Peptide Eye Gel-Cream

Our Peptide Eye Gel-Cream is a lightweight, water-based gel-cream made for the delicate skin around the eyes. It pairs a peptide developed for the look of under-eye puffiness with hyaluronic acid for hydration, in a fragrance-free base that sits comfortably under makeup.

We believe you should know exactly what you're putting on your skin and why. Below, each of the ten ingredients is explained — what it is, what it does, and how much research stands behind it. Where the science is strong, we say so. Where it is early, we say that too.

The formula at a glance

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5: for the look of puffiness

Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 is a short chain of four amino acids (Ac-β-Ala-His-Ser-His), designed specifically for the under-eye area. An acetyl group on one end helps it stay stable on the skin. Like most peptides in skincare, it works at very low levels, so it appears near the end of the ingredient list.

Its developers designed it around the main things behind tired-looking eyes: fluid that collects in the loose under-eye skin, and skin that gradually loses its spring. In a study of 20 women who applied a cream with this peptide twice a day for 60 days, most saw a visible reduction in under-eye puffiness within the first few weeks, along with improved skin elasticity (study summary).

In fairness: that study was small and was run by the ingredient's developer, and later studies tested the peptide alongside other actives. Researchers reviewing skincare peptides as a group note that larger independent trials are still needed (Schagen, 2017). We include it because the early results are encouraging and the ingredient is well tolerated — not because it is a guaranteed fix.

Sodium Hyaluronate: hydration and smoothness

Sodium hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid, a moisture-holding sugar your skin already makes. Each molecule binds a large amount of water and forms a light, hydrating film on the skin's surface that helps slow moisture loss. Ours is made by fermentation, not from animal sources.

Well-hydrated skin reflects light more evenly, which is why fine lines look softer after application. This is the honest meaning of "plumping" in a skincare product: it comes from hydration in the outer layers of skin, which is temporary and builds with daily use.

Hyaluronic acid has some of the best evidence of any ingredient in this formula. In a controlled trial, 76 women applied a hyaluronic acid cream around one eye and a plain cream around the other, twice daily for 60 days. The hyaluronic acid side showed significantly better hydration and elasticity, and the smaller-molecule versions also reduced the depth of fine lines (Pavicic et al., 2011).

Grape Seed Oil: moisture barrier

Grape seed oil is pressed from the seeds of wine grapes and is the second-largest ingredient in the formula. It is light and absorbs quickly, which suits thin under-eye skin.

What makes it useful is its fatty acid profile: roughly three-quarters linoleic acid, with smaller amounts of oleic acid (Grasas y Aceites, 2015). Linoleic acid is one of the building blocks your skin uses to make ceramides, the lipids that seal moisture in. Oils high in linoleic acid and low in oleic acid tend to be gentler on the skin barrier than heavier oils.

Grape seed oil also naturally contains vitamin E, mostly in the form of tocotrienols, which help protect the oil itself from going rancid. You may see grapes linked with powerful antioxidants such as resveratrol and proanthocyanidins; those are concentrated in grape skins and seed extracts rather than the pressed oil, so we don't make that claim for it.

Bamboo Extract: plant flavonoids

Phyllostachys bambusoides is Japanese timber bamboo. Its extract contributes flavonoids such as orientin and isoorientin, along with phenolic acids, polysaccharides and amino acids (ingredient profile).

In laboratory research on a closely related bamboo species, leaf extracts showed strong antioxidant activity and calmed inflammation signals in cell studies (Tundis et al., 2023). Those are lab results, not tests on human skin, so we think of bamboo extract as a supporting botanical rather than a headline active.

You may have seen bamboo marketed for its silica. That silica comes from the stem, not from the water-based extract used here, so it isn't part of our story.

The texture: water, emulsifiers and gums

The feel of an eye cream matters as much as its actives, because a texture you like is one you'll use every day. Five ingredients create our cool, non-greasy gel-cream.

• Aqua (water) is the base. It carries the water-loving actives and keeps the formula light.
• Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Glucoside form a plant-derived emulsifier that blends the water and oil into a smooth cream. Despite its name, cetearyl alcohol is a soft, waxy fatty alcohol, not a drying alcohol like ethanol. Studies of this emulsifier show it arranges itself into layered structures around oil droplets that resemble the skin's own lipid layers and help hold water in the cream (Savić et al., 2005).
• Xanthan Gum, made by fermenting sugar, thickens water into a gel that glides on easily and sets quickly.
• Acacia Senegal Gum, from the sap of the acacia tree, stabilizes the cream and leaves a light, flexible film as it dries. That film is what gives a smooth base for concealer.

The independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has assessed xanthan gum and related gums as safe as used in cosmetics (Fiume et al., 2016).

1,2-Hexanediol: keeping the formula fresh

Any water-based product needs protection from bacteria and mold, especially one you use near your eyes. 1,2-Hexanediol is a small, multi-purpose ingredient that helps with that job. It disrupts the outer membranes of microbes, and it doubles as a humectant that draws moisture into the skin and keeps the texture light.

It is a modern alternative to traditional preservatives such as parabens. The independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel reviewed it in 2024 and concluded it is safe as currently used in cosmetics (Scott et al., 2024).

How to use and good to know

How to use: Once or twice daily, apply a dime-sized amount to the under-eye area and along the orbital bone. Pat gently with your ring finger until absorbed. In the morning, let it set for a minute before applying makeup.

What to expect: Hydration and a smoother look come quickly, from the first application. Changes in the look of puffiness are more gradual, so give it several weeks of consistent daily use. Results vary from person to person, and no eye cream can change genetics, sleep or allergies.

Good to know:

• Fragrance-free, with no essential oils, acids, retinoids or drying alcohols.
• For external use only. Avoid getting it directly in the eyes, and discontinue use if irritation occurs.
• If you have a known grape allergy or very reactive skin, try a small amount on your jawline for a few days first.
• Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place.

These statements describe cosmetic effects on the appearance of skin. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

• Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 (Eyeseryl): Eye Peptide — study summary, Peptide Journal
• Schagen SK. Topical Peptide Treatments with Effective Anti-Aging Results. Cosmetics 2017;4(2):16
• Pavicic T et al. Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment. J Drugs Dermatol 2011;10(9):990–1000
• Characterization of grape seed oil from wines with PDO from Spain. Grasas y Aceites 2015
• Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract — ingredient profile, Paula's Choice
• Tundis R et al. Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Leaves and Sheath from Bamboo. Antioxidants 2023;12(6):1239
• Savić S et al. Colloidal microstructure of model creams stabilized with an alkylpolyglucoside emulsifier. Colloid Polym Sci 2005;283:439–451
• Fiume MM et al. Safety Assessment of Microbial Polysaccharide Gums as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol 2016;35:5S–49S
• Scott LN et al. Safety Assessment of Alkane Diols as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol 2024;43(2 suppl):70S–131S

Ingredients: Aqua, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract

Manufacturer's country: USA

Product amount: 1 fl oz / 30ml

Gross weight (oz/lbs/g): 1.76 oz / 0.11 lbs / 50 g

Suggested use: Once or twice daily, apply a dime-sized amount to the under-eye area and along the orbital bone.

Warning: This product is for external use only and is not intended to be ingested. Avoid contact with eyes. In case of irritation, discontinue use. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place.