As far as dark circles and under-eye puffiness are concerned, there aren't many formulas that can beat the best Korean eye creams. While they contain many of the same ingredients you’ll see in other best eye creams (read: retinol, caffeine, and hyaluronic acid), they’re often blended with ingredients that are signatures of the best Korean skincare. Two classic examples are ginseng (an anti-inflammatory component that can also plump up fine lines) and snail mucin (for hydration and youth-boosting properties).
These gentle yet effective formulations are perfect for the delicate skin that surrounds our eyes, delivering maximum hydration without feeling too greasy. Plus, similar to most K-beauty formulas, Korean eye creams are known for their soothing and non-irritable nature. Not to mention the innovative packaging that often features cooling metal balls or massaging applicators.
To help you find the very best Korean eye creams worth adding to your skincare routine, we've asked dermatologists, aestheticians, celebrity makeup artists and GLAMOUR editors to share their top picks and then tested them ourselves. Below are the standouts worth adding to your cart, whether you’re looking for a firming overnight treatment or a refreshing morning eye serum.
SKIP TO: What to look for in a Korean eye Cream | Best Korean face masks | Best Korean moisturisers.
Meet the experts:
- Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm.
- Christina Chung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology.
- Charlotte Cho, a licensed aesthetician and cofounder of Then I Met You skincare brand and Soko Glam online beauty retailer.
- Fiona Stiles, a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles and founder of Reed Clarke.
1. Best Korean Eye Cream for Dark Circles: Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream
- Key ingredients: Liquorice water, liquorice extract, glutathione, blueberry fruit extract, bifida ferment extract, caffeine.
- Fragrance-free: Yes.
- Fast facts: Lightweight yet hydrating; recommended for all skin types (including sensitive skin); subtle brightening effect.
Why we love it: If you’re looking for an eye cream for dark circles, try Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream. While even the most brightening eye creams can’t do the camouflaging of an under-eye concealer, this one can give it a subtle glowy boost. “Liquorice is my favourite natural brightener, so it’s a no-brainer to reach for it when I haven’t had enough sleep and I’m trying to brighten my under-eye area,” says Charlotte Cho, licensed aesthetician and cofounder of beauty brands Then I Met You and Soko Glam, who swears by the comfortable texture and brightening formula. You’ll also find both liquorice water and liquorice extract in the ingredients list, along with caffeine, a popular eye cream ingredient that studies have shown helps brighten and de-puff. “I love the light yet creamy texture,” she says. “It absorbs quickly and is extremely hydrating.”
2. Best Korean Eye Cream for Fine Lines: CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
- Key ingredients: Snail secretion filtrate, peptides.
- Fragrance-free: Yes.
- Fast facts: Recommended for sensitive skin; lightweight hydration; subtle brightening; has a temporary smoothing effect on fine lines.
Why we love it: Snail mucin is one of K-beauty’s most popular ingredients, and you can find it in Korean eye cream too. “Snail mucin contains a complex mix of glycoproteins, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, copper peptides and antimicrobial peptides,” says Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City. According to Dr. Chang, the ingredient’s “potential benefits” include “improved hydration, brightening and soothing,” although she adds that “unfortunately, large, randomised, 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 favourite 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 favourite 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 under-eye area is dry, irritated, and crepey.” Like Dr. Chang, she notes that the formula “does not irritate,” so she applies it “all over my under-eye and on my eyelids.”
3. Best Retinoid Korean Eye Cream: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
- Key ingredients: Panax ginseng root extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, retinal.
- Fragrance-free: Yes.
- Fast facts: Affordable ginseng eye cream; silky, non-greasy texture; dermatologist-recommended ingredients for fine lines; long-lasting hydration.
Why we love it: Ginseng is another signature ingredient you’ll often find in Korean skin care. “K-beauty brands love to include ginseng, and this makes a ton of sense for eye creams,” says Dr. Chung. “Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help balance out irritation.”
Much like the ingredient itself, ginseng eye creams can range widely in price. For a more affordable eye care option, try Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum, which Dr. Chang says is one of her favourite Korean eye creams. “It contains a powerful combination of two youth-boosting ingredients, retinal and ginseng, which 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 non-greasy texture,” which “applies nicely and keeps skin feeling moisturised 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 under-eyes feel hydrated and smooth, and I love how it just melts into my skin.”
4. Best Korean Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream
- Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, fermented black rice, niacinamide, Panax ginseng root extract.
- Fragrance-free: Yes.
- Fast facts: Recommended for sensitive skin; retinol alternative; lightweight; fast-absorbing.
Why we love it: Even those with sensitive skin can find a Korean eye cream that does more than just hydrate. Take the derm-loved Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream. “If you have sensitive skin or cannot tolerate retinol serums around the eyes, this eye cream is a retinol alternative formulated with bakuchiol and niacinamide,” says Dr. Chang. It’s also one of the most affordable picks on our list.
Wu says she’s gone through four tubes of this formula since she first tried it. “The texture is super lightweight and fast-absorbing and layers beautifully under concealer,” she says. “It's also intensely hydrating but never causes milia under my eyes. I use mine both morning and night.”
