The Best K-Beauty Eye Creams Are My Key to Faking 8 Hours of Sleep
They hydrate—and get rid of my dark circles.
Is it just me, or is pretty much everyone going to South Korea lately? There's great food and sightseeing, but something tells me everyone is really going for the beauty products and treatments. I've tried my fair share of Korean beauty products, and I love them so much that several of them are staples in my everyday skincare routine—including the best K-Beauty eye creams.
I've noticed some fine lines under my eyes recently, so I've been looking for eye creams that provide hydration, reduce dark circles, and plump. K-Beauty formulas have stood out to me based on their ingredient selection. "While they often contain some of the same ingredients found in traditional eye creams, Korean skincare often contains novel ingredients such as snail extract and fermented ingredients," says Caroline Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in East Greenwich, RI. They manage to be super gentle and supportive to the skin barrier while also delivering serious results, and it's safe to say I'm sold.
Ahead, the 11 best K-Beauty eye creams so good, they make me want to fly to South Korea to stock up on more.
The Best K-Beauty Eye Creams
- The Best K-Beauty Eye Cream Overall: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Eye Cream
- The Best Affordable K-Beauty Eye Cream: COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
- Best Retinol K-Beauty Eye Cream: Numbuzin No.9 NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream
- Best PDRN K-Beauty Eye Cream: Rejuran Intensive Eye Cream
- Best Retinol Alternative K-Beauty Eye Cream: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream
Sulwhasoo is one of the OG Korean skincare brands that paved the way for K-Beauty to become what it is today. A key ingredient the brand uses in its products is ginseng, which has been shown to firm, plump, and hydrate skin, so this eye cream is a must-have for serious anti-aging benefits. Recommended by Christina Chung, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in Philadelphia, PA, she calls it one of her favorite brands, noting the ginseng "technology that harnesses all the upsides of a root whose therapeutic properties span centuries," she says.
Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: Ginseng; Retinol
What I Love: Dermatologist-recommended; Contains multiple forms of ginseng for documented anti-aging benefits
What I Don't: Expensive
Review for MC: "This boosts the hydration under my eyes so much that the skin actually looks radiant just moments after application. I love how well-researched ginseng is, so I know I can trust this product to work quickly and over time. It's so luxurious and a relaxing way to end my night." — Catharine Malzahn, Contributing Beauty Writer
When a product is praised independently by multiple experts, you know it has to be good. So when both derms flagged this COSRX eye cream as one of their favorites, I paid very close attention. It is, in fact, very good. Made with snail mucin (it's even the first ingredient on the ingredient list), peptides, niacinamide, and much more, it's a multitasking powerhouse of a formula that comes in at a steal under $30. It's ideal for when you want "massive hydration and glow," says Dr. Chang.
Size: 0.85 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: Snail mucin; Peptides; Niacinamide
What I Love: Recommended by multiple experts; Well-priced; Pump bottle feels more hygienic than a jar
What I Don't: Nothing
Review for MC: "It hydrates instantly and goes on super smooth. It gives my under eyes an immediate and noticeable dewiness. The thin, slightly milky formula absorbs super quickly. It makes me look very refreshed just moments after applying." — Ann Malzahn, Tester
Ann Malzahn testing COSRX's Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream.
So, if you haven't heard, NAD+ is all the rage lately—it's popping up in skincare, supplements, and even IV drips. It's designed to boost cellular energy, and in this eye cream, that means it helps recharge the skin. The result? Smoothed lines, brightened undereyes, and an overall more lit-from-within look. NAD+ is paired with ingredients like retinol, niacinamide, and ceramides to deliver results while maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
Size: 0.33 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: NAD+; Retinol; Peptides
What I Love: Contains multiple skin-boosting ingredients; Priced under $20
What I Don't: The packaging is interesting but a little finicky
Review for MC: "Even though this eye cream is packed with ingredients, it feels super gentle on my skin with no stinging or irritation whatsoever. It absorbs super easily and has no scent at all. I love that it delivers an immediate glow and boost of moisture, but I know it's also working hard over time to help my undereyes." — Catharine Malzahn, Contributing Beauty Writer
PDRN is one of the most-talked-about skincare trends coming out of South Korea lately, and Rejuran's eye cream is full of it. Derived from salmon sperm, PDRN helps boost collagen, reduce inflammation, improve elasticity, and more, which are all pretty essential in any eye cream. The PDRN in Rejuran's cream has a small molecular size to help absorption and therefore efficacy, helping reduce frown lines, wrinkles, and crow's feet.
Size: 0.67 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: PDRN; Hyaluronic acid; Peptides
What I Love: Gentle on skin; Delivers immediate hydration to skin; Comes with a metal spatula for cleaner application and cooling benefits.
