11 best eye serums for dark circles, puffiness and unwanted wrinkles

Eye serums? Or eye creams? You might be wondering what the difference is because, superficially speaking, it seems like it could be a case of potayto/potahto, right? But, actually, it isn’t at all. These are two very different products that work very differently, and the best eye serums have a whole host of benefits that your trusty eye cream just can’t compete with. 

Is eye serum the same as eye cream?

Nope. While eye creams tend to be heavier in texture, eye serums are more lightweight and absorb into skin more quickly. “The key difference is that serums are usually formulated with higher concentrations of active ingredients that work to target various specific skin concerns,” explains the lab team at skincare brand Deciem (which is the parent company behind both The Ordinary and Niod). “Creams tend to focus on using few active ingredients that mainly target hydration, whereas serums can be used for all sorts of concerns – and that’s why it’s important to choose the ingredients most suited to you and what you want to achieve.”

What serum is best for eyes? What serum is good for under eye wrinkles?

When it comes to the best ingredients to look for, anyone looking to target the appearance of dark circles should look for products containing vitamin C, but if fine lines and wrinkles are your main concern then peptides and retinoids should be top of your ingredients’ list. “Of course, alongside products that target these areas, it’s important to use products that provide hydration – which is important to help maintain optimal skin function.”

5 best eye serums for 2022 at a glance:

• Best new eye serum = Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE® Anti-Aging Eye Serum 2.0, £92, boots.com
• Best eye serum for wrinkles = Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid And Niacinamide Eye Serum, £65, cultbeauty.co.uk
• Best eye serum for dark circles = Aurelia London Brightening Eye Serum, £48, feelunique.com
• Best eye serum for bags and puffiness = Charlotte Tilbury Cryo-Recovery Eye Serum, £45, cultbeauty.co.uk
• Best affordable eye serum = The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, £6.40, boots.com

Without further ado, here’s GLAMOUR’s full edit of the best-rated eye serums. It’s time to choose your fighter…