★ ★ ★ ★ ★
2 Reviews

Undereye Lines, Circles + Puff

VX.5 | Undereye Smoothing & Brightening Balm

Personalized Rx Formula

$95 Starting Price

Many eye creams treat just one issue. Very few humans want to treat just one issue. Enter this custom prescription solution, able to combat your exact combination of crow's feet, dark circles, puffiness, and sensitivity. Undereye skin is rejuvenated: smooth, radiant—and ready to face the day. Take our quiz to get your personalized formula.

Find Your Formula

Key Ingredients

Your skin is unique. Your skincare should be too. That's why we tailor each formula specifically for you. Your product will include the right ingredients at the right concentrations.

 

Key ingredients for undereye lines, circles and puffiness treatment
Arguably dermatologists' favorite retinoid, tretinoin is *the* ingredient of skin rejuvenation. Dozens of studies back up its ability to stimulate new collagen and cell turnover to shrink fine lines and wrinkles and spark cellular repair. As compared to over-the-counter retinol in treating aging skin, studies show tretinoin is 10 to 20 times more effective. (Mic drop.)
Up to 0.01% Concentration Range
Plant-derived bakuchiol fights wrinkles with kid gloves, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory prowess. It's a tretinoin alternative when skin is sensitive.
Up to 0.5% Concentration Range
A potent form of vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid helps reverse dullness and fade hyperpigmentation by interfering with tyrosinase, an enzyme essential for melanin production. As an antioxidant, ascorbic acid neutralizes free radicals, environmental irritants from UV and pollution that damage and age skin.
1% - 4% Concentration Range
A type of vitamin B3 and an antioxidant, niacinamide can minimize hyperpigmentation while reducing inflammation. By increasing the production of skin lipids like fatty acids, it helps shore up skin's barrier.
Up to 2% Concentration Range
Sometimes, dark circles look worse when blood pools under the eyes. By strengthening the tiny capillaries in the area and improving microcirculation, vitamin K lightens up shadowy areas. Here, we use phytonadine, a synthetic version of vitamin K.
0.2% Concentration
Many of us use caffeine to feel more awake—and the topical version can make us look it too. As a vasoconstrictor, caffeine temporarily narrows the blood vessels under the eyes, which reduces swelling.
0.5% Concentration
These lipids are naturally found in the skin; adding more fortifies the barrier that keeps irritants out and good stuff (hydration, mostly) in. They're a safeguard against external damage that can age skin—not to mention anti-inflammatory, so they're great for calming irritation.
1% Concentration
Its scientific name is tocopherol, but the E might as well stand for excellent. It's one of the best and most classic antioxidants, fighting off free radicals, which are environmental stressors that cause cellular damage in skin. By sheltering skin this way, skin is better able to repair itself and regenerate new skin cells.
0.5% Concentration
Squalane is the synthetic version of squalene (note the "a" to "e"), a key component of our skin's natural oils. That's why it's so good at providing long-term hydration and keeping skin supple.
2% Concentration
Extracted from chamomile oil, this botanical is a friend to sensitive skin, reducing redness and irritation. It's also a mouthful (pronounced either bih-SAB-uh-lol or bee-SAH-buh-lol, depending on who you ask) and an antioxidant, thwarting free radicals in their quest to harm skin.
Up to 0.2% Concentration Range
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a humectant, which means it attracts and draws water into skin. There are two kinds of HA: low molecular weight HA (smaller molecules that penetrate the skin's surface for serious hydration) and high molecular weight HA (these sit on skin's surface for immediate moisture and plumping effects). All Cottonball products contain both types.
0.5% Concentration

Expert Approved

Photo of Ron Robinson

Ron Robinson

Cottonball Chief Cosmetic Chemist Advisor

"The eye area has the most-difficult-to treat concerns: dark circles and undereye puffiness and bags. VX.5 combines proven tretinoin along with caffeine and vitamin C, leaving eyes rejuvenated."

