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Rant & Rave: Eye Cream
This Week’s Topic: EYE CREAM!
Your Mission: Tell us what you love, hate, or are otherwise indifferent to about eye creams. What drives you bananas? What makes them necessary?
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I hate eye creams that say they will remove wrinkles. Sorry to say, once you wrinkle, unless you get botox or some sort of filler, no cream can remove them. I love eye creams with hyaluronic acid as it plumps the skin. Shiseido’s is one of my faves
Just letting you know that hyaluronic acid doesn’t actually plump the skin because it’s too large of a molecule to penetrate the stratum cornuem. The “plumpness” that you see is most likely just a temporary change; unless there are other ingredients present that actually have documented success.
I dislike eye creams that are packaged in pots, I prefer skincare products in tubes instead. It’s not about being worried of germs – it’s just that the product get more exposure to air, and dipping my fingers in often means I get some under my nails.
I like Strivectin-SD: while it doesn’t get rid of wrinkles, it’s quickly-absorbed, has a nice texture, and you get a good amount for the price.
eye creams are a NECESSITY!!!! my HG eye cream is Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Creme!!
Just discovered from beauty specialist, that BB uses same main ingredient as Shisedow (ms). Might want to try sample of theirs & if works as well, see who is cheaper in long run.
love love love the bobbi brown extra eye repair cream!
I have sensitive eyes. Bobbie Brown Extra Eye Repair gives me hydration but does not burn my eyes.
I once bought a L’Oreal eye cream that was supposed to get rid of fine lines with Alpha Hydroxy Acids. It peeled all of the skin on my eyelids and under-eye area. Giant flakes of white skin peeling off. It was so attractive. That was my last foray into aggressive eye treatments.
Since then I’ve started using all organic skin care that I find from small businesses on Etsy. My acne has cleared up, my skin is soft now instead of alternately oily and dry, and I couldn’t be happier. I use a shea butter and calendula balm for my eyes at night, and a light rose face cream that I also use on my under eye during the day.
I spent a lot of time educating myself about ingredients. I’ve since been appalled at the unnecessarily high prices of many skin care products. The first five or so ingredients are what really counts, and if it’s all water, silicone, and fatty acids than there’s no reason to be paying a bunch of money for it. It always shocks me to read “water, dimethicone, cyclomethicone, sd alcohol 40, ceteryl alcohol…” with the last few ingredients on a mile-long list being the “fancy” ones that the brand marketed as being the base of the formulation on a bottle of $70 cream. Please, that’s the cheapest stuff in terms of manufacturing.
Im getting excited, im so desperate, even dermatologist has screwed things up. Please, what are names of what u use on eyes & face & where online can u buy it, please? My dermatologist had me use retinal which burned my eyes & face 2 weeks till my doctor had to put me on antibiotics & steroids to clear the mess. Very painful! Thank u. You are welcome to my email but I don’t know how to let them know its ok.
Well the skin around the eyes is significantly thinner than the rest of the face, so you shouldn’t be using any aggressive treatments… That should be pretty common sense.
And an organic ingredient works in the same way as any synthetic one: by their CHEMICAL reactions with the skin. It doesn’t matter the source. If two ingredients affect the skin via the same mechanism of action, the source is irrelevant.
Also, for someone who claims to be educated about ingredients, it’s completely untrue that ONLY the first five or so ingredients matter. Many hugely beneficial ingredients like various vitamins (C, E, B3), antioxidants (pomegranate, coffeeberry, green tea), and peptides (matrixyl, matrixyl 3000, palmitoyl oligopeptide) are very effective at low concentrations. The first couple of common ingredients are necessary because these beneficial ones need carrier fluids/vehicular bases in order to have an adequate texture. Not to mention that things like cyclomethicone, which is a cyclic silicone, evaporates soon after application, so they’re not sitting on the skin. Water is needed to enhance penetration and most of it will also evaporate.
The only thing I do agree is that there are certainly expensive creams that have huge ingredient lists, with the most important ones tacked on at the very end. Think Chanel. But it doesn’t confirm your assertion that all products with common ingredients in the front, are ineffective.
I’m not sure any eye creams *really* help with eye wrinkles and all they claim to do, but I do like the feel of Clinique’s All About Eyes one. Not really sure if it makes any sort of difference, but it was a gift and I don’t think it’s doing any damage. I often don’t like eye creams.
I use that one too. I don’t think it claims to get rid of wrinkles. It’s more of a preventative measure – keeping moisture in the skin, you know? I’m 24 though so I don’t have many wrinkles yet. I’m just trying my best to prevent them from being too terrible!
I use plain & simple vitamin E. It’s inexpensive, easily obtained, and contains no parabens or petroleum products, nor does it irritate my eyes or skin. Depending on environmental conditions, I use either a stick form (regularly) or *pure* vitamin E oil (when I need a little heavier application). I also *always* wear sunglasses out doors, even on “overcast” days.
