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How we build EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream

The original, what makes it special, the shelf parts we use and how to get closer. Add or swap parts and the score updates.

EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream

The original · SkinBetter Science

EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream

$130 · 0.5 fl oz (15 ml)

An eye-area night cream with ethyl lactyl retinoate, niacinamide, an acetyl hexapeptide, astaxanthin and hyaluronic acid, aimed at lines, dryness, crepiness, puffiness and dark circles.

Official product page (opens in new tab)

Prices and listings checked Oct 28, 2026. Amazon prices change; the link shows today's price.

Step 2 · The build

Our build 4 parts

Retinol eye cream + niacinamide

  • Illustration of Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Eye Cream

    Neutrogena

    Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Eye Cream

    Retinol eye cream (PM)

    AAlphaRet (ethyl lactyl retinoate) · 14 of 35EHyaluronic acid and emollient base · 5 of 20
    ~$18Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  • Illustration of The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

    The Ordinary

    Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

    Niacinamide (AM, cheek and under-eye bone only)

    BNiacinamide · 20
    ~$6Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  • Illustration of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)

    The Ordinary

    The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)

    Adds: Hyaluronic acid and emollient base

    EHyaluronic acid and emollient base · 20
    $9.90Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  • Illustration of The Ordinary "Buffet" + Copper Peptides 1% (Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1%)

    The Ordinary

    The Ordinary "Buffet" + Copper Peptides 1% (Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1%)

    Adds: Acetyl hexapeptide-37

    CAcetyl hexapeptide-37 · 8 of 15EHyaluronic acid and emollient base · 10 of 20
    $32Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)

Partial credit means the part only partly matches that standout.

The 100 points

What stands out 100 pts

We split EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream into 5 standout parts. Each bar shows what the build earns.

  • AAlphaRet (ethyl lactyl retinoate)14 of 35 pts

    The retinoid-lactic acid conjugate is the main line and crepiness fighter.

    No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 40% of these points.

    McDaniel 2017 · J Cosmet Dermatol
  • BNiacinamide20 of 20 pts

    Niacinamide supports tone, redness and the skin barrier around the eye.

    Bissett 2005 · Dermatol Surg
  • CAcetyl hexapeptide-378 of 15 pts

    A signal peptide aimed at expression lines.

    No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 50% of these points.

  • DAstaxanthin0 of 10 pts

    A carotenoid antioxidant that protects the delicate eye area.

  • EHyaluronic acid and emollient base20 of 20 pts

    Hydration and a rich night base address dryness and crepiness.

    Pavicic 2011 · J Drugs Dermatol

Optional

Get closer score under 80

62 / 100. We have not found a shelf product that closes more of the gap yet.

70 is our ceiling. No retail eye cream uses ethyl lactyl retinoate; retinol gives partial credit at best. Acetyl hexapeptide-37 is rare at retail; acetyl hexapeptide-8 products give partial credit. Few retail eye products list astaxanthin.

Step 3 · Buy

Buy the build

One link per part. Each opens the retailer in a new tab.

Skincare SuppliesOct 28, 2026

Your build

  1. 01NeutrogenaRapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Eye Cream~$18

    Running total ~$18

    Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  2. 02The OrdinaryNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%~$6

    Running total ~$24

    Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  3. 03The OrdinaryThe Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)$9.90

    Running total ~$33.90

    Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  4. 04The OrdinaryThe Ordinary "Buffet" + Copper Peptides 1% (Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1%)$32

    Running total ~$65.90

    Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Build total~$65.90
The splurge$130
Match62/100
You keep~$64.10

Snapshot prices. Each link shows today's price.

How to use

  1. AM niacinamide thin layer below the orbital bone; PM retinol eye cream 3 nights/week. Patch test both.
  2. Add The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides): Cheap hyaluronic acid layer for the hydration part.
  3. Add The Ordinary "Buffet" + Copper Peptides 1% (Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1%): Contains acetyl hexapeptide-8 and hyaluronate; closest retail peptide cover.

Other single-product swaps

One bottle instead of a build. Sorted by match score; scores use the same standouts as above.

budget Closest we found

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum : Ginseng + Retinal

Beauty of Joseon

Match score 48 out of 100

No close match yet — we show the nearest formulas.

