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Now that peptides had their trial run in the form of serums and creams, we have peptide eye creams taking over the skincare world by storm. And it makes sense! Because peptides, or polypeptides, are basically chains of amino acids. And they’re an uncomplicated bunch. Once you know which one works on what, you can make use of peptides in your eye creams for pretty much anything. Whether it’s for under-eye bags, under-eye wrinkles, crow’s feet, or dark circles, peptide eye creams do have serious anti-aging benefits for the eye area. And to help you find the right one for you, below are our round-up of the best peptide eye creams on the market.
Benefits of Peptide Eye Creams
The benefit of a peptide eye cream will depend largely on which one of the three types of peptides it contains.
In case you missed our guide to peptides, they’re classified into four. For example, eye creams with neuropeptides are touted to be nature’s Botox, which is amazing when you want to soften fine lines instantly (1). Signal peptide eye creams help boost collagen production and firm the skin around the eyes (2).
Copper peptide eye creams have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. And lastly, eye creams with enzyme-inhibiting peptides can multi-task and can do several things from preventing collagen loss to even helping with dark circles.
However, know that peptides don’t show up as peptides on your ingredient list. They show up with their official names. For example, a copper peptide eye cream will have tripeptide-1 on the ingredient list, which is the most common one used in skincare.
A signal peptide eye cream will usually show palmitoyl tripeptide-1 or palmitoyl oligopeptide, commonly known as Matrixyl, which is the brand name of that specific peptide. Similarly, a neuropeptide eye cream will usually have acetyl hexapeptide-8, commonly known as Argireline, on the list.
Usually, eye creams contain multiple peptides from the same category to maximize the effects. And also, some eye creams contain different types of peptides, which makes them incredibly multi-tasking too!
The good thing is you don’t need to look up anything. I’ve rounded up some amazing eye creams made with peptides. And I’ll dive into each one and tell you which peptides it contains to help you look past vague terms like firming peptides or collagen peptides.
The Best Peptide Eye Creams
Find below the best peptide eye creams to tackle fine lines, wrinkles, under-eye bags, and more!
1. Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Wrinkle Resist Eye Cream
This is a very unique and rare formula because it combines all three major types of peptides in your eye cream. It’s made with signal peptides, neuropeptides, and copper peptides. And it’s just as potent as the serum in the collection. It helps soften the look of wrinkles, and fine lines under the eyes. And it replenishes dehydrated skin with its rich, moisturizing formula. In case you’re not familiar, another eye cream by the brand has recently gained popularity on TikTok because it instantly eliminated under-eye bags on a sweet old lady.
So PTR knows a thing or two (hundred) about firming the eye area. Plus, the eye cream contains a blend of propriety ingredients for tackling dark circles. So if you’re looking for a multi-tasking formula to soften wrinkles, rejuvenate the eye area, and achieve healthier-looking skin, this one is an amazing peptide eye cream full to the brim with polypeptides.
Key Ingredients: Signal peptides, copper peptides, neuropeptides
Key Benefits: Softens under-eye wrinkles, minimizes dark circles
Size: 0.5 oz/15 ml
2. Dr. Brandt Do Not Age Triple Peptide Eye Cream
An absolute go-to for anyone who wants to target the delicate skin around the eyes is this potent formula. It utilizes both signal peptides and neuropeptides. So it addresses wrinkles around the eyes by stimulating collagen production and also by temporarily smoothing them out. Additionally, it has a third peptide, which is a relatively new ingredient, but basically works as a vitamin C derivative.
And to better address dark circles, the eye cream combines the vitamin C derivative with caffeine. So overall, you can use the gentle formula to soften the appearance of wrinkles and brighten the under-eye area. Plus, you have instant plumping benefits all thanks to ceramides delivered into the skin with a fragrance-free base.
