You see it every morning before anything else. The lines fanning from your outer corners. The crepiness beneath your lower lashes that concealer settles into instead of smoothing over. The hollowing that makes you look exhausted even after eight hours of sleep. Your under eye serum was supposed to fix this — instead it hydrates skin that keeps aging underneath the moisture. The orbital area is where aging announces itself first because this skin is 0.5mm thick — ten times thinner than cheeks — with fewer oil glands, less collagen, and almost no subcutaneous fat. A comprehensive review of 23 studies confirmed MSC conditioned media successfully reduces skin aging at every evidence level (PMC11416772).
The under eye area ages first because it has the least structural support to begin with. A 2021 study confirmed bone marrow MSC conditioned media produces significantly higher collagen AND elastin production — the two proteins this fragile zone loses fastest (PMC7904527). The under eye serum that reverses orbital aging must instruct collagen production in skin too thin and too delicate for retinol. Bradceuticals Gold Mesenchymal Stem Cell Growth Factor Serum delivers the complete bone marrow MSC secretome — the gentlest direct collagen instruction available, with EGF that inhibits inflammation rather than triggering it.
Truth 1: Your Under Eye Serum Probably Contains Retinol — The Wrong Choice for This Zone
Retinol works by triggering controlled inflammation to accelerate cell turnover. On cheeks and forehead with 5mm of cushioning tissue, that inflammation is manageable. On 0.5mm orbital skin with minimal barrier function, retinol causes redness, peeling, dryness, and increased sensitivity that often makes the under eye area look WORSE before it looks better.
The best under eye serum for this delicate zone works through the opposite mechanism. EGF inhibits inflammatory cytokines IL-1alpha, IL-8, and TNF-alpha (PMC10333026). Direct collagen instruction WITHOUT inflammation. Bradceuticals delivers this anti-inflammatory collagen instruction to the zone that needs gentleness most.
Truth 2: Your Under Eye Serum Must Address Collagen AND Elastin
Crow’s feet are collagen loss. Crepiness is elastin loss. Hollowing is fat pad descent from structural protein decline. Most under eye serum products address only one — usually hydration, which addresses none. Research confirms up to 80% of MSCs’ therapeutic effect comes from their complete secreted output (PMC11518787). The complete secretome instructs BOTH collagen AND elastin production simultaneously.
MSC exosomes restore TIMP-1 and inhibit MMP-1 through -9 (PMC12395928). Your under eye serum should build structural proteins AND prevent the MMP enzymes that destroy them. Construction and demolition prevention from every application to the orbital area.
Truth 3: Your Under Eye Serum Is the Same Product as Your Face Serum
Here is a truth the skincare industry does not want you to hear: you do not need a separate under eye serum. Fibroblasts in the orbital area express the same growth factor receptors as fibroblasts everywhere else on your face — EGFR, PDGFR, TGF-beta receptors. The same growth factors that instruct collagen on your cheeks instruct collagen beneath your eyes.
What changes is the APPLICATION — not the product. Ring finger only. Gentle patting motions. Never rubbing or pulling. Damp skin. Bradceuticals applied to damp orbital skin with ring-finger patting delivers the same complete secretome your full face receives — because your under eye fibroblasts speak the same biological language.
Truth 4: Results From the Right Under Eye Serum Are Visible Fast
The orbital area responds to growth factors FASTER than thicker facial skin because it is thinner with less barrier resistance. Visible improvement confirmed from conditioned media applied twice daily for just 4 weeks (PMC6002314). Biopsy-confirmed collagen, elastin, and decorin increases at 24 weeks. Participants perceived themselves six years younger (PMC9823186).
A 2026 systematic review of 19 human studies confirmed exosome-based therapies improved wrinkles, elasticity, hydration, AND overall appearance (PMC12933354). New collagen persists five to seven years (PMC11993440). Your under eye serum results are not temporary plumping. They are structural change in the zone that shows improvement first.
