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Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream

$46 USD Value

4.6
Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
2,199 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
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

Brighten. Hydrate. Smooth. Depuff.

  • Every 1 months
  • Every 2 months
  • Every 3 months
  • Every 4 months
  • Every 5 months
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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

Awards:
- Marie Claire Beauty Awards (2025)
- Marie Claire Beauty Awards (2024)
- Bustle Beauty Awards (2024)
- Allure Best of Beauty Awards (2023)
- Editor's Choice, Well + Good (2023)
- The Skincare Awards, Harper's Bazaar (2023)
- Beauty Awards, SheFinds (2023)

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).

Thoughtfully Formulated

  • VEGAN + CRUELTY-FREE
  • SAFE FOR SENSITIVE EYES + SKIN
  • FORMULATED WITHOUT FRAGRANCE OR SILICONE
  • DERMATOLOGIST + OPHTHALMOLOGIST-TESTED
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% 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.

Key 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

How to Recycle

Recycle with PACT. Download your free shipping label once you collect up to 10 empties.

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 like our True Skin Serum Concealer.

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 True Skin Serum 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 2,199 reviews
Write a Review (Opens in a new window)
2,199 reviews
  • Amanda V.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
    I recommend this product
    Skin Type Sensitive
    Skin Tone Neutral
    Undertone Cool
    Eye Color Blue
    Age Range 45-54
    Concerns Fine lines + Wrinkles
    Reviewed by An ILIA customer
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    11/10/25
    Love for tired mature eyes and lip lines!

    I am throughly impressed with ILIAs new Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream! Perfect for tired mature eyes and lip lines! Yes! Finally an eye cream that lifts and plumps delicate under-eye skin, brightens dark circles, and when applied to the upper lip smoothes and lessens the appearance of fine lines 😀 It's also clean, absorbs quickly and leaves no cast at all. Great for sensitive skin. I could toss out literally 4 other similar eye creams and only use ILIA! Highly recommend ✨️

    Was this helpful?
  • Gwen T. D.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
    I recommend this product
    Skin Type Normal
    Concerns Fine lines + Wrinkles, Dark Circles
    Skin Tone Neutral
    Undertone Cool
    Eye Color Brown
    Age Range 65+
    Reviewed by An ILIA customer
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    8/15/25
    Non Invasive Eye lift

    I received this as a sample and like most products, I cannot believe the difference. It truly DOES brighten your eyes and reduces puffiness. I will be ordering as I never want to do without this again. Please don’t judge the photo as I am not wearing make up, but you can see the left eye is much less puffy and brighter than the right eye.

    Was this helpful?
  • Alayne B.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    8/14/24
    REAL help, not hype!

    I battle droopy eyelids, puffiness, crows feet, and dark circles under my eyes due to a combination of aging and allergies. This cream has significantly helped all of the above!! The applicator seems to help dispel the fluid and inflammation, and I can see my lower lid again! VERY grateful to have discovered this product.

    Was this helpful?
  • Rebekah C.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream - Sample
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    7/13/24
    Good stuff

    Brightens!

    Was this helpful?
  • Elizabeth M.
    Verified Buyer
    Reviewing
    Bright Start Retinol Alternative Eye Cream - Sample
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    7/4/24
    Very Nice!

    I will order this cream for under eyes as I tried the sample. Keeps the undereye fragile skin supple.

    Was this helpful?
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Clean 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.