What I Don't: It absorbs more slowly than some other products tested
Review for MC: "It feels silky and smooth. I love the steel spatula because it has a cooling effect and smooths the skin while gently applying the cream. It instantly rejuvenated my eyes when I was tired." — Ann Malzahn, Tester
Ann Malzahn testing Rejuran's Intensive Eye Cream.
Anyone who wants the benefits of retinol (improved skin texture, fewer lines and wrinkles, unclogged pores) without the side effects (photosensitivity, redness, peeling) is likely familiar with bakuchiol, perhaps the most well-known retinol alternative. This cream from Haruharu Wonder is made with bakuchiol and targets fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, and delivers visible firming results, all while being gentle enough to use on sensitive skin that can't handle retinol.
Size: 0.67 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol; Cica; Fermented Black Rice Extract; Niacinamide
What I Love: Packed with powerful yet gentle skincare ingredients; Pump dispenser is easy to use
What I Don't: May be irritating to extremely sensitive skin
Review for MC: "This cream makes my undereyes feel so incredibly smooth, even after just one application. It has a really nice, refreshing scent that's subtle enough that it doesn't bother my nose at all. Plus, the pump dispenses the perfect amount of product and keeps things hygienic." — Catharine Malzahn, Contributing Beauty Writer
HERA is a popular luxury skincare line from Seoul, owned by the Korean skincare powerhouse Amorepacific. The brand offers skincare, makeup, and fragrance, and Dr. Chung considers its eye cream one of her favorites. The formula is designed specifically to firm and brighten for a more youthful appearance with the help of narcissus (yes, the flower) plant cells.
Size: 30 ml
Key Ingredients: Narcissus plant cells; Glycerin; Niacinamide
What I Love: Luxurious creamy texture; Designed to help eye skin look and feel more supple and healthy
What I Don't: Can be hard to find in the US
Review for MC: "An all around winner from the Korean brand that makes my favorite sunscreen. This one has both niacinamide, ceramides, and is full of natural, anti-inflammatory botanical ingredients." — Christina Lee Chung, MD, Dermatologist
Want to take care of all your undereye concerns in one fell swoop? A multitasking eye cream such as this one recommended by Dr. Chang will be your best friend. It's packed with retinal, fermented bean, bakuchiol, and more: they all work together to improve skin texture, support skin elasticity, boost the skin barrier, enhance radiance, and more. Remember that as a retinal-based formula, you'll want to apply this only at night and always wear sunscreen during the day.
Size: 1.01 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: Retinal; Fermented bean extract; Bakuchiol; Niacinamide
What I Love: Retinal is less irritating than retinol; Contains other active ingredients to support; Treats a wide range of undereye skin concerns
What I Don't: Some reviewers have minor irritation and itching when they use it
Review for MC: "Great combo of retinol and fermented bean along with a long list of other actives all packed into one product for fine lines. It’s a one stop shop for eye creams." — Caroline Chang, MD, Dermatologist
For anyone who prefers something lighter, reach for this Beauty of Joseon eye serum, not a cream. Though it's designed to target wrinkles, brighten the under-eye area, firm skin, and promote a more refreshed overall look, users report seeing the greatest changes in their fine lines under their eyes. This is likely thanks to the mixture of retinal, liposomes, and ginseng root extract.
Size: 1.01 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: Retinal; Liposomes: Ginseng root extract
What I Love: Super popular with customers; Has a lighter texture than eye creams but is still hydrating; A little goes a long way
What I Don't: Can cause redness on sensitive skin types
Customer Review: "Just started using this and it's only been a week but I've already noticed a difference! Lines are less noticable and I've only noticed a slight redness just at the outside corner of my right eye but that may just be temporary while getting used to a product as I've noticed that it's calmed down while still using it. I only apply at night which may be better for some instead of applying morning and night for overkill." — Sephora
Another highly praised product by customers, Innisfree's lightweight eye serum contains green tea and caffeine to boost and wake up tired under-eyes. Caffeine is well-known to de-puff and brighten skin by restricting blood vessels, so this is a game-changer if you need a little boost in the dark circle department. Niacinamide further helps brighten, too.
Size: 0.33 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: Green tea; Hyaluronic acid; Caffeine; Niacinamide
What I Love: Affordable; Metal applicator helps de-puff and cool undereyes; Wears well under makeup
What I Don't: Not strong enough to correct severe discoloration
Customer Review: "The Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum with Niacinamide is a lightweight and refreshing eye serum that works especially well for reducing morning puffiness and giving the under-eye area a more awake look. The caffeine helps de-puff quickly, while niacinamide gradually brightens dark circles with consistent use. I really liked the cooling roller applicator—it feels soothing and makes application easy. It layers well under makeup without pilling, but the hydration level is fairly light, so you might still need an eye cream if your under-eyes are dry. Overall, it’s a great everyday option for mild dark circles and puffiness, but not a miracle product for deeper discoloration." — Sephora
You may have seen this eye serum on TikTok for its cute pink color, but there's more to it than just meets the eye (I think there's a pun in there somewhere). It's made with PDRN, retinol, peptides, and niacinamide (like many of the other Korean eye creams out there). Many users comment on how hydrated their under-eyes feel, and it was also clinically tested to improve firmness in the eye area.
