There’s no doubt that Korean skincare products and Korean beauty routines have been all the rage for the last few years so let’s take on this trend by looking for the best Korean eye creams.
I have been interested in preventing under eye fine lines and wrinkles since my 20s. But as I’m now heading towards 40, I am even more interested in looking for eye creams of all kinds.
You can also check out my recommendations for the best under-eye primers for wrinkles if you want your concealer not to crease and you want to look refreshed from morning to evening.
Even if my interest is mainly in preventing and plumping my under-eye area, the focus in looking for the best Korean eye creams will not be only fine lines and wrinkles.
We’ll also look for eye creams for dark circles, for puffiness, hydrating eye creams, plumping, filler-like, etc.
So, our selection will be varied and you’ll be able to find the perfect cream for your needs and concerns, no matter what you’re trying to achieve.
On the other hand, I must also mention that no cream, no matter how expensive or how good it says it is, will be a miracle worker. But it’s still extremely important to have a complete skincare routine for the mornings and evenings.
Just don’t expect an eye cream to make our eye area look like we’ve had some amazing fillers. Or for those dark circles to disappear 100%.
Contents
Best Korean Eye Creams
My top recommendation as one of the best Korean eye creams, especially if you’re looking for a highly affordable cream with two very powerful anti-aging ingredients is the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal.
Next, if you suffer from very dry skin around the eye area or if you have sensitive skin or oily skin and you haven’t found the right product for your eye area, then I recommend the LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream.
Another cream with some really impressive ingredients, highly hydrating but also a good eye cream for fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles is the heimish Marine Care Eye Cream. The price is really decent and the 1 oz quantity is great.
If you’re in the mood to spend around $100 on a 0.51 oz eye cream, then you can check out the AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Plumping Rejuvenating Eye Gel. It’s impressive but amazingly expensive.
Getting back to much more affordable products, we come across the ETUDE Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream. It’s a very nice, deeply moisturizing eye cream that works for all skin types without causing any irritation.
Last but not least, we have the COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream as a very effective, popular, and very affordable anti-aging eye cream. If you want to try retinol, I definitely recommend this one from COSRX. It can be effective and it has a long list of amazing ingredients to deliver only the best results to our eye area.
1. Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal: The Best Anti-Aging Korean Eye Cream
There are definitely a lot of things to love about the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal.
Its ingredients are top-notch anti-aging ingredients and the 2% retinal is fantastic.
Moreover, the price under $20 is highly impressive.
So I decided to recommend it as my top pick as one of the best Korean eye creams, especially for those specifically interested in anti-aging skincare products or for those with mature skin.
However, there are also a few things that I want to make a bit clearer so that you are fully informed before you make your purchase.
There are some negative reviews that we should take into account.
Of course, the high percentage of positive reviews is a major factor that made me recommend the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal as one of my favorites.
Still, people react differently to certain skincare products.
That becomes even more obvious when we have skincare products with powerful ingredients, like this cream contains 2% retinal.
Is retinal drying?
Some negative reviews refer to the fact that the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal is drying.
Yes, retinol and other forms of vitamin A are obviously famous for their anti-aging properties because these wonderful ingredients promote cell turnover.
On the other hand, it is well known that retinol may lead to flaky and dry skin.
That’s why I always mention that mainly people who have a highly hydrated and well nourished skin should approach products with retinol or retinal.
And, when it comes to eye creams with these ingredients, I recommend applying them in the beginning maybe 2-3 times per week and increase the use after a couple of months or a month.
Moreover, a product like the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal should be applied only at night.
And you can add a few drops of your face moisturizer on top in the beginning. Plus, make sure to use a hydrating eye cream in your morning routine to maintain a healthy skin barrier.
Retinal and retinol sound almost identical.
The difference is that retinal is even better than retinol because it has increased speed in effectiveness.
However, the fact that retinal is more powerful and faster-acting can lead to redness and irritation. That’s always the case with such powerful products like retinal.
On the other hand, the good news is that the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal can be a really effective anti-aging eye cream that can benefit people in their 30s or people with mature skin.
Features
The Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal contains 2% retinal liposome that creates the best synergy with ginseng.
Ginseng is described as being an oriental herbal ingredient known to be effective for anti-aging.
Together, these two target sagging skin around the eyes.
They can improve elasticity and restore damaged skin.
Besides these two fantastic, effective, anti-aging ingredients, the manufacturer also adds natural lipids and oil, glycerin, niacinamide, and cholesterol to create a more effective skincare product. These ingredients also suggest that the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal can also be a hydrating eye cream with a couple of powerful anti-aging agents.
2. LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream: The Best Moisturizing Korean Eye Cream
Laneige is a Korean skincare brand that has a certain reputation.