5. Best Korean Eye Cream for Dry Skin: Medicube Deep Reviving Peptide Eye Cream
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptide complex, niacinamide, squalane.
- Fragrance-free: No.
- Fast facts: Intensely moisturising; lightweight; contains hydrating and firming ingredients to target fine lines.
Why we love it: If you have dry skin, try the intensely moisturising 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 winter, 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 under-eyes 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 moisturising it is. Also—you only need the tiniest amount, so one tube will last you forever.”
6. Best Korean Eye Cream for Evening: Laneige Bouncy + Firm Eye Sleeping Mask
- Key ingredients: Caffeine, niacinamide, peony extract, peptides.
- Fragrance-free: Yes.
- Fast facts: Best for overnight use; thicker texture; hydrating and firming; recommended by dermatologists for reducing puffiness.
Why we love it: You’ve probably heard of Laneige’s TikTok-viral, celebrity-loved Lip Sleeping Mask, a GLAMOUR-editor favourite. The Laneige Bouncy & Firm Eye Sleeping Mask applies the same concept of a concentrated overnight treatment—but one that’s made for your under eyes. 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 under-eyes 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 under-eyes 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 under-eye patches before bed if I’m up late working on deadlines, but this is a much more convenient way to get a similar effect.”
7. Best De-puffing Korean Eye Cream: Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum
- Key ingredients: Green tea, caffeine, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid.
- Fragrance-free: Yes.
- Fast facts: Cooling massage applicator; lightweight serum texture; absorbs fast; helps depuff and brighten.
Why we love it: Dr. Chung and Wu both like to travel with a tube of Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum, which combines a cooling metal rollerball with a refreshing formula. It’s made with green tea, an ingredient known for its proven anti-inflammatory properties, along with caffeine and niacinamide. “This one is my summer and travel go-to,” says Dr. Chung. “The caffeine and niacinamide are a great morning pick-me-up for tired eyes or those who are having a lot of nighttime fun! The packaging is just perfect for when I’m on the go.” Wu loves the fast-absorbing texture and applicator.
“This is such a small detail, but I sometimes notice that rollerball applicators get stuck or don’t glide on as comfortably as I want them to,” she says. “This one glides so smoothly across my undereyes and feels nice and cool even if I don’t keep it in the fridge. It helps refresh my undereyes when they’re puffy in the morning, and the formula has a true watery serum texture that spreads easily and sinks in fast. I also like that I can dispense this eye serum onto the rollerball by pressing down on the applicator, which gives me more control over how much I’m using.”
8. Best Lightweight Korean Eye Cream: Axis-y Vegan Collagen Eye Serum
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, jojoba seed oil, green apple extract, peptides.
- Fragrance-free: Yes.
- Fast facts: Lightweight, refreshing texture; cooling rollerball applicator; layers well under makeup.
Why we love it: This fast-absorbing eye serum is the most lightweight out of the Korean eye creams we tested. It’s packed with dermatologist-recommended ingredients for under eyes, such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and peptides. It also comes with a metal rollerball applicator for a built-in massage, as well as a press-to-dispense tube that lets you control the amount of product you apply. “I saw this collagen eye cream all over my Instagram and TikTok this summer, so naturally, I had to investigate further,” says Wu. “It’s another great option for a morning massage when my eye bags are looking scary. My favourite thing about this formula is how well it layers under concealer. It helps my makeup sit smoother, look glowier, and doesn’t cause creasing.”
9. Best Premium Korean Eye Cream: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream
- Key ingredients: Ginseng saponin, ginseng retinol.
- Fragrance-free: No.
- Fast facts: Loved by dermatologists; feels luxurious.
Why we love it: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream is a definite splurge, but dermatologists say it’s a worthy one. “I love how luxurious it feels and how it makes my skin feel soft and smooth,” says Dr. Chang. The formula contains “Panax ginseng to help calm and repair skin, as well as licorice root extract, which can help revitalise and brighten the eyelid skin,” she says of the “hydrating” formula. While ginseng is this eye cream’s hero ingredient, you’ll also find other eye cream regulars inside, like “peptides and hydrating factors to nourish.” It also contains Sulwhasoo’s signature ginseng retinol.
Dr. Chung also calls this retinol eye cream a “great option for people who tolerate retinol well but have sensitive skin.” But if you have a little extra to spend, she recommends investing extra in her favourite Sulwhasoo Ultimate S Eye Cream. “My skin runs on the sensitive side so I personally love the Ultimate S Eye Cream because it does not contain retinol, which I find to be too drying for the skin around my eyes,” she says. “I feel that dry skin always adds years to a person’s appearance. This does everything I’m looking for in an eye cream: It keeps my skin hydrated, supple, and bright. The formula includes Sulwhasoo’s trademark Ginseng Berry SR, and my family are believers in the powers of ginseng root.”
What to look for in a Korean eye cream
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 to reduce inflammation,” she says.
If you’re looking for an youth-boosting 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.
This article originally appeared on Glamour US.
