Tired-looking puffy eyes are no fun. From long hours at work, staring at our screens, and bingeing our favorite Netflix shows instead of sleeping, our eyes can go from looking awake and refreshed to zombie-like and red - real fast. 

That's where eye serum comes in. Eye serums are made with potent, micro-sized molecules and active ingredients that can penetrate the problem-prone under-eye area better than your traditional eye cream ever could.

From kicking dark circles to the curb to finding the most efficient or cost-effective products, here are the top 5 eye serums to add to your skincare routine in 2022. 

 

1. Best Brightening: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Triple Correction Eye Serum

Retinol, bakuchiol, rambutan, and ferulic acid work hard to visibly lift, smooth, brighten, and hydrate the eye area. This eye serum is safe for eyelids and 360° application, meaning you can use it above and below the eyes.

This eye serum is formulated with a cocktail of retinol and soothing botanicals to make eyes appear younger-looking and more refreshed.

Active Ingredients: Ferulic acid, licorice root extract, retinol, rambutan | Good For: Wrinkles, uneven texture, dryness, dark circles | Cruelty-Free: Yes

 

2. Best Anti-Aging: Murad Youth Retinol Renewal Eye Serum

Murad is one of those tried-and-true beauty brands you can always count on. If you have crow's feet, fine lines, and deeper wrinkles, this is the eye serum for you.

Thanks to anti-aging retinol, Swertia flower extract, and marine kelp complex, the Murad Youth Retinol Eye Serum gives the eyes a firmer and lifted look. You should notice visibly smoother and more hydrated skin in as little as four weeks.

Active Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Good For: Fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, loss of firmness and elasticity | Cruelty-Free: Yes

 

3. Best Depuffing: Charlotte Tilbury Cryo-Recovery Depuffing Eye Serum

If there's one ingredient that belongs on the eyes, it's caffeine. If puffy eyes are bringing you down, try a caffeine-infused serum, like Charlotte Tilbury's Cryo-Recovery to target under-eye puffiness and dark circles.

Caffeine and Swiss Ice Wine Essence work overtime to visibly refresh and de-puff tired-looking eyes.

Active Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Good For: Anti-aging, smoothing, hydrating, dark circles | Cruelty-Free: Yes

 

4. Best Bang For Your Buck: The Ordinary Caffeine 5% + ECGC Depuffing Eye Serum

The Ordinary was one of the top trending beauty brands in 2021 - and for a good reason. The Ordinary is known for stripping back unnecessary packaging and misleading ingredients, making their high-performance clinical formulations shockingly cheap.

This $7 serum uses caffeine to de-puff, hyaluronic acid to hydrate the eye area, and EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) to minimize the look of dark circles.

Active Ingredients: Epigallocatechin gallate, caffeine, hyaluronic acid | Good For:
Dark circles, de-puffing | Cruelty-Free: Yes

 

5. Best All-Around: Emma Hardie Midas Touch Revitalising Eye Serum

This eye serum was one of the most-loved in 2021. The milky, rich texture resembles a cream but doesn't have a greasy finish. Oil and plant-based ingredients like hyaluronic acid and raspberry seed oil target common eye issues like dark circles, dry skin, fine lines, puffiness, loss of firmness - basically every eye concern!

Active Ingredients: Omega-3 fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, Inca inchi oil |Good For: Lifting, tightening, dryness, dark circles, cellular renewal | Cruelty-Free: Yes

How to Boost Your Eye Looks

 

The right skincare is just half the battle. Include eyelash and eyebrow serums in your 2022 skincare regimen. Give your eyes a more refreshed look with longer-looking lashes and full brows.

LiLash Purified Eyelash Serum helps prevent lashes from looking sparse, short, and thin, while LiBrow Purified Eyebrow Serum helps reverse the damage of over-plucking, so brows appear fuller, healthier, and rich.