These Peptide Eye Creams Are the Secret to Smoother Under Eyes
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By now, you probably know that the skin around our eyes is especially thin compared to that of the rest of our bodies. To make matters worse, our skin actually gets even thinner and loses collagen and elastin with age. That’s why fine lines and wrinkles often start rearing their heads in our eye areas before anywhere else. However, there’s a simple solution: eye creams. “Full confession: I used to not use a specific eye cream, but as I aged, many of the moisturizers and anti-aging ingredients were either not effective or were causing me irritation,” says Dr. Rosalyn George, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Wilmington Dermatology Center in Wilmington, North Carolina. “Eye creams are specifically formulated for that sensitive skin around the eye, so it is important to pick a high quality eye cream.” And peptide eye creams in particular are specially designed to slow down that collagen loss and halt skin laxity in its tracks.
If you don’t exactly remember what peptides are from your high school biology course, we got you. “Peptides are building blocks of proteins, and collagen and elastin are two structural proteins in the dermis that provide rigidity and structure to the skin,” says Dr. Brendan Camp, an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at Cornell University. “As we age, collagen and elastin production slows and degradation from environmental influences, like UV radiation, increases.” Applying peptides topically has been seen to “encourage the body to produce more proteins, like collagen and elastin,” he explains.
Now, if you need some guidance on picking the absolute best one for you, we’re here to help. We did all of your homework, consulting experts and reading through countless customer reviews. Here’s our list of the 10 best peptide eye creams that’ll help you achieve smoother, more youthful-looking under eyes.
Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster
If you’re still not fully committed to bringing a separate eye cream into your routine, applying this serum all over, including your eye area, is a great start. It’s also perfect for anyone who prefers lighter textures. But don’t be fooled—it still provides plenty of hydration and nutrients in addition to six different types of firming and smoothing peptides.
Key ingredients: Peptides, amino acids, hyaluronic acid
Size: 0.67 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “As someone with skin that feels drier and drier with each passing year, I love skin care products that instantly quench my skin’s thirst—and this is one of them. Although it’s super lightweight and absorbs in an instant, it leaves my skin plump and smooth with an extra dose of hydration to boot. Plus everything looks visibly smoother, and even my makeup lies beautifully on top.”—Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer
Snail Peptide Eye Cream
Snail mucin is renowned for its healing and moisturizing abilities, and it’s a star ingredient in this formula. The eye cream is also packed with peptides, and it’s thin enough that you can spread it onto any other areas of concern, like your smile lines, neck, and forehead.
Key ingredients: Snail mucin, niacinamide, peptides, adenosine
Size: 0.84 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “This is an excellent eye cream—lightweight, creamy, and spreads easily. A little goes a long way. Use it every night, and it will soften fine lines and wrinkles. Wearing it overnight works best! No scent and absorbed into my skin quickly!”
A.G.E. Advanced Eye
Skinceuticals produces winner after winner, and this eye cream is no exception. The peptides inside mimic the those within the skin to keep the eye area plump and smooth. In true Skinceuticals fashion, it also offers a host of other benefits, like fighting dark circles and reducing puffiness.
Key ingredients: ProxylaneTM, wild fruit flavonoid blend, peptides, caffeine
Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Dermstore rating: 4.8/5 stars
A Dermstore reviewer says: “I have really bad crows feet on my undereyes, and nothing seemed to work. I tried this for seven days every morning and night, and for the first time in years, I don’t need to cake on concealer! Thank you so much! I have confidence I haven’t felt in a long time.”
Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
Rich eye creams aren’t for everyone, and that’s where this eye serum comes in. It contains all those anti-puffiness, anti-darkness, and anti-fine line ingredients like peptides and niacinamide without that heavy feeling.
Key ingredients: Palmitoyl tripeptide-38, glucosides, niacinamide, ash bark extract
Size: 0.5 oz.
Sephora rating: 4.3/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “Great serum that absorbs quickly and actually works. I have noticed less puffiness, and lines appear softer after using. A little goes a long way and has lasted me a long time. One drop per eye was enough for me. Dropping it on my finger helped with placement and less waste.”
Intensive Eye Renewal Cream
This rich eye cream from celebrated esthetician Shani Darden has it all: peptides to firm, silk tree extract to lift and brighten, and ceramides to support the skin barrier. Your eyelids and under-eye area will thank you.
Key ingredients: Peptides, silk tree extract, squalane, niacinamide, and ceramides
Size: 0.5 oz
Sephora rating: 4.2/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “My eyes are super dry and super prone to milia, and this makes my skin look so juicy and smooth.”
