Why Korean Eye Creams are the Best! (Our Picks for 2021)
The skin around our eyes is the most sensitive area on our faces, and it also tends to be one of the first places where signs of premature aging show up first. This is why so many women invest in specialized skincare products — specifically eye creams.
Finding the perfect eye cream that works for your skin type and lifestyle is a task that seems easier said than done, and with an abundance of products virtually flooding the market, the choice becomes even harder.
We did our research, and have rounded up a handful of the best Korean eye creams currently available on the market.
In this post we’ll be looking at:
- Why Korean eye creams and serums are so effective;
- Why they might work for you; and;
- A roundup of seven of the best Korean eye creams currently available on the market.
Why are Korean Eye Creams so Popular?
When it comes to cosmetics and amazing skin care products, Koreans really seem to know how to deliver. Excelling in areas where other brands simply can’t compete, Korean eye creams are a big hit across the globe.
With unique ingredients you’ll see below, these products seem to offer unsurpassed value for money.
Koreans’ Youthful Elixir
Okay, I may be stereotyping here, but I do see many Koreans in North America (along with Japanese and other wonderful looking Asian woman) who constantly use umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun’s harsh rays. It seems that Korean people have always taken care of their skin.
Along with umbrella usage, they also drink lots of anti-oxidant teas. Finally, with the help of specially formulated skin care products to help boost the skin’s youthful radiance, it seems like they may have found the trifecta secret to youthful skin!
Manufacturing Eye Cream
The reason why Korean eye creams are so popular right now is mainly due to their innovative formulas. Manufacturers of Korean eye creams and serums only allow their products to be shelved for a maximum of 6 months. And because they only use the finest quality ingredients in their formulations, consumers tend to trust that Korean eye creams are effective and efficient for their skin.
Korean eye creams are manufactured according to a broad spectrum of skin types –types which have been analyzed and that need special ingredients to help eliminate or prevent certain skin problems from happening in the first place.
Part of Your Beauty Regime
Since the use of eye cream is so important to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as help restore the youthful glow of skin, Korean eye creams form part of a unique skin care regimen. This might seem extensive at first glance, but it will be well worth the time and effort after you see the amazing results on your own skin.
Ingredients to Look for in Korean Eye Cream
To kick things off with, you should always try to invest in eye creams which are fragrance-free, especially if you have sensitive skin. And while you might be familiar with seaweed as an ingredient in eye cream, perhaps you haven’t heard that snail slime (source: BBC) is also a thing these days!
As far as must-have ingredients go, here’s what your Korean eye cream should list as part of its formulation:
- Hyaluronic Acid – Also known as Sodium Hyaluronate, this ingredient works hard to lock in moisture and keep the skin hydrated. It may also help stimulate collagen production, which is a key feature in fighting premature aging of the skin.
- Ceramides – As a type of lipid, ceramides naturally occur in the skin membranes and work to help eliminate moisture loss, which helps keep the skin looking plump and youthful.
- Retinol – Being a type of vitamin A, retinol is an ingredient which may help accelerate cell regeneration, improving the skin tone and smoothness. It may also help unclog pores and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Neuropeptides – This ingredient can help stimulate the production of collagen and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
- Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which may help boost collagen production and protect against the harmful effects of free radicals.
- Vitamin E – When vitamin E is used along with vitamin C, it protects against free radicals, nourishes the skin, and helps create a smoother complexion.
What to Consider When Choosing
While any eye cream can seem amazing (with the help of savvy marketers), not all Korean eye creams are manufactured equally.
Before investing in a Korean eye cream, here’s what you’ll need to consider:
Ingredients Used
Most women that are looking to invest in the right eye cream have problems with tired-looking eyes. That’s why they need to look at eye creams with the right ingredients. We’ve already mentioned the types of ingredients you should be on the lookout for, but whenever possible, try to purchase eye cream that lists retinol as an ingredient.
Hydration Power
Depending on your specific skin type, you might need a serum that is comprised of oil-free ingredients such as glycerin. If you have very dry skin and need extra hydration, an oil-based cream could be your ideal fit.
Fragrances
More often than not, fragrance-free products are the way to go since they’re suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types. If you opt to use a scented eye cream, ensure that the serum’s fragrance won’t interfere with the natural pH balance of your skin.
Packaging
Most eye creams contain antioxidants in their formulations, which could be lost when the serums are exposed to oxygen. It’s super important to ensure that you’re buying an eye cream that comes packaged in an airtight container that won’t allow any air into the tube whenever you open it.
How to Properly Apply Eye Cream
You might be a massager, a dabber, or a tapper when you apply cream around your eyes. The reality is there are quite a few ways in which you can properly apply eye creams. It’s not that there’s one set-in-stone way of doing it right, more like a few best practices.
Here are the basic dos and dont’s of applying eye cream:
DO
- Tap and massage – You may wish to press your eye cream onto the area of skin surrounding your eyes, or you can try lightly applying it with sweeping strokes.
- Allow the cream to absorb – Before applying concealer to your skin, give your eye cream about a minute or so to absorb into the skin.
DONT
- Move the skin around – The skin surrounding our eyes is extremely delicate, and we don’t want any stretching to happen while we’re applying eye creams or serums. If you can literally see your skin moving around while applying your cream, you’re probably doing it wrong.
- Cake it on – Using too much eye cream won’t make it more effective. It can, however, get into your eyes this way and cause irritation. Using a pea-sized amount of eye cream, you just need to dot it on your brow bone and roughly half-an-inch underneath your eyes, and you’re all set!
