Koru Wellness & Aesthetics NYC, explains that Korean skincare’s snail mucin formulations can reach high concentrations compared to their western products, making them more effective.“It’s really the precise formulation methods and concentration balances that set them apart,” says Dr. Chin. Her pick is the Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream, which contains 80% snail mucin, niacinamide, squalane and hyaluronic acid to maintain skin health and tackle the most pressing anti-aging concerns such as fine lines and dark circles.
Best Korean Eye Cream for Plumping: Swanicoco Fermentation Peptide Eye Cream
Swanicoco Fermentation Peptide Eye Cream
Amazon
Senti Senti
- Fast facts: Epidermis growth factors are proteins that help stimulate collagen and firm the skin, making them an essential ingredient in eye creams.
- Key ingredients: Peptides, Wild Ginseng Root, Epidermis Growth Factor, Glycerin
- Fragrance-free: No
A personal favorite pick from Winnie Zhong, founder of the viral New York City-based Asian beauty store Senti Senti, the Swanicoco Fermentation Peptide Cream does a lot to help your eyes look brighter and more awake. It is packed with fermented peptides and epidermis growth factors to lift any sagging skin and strengthen the skin barrier. It’s also made with wild ginseng root to brighten those dark spots and glycerin to provide any needed hydration. Zhong’s pro-tip on finding the right Korean eye cream: find one you’ll actually use. “Wear one that you like in terms of texture,” she says. “And then focus on the functionality of the eye cream.”
Meet the experts
- Y. Claire Chang, MD, board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City
- Christina Chung, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in Pennsylvania
- Charlotte Cho, licensed esthetician in New York City and cofounder of Then I Met You skin care brand and Soko Glam online beauty retailer
- Fiona Stiles, celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles and founder of Reed Clarke online beauty retailer
- Vivian Chin, MD, MPH, cosmetic physician and founder of Koru Wellness & Aesthetics NYC
- Sarah Chung Park, founder and CEO of Landing International, a B2B platform bringing K-beauty brands to the US
- Winnie Zhong, founder of the viral New York City-based Asian beauty store Senti Senti
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