Key Ingredients: Signal peptides, neuropeptides, caffeine
Key Benefits: Reduces puffiness, softens crow’s feet, moisturizes
Size: 0.5 oz/15 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free
3. Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Firming Eye Serum
This one combines copper peptides with signal peptides in an eye serum. First of all, the mere fact that this is in serum form simply increases your chances of getting more noticeable results from your product. It packs humectants like vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid. So the light, gel-like texture disappears into the skin and absorbs super fast. The fragrance-free peptide eye serum improves skin elasticity around the eyes to give the eye area a firmer appearance.
Again, copper peptides have antioxidant benefits. By adding vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10 into the mix, the formula protects the eye area from the damaging effects of free radicals. It also helps with discolorations around the eyes with niacinamide. So overall, the peptide eye serum is perfect for anyone looking for a gentle anti-aging under-eye product to freshen up the eyes.
Key Ingredients: Copper peptides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, coQ10
Key Benefits: Plumps the eye area, minimizes dark circles and fine lines
Size: 0.5 oz/15 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free
4. Strivectin Peptight 360 Tightening Eye Serum
Similarly, this one is also in serum form for enhancing the penetration of the peptides. But the best thing about this one is that you can use it all around the eye area including the upper eyelids. And that’s great when you generally deal with puffy eyes.
Personally, I have to put my Jade roller in the fridge to use the next day if I’m even thinking about getting a drink. The cooling massage helps with puffiness. But this peptide eye serum has an applicator tip you can use to depuff the eyes, get rid of eye bags, and work the product into the skin. Plus, it has niacinamide and caffeine to reduce dark circles and tighten the skin too.
Key Ingredients: Signal peptides, caffeine, Kakadu plum extract
Key Benefits: Brightens, reduces under-eye bags, hydrates
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free
5. iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex
This one utilizes a neuropeptide. And much like Argireline, the famous peptide that mimics Botox, it works by reducing muscle contraction and easing the look of expression lines around the eyes. And it contains a copper peptide, which works as an antioxidant and helps with skin repair.
The eye cream instantly plumps the skin with hyaluronic acid and panthenol and also soothes the eye area with Centella Asiatica. Plus, it contains vitamins C, A, and E to infuse the eye area with potent antioxidants. So if you’re looking for a potent anti-aging formula for mature skin, deep wrinkles, fine lines, dehydration lines, and sun damage around the eyes, this is a well-deserving investment.
Key Ingredients: Neuropeptides, copper peptides, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A
Key Benefits: Hydrates, improves radiance, tightens
Size: 0.5 oz
Good To Know: Fragrance-free
6. Derma-E Advanced Peptides & Collagen Eye Cream
If you’re looking for an affordable peptide eye cream, this can be as helpful as the rest. Besides signal peptides and neuropeptides, this one’s got a blend of antioxidants like green tea, and vitamins A, C, and E to undo sun damage around the eyes.
But it also has a very moisturizing texture, which is amazing if you have very dry under-eyes. It instantly plumps up the skin and fills in fine lines with humectants and emollients like glycerin, macadamia seed oil, and collagen fractions.
Key Ingredients: Neuropeptides, signal peptides, green tea, vitamin C
Key Benefits: Moisturizes, brightens, softens fine lines
Size: 0.5 oz
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free
Related: The Best Drugstore Eye Creams
7. Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel
Some people don’t enjoy a heavily occlusive eye cream because it can cause milia. When that’s the case, eye serums and eye gels are the way to go. They don’t contain comedogenic oils. So the light texture of this one is perfect if you’re prone to milia. Additionally, if you’re an instant gratification seeker like me, this one is made with neuropeptides only.
So you’ll get instantly smooth skin around the eyes all thanks to Argireline, and another neuropeptide with advanced depuffing benefits. To quench dry and dehydrated skin around the eyes, the eye gel has squalane, aloe, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid. And it packs caffeine to better address puffy eyes. It’s clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and an effective peptide eye cream to renew the eye area when you don’t want to deal with irritating ingredients.
