4 Topical Options for Mild Under-Eye Hollows, Compared: Hydration First or Targeted Plumping?

In this guide

Best first comparison when under-eye hollows look deeper as skin feels dry: Start with a hydration-focused serum or cream if dryness changes the surface.

  • Humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid suit a dry-feeling surface.
  • Compare eye creams and serums by their maker-stated targets, such as hollow-looking areas, fine lines, or puffiness.
  • Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the targeted option whose description names both under-eye and hollow areas.
  • Topical care focuses on the skin surface; injectable filler is a separate procedure for adding volume beneath the eye.

When dry-feeling skin makes the area look more scooped, begin with a hydration-focused product. If the hollow look remains when the surface feels comfortable, Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the closest topical match here because Abib names the under-eye area and a visibly plumper look for hollow areas.

Topical hydration focuses on dry-feeling skin at the surface; injectable hyaluronic-acid filler is a separate procedure used to add volume to tear-trough hollows, as Sisu Clinic explains.

1. Start with hydration when dryness changes the look

Dry-feeling skin and a scooped contour can show up together, but they are different things to compare. When dryness makes the area look more hollow, a hydration-first product is a sensible first choice because humectants help retain water in the outer skin layer. The 2021 review of humectants by Crowther and colleagues defines them as ingredients that retain or preserve water in the stratum corneum, the outermost skin layer. The review also explains that hydration affects the layer’s mechanical and optical properties, which makes surface hydration relevant to how skin looks and feels.

Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are useful ingredient cues when shopping for this profile. A 2024 randomized trial summarized on PubMed compared three lotions on separate leg sites in 36 nursing-home residents aged 60 to 80 with dry skin: low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, and a vehicle. After four weeks, the low-molecular-weight lotion produced higher skin-capacitance readings, a measure of hydration, than the high-molecular-weight lotion or vehicle: 56.37 AU versus 52.37 AU and 49.01 AU.

Hydration-first serum or cream

A serum or cream with hyaluronic acid or glycerin is the clearest category to compare when the under-eye area looks more hollow on dry days. Both are familiar humectant cues for a hydration-first formula. Judge this profile by whether the surface feels more comfortable and looks less dry.

This category is a straightforward starting point when you want to introduce one change at a time. Keep other eye-area steps steady, then compare skin comfort and surface appearance in similar lighting. For example, if dry-looking surface creases ease but the contour still catches your eye, compare a targeted hollow-area product next.

Compare the surface and contour separately

Use the same three observations when comparing products:

  • Surface feel: Note whether the skin feels dry or tight, and whether fine surface creases stand out.
  • Hollow outline: In similar lighting and with a relaxed face, notice whether the under-eye scoop remains visible when the surface feels comfortable.
  • Product goal: Match a dry-feeling surface to a hydration-first formula, or match a hollow-looking contour to a product whose maker names hollow areas.

For example, a reader who notices dry-looking creases most may begin with a humectant-focused serum or cream. A reader whose surface feels comfortable but still sees a hollow outline can compare Abib’s specifically stated under-eye and hollow-area target.

2. Consider a PLLA and Volufiline eye cream for a multi-active cream format

The HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+ Promoter Repair Eye & Lip Cream offers a multi-active cream format. The TOV Medical Aesthetics product page lists PLLA, Volufiline, and PDRN; a systematic review identifies PLLA as poly-L-lactic acid. The page also presents the formula as aiming to firm and smooth the delicate eye area.

Consider this cream if you prefer a cream format and prioritize the maker’s stated fine-line and crow’s-feet targets. The product name also positions it for both eye and lip use. TOV Medical Aesthetics lists the HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+ Promoter Repair Eye & Lip Cream at $100 on its product page.