For some of us, that reputation is reduced to this being an expensive skincare brand, which is justifiable when we see that the LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream costs around $50. That’s pricey for a tiny thing that measures 0.8 oz (25 mL). Well, most eye creams are tiny so that small quantity is to be expected.
We should also mention that there are other eye creams that are much more expensive than the LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream. However, there are many other options that are also 3-4 times cheaper.
So, in the world of eye creams, this Laneige is pretty pricey but not the most expensive.
If we apply it only on the under-eye area, which is the intended use, the 0.8 oz (25 mL) can last 2-3 months.
Features
The LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream is advertised as a cream that visibly brightens and improves the look of puffiness.
However, I think that it’s best described as one of the best Korean eye creams that deeply hydrates the eye area.
Lainege mentions that this cream firms the skin and relieves dark eye circles and puffiness through the repair and moisturizing effect of blue hyaluronic acid.
I wouldn’t buy this Laneige if I were hoping for miracles when it comes to addressing dark circles or puffiness.
But I would get it if I want a deeply hydrating, moisturizing eye cream.
Another plus is that it’s amazing for people with sensitive skin, as well. It won’t cause any milia bumps.
It’s also great for oily skin because oily skin needs hydration, too.
It works great both as a day cream or as a night cream.
And it’s wonderful if you suffer from really dry skin in your eye area.
Thus, the LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream is quite amazing as a hydrating eye cream but I wouldn’t call it the best for dark circles or puffiness.
Targeting puffiness through eye creams?
Some eye creams will claim that they target eye puffiness, which are bags under eyes. However, can eye bags be solved through using a certain skincare product, even if it’s one of the best Korean eye creams or should we learn more about this problem?
This website has a list of what causes bags under eyes.
The list includes: high-salt diet, allergies, medical conditions, genetics, and natural aging process.
So, from all these causes for puffiness, it seems that we can only target the natural aging process through eye creams.
Indeed, the most common cause of under-eye bags or puffiness is natural aging.
The LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream is not described as an anti-aging cream but it’s described as a cream that visibly brightens and improves the look of puffiness.
I totally agree that a hydrating eye area will look refreshed. Will give us a youthful appearance that is well-rested. So we should never neglect the major importance of hydration. The LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Eye Cream can take care of that really well for all skin types.
However, if I were to target puffiness, I would prefer using eye creams with caffeine.
Or something like the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal.
Or you can try resting chilled tea bags, especially black tea bags, on your closed eyes for 10-15 mins when you have the time.
And, if you’re ready for some expensive options to deal with under eye puffiness, then I recommend fillers or chemical peels or laser resurfacing. These are the solutions that are only done by professionals and that show major results, unlike an eye cream that costs $20-$50 or even more.
3. heimish Marine Care Eye Cream
Another quite affordable option as one of the best Korean eye creams is the heimish Marine Care Eye Cream. It’s not the cheapest but it’s definitely affordable.
Besides being affordable, the interesting thing is that it comes in a 1.01 oz (30 mL) container. That’s a pretty generous quantity in the world of eye creams of all kinds.
Features
It is described as being a moisturizing eye cream.
Moreover, it is also described as being made for under eye bags and dark circles. And it can prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
The heimish Marine Care Eye Cream is trying to target a whole range of problems and that’s definitely not a bad thing.
It is made with 51% of marine nutrients and mineral and 2% of niacinamide.
I love the presence of that 2% niacinamide. Niacinamide has the ability to stimulate blood circulation and it can also protect skin cells from environmental damage.
So, I would definitely use the heimish Marine Care Eye Cream as an eye cream during my morning skincare routine.
But it also works as an evening moisturizer.
Niacinamide can also help with dark circles and wrinkles.
Besides that, we also find a long list of extracts.
And we will also come across ingredients like peptide, collagen, and adenosine.
All in all, just from looking at the list of ingredients for the heimish Marine Care Eye Cream we certainly have plenty of reasons to be excited.
It also includes an eye massager. But you can simply use your ring fingers to massage the cream around your eye area.
4. AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Plumping Rejuvenating Eye Gel
I guess it’s time to recommend an option as one of the best Korean eye creams that costs around $100. Why is it time for that?
Because we already saw what 3 cheap or affordable or moderately priced creams can do for us and what promises they make.
So maybe you’re curious to see what a true expensive skin care product can do and what ingredients it includes.
Also, keep in mind that the AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Plumping Rejuvenating Eye Gel comes in a 0.51 oz (15 mL) container. It’s tiny and expensive.
Features
The Amore Pacific is called a rejuvenating eye gel.
Basically, this manufacturer claims that their eye gel can help refresh and revitalize the look of lackluster skin around the eyes.
