The best Korean eye creams can combat dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness like no others. 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 that are Korean skin care signatures. 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 and talking to dermatologists, estheticians, celebrity makeup artists, and more, all of whom shared their picks. Then I tested them and tapped Glamour editors to do the same. We found that Goodal Green Tangerine Vita-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
.png)
How we tested
“Since my introduction to K-beauty brands in 2016, I’ve gravitated toward their innovative delivery systems and gentle efficacy,” says Wu. “Over the years, I’ve tested hundreds of the most popular launches, including snail mucin creams, cleansing oils, lip tints, and cushion foundations. I even spent three months in Seoul last year researching the latest emerging trends and viral Korean skin care launches. During that time, I talked to cosmetic chemists and brand founders about what makes Korean eye creams so effective. When reviewing each product, I made note of its ingredient list, which skin types it’s best for, and its key benefits. I also consulted with K-beauty experts and dermatology clinics specializing in Korean skin care to help Glamour readers make the most informed decision.”
Best Overall: Goodal Green Tangerine Vita-C Dark Circle Eye Cream
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 Vita-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 for Wrinkles: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
Ginseng is another signature ingredient of Korean skin care. “It makes a lot of sense for eye creams because its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help balance out irritation,” says Christina Chung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in Pennsylvania. Much like the ingredient itself, ginseng eye creams can range widely in price. For a more affordable option, try the best-selling 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. They’re teamed 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 my 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 for Dry Skin: Medicube Deep Reviving Peptide Eye Cream
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 mid-face 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 for Firming: Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Eye Serum
Dr. Chung calls Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Eye Serum “an HA monster.” You’ll often find hyaluronic acid (HA) 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-years-and-older 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-Based Eye Cream: Abib Collagen Eye Crème
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 undereyes 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 Eye Cream for Crepey Skin: TirTir Collagen Lifting Eye Cream
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 for Puffiness: Chasin Rabbits Bunny Line Smoother
The cooling sensation of this eye cream’s roller not only helps with blood circulation, but it also makes for an enjoyable sensory experience during your skin care routine. Sarah Chung Park, founder and CEO of Landing, a technology firm supporting beauty retailers, agrees and loves the Chasin Rabbits Bunny Line Smoother for that reason. “It’s a refreshing roller that instantly cools and smooths my undereyes, 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 undereye 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 for Dark Circles: Dominas at Clinic Arginine-E Eye Shot Serum
.png)
Glamour editors love the Dominas at Clinic Arginine-E Eye Shot Serum for its subtle brightening, depuffing effects. It’s packed with a trio of ingredients known to boost circulation and help brighten. “This eye cream is formulated to address undereye pigmentation and dullness,” says Hwang Wonuk, MD, a cosmetic physician at Cheongdam LeBelle Dermatologic Clinic in Seoul. Key ingredients include arginine-E, niacinamide, caffeine, and polydatin. According to Dr. Hwang, the combination of arginine-E and polydatin (an antioxidant) “supports circulation, helps firm the skin around the eyes, and may help inhibit melanin.” Paired with depuffing caffeine and niacinamide to “brighten hyperpigmentation and support the skin barrier,” it’s got everything you could want out of an eye cream for dark circles.
“I’d recommend this formula to younger patients whose undereye concerns are more about fatigue and mild discoloration than severe shadowing,” says Dr. Hwang. “Since the formula contains active brightening ingredients, patch-testing is prudent—especially for the delicate skin around the eyes.” Wu says it’s a great choice for sleepy mornings. “The metal tip instantly makes my eye bags look less swollen and I can see a subtle glow boost after applying,” she says. “I also love how lightweight and fast-absorbing this feels; it’s great under concealer.”
Best for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Eye Cream
.png)
.png)
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 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 Retinol-Based Eye Cream: Glow Apple Retinol Eye Cream
.png)
.png)
This retinol eye cream features a dense, balm-like texture that feels especially luxurious, especially on dry skin. Since retinol is an ingredient that should remain in your evening skin care routine, the thicker consistency of Glow’s Apple Retinol Eye Cream makes it perfect for locking in moisture while you sleep. “This gentle eye cream is designed with retinol esters, making it suitable for regular use even on delicate undereye skin,” says Dr. Hwang. “It’s also formulated with apple extract for antioxidants and hydration, shea butter to deeply moisturize and soften the undereye area, and caffeine to reduce puffiness and temporarily tighten skin.” Dr. Hwang calls it “a great all-around product for tired or aging eyes” and says the ingredients target both fine lines and dark circles. “Results are typically visible after three to four weeks of consistent application,” he says.
