Retinol is the ingredient that just about all dermatologists say is a “must have” ingredient in anti-aging skincare. Retinol boosts collagen to reduce fine lines, speeds up cell renewal to even out discolorations and smooth the skin, and it helps unclog pores. It’s a clinically proven powerhouse ingredient.
But when it comes to eye cream, retinol is often left out of the ingredient list. I’m not sure why. In fact, I think I have only used one eye cream with retinol, from Vichy. It was an OK eye cream, but I didn’t replace it when I used it up, and I never got around to reviewing it. It was nothing special.
I should have sought out an eye cream from RoC. When it comes to retinol, RoC is the expert. The scientists at RoC were the first to develop methods to stabilize and package retinol in a pure, effective form.
Several months ago, I wrote about RoC Retinol Correxxion Max Daily Hydration Creme (reviewed here). I liked it a lot. I think it’s an especially perfect winter anti-aging moisturizer. And in a week or two, I’ll be hosting a giveaway for this super cream. So stay tuned!
In the meantime, RoC generously sent me a tube of RoC Retinol Correxxion Eye Cream. An eye cream with retinol! Yay!
RoC Retinol Correxxion Eye Cream
RoC Retinol Correxxion Eye Cream has been around for a long time, more than a decade. I’m not sure how long, but at least several years. It comes in a small tube that reminds me of the aluminum tubes of yesteryear where you could smush them and get out every last drop. I like that.
The cream itself is white and lightweight. It’s a perfect eye cream for summer because it doesn’t feel greasy or like it’s weighing my skin down like some serious anti-aging eye creams can. Another plus with the lightweight, greaseless consistency is that it doesn’t interfere with eye makeup one bit.
RoC Retinol Correxxion is clinically proven to fight signs of aging around the eyes with its retinol formula. Here’s what it promises:
- Visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles
- Diminish the look of age spots to leave skin looking smoother and healthier
- Diminish the appearance of crow’s feet and dark circles
- Visibly reduce the appearance of sun damage.
That’s a pretty tall order. RoC says that Retinol Correxxion Eye Cream will lighten dark circles and fade discoloration in 4 weeks, and it will soften fine lines and wrinkles in 12 weeks. Fortunately, I don’t have bad dark circles, I don’t have bags under my eyes, and the only discoloration around my eyes is that dark spot that I need IPL or laser treatments to remove. Though I haven’t been using the product for 12 weeks, I can see that the fine lines I was so concerned about last winter and early spring, are much less visible. In fact, I almost forgot about them. I hope that as I continue to use RoC Retinol Correxxion, they’ll disappear.
I decided to read through the customer reviews, and see what others thought about RoC Retinol Correxxion Eye Cream. One of the things that many consumers say is that it’s great at getting rid of undereye puffiness, decreasing undereye bags, and fading dark circles. Some reviewers wrote about disappearing wrinkles. But I must also mention that some reviewers seemed to be sensitive to something in the formula because they experienced irritation of the skin under their eyes. They were a small minority, the product has been around for more than a decade, and I haven’t experienced any irritation. Nevertheless, I wanted to mention it. Here are the ingredients so you can see if there is anything that you could be sensitive to in the formula:
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Lactose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Isopropyl Myristate, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Propylparaben, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc Gluconate
RoC Retinol Correxxion Eye Cream contains 0.5 fl. oz. and is widely available at drugstores, Target, Walmart, and at Ulta. The MSRP is $22.99.
If you’re looking for an affordable lightweight eye cream with powerhouse anti-aging ingredients, I recommend that you give RoC Retinol Correxxion Eye Cream a try. I think RoC skincare, one of the serious French pharmacy skincare brands, is a real value that delivers results.
Do you use an eye cream with retinol? Have you tried this one?
Allison….where is the “retinol” on the ingredient list? can’t find it. I always look to see where all the ingredients are on the list. The main ingredient (retinol) the higher on the list the better. But I don’t see it listed. Does this eye cream contain retinol? 🙋🏻❤️
It’s there toward the end of the ingredient list, DiEtta. Although it is helpful to look at where an ingredient is on the list, most skincare products contain moisturizing ingredients toward the beginning of the list and actives in the middle and toward the end of the list depending on what they are. Retinol can be irritating, and I was wondering if that’s why some of the reviewers experienced irritation using this eye cream. I have read that retinol can work as well as Rx Retin A in stimulating collagen production but that it takes longer. From what I have read, “less is more” when it comes to retinoids.
