Shoppers Prefer This $6 Eye Cream Over Pricey La Mer

I’m always hesitant to tinker with my skincare routine. If it’s not broken, I don’t fix it, and most days, I’m just grateful my skin is finally past its rebellious teenage years. Now that my complexion is clearer than it’s ever been, it’s starting to show its age, and daily Zoom calls won’t let me forget it. 

My colleague and fellow shopping writer Alicia Geigel loves this anti-aging eye gel for its “near instant brightening effects” that fluff out fine lines and give her “tired eyes a much-needed wake up.” But what’s sealing the deal for me is an Amazon reviewer who ditched their spendy La Mer eye cream for this $6 eye gel. And get this: They prefer it.

Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel 

Dealing with persistent eye bags, that shopper had tried everything from drugstore brands to luxury labels, but nothing had done the trick until Good Molecules. 

“I have always used an eye cream, most recently RoC and even La Mer for a while. This inexpensive little tube seems to be doing the job better,” they said, reporting noticeable results within just weeks.

When a $6 product gets better results than options costing hundreds, I’m sticking with the one that’s closer to the price of a cup of coffee. And that is Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel.

What stands out to me in this under-eye treatment is yerba mate. That’s the Ilex paraguariensis extract in the ingredient list, derived from tea leaves and rich in antioxidants that can help brighten complexions.

Caffeine and peptides work together to boost circulation and deflate puffiness, and this eye gel also packs in three forms of hyaluronic acid for deep hydration, plus the reliable combo of vitamins B5 and E that skin loves.

The payoff is brighter, smoother, better-rested eyes, according to folks I trust and 14,500 five-star ratings.

Geigel doesn’t always get a full eight hours of sleep each night—“which leaves my eyes looking puffy, dark, and exhausted by the morning,” she says—but I’d never know it from looking at her. “With a small dab to the under eyes (because a little goes a long way), my eyes looked as if I had gotten hours of rest without laying my head on the pillow,“ she says.

Others confirm the gel is lightweight and smooths on with a soothing, cooling effect. Skin drinks it up with no lingering greasiness, they say, and it layers perfectly under makeup. They also appreciate its gentle formula that doesn’t sting or irritate even sensitive skin like mine.

“Within just a few days, I noticed a visible difference—my dark circles started to fade, puffiness went down, and my under-eye area felt smoother and more hydrated,” one reviewer shared. “My eyes look more refreshed and awake, and I feel more confident.”

For bright eyes that say I sleep eight hours every night, even when I don’t, Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel is an eye cream worth shaking up my routine for. It’s now just $6 at Amazon, and keep reading for other creams, serums, patches, and balms to wake up dark, puffy eyes.

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum

Mario Badescu Hydrogel Under-Eye Patches

Cosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream

Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream

Enaskin Naturals Under-Eye Patches

RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Vitamin C Eye Balm