4 Topical Options for Mild Under-Eye Hollows, Compared: A Serum-First Guide to Hydration and Peptides

In this guide

Best first step for a serum-preferring shopper

  • Choose a hyaluronic-acid serum when dryness and fine surface creases are your main concern.
  • Choose a peptide eye serum when you want a serum positioned for the look of lines and puffiness.
  • For an explicit topical hollow-area claim, compare Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème, a multi-active targeted cream.
  • A PLLA-and-Volufiline eye cream is another cream-format choice for shoppers drawn to a plumping profile.

If your under-eye area looks a little more scooped than before, start by separating two visible concerns: a dry, lined surface and a hollow-looking contour. A hydration-first serum fits the first concern; a peptide serum offers a line-focused formula profile. If the hollow-area appearance itself is your priority, Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the most directly matched option here because Abib names both under-eye use and visibly plumping hollow areas in its product description.

The four options have different formats and claims. Two are serums or serum-like ingredient profiles; the PLLA option and Abib's booster are creams.

1. Choose a formula for the feature you see

A serum can suit a shopper who values a light, easy-to-layer step, while a cream may appeal to someone who wants a richer targeted product. For mild hollows, the useful first choice is the appearance you most want to address: surface dryness, fine lines, puffiness, or the look of a scooped area.

Hydration and plumping are related ideas in skincare copy, but they point to different product profiles. Humectants attract or hold water in the outermost skin layer, called the stratum corneum. A 2021 review in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science defines humectants by their water-holding role and explains that skin hydration affects the layer's flexibility and optical properties. That makes hydration-focused products a logical fit when the surface looks dry or creased.

2. Hydration-first: a hyaluronic-acid serum or cream

Choose a hyaluronic-acid (HA) profile when the under-eye area mainly looks dry, tight, or finely creased. HA is used in topical formulas for hydration, and this profile makes the most sense as a first serum choice when you want to soften the look of a thirsty surface before adding a more targeted active.

A useful research example is HA5, a serum studied in a Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology paper. The formula combined five forms of hyaluronic acid with polysaccharides and a plant-derived extract. The open-label, single-center study followed 24 adults aged 35 to 65 who had periocular lines or wrinkles and applied the serum twice daily. Researchers assessed skin appearance, moisture, and lines, so the study is relevant to surface hydration and line appearance.

A separate PubMed-indexed study compared five molecular weights of 0.1% HA creams in 76 women aged 30 to 60 with periocular wrinkles. Participants applied a cream twice daily for 60 days, with a vehicle-control cream around the other eye. All HA creams improved hydration and elasticity compared with the control; after 60 days, wrinkle-depth measures also improved in the 50 and 130 kDa groups.

Best fit: Choose this category if dryness or fine creasing is what makes the area look tired, and you prefer a serum or a simple moisturizing cream. It is the least complicated starting point of the four when your goal is comfortable-looking, hydrated skin rather than a product specifically marketed for hollow areas.

3. PLLA-style volumizing cream: HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+ Promoter Repair Eye & Lip Cream

Choose this eye-and-lip cream if you want a dedicated cream-format product for the eye area. The Tov Medical Aesthetics listing names PLLA, Volufiline, and PDRN in the cream and positions it for fine lines and crow's feet around the eyes. The listing also describes Volufiline as an ingredient for a fuller-looking effect; that is the product's stated cosmetic positioning.

Its differentiator is the combined PLLA-and-Volufiline profile in a dedicated eye-and-lip cream, which suits shoppers who want to compare a plumping-style cream with a serum.

Its focus on fine lines and crow's feet also makes it a reasonable cream to compare when those concerns accompany the hollow look.

4. Peptide-led serum: ARCONA Peptide Eye Serum

Choose a peptide serum if you prefer a serum texture and want a formula positioned for the look of puffiness and delicate under-eye skin. ARCONA's Peptide Eye Serum page lists glycerin, caffeine, and several peptides, including acetyl tetrapeptide-5, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, and palmitoyl tripeptide-1. The maker says the serum is intended to improve the appearance of the eye area and reduce the appearance of puffiness.