Wu also recommends applying it anywhere you want to help smooth lines and wrinkles. “It’s great for spot-treating lines on your neck, mid-face, and forehead,” she says. “I like to pat a little extra over my neck wrinkles in place of moisturizer.”
Best for Sensitive Skin: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream
.png)
Even those with sensitive skin can find a Korean eye cream that does more than just hydrate. Take this derm-loved Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream, one of the most affordable picks on our list. “If you have sensitive skin or cannot tolerate retinols around the eyes, this eye cream is a retinol alternative formulated with bakuchiol and niacinamide to reduce signs of aging,” says Dr. Chang. It also contains fermented black rice and ginseng, two hydrating ingredients that help it deeply nourish without feeling heavy.
Wu says she’s gone through four tubes of this formula since she first tried it. “The texture is incredibly lightweight and fast-absorbing and layers beautifully under concealer,” she says. “And because it’s formulated with bakuchiol instead of retinol, I can use it both morning and night.”
Best Peptide-Based Eye Cream: Numbuzin NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream
.png)
Peptides are a popular eye cream ingredient for firming, and this powerful formula combines them with additional collagen-boosting ingredients like retinol and NAD+. Dr. Hwang says peptides and retinol work especially well together because they enhance each other’s collagen-boosting effects. “Retinol accelerates cell turnover but without scaffolding, new collagen can be disorganized,” he says. “Peptides complement retinol by providing signaling support, essentially helping newly formed collagen lay down more coherently. This synergy can lead to smoother texture and better firmness over time.”
Dr. Hwang recommends Numbuzin’s NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream to patients “in their 30s and above who are already tolerating actives well,” or anyone who wants to treat fine lines and mild laxity. “Because the formula is more potent, I recommend starting with a conservative frequency (e.g., two to three times per week) and gradually building up,” he says.
Wu gives bonus points for the packaging. “The syringe-style tube actually does help control the amount of product you get. While it can’t replicate the results of injectables, I was still very impressed by the noticeable firming and smoothing effects, especially with regular use. It has a rich texture that feels amazing on my combination-dry skin, but if you have oily skin, this may be a touch heavy for you.”
Best for Plumping: Belif Aqua Bomb Lifting Eye Gel
.png)
This plumping, firming eye gel excels at refreshing puffy undereyes and smoothing crow’s feet. “I love the instant cooling effect you get when applying this eye gel,” says Dr. Chang. “It also absorbs into the skin well.” The formula contains a mix of wrinkle-targeting ingredients like retinol, bakuchiol, and copper peptide, along with collagen to hydrate. The cooling ceramic tip adds to the refreshing effect; Dr. Chang says it helps “drain away swelling.”
Wu loves the way this lightweight gel delivers an instant bouncy, blurred finish and cooling eye care in one. “It’s temporary, but it has an optical blurring effect that makes my undereyes look immediately smoother and firmer,” she says. “I give myself a little massage with this before bed, and it feels heavenly.”
Best for Evening: Laneige Bouncy & Firm Eye Sleeping Mask
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 Dr. Chung, 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 for Fine Lines: CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
Snail mucin is one of K-beauty’s most popular ingredients, showing up quite frequently in 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.” However, she says 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. Charlotte Cho, a licensed esthetician in New York City and cofounder of Then I Met You and Soko Glam, 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 undereyes and on my eyelids.”
Frequently asked questions
Why is Korean eye cream for dark circles effective?
Korean eye creams for dark circles contain specific ingredients that help brighten and reduce swelling. “For dark circles, common ingredients include niacinamide and licorice root extract, which are antioxidants that have been shown to brighten the skin,” says Dr. Chung. 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. Try the Goodal Green Tangerine Vita-C Dark Circle Eye Cream and Dominas at Clinic Arginine-E Eye Shot Serum if you’re looking for a formula tailored to dark circles.
What are the top-rated Korean eye creams for antiaging?
Dermatologists recommend looking for 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.” Our favorite antiaging formulas include the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum, TirTir Collagen Lifting Eye Cream, Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Eye Cream, and Numbuzin NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream.
Which Korean eye cream is best for puffiness and wrinkles?
To target puffiness and wrinkles, you want to look for a combination of firming and smoothing ingredients, like peptides, retinol, and bakuchiol. Our best eye cream picks for puffiness and wrinkles include Chasin Rabbits Bunny Line Smoother, CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream, Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream, and Glow Apple Retinol 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 business platform bringing K-beauty brands to the US
- Winnie Zhong, founder of the viral New York City-based Asian beauty retailer Senti Senti
.jpg)
.jpg)
