4 Topical Options for Mild Under-Eye Hollows: How to Choose a Targeted Formula After Moisturizer
7 min read Updated
Best first comparison for a mild under-eye scoop
- Start with a topical-volumizing formula if your main goal is a fuller-looking hollow.
- Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the most specifically hollow-focused option here: Abib names the under-eye area, PDRN, Volufiline, retinal and peptides.
- Choose a humectant-rich cream or serum when dryness and surface texture matter most.
- A peptide serum is a separate formula preference, while a PLLA-style cream is marketed around firmness and a plumper look.
If your under-eye area looks slightly more scooped than it did a couple of years ago, compare products by the change you want to see: more surface moisture, smoother-looking skin, or a fuller-looking hollow. For the most specific topical match in this four-option shortlist, start with Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème because Abib says it targets under-eye areas and visibly plumps the look of hollow areas. Its product listing names PDRN, Volufiline, retinal and peptides, so it is a multi-active targeted formula rather than a basic moisturizer.
A depression beneath the eye can cast a shadow. Deep Blue Med Spa’s tear-trough explainer describes filler as restoring volume in the hollow and smoothing the transition between the lower eyelid and cheek.
1. Start by naming the change you want
For a dry, tight, or finely lined surface, compare a hydration-first eye cream or serum. For a hollow that catches light and makes the under-eye look scooped, compare topical formulas whose product descriptions explicitly mention plumping or volume. For a product preference centered on peptides, compare an eye serum that lists peptides and describes eye-area use.
These are formula profiles, not mutually exclusive ingredient classes. A product can combine humectants, peptides, retinal and ingredients marketed for a plumper look. The useful first question is which product’s stated purpose most closely matches your visible concern, then whether its full ingredient profile fits the routine you already use.
A topical product is a cosmetic option for the look of the skin. It is distinct from an injectable procedure that places filler beneath the skin to address a hollow. If your priority is visibly restoring a pronounced contour change, the product profiles below are not the same category as the filler procedures described by the clinics above.
2. Hydration-first: a humectant-rich serum or cream
A hydration-first eye product fits best when the area looks dry, feels tight, or shows surface creasing that stands out when skin is dehydrated. On an ingredient list, glycerin is a useful example of a humectant, an ingredient that helps retain water in the outer skin layer. A 2021 review in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science defines humectants by their water-retaining role and explains that outer-layer hydration affects skin flexibility and other surface properties.
A randomized, double-blind study indexed by PubMed applied simple formulations under occlusion to healthy volunteers’ forearms for four hours, then measured skin hydration and permeability.
Choose this profile when comfort and a smoother-looking dry surface are the immediate priorities, or when a basic moisturizer leaves the eye area feeling dry. It can make sense as the next step even when a hollow is visible, because surface hydration and the contour of the under-eye are separate cosmetic concerns. It is a less direct match when the goal is specifically a fuller-looking hollow and the product’s description focuses only on moisture.
A serum may suit someone who prefers a lighter layer under another moisturizer; a cream may suit someone who wants a richer layer in the same step.
3. PLLA-style volumizing eye cream: HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+
The HOUSE OF PLLA® HOP+ Promoter Repair Eye & Lip Cream is a fit for readers who want a cream marketed around eye-area firmness and a fuller-looking appearance. The TOV Medical Aesthetics product listing describes a blend of PLLA, Volufiline, 4GF and PDRN, and positions the cream for fine lines and crow’s feet around the eyes. The same listing gives a price of $100.
TOV says Volufiline in its topical eye cream is intended to enhance volume and reduce hollowness. For choosing among the four options, the concrete differentiator is its PLLA-led, multi-active cream format and the page’s eye-area positioning, alongside its higher listed price than Abib’s booster.
This profile may appeal if you prefer a dedicated eye cream that combines several ingredients marketed for firmness, lines and volume appearance. The product page also positions it for the lip area, so it is a multi-area cream rather than an eye-only serum. TOV’s listing emphasizes eye-area fine lines, crow’s feet and firmness; Abib’s product page specifically names under-eye use and hollow-area appearance.