I adore vitamin E! It’s fantastic for everything from cuticles to face to scalp. I usually use the gel caps and just prick them with a pin.
That’s great! However, I’d like to point out, that just like any organ of the body, it needs more than just a single ingredient to protect, renew, and improve itself. 🙂
I love the Origins Starting Over eye cream. My eye area gets dry easily so a cream is necessary for me. The Starting Over is very smooth, goes on light and I have noticied a difference in my eye area from before I used it and after. My second favourite is the Origins Ginzing, it illuminates your eye area so is great when a little is mixed in with your favourite concealer!
I love using eye cream. I have been faithful to using eye specific creams or gels for 10 years (I’m 33) and I can honestly say it has made a difference in makeup application, fines lines, and dryness. I sometimes find my face cream too heavy for my eyes and my concealer never looks the same when I don’t use it. One thing I have learned is to let it sink in (about 3-5 min) before applying anything else on top.
I do like to dab on a little eye cream or gel at night. Though I have *very* oily skin, I find that I need some added moisture in the eye area. That said, I’m not convinced that just about any old moisturizer, rather than a specialized “eye cream,” wouldn’t do the job just fine. However, I do use a moderately-priced eye cream or gel, just because they’re packaged in reasonable amounts; a big tube or tub would go bad long before I used it up.
I could be wrong, but as far as I know, a regular moisturizer is too heavy for the skin around the eye area and can cause milia.
I’ve heard the same thing, Irene.
I dislike that because something is called “eye cream” companies immediately feel like they can charge a ton of money for a relatively small amount of product, even when comparing it with a facial moisturizer from the same company.
I understand that there might be a higher concentration of active ingredients or that they have to formulate it so it doesn’t sting eyes, but I feel like there’s a bit of fleecing going on.
I second the dislike for products in jars, particularly ones that would be better served in airtight containers.
I’m curious about products that say they can lighten/brighten undereye circles — besides a purely cosmetic effect of a shimmery cream or one that has a bit of coverage, how would those work?
Nice Julia! I love hearing this! And to answer your question, it really depends on the product. Some rely on cosmetic trickery, while others may be effective. However, there’s no one ingredient that can improve dark undereye circles just because the causes can be numerous, and even today, are not completely understood.
Still your best friend for this particular issue, is concealer! xD
I have been using the YSL Forever Youth Liberator eye cream, and I absolutely love it. It doesn’t make my eyes go crazy teary, like some other eye creams. I really like how the skin around the eyes feels to the touch after you apply the eye cream.
I am only 23, so I use it as a prevention.
Biore has a nice eye cream that comes in a tube. Love it! I’m not sure if it does naything for my wrinkles, but I do need extra moisture there and it does the trick without wasting too much.
I don’t use eye creams. They have given me milia and my derm told me to steer clear of them.
I have a lot of trouble finding eye creams that don’t give me milia. Lanolin seems to be one of the only ingredients that doesn’t give me problems. I don’t know why my eyes are so sensitive, I don’t have especially problem skin anywhere else.
I don’t think eye creams really reduce wrinkles but they keep the eye area from looking crepey and dried out which I only started seeing after I turned 40.
Sorry to tell you this but lanolin is a horrible ingredient that shouldnt really be put into skin care in the first place! Its basically the grease from sheeps wool, and it can cause excessive hair growth wherever its applied
I’m nearly 24 now and was 21 when I started using eye creams since I have super dark circles and fine lines (in part hereditary and in part my own late nights).
I’ve tried a whole bunch from the Body Shop including the whitening range and vitamin e, I spent £35 on Strivectin (and I was a poor student at the time and was depressed to part with so much money but heard it was a good cream and got sucked in by positive reviews on youtube), I’ve tried an eye cream from Origins, from xtend life (new zealand online company), from Boots no7, from L’Occitane… list seems endless.
I’m currently trying Mac’s charged water eye cream.
If I’m honest none of these creams have made any significant difference. Some have worked better at hydration than others but for actually targetting my lines: nothing has worked so far.
I prefer to use an eye cream to a usual moisturiser as my face is oily so I use a mattifying face cream and prefer a hydrating eye cream. I’ll live on in the hope I find that eye cream that really works but I’m not going to fork out ridiculous amounts of cash when clearly the expensive creams DO NOT live up to their reputation.
I’m also 24 and have had the same problems with dark circles and fine lines. The only thing I’ve found that works (besides sleep and hydration) in Korres’ Yoghurt Eye Cream. It’s not a miracle in a tube or anything like that but it def does make a noticable difference to me. 🙂
Rant- eyecreams that burns when it gets into the eye accidentally, even the expensive brands.