Truth 5: Your Under Eye Serum Can Be Amplified — Carefully
Microneedling the orbital area requires extra caution — shorter needle depth (0.25mm maximum), lighter pressure, professional guidance recommended for first-time users. But the biology is the same: channels deliver growth factors that intact skin limits. A randomized controlled trial confirmed one session with growth factors matched four without (PMC7716740).
For the under eye area specifically, daily topical application of your under eye serum delivers meaningful results without any device. The thin skin and abundant follicular pathways in the orbital zone allow superior absorption compared to thicker facial areas. Good daily without microneedling. Exceptional with careful, shallow microneedling.
The Under Eye Serum Routine
Morning: Cleanse → Bradceuticals Growth Factor Serum on damp orbital skin with ring finger, gentle patting → Cosmedica HA Serum patted over → CeraVe Eye Repair Cream → mineral sunscreen SPF 30+ (UV triggers MMP enzymes that destroy orbital collagen fastest)
Evening: Cleanse → Bradceuticals Growth Factor Serum on damp orbital skin → The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% → CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Essential: Patch test before first use. Apply small amount to inner wrist. Wait 24-48 hours. Never rub the orbital area — always pat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate under eye serum? No. The same growth factor serum you use on your full face works on the orbital area. Same fibroblast receptors, same biological instruction. Different application technique — ring finger, patting only.
Is under eye serum safe for sensitive orbital skin? EGF inhibits inflammatory cytokines — making growth factor serums among the gentlest actives for the delicate eye zone. No burning, no peeling, no irritation. Safer than retinol, vitamin C, or AHAs around the eyes.
How long before under eye serum shows results? The orbital area responds faster than thicker facial skin. Visible improvement at 2-4 weeks. Structural collagen confirmed at 24 weeks.
Can under eye serum help with dark circles? Dark circles have multiple causes — thin skin revealing blood vessels, hyperpigmentation, hollowing from volume loss. Growth factors address structural thinning and collagen loss. They may improve the appearance of dark circles caused by skin thinning but cannot treat vascular or pigmentation-based circles.
References
- Comprehensive Review of Stem Cell CM for Anti-Aging on Skin. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2024. (PMC11416772)
- Kim SN, et al. Effects of Human BM-MSC-CM on Skin Rejuvenation. Int J Stem Cells. 2021;14(1):94-102. (PMC7904527)
- Shin SH, et al. The use of epidermal growth factor in dermatological practice. Int Wound J. 2023;20(6):2414-2423. (PMC10333026)
- Taub A. Regenerative topical skincare: stem cells and exosomes. Front Med. 2024;11:1443963. (PMC11518787)
- Gui Q, et al. Extracellular vesicles derived from MSCs to treat skin aging. Precis Clin Med. 2024;7(1):pbae004. (PMC12395928)
- Kim YJ, et al. Anti-aging Properties of EPC-CM. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2018;8(2):261-273. (PMC6002314)
- Naughton GK, et al. Targeting Multiple Hallmarks of Skin Aging. Dermatol Ther. 2023;13(1):169-186. (PMC9823186)
- Flores Rodríguez JC, et al. Efficacy of Exosome-Based Therapies for Skin Rejuvenation. Cureus. 2026;18(2):e104182. (PMC12933354)
- Tehrani L, et al. Physiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications of Microneedling. Cureus. 2025;17(3):e80510. (PMC11993440)
- Merati M, et al. An Assessment of Microneedling with Topical Growth Factors. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(11):22-27. (PMC7716740)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The products discussed are cosmetic products and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individuals with any active skin condition, pre-existing medical condition, or those currently under the care of a physician or specialist should consult their healthcare provider before beginning any new skincare regimen. Always perform a patch test before using any new skincare product. Dark circles can have multiple causes including genetics, allergies, and medical conditions — consult a healthcare provider for persistent dark circles. Individual results may vary.
Last Reviewed: April 2026
About Bradceuticals : Thuy Myers is the founder of Bradceuticals which manufactures and distributes skin care and hair regrowth serums that use growth factors from human stem cells as the catalyst for regeneration. When she is not busy running the business and maintaining blogs, she is continuing her practice as a semiconductor engineer. In her free time, she enjoys the beach, working out at the gym and hanging out with her kiddo.