Size: 1.01 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: PDRN; Retinol: Peptides: Niacinamide
What I Love: Hydrating; Non-stinging
What I Don't: Some users didn't see major changes after using it
Customer Review: "This is the best eye cream. The way it has brightened and hydrated my eyes in only 2 weeks. My very fine lines have diminished and i feel like my eyes dont look as tired amd dull. I have even started using around my laugh lines and notice a difference." — Ulta
Like many Korean products out there, Sungboon Editor's eye cream relies on common go-to peptides. Still, it also includes Epidermal Growth Factor and Jericho rose botanical extract for added skin barrier-boosting effects. The silk peptides and a combination of other ingredients smooth the skin for a less puffy, more hydrated, and firmer look.
Size: 1.01 fl. oz.
Key Ingredients: Silk peptides; Epidermal Growth Factor; Jericho rose botanical extract; Niacinamide; Retinol
What I Love: Fragrance-free; Visibly smooths and de-puffs
What I Don't: Retinol may cause dry eye skin
Customer Review: "This eye cream in my opinion is a moisturizer for under your eyes. I loved how it has ingredients that helps support your skin over time, but what I mostly notice is that it made your under eyes feel much more hydrated. This cream smooths out any fine lines and helps them to look softer." — Amazon
What Should I Look For in a K-Beauty Eye Cream?
You'll want to first decide on your main concerns, then choose one that fits your needs. "They can treat a wide range of concerns from puffiness to fine lines," says Dr. Chang. Deciding on your priorities will be step one. "In terms of skincare and beauty, Koreans are laser-focused on deep hydration and brightening," says Dr. Chung. "For the eyes, Koreans also look to decrease puffiness and repair damage. Korean eye creams work well for fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet because they increase hydration and replace harsh actives such as retinol, which can often exacerbate the look of fine lines."
From there, you can keep an eye out for specific ingredients. K-Beauty eye creams "generally contain actives you will find in eye creams sold across the US and Europe, such as niacinamide, retinol, and collagen," says Dr. Chung. However, Korean eye creams use both the traditional and more innovative ingredients, "specifically snail mucin, peptides, centella asiatica, soybean derivatives that are often fermented, and ginseng," she adds. "They also tend to use next-generation retinol derivatives that are better tolerated by thin and sensitive under-eye skin."
Look for snail extract "to reduce swelling and improve hydration," says Dr. Chang. "Fermented rice extract can help improve texture and brighten. Fermented soy extract helps reduce fine lines."
These ingredients are key when shopping for your eye cream.
How Do I Use a K-Beauty Eye Cream?
As with any eye cream, gentle application and consistent use is key. Some K-Beauty eye creams come with a small spatula for application, providing a cooling or slight massaging effect and helping keep the jar sanitary. You can also apply it with your fingers, gently tapping it into your skin without rubbing too aggressively.
Remember to apply these regularly to see long-term effects. While some eye creams can be used both day and night, make sure that if you're using one during the day, it wears well under makeup (aka no pilling). Retinol formulas should be used only at night, and you must wear face SPF during the day.
How We Tested
Catharine Malzahn approached testing the best K-Beauty eye creams as a multi-step process. First, she interviewed two dermatologists to learn about their favorite products, what Korean eye creams are best at treating, and what kind of ingredients to look for. She then merged her knowledge of skincare, eye creams, and K-Beauty with the expertise of the dermatologists to decide what products were worthy of making the list. Ultimately, she tested several of her favorites, dermatologist favorites, and consumer favorites to curate the 11 best K-Beauty eye creams on the market.
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Meet the Experts
Caroline Chang, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist and nationally recognized Top Doctor. She has over a decade of experience with providing patient-centric care in both medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is the founder of the Rhode Island Dermatology Institute, the first direct care dermatology practice in Rhode Island.
Dr. Chung is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cutaneous oncology and cellular longevity. A pioneer in her field, Dr. Chung has spoken about her research throughout the United States and Europe and is internationally recognized for her discoveries. Dr. Chung is also co-founder & CEO of Hayflick Therapeutics, a new type of biotech company advancing her work as inventor and primary investigator of a patented, novel topical formulation to prevent and treat age-related changes in the skin. Her group’s publication, Topical rapamycin reduces markers of senescence and aging in human skin: an exploratory, prospective, randomized trial, was counted among Springer Nature’s top research that made an impact in 2019.
