Eye Repair Cream is one of CeraVe’s most popular products. The brand claims that this product “can help hydrate, brighten and smooth your under-eye area.”
But does CeraVe Eye Repair Cream contain ingredients shown in research studies to have these effects, or are these just marketing claims? Does the product contain any questionable additive ingredients? What retailer sells this cream for the best price? And how do real users rate and describe its effects?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in CeraVe Eye Repair Cream based on medical studies to give our take on whether it’s likely to be an effective moisturizer and likely to improve skin quality or if it’s a waste of money.
We’ll also provide a cost breakdown featuring the retailer selling this product for the best price, and highlight real, unsponsored CeraVe Eye Repair Cream user reviews.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in CeraVe Eye Repair Cream are shown above.
A number of these ingredients are clinically shown to improve skin quality and skin moisture content.
Ceramide NP, ceramide AP and ceramide EOP are all part of a class of chemicals called ceramides, which can increase skin moisture content. A clinical trial published in the Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology journal concluded the following: “ceramide cream increases skin hydration and improves barrier function.”
Sweet almond oil is a botanical ingredient shown in a 2010 medical review to “smooth and rejuvenate skin.”
Sodium hyaluronate is one of the more effective anti-aging ingredients. As we documented in our Cetaphil vs CeraVe review article, this ingredient is clinically shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Glycerin can increase skin moisture content by around 15% according to a clinical trial published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.
Chrysanthellum indicum extract was shown in a 2019 clinical trial to have a “beneficial role” in promoting skin health. However, this was an in vitro (test tube) study, which makes the results weaker than a trial with human participants.
Asparagopsis armata extract is a seaweed ingredient that may have anti-aging effects according to a medical review on seaweed compounds in cosmetics published in the Marine Drugs journal.
Clearly there are a number of effective ingredients in CeraVe Eye Repair Cream. There is also one inactive ingredient that we consider questionable from a health perspective.
Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic preservative that was shown to be irritating to the eyes in a 2019 medical review, which makes it a strange choice for an eye cream in our opinion.
Overall, we consider CeraVe Eye Repair Cream not only likely to improve skin moisture, but also to have an anti-aging effect and to help promote skin barrier repair. From an efficacy perspective, this is one of the most impressive eye cream formulations that we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health.
We don’t currently recommend this product due to the inclusion of phenoxyethanol, but we consider this additive less of a concern than major potential irritants like artificial dyes and fragrance.
But how do real users rate and describe the effects of CeraVe Eye Repair Cream? We’ll review in the next section.
Real, Unsponsored CeraVe Eye Repair Cream Reviews
A YouTube creator named “Beauty Broadcast Express” reviewed CeraVe Eye Repair Cream in a video with over 200,000 views:
A TikTok creator named “catherine.abreu” shared how much of a difference this product made for her and included before-and-after images:
@catherine.abreu Reply to @eyedulce 🤍🤍🤍 @CeraVe Eye Repair and @Versed ♬ Aesthetic Girl - Yusei
Where to Buy CeraVe Eye Repair Cream for the Best Price
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown at the time of publishing this article:
Ulta: $15.99 (plus shipping, link)
CVS: $15.49 (plus shipping, link)
Amazon: $15.50 (free shipping depending on plan – link to official Amazon listing)
Walmart: $14.44 (plus shipping – link)
Amazon is cheaper when factoring in shipping costs, but Walmart may be cheaper for those who can purchase the product in store.
Are Eye Creams a Waste of Money?
A popular YouTube creator named Hyram has a video on whether or not eye creams are worth it with over 200,000 views:
Real Customers Review CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
CeraVe’s eye cream has been reviewed over 50,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “olmamma” who claims the product is effective and free of side effects:
“I am thrilled because it really improves the appearance of my eyelids, both under the eye and above the eye. It does not seem to eliminate my dark circles, but has improved the appearance of the skin around my entire eye. I've tried at least a dozen other cosmetics for my eyes and this is the only one I have been able to wear for more than a day or two. I have now worn it for 3 months with no irritation.”
The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Rubby Lopez” who claims the product caused irritation:
“Well let me tell you, never again am I buying eye repair creams, this cream made my eyes IRRITATED, PUFFY, RED, and ITCHY. I have no allergies but miraculously I began to apply this product and I felt this burning sensation under my eyes every time I would apply. I now use concealers because this product never worked out.”
How to Apply CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
CeraVe has a video on the brand’s official YouTube channel with a live product demonstration showing how to properly apply this cream. The video is only 19 seconds long:
Our Clean Skincare Picks
There are skincare products containing ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality.
Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top anti-aging serum.
It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.
HYDRAGLOW by CLEARSTEM is our top moisturizer pick.
It features bakuchiol as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 clinical trial as "clinically proven to have anti-aging effects."
Bulletproof Collagen Powder is our top skin supplement.
Collagen supplementation was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology to reduce visible signs of skin aging as well as improve skin elasticity and skin hydration.
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy or unsafe.
Pros and Cons of CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
Here are the pros and cons of CeraVe Eye Repair Cream in our opinion:
Pros:
- Many research-backed active ingredients
- Likely to improve skin moisture
- Likely to have anti-aging effect
- Can help heal skin barrier
- Mostly positive customer reviews
- Affordable
- Available at many online and in-store retailers
Cons:
- Contains a synthetic preservative that may irritate eyes
- Can’t buy from brand website directly
