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
Original video by Glamour tester Sarah Y. Wu
- 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
Original video by Glamour tester Sarah Y. Wu
- 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.