EYE TREATMENT – CREAM

We often hear from women: ‘Eye creams don’t work.’ Well, we’ve been in this game long enough to know that they DO – provided that you use them regularly, and according to manufacturers’ instructions. That’s exactly what we ask our testers to do during their trials, in this case starting out by treating one eye only, so they can observe any improvements. 

And you know what? They see great results. If you only use an eye cream sporadically, you’re basically throwing money away. 

The type of eye product that works best for you also comes down to texture preference, though. Do you prefer the richness of a cream? Read on. Like the lightness of a serum? (Or maybe want to layer a serum under a cream?) Click here. Do you have an eye-bag/tiredness SOS? We've got quick-fix masks to tackle that, if you just click here.

Below, meanwhile, are some real eye-opening comments, from the 10-strong panels who put these different products through their paces. (Alas, nothing to qualify as a true ‘Beauty Steal’ did well enough to feature here.)

GOLD (JOINT) AWARD  Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Cream 

Featuring two different forms of famously skin-plumpifying hyaluronic acid, plus what they refer to as CL1870 Peptide Complex, to boost natural collagen and help ‘strengthen the skin’s support structure’, this lightweight cream is designed to be compatible with all skintypes. (If you’ve super-dry skin, there’s a denser Rich Cream – but be aware: that’s not what our testers trialled.) In their own tests, 95% of users felt it hydrated their skin throughout the night, while 85% observed reduced lines and wrinkles. And now, over to our own testers for their musings…

£70 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Loved this – luxurious but light, only needed a small amount and was absorbed very quickly, meaning it was easy to apply make-up on top. Fine lines looked instantly smoother and reduced, and longer term, the skin around my eyes feels well moisturised, firmer and the lines markedly less noticeable’ • ‘The best I have tried in a long time: a luxurious eye cream that manages to be rich and moisturising, whilst at the same time feeling light and easily absorbed’ • ‘My daughter commented on my lack of lines around my eyes! Eyes much brighter, lines softer and I looked more awake; skin much more hydrated and moisturised and much less crêpey’ • ‘An eye cream that works! Just fantastic! Love this product; I have noticed a marked improvement in the puffiness and wrinkles, particularly under my eyes’ • ‘A beautiful thick and luxurious eye cream that works well to brighten and refresh my eye area. It soaks in quickly and makes the eye area feel soft and nourished. Make-up sits really nicely over it, too’ • ‘A notable difference within a week. Longer term, it helped with puffiness, and I saw a definite improvement in the skin texture’ • ‘I would definitely repurchase and this has become a must-reach-for product in my beauty stash’ • ‘I suffer from very sensitive eyes and this cream did not give me any issues. I had COVID back in the Spring and I think I was looking pretty awful; this cream has improved the look around my eyes and therefore my whole face. Wonderful to find a product that actually works.’

£70 for 50ml - click to buy 

GOLD (JOINT) AWARD  Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm 

Don’t be put off by the use of the word ‘balm’: this doesn’t have the gummy feel of a cleansing balm, but does boast a skin-plumpingly, buttery texture. Hugely successful cult brand Drunk Elephant avoid what they call the ‘Suspicious 6’ in their formulations – silicones, SLS, drying alcohols, chemical sunscreens, essential oils and fragrances/dyes – but this boasts skin-compatible, barrier-boosting ceramides and a 10% concentration of what they refer to as a ‘Plant Omega-Lipid Complex’, incorporating skin-strengthening oat kernel oil, among others, to preserve elasticity.

£54 for 15ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Eye area looks more hydrated and I look less tired, puffiness reduced and skin looks much smoother. I love the dispenser: a twist and pop-up pump-action bottle makes it very easy to get the correct amount of product, which is easy to apply and quickly sinks into the skin leaving it hydrated but matte’ • ‘I have had  other eye products that have seeped into my eyes, making them water but not this one. I think my eyes look brighter and I look less tired’ • ‘I tested this on one side of my face only and after just four days already noticed a reduction in the under-eye circles and bags in this eye’ • ‘The eye area felt very moisturised during and immediately after application. I am somewhat sceptical when a product claims to reduce puffiness; however, I am a convert, as this product delivered as promised’ • ‘Absorbed quickly and left a matte finish, but my skin looked more hydrated; make-up went on easily after use’ • ‘I asked my husband (who hardly notices anything) if he could tell which side of the face I had been using the cream on. He picked the correct side, and I asked him why he thought that; he stated that my eye looked less puffy and less sore (which I took to mean brighter) ’ • ‘A lovely, light eye balm which certainly helps with dryness around the eye area, making skin look brighter and clearer’ • ‘Soaked in quickly, felt luxurious – divine, actually. Finish was moisturised, but not greasy – matte, in fact. I would actually purchase this product; I saw a brightness around my eye area. A new must-have!’ 

£54 for 15ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD L’OCCITANE Immortelle Divine Eye Balm

A repeat win for this product (we love it when that happens!), in the form of a soft, aromatic eye cream showcasing L’Occitane’s signature age-defying immortelle oil – an aromatic harvested especially for them in Corsica, which is said to act as a natural alternative to retinol. Other plant elements include rose floral water, shea butter, myrtle and a horse chestnut extract, together with mattifying powders. L’Occitane tell us this can be layered on from the jar more thickly and used an eye ‘mask’, too.