It will help hydrate and retain moisture.
And helps refresh tired under eyes.
Thus, it can be a nice product for people who don’t get enough sleep but try to make those dark circles look less deep. That’s why I think that the AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Plumping Rejuvenating Eye Gel is better suited for a morning routine.
The ingredients are fantastic.
There’s bamboo nectar. It can help moisturize dull skin around the eyes.
Moreover, the 5-Hydra Solution contains 5 types of hyaluronic acid. That’s amazing.
Next, we have caffeine and a vitamin C derivative (3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid) to manage those dark circles and to brighten the skin.
We also have squalane, niacinamide, vitamin E, and a bunch of interesting extracts.
We can use it daily, AM & PM. However, you can choose to use the AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Plumping Rejuvenating Eye Gel in the AM and an anti-aging product like the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal in the PM.
I prefer moisturizing in the morning and doing chemical exfoliation and using anti-aging moisturizers in the PM.
5. ETUDE Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream
I’m not totally crazy about the ETUDE Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream but it can be presented as a very good choice if you want a nicely moisturizing, hydrating, calming eye cream.
It’s really affordable and I totally like the fact that it comes in a 0.94 oz (28 mL) container. That’s a pretty generous quantity.
Let’s see what else it offers.
Features
It’s called Collagen Eye Cream because it contains fine particles of super collagen water.
Some of you might be wondering what exactly is collagen water.
It is a blend of water and collagen peptides. These are proteins that are derived from animal bones and skin. I know that people are taking oral collagen so it seems that Etude has decided to make a cream with collagen water. I’m definitely not as excited about collagen water as I am about retinol or retinal but maybe that’s just me.
The ETUDE Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream also contains a super plant lupinus albus protein. This is a plant that grows in barren soil that contains protein. It seems that it can transform our skin into moist skin.
All in all, the ETUDE Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream is a nicely hydrating eye cream that can be used by people with all skin types.
The best endorsement for this product comes from a user review. The respective person mentions that they have been using this eye cream for years. They are in their early 60s and don’t have any wrinkles around the eye. But they also mention that they have been using eye creams since they were 12. That’s amazing.
I also believe in the power of eye creams, I really believe that this is a sensitive area that needs all the external help it can receive from us.
We don’t even need to buy an expensive product like the AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Plumping Rejuvenating Eye Gel.
We can just stick to much more affordable options like the ETUDE Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream or the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal. Or even a combination of the two, one in the evening and the other in the morning.
6. COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream
I would say that if you’re a beginner to retinol, the COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream can be a good starting point.
I’m saying that because the 0.1% quantity of retinol is really small.
However, there are still people with sensitive skin who have mentioned that this cream has affected them negatively, it has caused serious irritation around the eye area.
So, it seems that once again retinol is an ingredient that we must be careful with. A hydrated skiing with a healthy skin barrier shouldn’t have any problems. I don’t and I suffer from highly sensitive skin.
There are also some negative reviews from people who mention that the COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream smells bad. Only a handful of reviews mention the smell so it’s definitely not an universal reaction. Also, some people seem to like it despite the bad smell.
Another thing I want to mention is that the 0.1% retinol is very small so don’t expect any miracles. However, after a few months of regular use every night, you should see some improvements concerning fine lines and wrinkles.
Someone mentions that they love the COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream but it’s not as good as their prescription retinoid. Of course it wouldn’t be but the fact that it’s good enough to be compared to a prescription retinoid shows that it has some decent effects on fine lines and wrinkles.
We must also keep in mind that the COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream is really affordable. The 0.67 oz (20 ML) is pretty good, too, especially when we consider the affordable price.
Features
Of course, the star of the show is the 0.1% retinol.
It helps reduce wrinkles, creases and fine lines. It also increases skin’s elasticity, preventing acne and fading scarring. It’s a multi-purpose ingredient that many of us love.
Besides that, the COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream contains 1% panthenol (vitamin B5) to protect and moisturize the skin. I love vitamin B5, especially for my sensitive skin.
It also includes adenosine that also improves elasticity and wrinkles. And tocotrienol (super vitamin E). Plus hyaluronic acid and a bunch of extracts and other deeply hydrating ingredients.
The list of ingredients for this retinol eye cream is long but it’s full of amazing ingredients, including ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and a Vitamin C derivative (3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid).
I would recommend applying the COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream only in the evening and maybe try a moisturizing cream like the ETUDE Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream in the AM.
All in all, I think that the COSRX Retinol 0.1% Cream is absolutely one of the best Korean eye creams for people who are looking for an affordable retinol eye cream that can show some nice results and improvements the more we use it.