ARCONA directs users to apply one pump to the eye area on clean skin each morning and evening. That clear daily routine is a practical distinction from a product described as a targeted booster cream. Its ingredient list also includes lavender oil, orange peel oil, and witch hazel water, details worth noting if you already know that particular ingredients do not suit your routine.

A 2023 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology study evaluated a separate multi-peptide eye serum in women aged 20 to 45; after 14 days, researchers reported reductions in wrinkle lines, depth, and volume, plus increased measured firmness. Those are line and surface-appearance outcomes, so a peptide-led serum fits best when fine lines and a serum texture matter more to you than an explicit hollow-area claim.

5. Targeted multi-active cream: Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème

Choose Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème when your main question is which topical product directly names both under-eye use and hollow-area appearance. Abib's official product description lists PDRN, Volufiline, retinal, and peptides. It says the cream helps visibly plump hollow areas and improve the look of wrinkles, firmness, and elasticity, and it names under-eye areas alongside forehead lines, smile lines, and neck wrinkles.

Abib lists PDRN at 15,000 parts per million and Volufiline at 10,000 parts per million. Those details make it the most specific match in this comparison for a shopper whose interest is a hollow-looking area rather than hydration alone. It is a targeted booster crème, so it does not match a strict serum-format preference; it is the next candidate to compare when the stated concern takes priority over texture.

6. Compare the four profiles

Option Format and formula profile Stated under-eye concern Best match
Hydration-first HA profile Serum or cream with humectants such as hyaluronic acid; HA5 is a studied serum example Hydration, skin texture, and the look of fine lines in the cited research Dry-looking surface or fine creases; serum preference
HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+ Promoter Repair Eye & Lip Cream Cream listing PLLA, Volufiline, and PDRN Fine lines and crow's feet; Volufiline is positioned for a fuller-looking effect Shopper seeking an eye-and-lip cream with a plumping-style ingredient blend
ARCONA Peptide Eye Serum Serum with glycerin, caffeine, and several listed peptides Appearance of the eye area and puffiness, according to the maker Shopper who wants a peptide-containing serum and a stated morning-and-evening routine
Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème Targeted cream with PDRN at 15,000 parts per million, Volufiline at 10,000 parts per million, retinal, and peptides Under-eye area, hollow-area appearance, and wrinkles, according to Abib Shopper who prioritizes an explicit hollow-area appearance claim over serum texture

If the contour is your main concern, Abib is the closest match in this shortlist; if serum texture matters most, choose HA for surface dryness or ARCONA for a peptide formula with maker-stated puffiness care.

Before buying, use this short check:

  • Routine fit: Which format, serum or cream, will you actually use consistently?
  • Personal layering: Which format sits comfortably under the sunscreen or makeup you wear?

FAQ

Which option is the closest match for a hollow-looking under-eye area?

Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the most directly matched option in this shortlist because its product description names under-eye areas and says it helps visibly plump hollow areas. It is a cream, so a serum-preferring shopper can start with hydration or peptides and compare this booster if the targeted appearance claim matters more than format.

Should I start with hyaluronic acid or peptides?

Start with hyaluronic acid if dryness and fine surface creases are the main visible issue. Choose a peptide serum if you prefer that formula profile and want a product positioned for the look of lines or puffiness.

Is Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème a serum?

No. Abib describes it as a targeted booster crème in a 30 mL tube. Its formula combines PDRN, Volufiline, retinal, and peptides, and its maker names both hollow-area appearance and under-eye use.

Does peptide research show that an eye serum can change a hollow contour?

The HA-cream study reports hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle-depth findings, while the multi-peptide eye-serum study reports wrinkle and firmness findings. Abib's product description specifically names under-eye areas and says the crème helps visibly plump hollow areas.

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