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To Use

-How to use VX.1 product instructions
  • (01)

    In the evening, wash your skin with a gentle cleanser, and dry it. After at least 15 minutes, apply one pump (a pea-size amount) onto your hand. You only need one pump for both eyes.

  • (02)

    Using your ring finger, gently tap into the skin under the eyes, from inner to outer corners, as well as eyes' outer corners.

  • (03)

    For formulas with tretinoin: Start with 2-3 nights per week on non-consecutive nights. If your skin is tolerating the formula well after 2 weeks, increase to 4 nights a week for 1 to 2 weeks, then 5 nights a week for another week, gradually following this pattern until you get to nightly use. If nightly use causes dryness or irritation, stop using the cream for 1 week, and then resume with less frequency.

    For formulas without tretinoin: Apply the cream every night from the start.

  • (04)

    If your product contains tretinoin, top it with a gentle moisturizer to maintain hydration and further support the skin barrier. For all formulas, use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen during the day, as certain ingredients may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun.

Safety Information

Have A Question?

Browse our FAQs or ask in the space below.
Is there anyone who shouldn't use VX.5?

If you are pregnant or nursing, you should not use products that contain tretinoin, found in some versions of VX.5. People with sensitive skin will likely be prescribed a formula that instead contains the wrinkle-fighting ingredient bakuchiol; speak with your doctor before using bakuchiol if you are pregnant or nursing. Anyone with a known allergy or irritation to any of the ingredients should also avoid VX.5. See more in our safety information.

I only have dark circles, not puffiness. Can I still use VX.5?

Yes. The active ingredients in VX.5 can help reduce dark circles, even if you don't have undereye puffiness.

When do I start seeing results?

This formula contains ingredients that work right away and over the long run. You'll see improvements in skin hydration, softness, puffiness, and radiance instantly. As you continue usage, these benefits will increase as the tretinoin and other actives work more deeply and noticeably. Around 3 months, you should see significant changes in fine lines and dark circles.

How long do I use this product?

VX.5 is designed to safely use continuously. While you'll see significant wrinkle-reduction and smoother skin within the first 3, you'll get the best results with ongoing use of VX.5.

Can I use VX.5 during the day?

If your product contains tretinoin, it's best used at night, as the ingredient makes the skin more sensitive to the sun.

Is tretinoin around the eyes going to make them red and itchy?

The low tretinoin concentration (0.01%) that may appear in your VX.5 formula is designed to achieve the benefits of a retinoid while reducing the risk of undereye irritation. If a rash does develop, discontinue use until it disappears. Once resolved, you can restart VX.5 with a smaller quantity of product, using it less often (at least to start), and applying a basic moisturizer on top. If you tell us you have sensitive skin in the skin quiz, your formula will likely be formulated with bakuchiol instead of tretinoin. Bakuchiol is a natural collagen-stimulator that typically results in less irritation than tretinoin. And if you start off with tretinoin but are experiencing negative side effects, reach out to us via your member account; our dermatologists can remix your product with bakuchiol instead of tretinoin.

Will this product dry out the area around my eyes?

In some cases VX.5 will cause dryness and irritation, which can be avoided with using a smaller quantity of product, applying it less frequently, and applying a bland moisturizer on top of VX.5 at nighttime.

Should I also use this on my lids?

This should not be used on eyelids, though it's ok to dab it along brow bones. Beyond that, it is meant only for the undereye area.

Customer Reviews

5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
2 reviews
81 days ago

Wrinkles much less noticeable

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"The cream evened the texture of my skin, making wrinkles much less noticeable. My skin feels plump and soft to the touch with improved moisture."

Marisol B.
Age: 52
85 days ago

My circles were noticeably lighter

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"No matter what I do, I always have some darkness under my eyes, and as I'm getting older, some puff pops in now and then too. With this product, my circles were noticeably lighter...so much so that when I applied my concealer, it actually concealed!"

Elizabeth S.
Age: 51

Powerful Actives, Transformative Results