This $14 Eye Cream Replaced My Fancy One—and Makes Me Look Rested Even When I’m Not

To help set the scene: I just turned 40 years old—I mean—young. I have two small kids: one is five; the other’s three. Even though I have the best job on the planet—I test beauty products for a living—it can be demanding. I commute a whopping five hours to and from the office. Like most of us, I feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. And while I know getting good sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, sometimes life (the kids, the dog, work, etc.) gets in the way and my eyes are the first to show it. That bright and bushy-eyed look I once had when I had the pleasure of sleeping in and stressing less is officially gone (RIP) and the dark circles, puffiness, and overall tired eye look (thank gosh for concealer) is now my new norm.

I’ve been interviewing dermatologists for almost 20 years. Some say, in a pinch, you can use your regular face cream in place of eye cream. But most agree that the skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate (which is why it’s so quick to show signs of distress and aging), and that applying a cream specifically formulated for that area is a good idea. I’ve tested hundreds and usually gravitate toward the thick formulas housed in weighty pots from fancy skincare brands, and am always shocked at how expensive many of them are. While they feel lovely, the problem I sometimes have is that they cause milia—small, white or yellowish bumps that appear under the eyes that are caused by a buildup of keratin. So I’ve been reaching for lighter formulas to avoid that issue. I want to look bright, not bumpy!

Recently, I met with TikTok-obsessed, teen-focused skincare brand Bubble Skincare. To back up, Bubble is now one of the most requested brands from my mom friends. I hear “Do you have any Bubble?” at least once a week. The line, co-created with dermatologists and teens, launched in 2020 to give Gen-Zers effective products for sensitive, breakout-prone skin at an affordable price point. Moms feel good knowing these products are safe and hydrating. So if teens are into the skincare craze, derms say these products are a great option. And while teens don’t need any skincare bells or whistles (or super powerful active ingredients), teaching them the importance of a basic (cleanse, moisturize, protect with SPF) skincare routine surely can’t hurt.

Despite all of its success, what the brand might not have anticipated is that Moms and other non-teens like me started dipping into the products. I’m sensitive and redness-prone, so I love how gentle and hydrating the formulas are. And while I know they weren’t designed for my demo, I think the poppy packaging is super cute. So when the brand let me test their latest, an eye cream, I was all about it. Before you roll your eyes because teens probably don’t need an eye cream, the brand is expanding to help people of all ages.

I assumed it would feel light and refreshing but that I’d most likely gravitate back to the fancier (more expensive) products on my shelf. But I haven’t! One pump of the new Star Dew Hydrating Eye Cream provides the perfect dose for each of my eyes. It’s light (so I don’t have to stress about milia) yet pillowy and checks all of the boxes. It has peptides and plant extracts to help ease the signs of stress from squinting at our laptops and phone screens, along with shea butter to nourish the thin skin, and squalane, an emollient that actually helps draw water to the skin to keep it looking fresh and plump regardless of all of the expressions we make throughout the day. It plays well under makeup, and I even apply it between my eyebrows to help ward off “11” lines and around my lips to help soften lip lines—two tricks I learned from derms. Hot tip: Make sure you’re applying any eye cream with your ring finger, since that one’s the weakest and won’t pull or tug on the thin skin. The best part: I don’t feel bad recommending it to friends because it’s only $14, proving the point that beauty products don’t have to break the bank to work.

So while I can’t help you with getting more sleep (though I’m always on the hunt for ways), my favorite new eye cream will help you fake eight hours until you make it happen.