When we talk about our favorite skincare products, popular items like moisturizers, night creams, and serums containing active ingredients always rise to the surface. These are the skincare tools we rely on most to keep our complexions smooth and clear. But when the talk turns to eye creams, the conversation can sometimes take a different spin.
Do you really even require an eye cream? — you may be wondering. Can’t you use your regular serum and moisturizer in that area? You’re not alone in questioning the need for a separate cream for your under-eye area. But many beauty experts stress that the under-eye area is one of the most delicate, with thinner skin, and that it benefits from a formula that is designed to treat thinner skin.
But as with any other skincare product, the market is saturated with under-eye cream options and it can be difficult to determine which deserve your money and time. According to reviews and ratings, this is the life-changing eye cream that beauty lovers swear by to reverse dark circles and sagging.
Dermalogica Awaken Peptide Depuffing Eye Gel (Sephora, $59)
This best-selling cooling and de-pugging eye gel scores points for its popularity, high ratings, and ingredients. Clocking in at $59, it’s not as expensive as some other luxury brands, though it obviously isn’t cheap, either.
The oil-free formula is safe on all skin types — including oily, dry, combination, and normal — and has clinical trials that back up its effectiveness, especially when it comes to de-puffing tired, swollen eyes.
Dermalogica’s impressive list of ingredients are what really sells this product and makes it stand out. The lightweight gel contains lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates, brightens, and smooths skin; caffeine to reduce puffiness, a tetra peptide blend for smoothing puffy skin, and rosemary leaf extract to help address swelling even more. Additionally, caffeine is known as a star eye cream ingredient for its ability to lighten dark circles. Altogether, its ingredient list packs an anti-puffing, brightening punch that’s difficult to find in other creams.
Clinical Trial
According to Dermalogica, an independent 8-week clinical trial was performed using 32 participants who tested this eye gel once daily. According to the participants, this gel helped them look more rested within 10 minutes of use, reduced puffiness, and even helped minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
Of course, the caveat with trials like these is that they rely on subjective opinions from participants. But that’s why customer reviews become an important factor to consider, as well.
Reviews
With a 4.7-rating and a 95% recommendation rate, this eye gel is one of the most popular eye cream/gel picks on Sephora. And reviewers aren’t shy about sharing what it is that they love about this gel.
According to one reviewer: “I keep multiples in the house because my husband and I both use this daily. It’s lightweight and doesn’t clog pores. But boy does it work on eye puffiness!”
Another recommends using it and allowing it work its de-puffing magic, but then removing it prior to makeup application: “Really works! when I wake up with puffy eyes or after crying, I use this and it actually depuffs within minutes. It’s not claiming to be anti aging or anything else so for what it is I’m happy. The one down side for me is that it pulls heavily under makeup. So if I’m using it in the morning I’d have to wash it off after it does it’s job before applying makeup. While that is a bummer I still felt it was 5 stars bc I’ve tried so many different eye products and most are useless. This one really delivers.”
And a third reviewer also raves about how well it works: “I’ve always been very skeptical about eye creams that claim to reduce puffiness but this one has been a pleasant surprise. The tube is pretty small but you only need so little. The gel is very lightweight and gets absorbed quickly. It has a very nice cooling sensation. My eyelids are puffy in the morning sometimes, some days more than others, but this get definitely decreases puffiness within 20 mins or so. It works better than any other depuffing gel I’ve ever used. It also keeps my skin around the eyes hydrated and firm.”
Although this eye gel has some cons — namely, it isn’t super affordable and its application may feel too thick under concealer and foundation — it has a lot going for it. If you’re constantly searching for ways to de-puff swollen eyes and are tired of throwing your money away on eye masks that do very little, give this eye gel a try and see why reviewers can’t stop raving about it.