Best Korean Eye Creams
1. Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
by Sephora
Made specifically to illuminate the skin and eliminate dark shadows around the eyes, contains natural ingredients like date seed extract and avocado. Date seed extract refreshes the area around the eyes, while avocado protein extract, hyaluronic acid, and a proprietary peptide complex help to improve hydration and firmness over time. This cream is a clean formula made for all skin types.
Best Korean Eye Cream for Dark Circles
2. AHC Real Eye Cream for Face
By AHC
AHC (Aesthetic Hydration Cosmetics) is one of the most respected lines in Korea for skincare, and The Private Real Eye Cream works hard to brighten up the skin around the eyes and to combat the appearance of wrinkles. Formulated with peptides, collagen, Bio Metic water, Eco-Cert, and a bunch of natural extracts, this is a luxurious and very effective anti-wrinkle eye cream.
This cream is great for women looking to invest in an eye cream that hydrates the skin and promotes a more resilient look, and because it has a light texture, it can be used in all areas of your face.
Best for Wrinkles
Last update on 2021-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Mizon Cosmetics Snail Repair Eye Cream
By Mizon
Made with snail mucus filtrate(yup, that’s really a thing!), Mizon’s Snail Repair Eye Cream contains proteins, elastin, glycol, and antioxidants to help reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eyes.
It may also promote cell regeneration and repair damage. This serum has a firm texture, which means that it absorbs quickly so that it can get to work faster.
Best for Fine Lines
Last update on 2021-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4. Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream
Containing ingredients such as seaweed, chlorella, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, this cream is an ideal option for women with oily skin. The lightly scented serum has a lightweight texture that moisturizes the skin without adding extra oil to the mix.
We love how spreadable this cream is, and that it works hard to help minimize the size of your pores.
Best for Oily Skin
Last update on 2021-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5. Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Eye Cream
By Innisfree
If you’re looking for an eye cream that contains a powerful punch of antioxidants and will work hard at moisturizing dry skin, Innisfree’s The Green Tea Seed Eye Cream might be your ideal match.
Made with 100% squeezed green tea, this formula also contains minerals and amino acids and has a dual moisture rising technology thanks to the green tea. It can be a creamy, super moisturizing product, but the lotion is extremely lightweight and absorbs faster than you can say eye serum!
Best for Dry Skin
Last update on 2021-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
6. Mizon Collagen Power Firming Eye Cream
By Mizon
Another standout cream from Mizon, their Collagen Power Firming Eye Cream is made with 42% marine collagen and adenosine. It brightens up the skin around your eyes and is gentle enough to be used on even the most sensitive of skin types.
We love the fact that this formula is free from ethanol, fragrance, benzophenone, and paragons, making it a hypoallergenic eye cream that’s safe for everyday use.
Best for Sensitive Skin
Last update on 2021-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
7. Laneige Eye Sleeping Mask
by Sephora
While technically this is a mask versus a cream, we had to include the Laneige Eye Sleeping mask for its stellar ability to bring down puffiness overnight. Eye moisture wrap technology helps to saturate the skin, soothe and maintain deep hydration while you sleep.
A versatile mask that is great for all skin types, this cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested product is formulated without the use of parabens or Phthalates.
Best for Puffiness
As an added bonus, Laneige has created a cooling ceramic applicator for a gentle massage while you apply around your eyes. Because really – what’s better than a soothing eye massage before you slip off into a deep slumber?!
Observations from South Korea
What do those in South Korean actually think of Korean Eye Cream?
While doing some extra research, we stumbled across an interesting article about eye cream in Korea. In it the author, David Yi, looks at k beauty products on the ground in Korea. What he actually found is that Korean eye cream comes up short in Korea.
This made him investigate further to find out what Koreans actually think about Kbeauty products, and the results may actually surprise you.
David went to a high-end mall called Shinsegae, in Gangnam, which is one of the most affluent neighborhoods of Seoul. (If you now have the song Gangnam Style stuck in your head, you can thank Psy, the Korean tuxedo rapper.)
Seoul is the birthplace of snail mucin, sheet masks and the 10-step Korean beauty regime. However, while meandering through the mall, he was having a hard time locating Korean products. The mall kiosk brands were nearly identical to those you would see in a North American department store: Yves Saint Laurent, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Shu Uemura, Chanel, Dior, Kiehl’s, Clarisonic and Glam Glow.
In the states, beauty editors are going crazy over kbeauty brands like Too Cool For School, InnisFree, SkinFood, and Tony Moly to name a few. But David questioned if the locals in Korea who are serious about taking care of their skin actually care or perceive their homegrown products as positively as us North Americans.
So, David took a few mall shoppers aside and asked them directly. Here are a few responses he got:
- Women named Nayoung replied, “Those are cheap products and young people use them. I actually don’t use any Korean skincare products at all.”
- A man named Mr. Choi’s response, “I guess it’s because Korea used to be such a poor country and we became wealthy almost overnight. There’s still this thought that if it’s from the West, it must be really good.”
For many Koreans, when it comes to beauty using anything Western denotes a higher social class. This is not to say Koreans don’t use K products at all. There are loads of pharmacy type stores on every block of Seoul carrying Korean beauty lines like Innisfree, Laneige, Belif, It’s Skin, Missha, among many others.
These products sell well, but as David noted they are just not as revered as a North American might assume.
Moral of the story, the grass is always … more exotic on the other side!
Final Eye Cream Thoughts
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that you now have a better understanding of why Korean eye creams are so effective and why everyone is rushing to get their hands on it.
After reading through our seven recommendations, you should be able to pinpoint a product that will work with your specific needs and unique skin tone. Here’s to happy shopping and countless great skin moments to come!
