Our top picks from Clinique, Garnier, Chantecaille, and more
Trust us, we love our traditional eye creams. But rollerball versions take a good thing and make it even better. Kind of like adding ice cream to pie or getting that extra 10-minute foot massage when you’re getting a pedi. If you haven’t yet used one, they’re simply serums (lighter than thicker creams) that come with a rollerball applicator. The benefits of this unique delivery system are plentiful.
Generally made of metal, the tips are innately cooling, even more so if you follow our lead and stash them in the fridge. This not only feels nice but is also choice for helping to take down puffiness, fast. The other upshot? Rolling the eye serum on, versus simply tapping it in with your fingertips as you usually would, acts as a little mini massage for the area under your eyes. This too might be a choice way to boost circulation and flush out the build-up of excess fluid that can cause, you guessed it, a puffy and swollen appearance. Couple that de-puffing prowess with the fact that many of these formulas offer a whole host of other benefits—line-fighting, dark circle-fading—and you may never want to go back to classic eye cream again, especially in the morning.
Check out our picks of the best rollerball eye serums, below.
Best Overall: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage
In true Clinique fashion, this roller has been ophthalmologist-tested and is free of alcohol and fragrance, so no matter whether you have sensitive peepers, skin, or both, this is choice.
Best Drugstore: Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Puff Eye Roller
An oldie-but-goodie, this drugstore staple gets the de-puffing job done, stat. It’s packed with caffeine and vitamin C meant to leave you looking bright-eyed, and while all rollerballs are cooling by nature, this formula ups the ante thanks to the addition of invigorating mint.
Best Cooling: Origins No Puffery Cooling Roll-On For Puffy Eyes
Chill out, literally, with this ultra-cold de-puffer. Not only is it pleasantly chilly and refreshing, but the lightweight texture of the serum also won’t mess up your makeup; swipe it on whenever that that 3 pm afternoon slump hits. Plus, a unique type of mushroom extract is meant to deliver extra hydration.
Best Luxury: Chantecaille Nano Gold Energizing Eye Serum
When you really want to treat yo’ self, reach for this option, which does in fact have a gold tip. There’s 24K gold infused inside the formula too, used for its antioxidant and soothing properties, according to the brand. But you’re not just paying for gold. The formula is filled with anti-agers, like stem cell extract and peptides meant to quickly minimize the look of wrinkles.
Best Organic: Eminence Organic Skin Care Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream
KEY INGREDIENTS Jojoba oil is a natural oil produced from the seed of the Chinensis plant, a drought-resistant shrub native to southern Arizona, California, and Mexico. It mimics natural sebum and conditions and seals moisture in the skin without clogging pores or exacerbating acne.1
Given that the skin around your eyes is so thin and delicate, it makes sense to try and opt for eye products with cleaner, more natural formulas. Enter this guy, loaded with certified organic ingredients such as hibiscus meant to increase elasticity and keep skin supple, protective plant-based antioxidants, and moisturizing jojoba oil. The slightly angled applicator tip also makes it easy to reach all the contours around your eyes.
What to Look For in Under Eye Rollers
Targeted Benefits
Under eye rollers can provide various benefits. When looking for under eye rollers, choose one that addresses your specific skin concerns. Most target puffiness and dark circles, but others will also include cooling ingredients, target fine lines, provide antioxidants, soothe, and hydrate.
Look for under eye rollers with vitamin C, antioxidants, nourishing oils, and caffeine ingredients.
Hydrating Ingredients
Under eye rollers that provide hydrating ingredients can act double-duty for nourishing and moisturizing the skin while de-puffing and cooling. This can help provide a smooth base for your makeup and lock in moisture for healthier skin. Look for ingredients such as glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, squalene, and jojoba oil.
Non-Irritating
The skin under the eyes is delicate and sensitive. Look for under eye rollers that leave out potential irritants or ingredients that can dry skin, such as alcohol, fragrance, and parabens if you have sensitive skin.
FAQ
Do under eye rollers work?
Under eye rollers can work to reduce puffiness while providing active ingredients that address other skin concerns such as fine lines and dark circles. The massaging action may help reduce fluid buildup, reducing puffiness.
What is the best eye roller for puffy eyes?
Our pick for the best eye roller for puffy eyes is the First Aid Beauty First Aid Eye Roller. It contains caffeine, peptides, witch hazel, sodium hyaluronate, and antioxidants. It’s also free of alcohol, fragrance, and parabens.
Do eye rollers work for puffiness?
Eye rollers work for puffiness by decreasing fluid retention under your eyes through massaging action. They also contain ingredients such as caffeine that may tighten the undereye area and vitamins that may boost radiance.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
