We put RoC’s Retinol Correxion Eye Cream to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.
While I try to embrace aging as much as I can (it’s a privilege to get older!), I’ve had some annoying-to-me issues pop up in my eye area now that I’m in my 30s. These include fine lines (also known as crow’s feet) and increased puffiness under my eyes.
And then there’s something that I’ve had my whole life: dark circles. As a wellness enthusiast who knows all the facts about just how important sleep is, I do my best to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night. But I’d be lying if I said I succeeded all the time. To prove it, the first place that tiredness shows up is under my eyes in the form of dark, purple-ish circles. In other words, if I’m well-rested, my under-eye area is in great shape. If I’m not, I’m slathering on concealer.
These are all the reasons why I was so excited to try RoC’s Retinol Correxion Eye Cream. I’ve had a good experience with retinol in general, so I was excited to see what kind of magic it could work on my eyes.
Keep on scrolling to read how it worked out for me.
About My Skin: Fair and freckly
While my skin doesn’t tend to be that sensitive, it’s very fair and freckly. As a result, any eye concerns are more pronounced on me—darker circles, more puffiness, more pronounced wrinkles, the list goes on.
But like I said, my skin actually isn’t that sensitive, which is why I enjoy retinol products so much. I had never actually tried a retinol-based eye cream, which is why RoC’s Retinol Correxion Eye Cream was so appealing.
The Feel: Light
I’ve used eye creams in the past—particularly Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream. While I liked how smooth it made my under eye area, it’s incredibly heavy and thick. However, RoC’s Retinol Correxion Eye Cream is the complete opposite. It had a very light feel, and the bottle made it easy to only dispense the tiny amount needed.
Byrdie / Leigh Weingus
Irritation: None for me
When it comes to skincare products, especially the ones I use on my face, I do my very best to follow directions as closely as I can. So when the instructions on the label informed me that I needed to use sunscreen with this product, I did. I don’t usually wear sunscreen around my eye area for fear of actually getting it in my eyes (this is a bad excuse, I know; you should wear it everyday and everywhere), so I found the process a little annoying because of that extra step.
Maybe it was the sunscreen or the fact that I started by using this every other night before easing into my daily routine, but I experienced no irritation at all with this product. I was expecting a bit of a tight feeling around my eye area since the skin under the eyes is very thin, but it never happened.
The Results: Fewer dark circles and reduced puffiness
I can’t say I’ve noticed any change in my crow’s feet just yet, but I know from experience that retinol is a long game when it comes to reducing fine lines. I have faith that this will happen with continued use. As mentioned, my only complaint is having to apply sunscreen in the eye area. But truth be told, I should have been doing that anyway.
Byrdie / Leigh Weingus
The Value: Pretty reasonable
RoC’s Retinol Correxion Line-Smoothing Eye Cream comes in a very small bottle—just 0.5 ounces. It retails for around $25, so on its face that might seem expensive. But a retinol-based eye cream really isn’t something you want to overdo, so a little goes a long way.
In general, this is a pretty average price for a retinol eye cream you can find at the drugstore. But as with most products, there are high-end versions. For example, Cle De Peau Beaute’s retinol eye cream retails at $150, so consider RoC’s a steal.
Byrdie / Leigh Weingus
Competition: A handful of options
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado ($50):As mentioned above, this is the only other experience I’ve really had with eye cream. Retailing at $50 for 0.95 oz, this stuff is expensive. I didn’t notice any other positive effects except my skin was smoother.
Murad Essential-C Eye Cream Broad Spectrum with SPF 15 ($70):This eye cream with retinol is significantly more expensive than RoC’s, retailing at $70 for a 0.5 ounce bottle. But it contains SPF. And like I said, having to apply sunscreen to my eye area was my main gripe with RoC’s Retinol Correxion Line-Smoothing Eye Cream, so I love the idea of built-in SPF.