Rave- cannot live without eyecream…use eyecream for the eye…not the face cream…faves- Clarins Clarins Clarins- been using it since I was 17 years old…ones like Sisley, La Mer, Orlane and the likes are so expensive and Clarins does the job for me.
I think u should know my age which might change your opinion of my statements, 59 y/o, have 2 grown daughters. We all have varied skin. I feel serums are a blessing, but so are some moisturizers. Serums absorb quickly into skin & supposed to heal as do some moisturizers. This is about eyes & face. If using serum then only need moisturizer for hydration/moisturizing or ingredients that your skin might need that can’t be put in a serum. Neither of my daughters need serum, only light moisturizer with ingredients to help their skin (monthly break outs). They use different companies because of age difference & condition. What u eat makes the biggest difference (veg, fruits, whole grains).
I find it impossible to find eye serum or cream that doesn’t burn my eyes! So I would LOVE any suggestions! My skin is very sensitive & re-acts badly. It makes me angry when they say they have eye cream or serum & small print says only for bottom portion. Is the top part supposed to dry out & shrivel up & that is ok?!!
I just left another comment below about Dr Perricone’s Acyl-Glutathione eye lid serum, but I would highly recommend it- I have the same issue, and most eye serums have burned my eyes (including his other eye products).
I have problem with milia, my best eye creams are Erno Laszlo Antioxidant complex, Cellex C G.L.A. Eye Balm
I love to use eye creams. I currently use two, both by Kiehl’s. I use the avocado eye cream and the crusty marine eye treatment. I love Kiehl’s and I’m not sure I would ever stray.
I like the way eye creams feel at night, all nice and cool and relaxing. The only one I’ve tried is the Benefit It’s Potent, and honestly it doesn’t do much of anything that I can see. Once gone I will most likely be going back to good old vaseline. 🙂
I don’t use an eye cream as I find them unnecessary. I use a well-formulated moisturizer with antioxidants. I use moisturizer in a tube and not a pot as the antioxidants degrade rapidly when exposed to air.
I used to think I’d never find an eye cream or serum that actually did anything other than (very temporarily) hydrate the eye area, but in the past few months, I’ve found 2 that I am convinced I will never stop using: Dr. Perricone’s Acyl-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum and Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm. I absolutely started noticing the former working within a week or two- and after a few months, my eyes look like they’ve gone back in time. I had used 2 other Dr Perricone serums and noticed nothing but stinging, so I honestly didn’t have high hopes for this one, but it’s amazing stuff. I’m almost 37 and just started noticing changes around my eyes over the past couple of years, and I swear it seems like I got a lift. I will never be without it! The Algenist balm is simply the most hydrating eye cream I have ever used- it leaves my lids feeling almost silky, and it lasts, but my makeup still goes on and stays put.
I never thought they were particularly necessary before but I’ve changed my mind in the last year. I can definitely see a difference, at least when using a good one. When I hit 38, I started using eye creams regularly but no matter what I tried, they either gave me milia on the inside of my eyelid, a stye or did nothing at all. So, I stopped. But, at 40, I was depressed to notice that I was starting to look old under the eyes, with dark circles that I’d never had before, wrinkles and a generally dry look. I look about 30 until you look under the eyes, so I tried Ole Henricksen on a total off chance. And…. Wow. There was a difference. Not in terms of lines but in terms of the texture of the skin overall. Massively hydrated and fresher looking.
Recently, I discovered O/H special eye “peel” that works as a sort of eye concentrate which seems to intensify the effect of the eye cream that you put on top. Now THAT has worked on the LINES under my eyes and in my deep laugh lines at the corners. They really are less deep. I would never have believed it. Hell, I still don’t and sometimes wonder if I’m imagining it. But I’ve had family and friends notice. Repeatedly! I’m always too verbose so I’ll shut up now and just say, this huge skeptic is finally convinced that there is something to all that fuss about eye products after all.
Ive been wanting to try more and more Ole products. I will get some! thanks for the info!
You’re very welcome! The specific name is “Truth is in the Eye – eye peel concentrate.” I hope you try it and like it. 🙂
Mt favorite eye is bobbi brown extra eye repair cream. Doesn’t irritate my eyes and it helps with hydration, fine lines, puffiness!
I got a sample of Shiseido Benefiance with purchase & decided, hey, I’m in my late 20s, can’t hurt to try it out. Best decision I ever made, but not for the reasons you would think. The stuff makes my eyelashes grow super long & thick! Here’s to hoping it prevents wrinkles too! 🙂
I’ve used eye creams for over ten years (i’m 33 now)…it’s all about prevention
If you have a well formulated moisturizer there is no need for an eye cream– a huge marketing gimmick! Best “eye cream ” to prevent wrinkles– sunscreen!