Is Eye Cream A Big Old Waste Of Money?
Posted by: Erin Flaherty
Filed in:
style
12:19PM, Thursday August 20th 2009
Say it ain’t so, but a major UK consumer organization claims that spending money on fancy eye creams is like investing in horses and buggies, or erm, something like that. The group Which? tested 12 anti-wrinkle products on volunteers between 35 and 65 years old, and “found none of them came close to eliminating or reducing the appearance of lines.” Not. Even. One. As a result, they concluded that a $5 eye cream is not too different from a $50-plus one. [Belfast Telegraph]
Really? Do you agree?
Women are notoriously fastidious about their eye creams. Maybe it’s because the eyes are such an important feature—it’s often the one people notice first—that we’d like to think if there’s anything we can do to make them look more well-rested, firm and relatively crow’s feet-free, we’ll gladly pay for the privilege. And while I’m the first one to recommend your drugstore brand over more expensive department store products, I have to admit that when it comes to the eye cream category, I’ve had trouble finding anything that comes close to the secure-feeling spackle-and-airbrushed (in a good way) effect I get from my Clarins Instant Smooth, $30, or the I-slept-nine-hours-last-night look that a dose of skin brightening Prescriptives Vibrant-C, $38, lends.
I totally get that a moisturizer is just a moisturizer no matter what the price, and I think we all (hopefully) know by now that 99.9 percent of skincare creams only work on a cosmetic, superficial level, but maybe it’s that cheaper brands are lacking in the kind of sophisticated formulations that pull that more polished look off? No, I know that’s not exactly right, because mass companies have even more talented chemists on staff than smaller companies can afford to recruit. Perhaps I just need to road-test some more of the latest lower-priced brands.
I guess this is a long way of asking: Do you personally think it’s worth it to shell out a little extra for an eye cream, and, if so, why? And if you’re all like, “Hell no!” can you please share some cheap ones with the class!?
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bumbler
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 11:27 am: [report]
I have very sensitive skin around my eyes so if I use anything other than a hypoallergenic moisturizer I actually end up with chemical burns under my eyes. Now I feel like I’m not missing out on anything even though I would gladly take wrinkles over big scabby burns any day.
Kiki T
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 11:36 am: [report]
Undereye skin is the thinnest of all your skin and to add extra weight to it, like eye creams, only drag it down.
The only thing I have been using for years now, and I use to buy anything and everything for anti-anything since I was waaaay young (12), but through it all found Aubrey Organics Vegecell. You only need it once a day and it keeps your skin feeling dewey all day long. I have combo skin (dry and oily) and its super sensitive too, but this has been the thing I have been using for over 10 years and I would not be able to exist without it. It’s an herbal concoction that is a big gooey in consistency, but it works!
...but in general, as an obsessed skin care fanatic, eating well, sleep, sunscreen and living well are the best defenses against aging or looking like sh*t in general.
Kiki T
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 11:40 am: [report]
I meant “a bit gooey” ...and wanted to add, it’s only about $15 for 3 oz. and it lasts a long time…get it at any health food store, whole foods, internet. Your whole face will thank you!
Humble Bee
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 11:42 am: [report]
I don’t spend much on eye cream. I bought an Avon one and I didn’t see the difference so I bought a Garnier Anti-puff eye roller that contains caffeine,jojoba oils, vitamin E, and all this other stuff, and to me, it works pretty well. It’s about 11-13 bucks, depending where you buy it (I got mine at Target) It has a little metal tip so when you roll it on, it feels cold and gives this cooling effect. My friend told me that it’s better to buy generic brands like Neutrogena instead of Sephora brands because generic brands spend more money on research and testing and the Sephora brands spend more money on packaging, marketing,appearance of the product etc.
writergirl
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 11:44 am: [report]
@Kiki T and I thought I started young at 17!
Recently I completely cut down my skin care routine to cleanser and moisterizer on a daily basis and have seen a HUGE difference in my skin. The fine lines are decreased and my pores are smaller. Probably because of what Kiki said with the creams dragging it down.
BUT I will say that using the eye creme did put OFF the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for years. Seriously I can pass for about 5 ot 7 years younger than my true age. And I am not an avid sunscreen user, but I do eat healthy and drink plenty of water.
AgentBeryllium
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 11:54 am: [report]
@Humble Bee I actually have that Anti-Puff roller which is cool once I figured out how to use it and it’s also good for is zapping angry pimples. Takes the red out and gone usually over night. I actually like Garnier products. Not too expensive and lasts a supper long time.
I had a hunch that eye products don’t work. I am also a diehard Aveeno freak. I use a lot of their products and I am very happy with the results.
Lynn
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 12:01 pm: [report]
I use drugstore products all the way….*except* eye cream. I am willing to shell out quite a bit for it (the last one I bought was $67, but it has lasted me a year!). I don’t think it’s actually doing anything about the wrinkles I have, but I do pay so much because I always thought eye cream was more about preventing than curing.
Coral
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 12:08 pm: [report]
The problem with the study mentioned in the article is that it tested women 35-65 years old. I’m sorry to say, but by that age, the wrinkles, the circles, and the damages has already had some effect. Personally, I don’t think there is any (or maybe a few) creams that can actually REVERSE aging. It’s all about taking preventative measures. I started moisturizing my face and my body, including my eyes, when I was 14. I don’t necessarily think it’s about what cream you use (although some ingredients are better than others). It’s more about moisturizing everyday, starting young, and sticking to a daily regimen. Preventing aging is much easier than stopping and reversing it. So I think the study mentioned in the article is flawed in the fact that they tested older women. I know lots of women who are in their 40s and above—and those who have really great skin, fewer wrinkles, etc, have moisturized their skin from an early age an they have stuck to a consistent plan.
Pinky
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 01:18 pm: [report]
OMG…I am using Prescriptives Vibrant C (its my first time trying it) and may I say it is the most useless product I have ever spent $38 bucks on. And I have tried a lot of products over the years. It does virtually nothing on me. I will not be rebuying when I’m out.
GreenAura
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 02:20 pm: [report]
I use Burts Bee’s Naturally Ageless eye creme. It’s super light, smells great and a little goes a long way. I use it at night with the Naturally Ageless night creme, and I think there has been a difference. My hubby had to leave town for work and we didn’t see each other for a month and a half. When he came home, one of the first things he said was “wow, you look younger”. I hadn’t even told him that I was using this stuff!
And I agree w/ Coral. You have to start young and stick to a daily regimen. I moisturize twice daily and I include my neck and chest because those areas will really show your age if you don’t take care of them.
Let_Love_Rule
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 08:19 pm: [report]
I’ve never been impressed by eye creams, personally, but that is an area of my face that (so far) doesn’ t seem to age much. My laugh lines on the other hand…oy vey!