‘When a woman is talking to you, listen to what she says with her eyes’, said Victor Hugo. My eyes say I’m tired.
Along with learning Spanish, my resolutions for 2019 include using eye creams more regularly. Along with sun lotion, I reckon eye cream is the best ways to prevent the growing old not so gracefully look. So I’m going to take my beauty expert friend’s advice and keep my eye cream near my hand soap and reapply every time I wash my hands.
Here are a few of my favourite eye creams, all of which are vegan, free of parabens and silicones, and are not tested on animals:
Best for sensitive skin: Advanced Intensive Eye Care, QMS Medicosmetics, £103,15 ml
I suffer from eczema, psoriasis and sensitive skin, meaning that a lot of eye creams are no go for me. The brand QMS Medicosmetics was developed by a doctor specialising in burn and trauma victims, and all its products are incredibly gentle, yet effective.
The QMS Advanced Intensive Eye Care feels wonderfully rich to apply and contains natural plant extracts and acids to reduce fine lines, dark lines and puffiness.
Natural silk acacia and st paul’s wort boost elasticity and smoothe wrinkles, jojoba and avocado nourish and protect, hyaluronic acid hydrates, and a peptide known as matrixyl stimulates the growth of the skin’s own healing processes.
This is one of the most gentle, yet effective eye products on the market. I love it.
Best for a quick fix: Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, skyn ICELAND, $30.00 USD for eight pairs of eye gels
Once upon a time an overworked, super stressed beauty expert received a wake up call: destress or you won’t make it to your fortieth birthday. Her quest for better health took her to Iceland, where she was awed by its pristine waters, pure air and healing plants. Her Scandi journey led her to founding the first skincare brand specifically formulated to address the effects of stress on skin.
skyn ICELAND’s cooling gel patches are a natural take on botox, without the needles. Perfect for a pre-party pick up, they firm, tone and de-puff the under-eye skin in ten minutes (although I leave mine on a little longer). A natural blend of plant and seed extracts combine with pure, glacial water and molecular oxygen to soothe away puffy bags, calm tension and energise. These gels are absolute beauty cabinet essentials.
Alas skyn ICELAND no longer ships internationally, but a range of stockists around the world deliver to most countries.
Best all rounder: Eye Architecture Cream, Elequra, £37.50, 30ml
Growing up in Kenya, Elequra’s founder was accustomed to natural plant based cures for everything including burns, bites and cuts. Moving onto studying biochemistry at a top London institution, she began to investigate the scientific properties behind these miracle cures, and from there created Elequra – an innovative brand pushing the boundaries of science in skincare.
Its Eye Architect Cream is a great all rounder and has stood up to robust clinical testing: in independent trials, 100% of users saw an average of 34% reduction of wrinkles in 28 days.
Star ingredients exclusive to the Elequra brand include tamarind seed extract, which delivers hydration in higher doses than its synthetic counterparts and rift valley algae complex, an African superfood full of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Yet more natural plant extracts, including aloe, licorice and white tea combine to make this an intensely moisturising and protective cream suitable for everyday use.
In short, if you’re looking for fast skincare results, put this eye cream on your list.
Best for sustainability: SIBU Sea Berry Therapy Luxe Oil $59.95, 30ml
SIBU draws on the powers of the sea buckthorn berry, otherwise known as “the holy fruit of the Himalayas”. These berries withstand the harsh climate of the mountains by producing an array of powerful nutrients, including the world’s richest source of Omega-7. This fatty acid is essential for collagen production and a game changer for healthy skin, hair and nails.
SIBU’s cultivation of the berries by traditional, fair trade methods has won the company a host of environmental and social accolades, including praise by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for its ongoing humanitarian and sustainable work in the Himalayas.
Alas they stopped selling their amazing Eye Cream (sob, sob!), but I just discovered their amazing Luxe Oil which I use on my face and it’s gentle enough for my eye area too. Sea Berry and natural plant extracts work to firm, refine and brighten the under eye area. If you can’t be bothered with a separate eye cream, a good, gentle facial oil is your next best bet, and this is one of my faves.
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