~$17 Price not confirmed · 30 ml / 1 fl oz
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Retinal
  • Niacinamide
  • Palmitoyl tripeptide-5
  • Sodium hyaluronate
  • Glycerin

Misses

  • Astaxanthin
  • Acetyl hexapeptide-37

Why it is close. Retinal eye serum with niacinamide 7th on the INCI, plus a peptide, ceramide NP and hyaluronate; closest to the AlphaRet eye formula at $17.

Ingredient list source

Listing not re-checked. Check the product title and size on the retailer page.

Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
budget

Retinol 24 Night Smoothing Eye Cream

Olay

Match score 34 out of 100
~$28 Price not confirmed · 0.5 oz
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Retinol

Misses

  • Ethyl lactyl retinoate
  • Astaxanthin

Why it is close. Retinol eye cream with a hydrating base; shared actives are inferred from the product name, so confidence is lower.

Ingredient list source

Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
budget

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

The Ordinary

Match score 20 out of 100
~$6 Price not confirmed · 30 ml
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Niacinamide

Misses

  • Retinoid
  • Eye-specific base

Why it is close. Niacinamide only; use on the face, not near the eye margin. Weak eye match.

Ingredient list source

Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
budget

Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Eye Cream

Neutrogena

Match score 19 out of 100
~$18 Price not confirmed · 0.5 oz
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Retinol

Misses

  • Ethyl lactyl retinoate
  • Niacinamide
  • Astaxanthin

Why it is close. Classic budget retinol eye cream; simpler formula.

Ingredient list source

Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
budget

Retinol Correxion Eye Cream

RoC

Match score 19 out of 100
~$21.97 Price not confirmed · 0.5 oz
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Retinol

Misses

  • Ethyl lactyl retinoate
  • Niacinamide
  • Astaxanthin

Why it is close. Dedicated retinol eye cream at drugstore price. It addresses lines but not the niacinamide and antioxidant side.

Ingredient list source

Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
budget

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

The Ordinary

Match score 14 out of 100
~$12.10 Price not confirmed · 30 ml
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Retinoid (HPR plus retinol blend)

Misses

  • Eye-specific base
  • Niacinamide

Why it is close. Retinoid emulsion usable around the orbital bone; apply sparingly, not on the lid.

Ingredient list source

Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)

What the science says

  • A double-conjugated retinoid/AHA cream was noninferior to 0.025% tretinoin in most categories over 12 weeks, with less irritation, in a 48-woman split-face study.

    McDaniel 2017 · J Cosmet Dermatol

  • 0.4% topical retinol improved fine wrinkles in naturally aged skin over 24 weeks in a vehicle-controlled trial.

    Kafi 2007 · Arch Dermatol

  • Topical niacinamide (5%, 12 weeks, split-face) improved fine lines, hyperpigmented spots, redness and sallowness in aging facial skin.

    Bissett 2005 · Dermatol Surg

Full ingredient list

Show the INCI list

Aqua/Water, Propanediol, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triheptanoin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Astaxanthin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sucrose Stearate, C9-12 Alkane, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Polyurethane-100, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Source

Questions

What does the 62/100 score for our EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream build mean?

We split EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream into 5 standout parts worth 100 points in total. The build earns 62 of a possible 70. 70 is the most we claim, because some standouts have no close retail equivalent.

What is the best dupe for EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream?

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum : Ginseng + Retinal by Beauty of Joseon is our closest single-product match at 48 out of 100 for ~$17 (30 ml / 1 fl oz). It shares Retinal, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl tripeptide-5, Sodium hyaluronate, Glycerin.

How much can I save on EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream?

EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream costs $130 for 0.5 fl oz (15 ml). The closest dupe costs ~$17, a saving of about $113. Prices change, so check the seller page.

Is Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum : Ginseng + Retinal exactly the same as EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream?

No. Dupes share the key actives but can differ in concentration, vehicle and supporting ingredients. Missing from this one: Astaxanthin, Acetyl hexapeptide-37. See our methodology for how we score.

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