£65 for 15ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘A small pot of magic, which  did wonders for my eye area – everyone should have a pot of this “miracle” cream which I can’t praise enough – my whole eye area seems brighter and younger-looking, and I only wish I discovered this years ago!’ • ‘Compared to other eye area products this stands out, for all the right reasons. It's not sticky, heavy or greasy; I can dab it on, and my skin absorbs it quickly – a bonus when I've been pushed for time in a morning. I like that it is a light cream, and even when applied as a mask, my skin drank it all in without feeling as though I'd "overloaded" around my eyes’ • ‘There's nothing I don't like about it; it's worked very hard for me this past month or so – very hard indeed. You can also use it as an eye mask which is fabulous – two products in one!’ • ‘I am definitely less puffy – and believe me, I've had every reason for puffy eyes. You only need a very small amount and I have found the product to be very effective at reducing my fine lines and wrinkles. It initially feels like a rich cream, but isn't heavy on the skin and ensures that when make-up is applied it stays in place during the day’ • ‘I think my eye area has improved, which makes me look younger, and I feel that my make-up and overall appearance is enhanced’ • ‘A high-end eye balm which will definitely help your eyelid area and seems to arrest hooded eyelids from worsening’ • ‘Has a fabulous fragrance and is a pleasure to use.’

£65 for 15ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD  Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye

We welcome another previous winner: Bronze in our Beauty Bible Awards 2020. (We really do love the consistency of marks given by our testers, when products return time and again to be tested and re-tested.) This is a brilliant everyday all-rounder: featuring a white ginseng complex (white ginseng root, liquorice, wild yam, horsetail and Kigelia), it sets out to eliminate dark circles and signs of fatigue, diminish puffiness and plump skin in the eye area, while smoothing wrinkles and crow’s feet. Simply tap a dab from the small screw-top jar, using a fingertip, into your eye zone.

£44 for 15ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Only a tiny amount of this product is required to work miracles. A little goes a very long way! Everything about this product is luxurious and I feel fabulous applying this every morning and just before bed. I love this eye cream; it feels refreshing and has improved the skin around my eyes so much in a very short period of time’ • ‘Lovely to apply and sunk in well; made my eyes feel moisturised and less puffy in the morning. It also smells lovely! And dark circles has become less obvious’ • ‘Most of my family and work colleagues have noticed the difference from using this! Absolutely loved it; it feels rich and luxurious and made my eye area much more hydrated. I'm usually not very diligent with applying eye creams but felt motivated with this one as it was a pleasure to apply’ • ‘I can see a marked difference in my puffy eyes; I only used it on one eye to start with and I can really see the difference. Lovely and soothing to apply and makes fine lines look better immediately; there is a definite improvement in the puffiness around my right eye (where I initially trialled it); I'm going to use it on both eyes from now on’ • ‘A very light creamy cream that goes on like a dream! Delicate, smoothing with a dewy effect. Felt it helped my eye area look less dry and tired giving a more youthful appearance’ • ‘Puffiness looked less prevalent – a wonderful soothing yet reviving product. I felt I looked younger with the dewy smoothness it gave.’

£44 for 15ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD  Swiss line Cell Shock Luxe-Lift Eye Cream

A rich, yet lightweight gel-cream from a (yes) Swiss brand with a 30-year history of beauty innovation, who marry high-tech science with skin-cherishing ingredients which in this case include marine collagen and Fibroin, grape ferments, colloidal gold, grape seed extract and more. It’s designed to offer instant comfort, while working to target dark circles – its major claim – while helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. NB This really is luxury skincare – and with a price-tag to match.

£145 for 15ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I usually test products on one side of my face to make comparisons. I applied this to my right eye and the effect was instant and so obvious I just had to use it on both eyes! I have fairly hooded eyes and it instantly lifted the skin on my upper lid, revealing more of my mobile eyelid and making my eye look instantly younger and lifted. I also noticed the skin smoothed out and was less crêpey. The effect is not momentary, seeming to last all day!’ • ‘A definite reduction in crepiness. I can wear shimmer eyeshadows again!’ • ‘I don't know where to start! I cannot rave about this product enough! It’s like they've distilled the fountain of youth into the jar; there are so many things I love about this in addition to the amazing results. I love the texture; it glides on and seems cooling. I like the little spatula to get the product out of the jar, makes getting the right amount out a doddle and reduces risk of bacteria going in the pot. Make-up goes on superbly after application and I do not need to use eye make-up primer. I have NEVER been so bowled over by a new product’ • ‘I sleep mainly on one side and as I get older that left side of my face – particularly under my eye – looks like a slept on wrinkly sheet! To start with, I used it only on that side and over several days I started to look more even, with the left side becoming more like the right side.  I soon couldn't bear to use it just on one eye and it has been my go-to for both eyes every day since!’ 

£145 for 15ml - click to buy