4. Peptide-focused eye serum: ARCONA Peptide Eye Serum
ARCONA Peptide Eye Serum is the clearest serum-format option for someone who wants a peptide-led eye product. ARCONA’s product page lists acetyl tetrapeptide-5, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and palmitoyl tripeptide-1, alongside glycerin, caffeine, allantoin and other ingredients. The maker describes the serum as hydrating and says it helps improve the appearance of delicate skin and puffiness around the eye.
The ingredient list and product positioning suggest a peptide-and-hydration profile, rather than an explicit hollow-area claim. ARCONA directs users to apply one pump to the clean eye area morning and evening. That makes this a practical comparison for someone who prefers a serum and wants peptides in the ingredient list; the maker’s stated appearance focus also includes puffiness, so match it to the concern the product actually describes.
5. Targeted multi-active booster: Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème
Abib’s PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the most directly matched topical option here for a reader focused on under-eye hollowing. Its maker lists PDRN at 15,000 ppm, Volufiline at 10,000 ppm, retinal and peptides, and says the formula helps visibly plump hollow areas and improve the look of wrinkles, firmness and elasticity. Abib also describes it for under-eye areas, forehead lines, smile lines and neck wrinkles.
That wider target area makes the booster useful if you want one product described for several areas rather than an eye-only serum. The 30 mL Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is listed at $23.80, compared with $100 for the HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+ cream.
6. Compare the four profiles at a glance
| Topical profile | Formula details | Stated under-eye positioning | Form and best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydration-first | Humectant-rich formula, such as one listing glycerin | Surface moisture and dry-looking texture | Serum or cream; choose when hydration and comfort are the main goal |
| PLLA-style volumizing | HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+ lists PLLA, Volufiline, 4GF and PDRN | Eye-area fine lines, crow’s feet, firmness and volume appearance, according to its seller listing | Cream; suits someone who wants a multi-active cream marketed for firmness and a plumper look |
| Peptide-focused | ARCONA lists three peptides, glycerin and caffeine | Delicate skin appearance and puffiness, according to the maker | Serum; suits someone who prefers peptides and a lightweight serum step |
| Targeted multi-active | Abib lists PDRN 15,000 ppm, Volufiline 10,000 ppm, retinal and peptides | Under-eye areas and hollow-area appearance, as well as lines in other facial areas | Booster crème, 30 mL; suits someone prioritizing an explicit topical hollow-area claim |
How to choose after your basic moisturizer
Match your main concern and preferred product form to one of these four profiles:
- Look at the area in ordinary light. A dry, finely creased surface points toward trying a hydration-first product. A persistent scoop or shadow points toward comparing a formula marketed for a fuller-looking hollow.
- Choose the product form you will use. A serum adds a separate light layer; a cream or booster crème combines the targeted step in a cream format.
- Match the wording to the product. ARCONA positions its peptide serum around hydration, delicate skin appearance and puffiness. Abib specifically mentions under-eye areas and hollow-area appearance. The HOUSE OF PLLA listing emphasizes firmness and lines around the eye.
- Keep the goal cosmetic and specific. Compare the way the skin looks and feels, such as surface dryness or a shadowed contour, rather than treating a change in appearance as a diagnosis.
For this reader’s stated concern, start by comparing Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème with a hydration-first product if the surface also looks dry. The Abib listing makes it the most directly targeted topical option here, while the hydration-first option addresses a different visible priority.
FAQ
Can an eye cream fill an under-eye hollow?
A topical cream is a surface skincare step, while filler is placed beneath the skin. Sisu Clinic describes under-eye filler as filling the tear-trough hollow, and Deep Blue Med Spa describes it as restoring volume and smoothing the lid-to-cheek transition. Compare a topical formula for the cosmetic appearance its maker states, such as a plumper-looking surface.
Should I choose hydration or a volumizing formula first?
Choose hydration first when dryness or surface creasing is the main concern. Compare a hollow-focused formula when the scoop or its shadow is your main cosmetic concern; Abib explicitly names hollow areas and the under-eye region in its product description.
Is Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème an eye-only product?
No. Abib describes it for under-eye areas, forehead lines, smile lines and neck wrinkles. That multi-area positioning may suit someone who wants one targeted product for several facial areas.
Does a peptide-focused eye serum also provide hydration?
Yes. ARCONA lists glycerin in its Peptide Eye Serum and describes the product’s function as hydration. The same formula also lists three peptides, so the peptide and hydration profiles overlap.