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Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream

£47 GBP ( value)

2,300 Reviews
Bright Start Eye Cream Tube with Allure Award Winning Badge
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
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Sale price£42.30

Regular price £47.00

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Slow down your morning and wake up eyes with a potent eye cream that delivers the benefits of retinol without the drawbacks. With a weightless texture that layers seamlessly under makeup, Bright Start is clinically proven to refresh and revive tired eyes instantly—and reduce dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles over time. Light-reflecting pearl illuminates, and the cooling ceramic tip doubles as a massage tool for a moment of calm as you begin your day.

Size: 0.5fl oz | 15ml

Formerly known as Bright Start Activated Eye Cream

Aqua/Water/Eau, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Mica, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalene, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Citrate, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide).

  • 2025

    Best Brightening Eye Cream

    Marie Claire Beauty Awards

  • 2024

    Best Depuffing Eye Cream

    Marie Claire Beauty Awards

  • 2024

    Best Eye Cream

    Bustle Beauty Awards

  • 2023

    Best Brightening Eye Cream

    Allure Best of Beauty Awards

  • 2023

    Editor's Choice

    Well + Good

  • 2023

    The Skincare Awards

    Harper's Bazaar

  • 2023

    Beauty Awards

    SheFinds

Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream

Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream

Thoughtfully Formulated

  • vegan + cruelty-free
  • safe for sensitive eyes + skin
  • formulated without fragrance or silicone
  • dermatologist + ophthalmologist-tested

Brighten.

Hydrating.

Smooth.

Depuff.

A close up before photo without Bright Start Eye Cream and an instantly after applying Bright Start on a model.

Clinical Results

Clinically proven to hydrate skin and reduce dark circles*

83%83% said the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles was reduced***

100%said concealer applied more smoothly**

93%said under eyes felt smoother***

91%said under eyes were brightened***

In a 6-week instrumental study of 30 women ages 39-65 (*). In a clinical study of 52 women ages 39-65. Results after 4 weeks (**); after 6 weeks (***).

Clear, green liquid with movement to display the Sea Fennel ingredient in Bright Start Eye Cream.

Ingredients

Sea Fennel Extract

Sustainably sourced retinol alternative that visibly brightens, firms, and smooths without the drawbacks of traditional retinol, which can be too harsh for sensitive skin

Upcycled Avocado Extract

Zero-waste active that reduces the look of dark circles and puffiness

Caffeine & Peptides

Powerful actives that visibly depuff and revive tired eyes

How To Use

Swipe

Squeeze the tube to apply a small amount below your eyes. 

Flip

Switch to the cooling side of the ceramic tip.

Massage

Move in slow arcs from the outer corner of the eye in, and up along the brow bone.

Tap

Gently pat with fingers to help any excess absorb. Wear alone or under Skin Rewind Complexion Stick.

Why We Love It

A relaxing ritual in the form of an eye cream. Refresh and revive eyes instantly and over time, all while prepping skin for seamless makeup application.

Founder's Note

““I found so many eye creams didn’t work with concealer or provide all the benefits I was looking for. Bright Start targets my concerns and feels amazing in the morning as a wakeup call for eyes. It doesn’t hurt that there’s a cooling effect with an applicator that doubles as a massage tool.””

— Sasha

Recycle or Repurpose

1. Cut open the tube and rinse out any remaining product.

2. Twist off the ceramic tip.Request a free shipping label and recycle the tube, tip, and cap through Pact Collective.

3. Request a free shipping label and recycle the tube, tip, and cap through Pact Collective.

FAQ

If we didn't answer your question, contact us.

Bright Start can be used morning and night. We love it in the morning as a wakeup call for eyes. The cooling ceramic tip and light-reflecting pearl make it a calming, brightening part of your morning routine.

We recommend applying Bright Start before your moisturizer and SPF.

Sea Fennel Extract, the plant-based retinol alternative in Bright Start, delivers the benefits of traditional retinol without the drawbacks. It’s safe for sensitive skin and eyes, safe for daytime use, and there’s no need to build tolerance.

The plant-based retinol alternative used in Bright Start, Sea Fennel Extract, isn’t actually a retinoid—it’s a botanical extract with similar benefits. That means it’s safe to use with products containing Vitamin C.

Bright Start is formulated for all skin types. It’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and safe for sensitive skin and eyes.

Bright Start is formulated with sheer, light-reflecting pearl to softly illuminate eyes, but it won't add any coverage. We love pairing it with concealer to conceal dark circles or discoloration. Over time, Bright Start is clinically proven to reduce dark circles.

We created Bright Start for a moment of morning calm. Squeeze the tube to swipe a small amount under your eye, flip to the cooling side of the ceramic tip, massage in slow arcs from the outer corner of your eye in and above the brow bone, and tap gently to help any excess product absorb.

4.6
Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
Based on 2,300 reviews
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2,300 reviews
  • Tonya M.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
    I recommend this product
    Skin Type Normal
    Skin Tone Warm
    Undertone Cool
    Eye Color Hazel
    Age Range 55-64
    Concerns Puffiness
    Reviewed by An ILIA customer
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    8/14/26
    Tonya M

    Excellent item!

    Was this helpful?
  • Roxana B.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
    I recommend this product
    Skin Type Combination
    Skin Tone Warm
    Undertone Warm
    Eye Color Brown
    Age Range 45-54
    Concerns Redness, Fine lines + Wrinkles
    Reviewed by An ILIA customer
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    8/13/26
    I love it

    It is a wonderful eye cream, the only one I use. Highly recommended

    Was this helpful?
  • Grace C.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
    I recommend this product
    Skin Type Sensitive
    Skin Tone Olive
    Undertone Olive
    Eye Color Brown
    Age Range 25-34
    Concerns Dark Circles, Redness
    Reviewed by An ILIA customer
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    7/29/26
    Brightens up my eyes

    I've been using this for several years now. I do feel this brightens up my eyes and helps out under my concealer.

    Was this helpful?
  • Diana M.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
    I recommend this product
    Skin Type Sensitive
    Skin Tone Olive
    Undertone Neutral
    Eye Color Brown
    Age Range 65+
    Concerns Dark Circles, Puffiness, Sensitivity, Fine Lines and Wrinkles
    Reviewed by An ILIA customer
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    7/28/26
    Love this!!

    This is probably the best eye cream I’ve used! Great around my sensitive eyes and an immediate brightener!!

    Was this helpful?
  • Marianne V.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
    I do not recommend this product
    Skin Type Normal
    Skin Tone Cool
    Undertone Warm
    Eye Color Brown
    Age Range 65+
    Concerns Fine lines + Wrinkles, Dark Circles, Puffiness
    Reviewed by An ILIA customer
    Rated 2 out of 5 stars
    7/26/26
    Eye cream

    No change noted.

    Was this helpful?
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Retinol Alternative Eye Cream.

Refresh and revive tired eyes instantly with Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream. The hydrating, brightening eye cream delivers potent skincare ingredients to reduce dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles over time. 

Bright Start is also an eye cream for sensitive skin, using Sea Fennel Extract to smooth without the drawbacks of traditional retinol, which can be too harsh for sensitive complexions. The caffeine eye cream also uses peptides to visibly depuff tired eyes.