8/10 overall rating
All skin types
Firstly, let me apologise for the long post, but I assure you this is going to be worth it if your under-eye area is a concern.
Over the past three years, my sleeping patterns have been fairly irregular, and late nights have left me with stubborn puffiness beneath both eyes. For this reason, I have tried a number of eye treatments - creams, gels and lotions - ranging from $10 to $30. I will give a brief description of each.
The first I tried was Garnier UltraLift Anti-wrinkle Roll-on. The only benefit of this product is the cooling effect created by the stainless steel roller ball, which soothes the under-eye area. No lasting reduction in puffiness. The next I tried was Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum, which is the next best that I've tried after The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream. The serum is creamy and hydrating, and has a subtle yellow tint and shimmer, which helps to brighten the under-eye area. The largest downfall for this product is the price. I bought it on sale for around $22, but when it's not on sale, it can be around $28 to $32. It comes in a tiny (15mL) pump bottle. Buyers take note: when you run out of product, unscrew the pump lid! There will be plenty still in the bottle. I would have repurchased this product, however the steep price lead me to try other brands. Next I tried Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel for sensitive skin. I had high hopes for this product, because of cucumber's infamous association with eye care. The gel is clear and cooling, with a subtle cucumber scent. It is suitable if you're only looking for moisture, however I saw no difference in puffiness. Soon after, I tried Natio Eye Contouring Treatment Gel (for puffiness and dark circles), and again had high hopes, as I have been a fan of Natio's daily moisturiser in the past. Unfortunately, this turned out to be the worst product that I have tried for my eyes. Not only did it not improve puffiness, but it stung my sensitive under-eye area. I was so surprised, because Natio prides itself on using only natural, plant-based products. Next I tried L'oreal Men Expert Vita Lift for Eyes. 'Men's' facial products tend to be identical to women's, only packaged and scented for men, but usually without the hefty price tag! So I gave this one a try. No effect, just slightly cooling (contains a metal roller ball) and hydrating. The final product that I tried before heading to The Body Shop, was QV Revitalising Eye Cream. To be honest, the only reason that I bought this was because I felt pressured by a pharmacy assistant, after asking her whether she could recommend any successful or popular eye treatments. She had no idea and just read product descriptions to me straight from the packaging. Of the products she showed me, I chose QV because it was the cheapest. QV is known for making natural, no-nonsense products for sensitive skin. I found this product to be very hydrating and easy on the under-eye area, but again, not very effective for puffiness.
It was then that I visited The Body Shop. I usually avoid TBS, because I know I will end up spending way too much money on products that are generally ineffective anyway, but this time I had a voucher. I asked the shop attendant to show me their eye products. After deciding that I had combination type skin, she showed me the Elderflower Cooling Eye Gel. She smeared a small amount on my hand. It felt hydrating, but I had had too many bad experiences with eye gel to trust it. Next she offered Aloe Eye Defence, which I remembered using a number of years ago, unsuccessfully. I then clarified the fact that I was looking for help with puffiness, and she showed me the Vitamin E Eye Cream. Again, she smeared a small amount on my hand, and after a few seconds, I began to feel a cooling sensation, that was almost like a subtle tingle (in a good way!). This gave me an inkling that perhaps this product would actually work. The shop attendant noted that it is one of their most popular skin treatments.
This product, plus a combination of sleep regulation and increased water consumption has finally reduced my under-eye puffiness! Hooray! Whilst I do believe that this product is effective and well worth a try if puffiness is something that you struggle with, I cannot stress enough how important regular sleeping patterns and adequate water consumption is. I use this product every morning and night, and I can't wait to see how my under-eye area is looking in a few weeks' time with continued use! Will keep you posted!
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