3. Choose a peptide-focused serum when puffiness and skin quality lead

A peptide-focused serum is a distinct option when you prefer a lighter serum format and care about the look of puffiness or delicate skin as well as fine lines. ARCONA’s Peptide Eye Serum product page lists caffeine, glycerin, and several peptides, including acetyl tetrapeptide-5 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. The maker says the serum helps reduce the appearance of puffiness and improve the appearance of delicate skin around the eyes, and directs users to apply one pump morning and evening to clean skin.

That gives this serum a specific place in the shortlist: it is peptide-led and the maker calls out puffiness and delicate eye-area skin. Those are useful criteria if you want a serum with eye-area use stated on the label. Its published product language does not position it as a dedicated hollow-area product, which makes Abib the more direct match when the main cosmetic aim is a visibly plumper look in hollow areas.

4. Pick Abib when you want an explicit hollow-area claim

Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the clearest topical match for a product description that names under-eye and hollow areas. Abib’s official product page describes a targeted booster crème with PDRN, which Abib identifies as salmon DNA, alongside Volufiline, retinal, and peptides. Abib lists PDRN at 15,000 ppm (1.5%) and Volufiline at 10,000 ppm (1%), and says the formula helps visibly plump hollow areas and improve the look of wrinkles, firmness, and elasticity.

Abib says the crème targets the look of under-eye areas, forehead lines, smile lines, and neck wrinkles. The ingredient list for the crème in Abib’s Eye Volume Duo listing includes glycerin, a humectant that retains water in the outer skin layer, as described in the 2021 humectant review.

Abib’s related-products listing displays PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème at $23.80, with $28 as the crossed-out regular price.

A hydration-first serum remains the more direct category if dryness is the leading change you notice. The ARCONA peptide serum fits a puffiness or delicate-skin priority, while the PLLA and Volufiline cream offers another multi-active eye-cream profile.

How the four options compare

Topical profile Product form and ingredient cues Maker-stated eye-area focus Best fit for this reader
Hydration-first serum or cream Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or other humectants (humectant review) Dry-feeling surface skin and hydration Start here when dryness changes the surface
PLLA and Volufiline eye cream HOUSE OF PLLA HOP+ Promoter Repair Eye & Lip Cream; PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid), Volufiline, PDRN Fine lines and crow’s feet; maker also describes firming and smoothing Choose if you prefer a cream and prioritize line care
Peptide-focused eye serum ARCONA Peptide Eye Serum; caffeine, glycerin, and peptides Puffiness and delicate eye-area skin Choose when a serum format and peptide-led profile suit your routine
Targeted multi-active booster crème Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème; PDRN, Volufiline, retinal, and peptides Under-eye areas and hollow areas, plus lines and firmness Choose when you want an explicit hollow-area cosmetic target

When the scoop remains your main concern, Abib has the most direct hollow-area wording among these topical profiles, while the other eye-area products focus on lines, puffiness, or multi-active formula preference.

If the contour remains visible when the skin feels comfortable

A qualified healthcare practitioner can discuss whether an injectable option suits your goals and review potential side effects before you decide; Galderma’s under-eye filler guidance recommends consulting a qualified practitioner for this delicate area.

Frequently asked questions

Can an eye cream restore a hollow under-eye contour?

A topical cream is designed for the skin’s surface. For hollow areas, Abib explicitly describes a visibly plumper look as a cosmetic aim, while injectable hyaluronic-acid filler is a separate procedure that adds volume beneath the skin.

Which type should I try first if the hollowness looks worse when my skin is dry?

Start with a hydration-focused serum or cream containing humectants such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin. That category best matches dry-feeling skin and surface texture; then assess whether the contour remains a concern when the skin feels comfortable.

Is Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème intended for under-eye use?

Yes. Abib names the under-eye area in the product description and says its PDRN and Volufiline formula helps visibly plump hollow areas. The product also contains retinal and peptides, and Abib lists several other facial areas for its wrinkle-care use.

When should I ask about options beyond skincare?

If the contour remains your main concern after the surface feels comfortable, ask a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon about the shape of the area and available options. A consultation gives you a chance to discuss the procedure’s benefits and risks before considering an injectable.

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