Marine Flower Peptide Eye Cream
If you're on the hunt for a good collagen-boosting product, look no further than this Eminence eye cream is. Minerals, amino acids, and more work together in this formula to encourage collagen production, reducing the look of unwanted wrinkles and fine lines.
Key ingredients: Minerals, amino acids, peptides, red algae extract
Size: 1.05 fl. oz.
Dermstore rating: 4.4/5 stars
A Dermstore reviewer says: “This is a rebuy for me on this product. It was recommended to me by my esthetician. I love the consistency, and a little goes a LONG way, making it easier to justify the cost.”
Deep Reviving Peptide Eye Cream
Medicube does its homework—six clinical trials have confirmed that not only does this eye cream do its job, but it’s also non-irritating. Dry under eyes will drink the formula up, and puffiness and fine lines are no match for its powerful peptide complex.
Key ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, and squalane
Size: 1.01 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have super dry and sensitive skin, and this feels wonderful. It immediately smoothed out the area under my eyes and helped to fill in the wrinkles. This is a silicone-based cream, but that works really well for my skin. There are so many wonderful ingredients in this, and it feels super rich and soothing. It made a huge difference in how my makeup looks in that area.”
The Return Eye Concentrate
A single layer of this formula is enough to plump, hydrate, and lift the skin around your eyes; its ingredients, including diamond powder, imbue the area with a subtle glow. If you feel like you look tired all the time, this is one to try.
Key ingredients: Diamond powder, marine plankton extract, hyaluronic acid
Size: o.5 fl. oz.
U Beauty rating: 5/5 stars
A U Beauty reviewer says: “I was experiencing dryness, lines, and loss of collagen under my eyes. I didn’t want to get fillers, so I have been trying to find something to give me similar results. A lot of people will tell you eye creams can only do so much, which is true, but THIS ONE has definitely surpassed ALL eye creams. I noticed a difference right away. Within days, my under eyes looked more hydrated, the lines have decreased, and most importantly, it looks fuller again.”
Argan & Peptide Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream
Can you say flower power? As this eye cream sinks into your skin, daisy flower extract brightens your dark circles, and stem cells from argan and edelweiss plants tighten and firm for a smoother appearance.
Key ingredients:
Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Dermstore rating: 3.3/5 stars
A Dermstore reviewer says: “I have tried many different types of eye creams over the years, and this is hands down the best one I have used to date. The cream itself is lightweight and silky without leaving any shine or a heavy feeling. After using it for only a week or so, I saw a big difference in the lines around my eyes. I have been using it now for approximately three months, and I'm still amazed with how well it works!”
Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel
This peptide eye cream comes in a bottle with a pump, so you don’t have to worry about contamination from dipping your fingers into an open jar. The formula is lightweight and absorbs quickly—no sticky residue here!
Key ingredients: Swiss apple stem cell extract, eyeseryl, argireline, squalane
Size: 0.5 oz.
Biossance rating: 4.3/5 stars
A Biossance reviewer says: “One of my favorite daytime eye gels. Reduces puffiness, never greasy, and I think it’s helping dark circles as well.”
Meet the Experts
Dr. Rosalyn George is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Wilmington Dermatology Center in Wilmington, NC.
Dr. Brendan Camp is an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at Cornell University.
What are peptides, and why are they suddenly becoming so popular?
As we explained above, you can basically think of peptides as the “building blocks” of proteins. “Peptides are small fragments of proteins made up of amino acids. They are shown to potentially have antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and even antimicrobial activity,” says Dr. George. “I believe that peptides are extremely popular because of the potential to improve multiple aspects of the aging process and skin health in general. They are also very safe and hypo-allergenic, plus there are many different sources, which makes it easier to source,” she adds.
However, she does like to remind her patients that no ingredient, treatment, or product can be a magical solution for any skin concern, so keep that in mind. “In general, I always like people to know that most skin care products may make a 10-20% improvement in their skin,” she says.”
Why are peptides beneficial in an eye cream?
According to Dr. Camp, “Eyelid skin is susceptible to changes related to aging and sun damage, such as laxity, discoloration, and wrinkles. Peptides may help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, improve collagen production, and treat crepey skin.” In other words, they’re definitely an ingredient to consider adding to any anti-aging regimen.
Are there any ingredients peptides shouldn’t be mixed with?
Although most ingredients should be fine to layer with peptides, both dermatologists agreed that products with alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids should be avoided. “I have patients avoid acids like glycolic and salicylic since that may break down the peptides,” says Dr. George.
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 dermatologists about the best eye creams. Lee also searched the internet for the top-rated peptide eye creams, perused reviews for dozens of popular options, and evaluated each on their features and customer reviews.
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