Key Ingredients: Neuropeptides, niacinamide, caffeine, squalane
Key Benefits: Illuminates, depuffs, smoothes the eye area
Size: 0.5 oz/15 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free
8. Exuviance Age Reverse Eye Contour
Speaking of irritating ingredients, not all skin types can tolerate exfoliants, especially when it comes to the under-eye area. On the flip side, exfoliating the skin around the eyes is super helpful in getting rid of flaky under-eyes, loose skin, and fine lines. For that reason, this is my personal favorite because it’s a unique formula. It combines polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) with signal peptides.
PHAs like maltobionic acid and gluconolactone are gentle enough to use around the eyes for smoothing out the skin. And with the help of signal peptides, the eye cream boosts collagen synthesis and reveals brighter and smoother skin. It has caffeine and ginseng to tighten and illuminate the under eyes. Plus, it has a naturally radiant finish to literally brighten the eyes.
Key Ingredients: Signal peptides, gluconolactone, maltobionic acid, caffeine
Key Benefits: Gently exfoliates, stimulates collagen production
Size: 0.5 oz
9. Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Eye Cream
This is a vitamin C eye cream enriched with signal peptides. So it’s heavy on brightening and easy on the peptides. It’s made with a very effective and stable vitamin C derivative to fade the look of dark circles and discolorations around the eyes without irritating the skin. And it has niacinamide to enhance those effects.
The hypoallergenic formula is fragrance-free and doesn’t feel sticky on the skin either. It hydrates the skin and locks in moisture while vitamin C works to brighten the skin. This isn’t that cheap. But still, it’s one of the best drugstore peptide eye creams that offer peptides together with antioxidants in a gentle, fast-absorbing formula.
Key Ingredients: Signal peptides, vitamin C, niacinamide
Key Benefits: Prevents free radical damage, firms, reduces dark circles
Size: 0.5 oz
Good To Know: Fragrance-free
10. Medik8 Eye Peptides
Last but not least, we have this medical-grade eye cream. It effectively infuses the skin with neuropeptides and signal peptides formulated into a featherlight base. The texture is formulated around humectants, which ensures maximum skin penetration so that the peptides work better.
If you’re prone to milia, or if you have oily under-eyes and eyelids, apply this and leave it. But if you have very dry under-eyes, you can use this as a treatment and apply a more emollient eye cream over it to increase moisture. Either way, the peptide-infused eye cream stimulates collagen and elastin synthesis to iron out wrinkles around the eyes, and lift and firm the eye area.
Key Ingredients: Neuropeptides, signal peptides, rice protein
Key Benefits: Firms under-eyes, hydrates
Size: 0.5 oz
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, vegan-friendly, cruelty-free
So these are some of the best peptide eye creams out there. They allow you to address age-related issues in the eye area including wrinkles, under-eye bags, droopy eyelids, and discolorations. If retinol seems too much for your under-eye area, peptides are the next best thing. And if you’re dealing with fine lines under your eyes, check out how to get rid of under-eye wrinkles and minimize their appearance.
What To Look For in a Peptide Eye Cream
The Right Peptides
As I’ve mentioned, different peptides have different benefits. If you’re looking to minimize under-eye wrinkles, look for signal peptides to stimulate collagen production. If you want an instant smoothing effect for crow’s feet, look for neuropeptides like Argireline. If you’re looking for skin repair, look for copper peptides in your eye cream.
Other Ingredients
Peptides are majorly anti-aging. So to make sure you get the most bang for your buck, look for other anti-aging ingredients such as antioxidants, exfoliants, or retinol. This will make your eye cream more targeted. For example, a peptide eye cream with vitamin C and/or niacinamide will also reduce dark circles. Similarly, if you have puffiness or under-eye bags, a peptide eye cream made with caffeine will work better to tighten the eye area.
References:
- Ferreira MS, Magalhães MC, Sousa-Lobo JM, Almeida IF. Trending Anti-Aging Peptides. Cosmetics. 2020; 7(4):91. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics7040091
- Schagen, S. (2017). Topical Peptide Treatments with Effective Anti-Aging Results. Cosmetics, 4(2), 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics4020016
