Typology's new anti-aging eye serum is our beauty editor's secret to looking less tired

CNN

21-04-2025

French skin care brand Typology is known for its pared back formulas and targeted approach, and CNN Underscored got an exclusive look at its new launch out today, the A30 Eye Serum for Fine Lines and Wrinkles. Gentle enough for nightly use, but plenty potent to make a difference, this formula packs in an anti-aging punch and is already showing its worth in my nighttime routine.
As someone that struggles to stick to a consistent sleep schedule, I'm usually plagued by dark circles and I've been noticing more creasing in my under-eye area too. In the past, I've reached for expensive, rich eye creams that can fill in those areas, at least temporarily. To contrast, Typology's $54 eye serum (also available in a $31 half size) is light and only a drop or two is needed around each eye. Yet, I've already noticed an improvement in the shadows that lurk under my eyes — their surface area has diminished remarkably and even with the weightless feel of the serum, my under-eyes have stayed smooth and hydrated. My under-eye concealer has even lost out on some game time because I'm looking more awake.
Typology A30 Eye Serum for Fine Lines and Wrinkles 0.1% Retinoids + Hyaluronic Acid
This milky eye serum, made with a gentle retinoid and niacinamide, smoothes and brightens the delicate under-eye area, improving the look of eye bags. The launch adds to Typology's lineup of effective skin care that focuses on simple formulas, powerful ingredients and minimalist packaging. The brand is also PETA-approved vegan and cruelty-free and a certified B-corp, with its formulas being 100% formulated and manufactured in France. Typology also offers other eye treatments, such as the bestselling L33 Eye Serum with 5% Caffeine + 5% Niacinamide and A41 Eye Cream for Wrinkles and Fine Lines. The A30 eye serum seems to be the perfect middle ground between these.
Since the stuff inside the bottle is the most important part, let's take a closer look at the formula.
Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, is an anti-aging powerhouse, but it can be tricky to incorporate into your routine. The ingredient is known to cause dryness and irritation, which is why a low and slow approach is recommended. That means you'll generally want to start out with a product with a lower concentration, such as 0.1% or 0.2%, two to three times per week and build up to more frequent use from there. Since Typology's new eye serum is made with 0.1% of a retinoid (another vitamin A derivative that's like a gentler relative to retinol) that doesn't trigger irritation, it's a prime candidate for diving into retinols, retinoids and retinals (yes, those are a thing too). The specific retinoid chosen, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, is safe for sensitive skin and stimulates cell turnover, which helps with reducing fine lines and brightening the complexion. According to Typology, it conducted a self-assessment with 30 subjects with sensitive skin and 93% of testers reported no discomfort or dryness with daily use of the eye serum. However, you'll want to stick to nighttime application only, since the retinoid can still cause some sensitivity with direct sun exposure.
To complement the retinoid's anti-aging properties, the eye serum features niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. The former is another dermatologist-favorite anti-aging ingredient that can even help with the tolerability of retinol, while the latter is similarly lauded by skin experts for its ability to plump and hydrate the skin.
There are quite literally thousands of anti-aging products that promise to reduce wrinkles, tighten skin and restore baby-soft texture, so we know it's hard to gauge what actually delivers and what doesn't. I've admittedly seen at least three other eye cream launches come across my desk within the past month. So, to parse out what makes Typology's new eye serum stand out, I've enlisted the help of four other CNN Underscored editors, who all previously tested eye creams for mature skin. Like me, they've been giving the A30 eye serum a trial run for the past two weeks.
The testers enjoyed the milky consistency of the eye serum and that it felt smooth and light on the skin. We liked that a little goes a long way, so you can definitely stretch your dollar and get the product to last (my personal estimation is at least a couple months). The outstanding highlight for myself and electronics writer Henry T. Casey was the eye serum's brightening effect. We both saw a notable improvement in our dark circles. While we can't weigh in on the wrinkle-reducing claims just yet, we're planning on continuing our testing for a few more weeks to see how it goes.
The following FAQs have been answered by the writer, beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw.
Should you use moisturizer after eye serum?
Should you use moisturizer after eye serum?
Like face serums, eye serum should be applied before your moisturizer. Typically, you want to apply lighter, water-based products first and then follow with your face moisturizer. Whether you actually apply your moisturizer to the eye area after using an eye serum is up to you. If you have dry skin, you may want the added hydration, but it might not be necessary for other skin types.
Do you put eye serum on eyelids?
Do you put eye serum on eyelids?
No, avoid putting eye serum and other skin care directly on the eye lids. You don't want to get any product in your eyes. Eye serums, creams and treatments should be applied to the eye contour — the area around the orbital bones of each eye — and, optionally, beneath the brow bone.
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw and other CNN Underscored editors gave the Typology A30 Eye Serum for Fine Lines and Wrinkles a test run ahead of its launch. Shaw has previously covered the best under-eye patches, best moisturizers for dry skin and various anti-aging beauty topics.