REVIEW: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum – Is It Worth the Higher Price Tag?

This article contains affiliate links* and PR samplesº The Ordinary is releasing a bunch of new products this year, with the The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum the first one to hit our shelves. I was lucky enough to try out this eye care product straight after its release and can’t wait to share my review with you today!

The First New The Ordinary Launch of 2023!

If you are a long-time follower, you probably know that I’ve had a mixed reaction to many a The Ordinary product. I’ve often felt that the textures of popular products such as their Niacinamide + Zinc serum just aren’t comfortable, and some of their bestsellers also just didn’t do much for my skin. I do, however, really respect the brand’s overall philosophy of offering potent, innovative skincare for a fair price point. After all, Deciem was the first ever brand to produce ingredient-focused formulations for a mass market, and it truly revolutionised the skincare industry!

Long story short: I am not a The Ordinary fangirl as such, and so I truly judge every product of theirs in a very honest, non-biased way. Meaning that if I don’t like one of their products, I’ll definitely let you know.

Which brings me to the new The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum! I wasn’t a big fan of their Caffeine Eye Serum, which honestly didn’t do much for my eye area, even though I emptied a full bottle of it. So, I honestly was sceptical if I would like this newer launch…

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum – the Power of Peptides

Peptides are some of my favourite anti aging skincare ingredients. These are amino acids that have a variety of functions in our body. Certain peptides can help boost collagen production and thus prevent loss of firmness in our skin, and some supposedly even help smooth out wrinkles. The Ordinary has been producing peptide-containing skincare for a while now, but their Multi-Peptide Eye Serum is the first eye care product with a mix of peptides.

This is a runny, water-based formula which comes in that brown “apothecary” style drop applicator bottle so iconic for The Ordinary. It’s a 15ml size, pretty standard for Western eye products (Korean eye creams and serums usually come in 20 to 30ml sizes, often significantly more affordable!). Some people have complained about the price point (€26.80 here in Europe), so I’ll give you my thoughts on that a bit later in this review.

Let’s focus on the ingredients first, since this is, I feel, always the main selling point for The Ordinary products. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum features a multi-peptide complex, plus caffeine and EGCG. This is a green tea complex rich in polyphenols, plant-based antioxidants that can help combat premature signs of aging by neutralising free radicals. Caffeine is said to help keep the eye area firmer and more awake, being especially potent against eye bags and puffiness. Both caffeine and EGCG are also key ingredients in the Caffeine Eye Serum, by the way.

Here is the full list of ingredients for the The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum:

“Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Caffeine, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Silanetriol, Arginine, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Propyl Gallate, Maltodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.”

Like all The Ordinary products, the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum is free from drying ethanol or fragrance. Glycerin provides hydration, while niacinamide can help support skin barrier function and potentially brighten the eye area. Apart from the circulation-improving caffeine, this formula also contains “fraximus excelsior bark extract”, ash tree bark extract, which is said to help relieve swelling and bruising, so it could be beneficial for anyone suffering from dark eye circles.

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum – So, Do I Like This?

I am always a bit apprehensive when trying a new eye product. My eyes are quite sensitive, and particularly at night they can get inflamed quite easily by bad or too rich formulas. This is also why I can’t just use a regular moisturiser around my eye area: I end up with red, swollen and sensitised eyes too often!

I’m not going to lie, that The Ordinary drop applicator is always a bit of a hassle to work with, although I guess given the runny, liquid texture of the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum it cannot be helped. The eye serum is super potent, and due to its silky-smooth, ever so slightly viscous texture it spreads very well around the eyes. Thus, I only need one little drop around each eye, two small drops in total. A little really goes a long way, which is why I personally don’t find the price point outrageous at all.

Peptides are a pretty pricey raw material, and it’s really difficult to keep the price point down for peptide-containing products. So, honestly, I don’t think the outrage over the price tag is fully justified, though since I got this as a PR sample, I also want to point out that I am saying this from a privileged “influencer” perspective. But would I spend $28 on this serum? Yes, yes I would.

Because…it’s good! The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Eye Serum is really good! I’ve been using it for a few weeks now every night and I swear, my eye area looks firmer overall. At 44, I have pretty droopy eyelids, sadly, and my brow area is also slowly wandering downwards. Lately, the whole eye area just looks fresher and less saggy, it is really noticeable. The serum is also very hydrating, smoothing out any dryness or flakiness.

I also just really love the light texture! It spreads well, sinks in fast and doesn’t leave any tackiness or residue. The Multi-Peptide Eye Serum works well under makeup, and is easy to incorporate into any skincare routine. I don’t know if this will work to soften my crow’s feet or wrinkles long-term, but just for the firming effect alone I’m a big fan.

I would say that The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum works well for all skin types, though it may not be nourishing enough for very dry skin types. It is a little bit richer than the caffeine eye serum, and I also find it far more effective in refreshing and firming up the eye area. I don’t have very prominent eye bags or under eye circles, so can’t make any statements about whether the serum helps with these or not. Overall, I do find that this gives my eye area a fresher and more “awake” look, however.

So, where can you buy the The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum?

You can purchase the Multi-Peptide Eye Serum at The Ordinary online shop for €26.80/$28 for the 15ml bottle. If you’re in Europe, Lookfantastic* or Cult Beauty* also sell this, for €23.45 and €20.24 respectively. So, right now it seems that Cult Beauty offers the best price for this!

Let me know in the comments: Have you tried any of the new The Ordinary Launches?

Take care guys, and stay safe – don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest K-Beauty and skincare news, and check out my other work, e.g. my article about the AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream! And guys – I have a YouTube channel now, I’d love for you to check it out and subscribe!

*Affiliate Links, meaning I earn a small commission if you decide to use the link to purchase an item. This does not raise the purchase price for you, and it helps me and my blog to grow – so, thank you for supporting me in this way!!!

°PR Sample, kindly provided by a brand or shop – I am not obligated to write this blog article, was not paid for the article, and my opinions are entirely my own.