I found it on the list…….I must of gone past it while looking. (Grandma is getting old.😱) it is pretty far down on the list. Lots of fillers before the retinol.
LOL, but it was a great comment anyway, DiEtta! Nevertheless, you don’t want a lot of retinol right near your eyes. I wouldn’t consider the ingredients a lot of fillers but standard hydrating ingredients: glycerin (moisturizer), lactose (source of AHA), c12-15 alkyl benzoate (emollient & thickening agent), cetearyl ethylhexanoate (emollient that prevents skin from losing hydration) etc. The ingredients that I could probably do without are the parabens preservatives, but many mainstream skincare companies use them because they would rather include them than risk consumer problems from the products going bad.
This is one of the best eye creams on the market. It’s a Holy Grail staple in my skin care arsenal and I’ve used more tubes than I can count. If RoC ever discontinued it, I would be the saddest of pandas.
Oh wow, I am glad to hear that it’s one of your faves, Erika! They have a relatively new 5-in-1 Retinol Eye Cream that has also piqued my interest that I’ll try some day.
I use skincare with retinol, but haven’t tried an eye cream with it. It sounds great for preventing lines!
RoC Retinol Correxxion Eye Cream seems to be almost a cult favorite. If you can handle the retinol, it seems it’s really does the trick
I haven’t tried this from ROC but I have one from Neostrata which I love. I have a few customers who complained about irritations too but the problem was they were using too much. Good to know you saw promising results, Allison!
I didn’t know NeoStrata had a retinol eye cream. I’ve used other eye creams from NeoStrata/Exuviance as well as other skincare products, and I love both brands. I tried a Vichy retinol eye cream last year, but I truly prefer this one from RoC
My mom actually bought this one and she was sensitive to it as well – it caused the outer corners of her eyes to become red and itchy. That said, my friend uses it without any problems and raves about it all the time. YMMV!
It was so interesting to read the customer reviews on the RoC website. There were some who had the same reaction as your mother, but the majority were in love with it. Wondering if it’s the retinol that some are sensitive too?
I’ve always been a big fan of their eye-creams! A great drugstore product for sure!
Glad to hear you’re a fan of RoC, too!
I can’t use this now since I’ve recently had an IPL treatment and retinol isn’t allowed but it’s a staple in my eye cream wardrobe.
How did the IPL go? I would love to IPL on my two unfadable dark spots
My face in general is brighter but the two main sunspots are only lightened and not gone. I have one more treatment in August and I’ll ask her to double zap those.
I’ll be curious to find out if the dark spots lighten further in your next treatment. I need to get new wall to wall carpeting in my bedroom so I’m not considering it right now, but I would love to fade my 2 dark spots too.
I’ve heard great things about this skincare line.
This sounds like an amazing eye cream, especially for dark circles. Once I finish the Origins one I’m on I’ll give this a go.
I have tried a couple of their products and think that they are solid performers. I have not, however, tried this eye cream. I may have to pick it up. It is a great idea to have a retinol-based eye cream to help soften fine lines.
Yes, I have a couple of eye creams that I absolutely love for firming, but I didn’t have a retinol eye cream in my arsenal that I really liked to soften lines. It’s crazy to use two different eye creams, but that’s what I’m doing now 😉
I use this eye cream in the sensitive version.
Thanks for telling me there’s a sensitive version. I wonder what makes it different from this version? As I mentioned, there were a few commenters on the RoC website who mentioned that they had some discomfort or irritation using the regular version. It’s good that they have another version
I have never heard of this before so thank you. 🙂
I’ve seen RoC around for decades and for some reason I’ve never tried the brand! I think I should switch to a retinol eye cream once I finish what I have, my undereyes are getting that crepe-y texture that makes applying concealer very difficult.
RoC pretty much wrote the book on retinol in skincare products. Definitely worth considering in the future