An Honest Review of Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum

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4.7

Olay Eye Lifting Serum

Olay Eye Lifting Serum

Byrdie / Bianca Lambert

What We Like
  • Budget-friendly

  • Doesn't irritate sensitive skin

  • Formulated with niacinamide and caffeine

  • Hydrates

  • Works well under makeup

What We Don't Like
  • Formulated with silicones

Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum is a budget-friendly serum made with several skin-loving ingredients.

4.7

Olay Eye Lifting Serum

Olay Eye Lifting Serum

Byrdie / Bianca Lambert

We purchased the Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum so our writer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

I recently turned 35. As a kid, the thought of being in my 30s seemed a lifetime away, but, here I am. One good thing is, as I age, I find myself feeling more grounded and accepting of myself in all things, including beauty. However, that doesn't mean I haven't noticed how my skin (and its needs) is changing. For example, I have always had dark eye circles, but now the skin under my eyes creases and needs a lot more hydration than it did in my twenties. 

Before working in beauty, I thought eye creams were overrated. But, after talking to derms for stories, I realized that eye products are formulated to give the delicate area under our eyes the specialized care it needs, which has led me to look for under-eye products to address my new skincare concerns. Olay has been in my beauty orbit for as long as I can remember, but I haven't used a drugstore product in a while because I tend to lean toward smaller, indie brands. But, the Olay Eye Lifting Serum comes highly rated, especially for those with dark circles.

Keep reading to learn how my experience with this coveted serum went.

Olay Eye Lifting Serum

Best For: All skin types

Uses: A daily eye cream for the eye area

Potential Allergens: Added fragrance

Active Ingredients: Vitamin B3 and amino peptides

Clean: No; contains parabens

Price: $33

About the brand: Olay, which was previously known as Oil of Olay, is an American skincare brand owned by Proctor & Gamble. It has been a drugstore staple since its founding in 1952.

About My Skin: Dry, with dark circles

Truthfully, I haven't taken the best care of my eye area. The only time my lids and under eye area are tended to is when I'm applying the serums I use on my entire face. I have always had dry eyelids, and a makeup artist told me years ago that I needed to give them more TLC. Did I listen? No. However, as I venture into my mid-30's, I am finally wising up. 

The Feel: Creamy and lightweight 

My favorite part of this formula is the texture. I needed very little of the creamy serum. In addition, the lightweight formula melts right into the skin and brightens once applied. 

Olay Eye Lifting Serum

Byrdie / Bianca Lambert

The Packaging: Compact 

When I seek out skincare products, I tend to stay away from products that require me to dip my fingers into the container, mainly for hygienic reasons. Since most eye creams come packaged that way, I loved that this serum was housed in compact packaging with a tiny nozzle that dispenses just enough product for each application.  

Ingredients: Hydrating, brightening, and firming 

Water-soluble vitamin B3 is a skincare powerhouse ingredient. It helps to visibly minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, evens out the skin, and softens fine lines and wrinkles. And best of all, even the most sensitive skin can usually tolerate it. 

Humectants are always a great addition to any skincare routine, and glycerin is one of the most popular. The compound helps increase hydration while softening the skin.

Caffeine isn't just an antioxidant-rich compound that wakes us up each morning. When applied topically, it can reduce puffiness and improve circulation.

Finding dill extract in your skincare might come as a bit of a surprise. But studies have found that the plant extract can help calm irritated skin and improve skin elasticity.

The Results: Nourished, smoother eyelids and under eyes

The first thing I look for when I add a new product to my routine is whether or not my sensitive skin has an adverse reaction.

I'm happy to report that my skin did just fine.

I'm happy to report that my skin did just fine.

In fact, my under eyes and lids felt and looked more hydrated after each day of applying the serum. If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know I love a multipurpose product, and this serum didn't disappoint. It made an excellent eyeshadow and concealer primer. 

Olay Eye Lifting Serum

Byrdie / Bianca Lambert

The Value: Worth it

I think this lightweight serum is worth every penny, and best of all, it's budget-friendly. A little goes a long way, making it an even better value.

Olay Eye Lifting Serum

Byrdie / Bianca Lambert

Similar Products: A range of price points and ingredients 

Huygens Eye Contour Cream ($32): Formulated with 98 percent natural ingredients to target dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkle, this cucumber extract-infused formula brightens and smooths. 

Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum ($88): Made with Okinawa red algae, honeysuckle leaf, caffeine, and 23 karat gold, this serum firms and plumps while diffusing the appearance of dark circles.

Epara Skincare Eye Serum ($147): This pricey serum is formulated with natural oils (apricot kernel, frankincense, and ylang ylang) and botanical actives to help firm and reduce puffiness.

Final Verdict

As someone who typically likes to use products that contain cleaner ingredients, I would make Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum a staple in my routine even though I don't love all of the ingredients in the formula, like the dimethicone crosspolymer.

Specs

  • Product Name Eye Lifting Serum
  • Product Brand Olay
  • Price $33.00
  • Weight 0.5 oz.
  • Ingredients Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sdimidetheicone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Polyacrylamide, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-4, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Laureth-7, Sodium Peg-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Disodium Edta, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides.
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA. Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatol Surg. 2005 Jul;31(7 Pt 2):860-5; discussion 865. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31732. PMID: 16029679.

  2. Fluhr JW, Darlenski R, Surber C. Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions. Br J Dermatol. 2008 Jul;159(1):23-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08643.x. Epub 2008 Jul 1. PMID: 18510666.

  3. Herman A, Herman AP. Caffeine's mechanisms of action and its cosmetic use. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26(1):8-14. doi: 10.1159/000343174. Epub 2012 Oct 11. PMID: 23075568.

  4. Sohm B, Cenizo V, André V, Zahouani H, Pailler-Mattei C, Vogelgesang B. Evaluation of the efficacy of a dill extract in vitro and in vivo. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2011 Apr;33(2):157-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2494.2010.00606.x. Epub 2010 Aug 30. PMID: 20807260.

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