Up until a couple of months ago, I never used to bother with eye cream. In fact, if you go back through my beauty archives, you’ll see a number of eye creams I’ve trialled where I’ve been less than impressed or have just felt indifferent about them. I’m very lucky to have always had quite youthful looking skin, and many people think I’m a lot younger than my current age of 30 (I still get ID’d more than I’d like to admit 🤦♀️). For most of my twenties, while I did have a well put together and strict skincare regime, I never really bothered with eye cream as I didn’t have wrinkles.
It wasn’t until I was doing some research for a blog post I was writing, that I came across the fact that your under eye skin is 40% more delicate than the rest of your skin. Now that’s quite a bit. And it also means that it really does need a bit of extra attention. If you are in your twenties, please START WITH EYE CREAM NOW!! Prevention is key when it comes to good skin, so it’s super important to use the correct creams on your skin in order to prevent getting wrinkles. Since I’ve turned 30, I’ve been religiously using an eye cream every morning and night, and I’ve really begun to appreciate what they do.
Since there are so many on the market and it can be a little overwhelming to choose, I’ve rounded up my top three best eye creams. Each is in a different price point; budget, mid-range and luxe, so there’s something for everyone. Let’s put them to the test…..
BUDGET OPTION: THE ORDINARY CAFFEINE SOLUTION 5% + EGCG.
I wrote a post all about my first impressions of this product and at the time I wasn’t sure if it made a lot of difference and I mentioned I probably wouldn’t repurchase. This is why first impressions aren’t always the best kind of posts 😅 Fast forward a few months and I am LOVING this eye cream, and it’s hands down my favourite budget buy. At only around $19NZD, this bottle will last you forever and you only use a tiny dab on each eye (a little goes a long way). In fact, it might be one of the best cost per use beauty products I’ve ever used!
Containing caffeine, this eye cream helps to de-puff your under eye area. It’s also hydrating and non-sticky and it dries super fast, so applying this in the morning won’t hold you up from doing your makeup.
MID RANGE OPTION: ANTIPODES KIWI SEED EYE CREAM $49.30
I’ve been a big fan of Antipodes products for years now, and nearly every product of theirs I’ve loved. I’ve been using the Kiwi Seed Eye Cream on and off for years too, and it’s to-date one of my favourite eye creams ever. At nearly $50 it’s a mid-range eye cream, but it’s also all natural and made from powerful natural ingredients. Like the Caffeine Solution, a little goes a long way, so you can expect to get a good run out of one jar.
Containing avocado oil, Vinanza Grape and Kiwiseeds, this eye cream is high in Vitamin C and is scientifically shown to help boost collagen production in human skin cells when applied topically. I just like it because it’s light, cooling and leaves under my eyes feeling fresh and hydrated. It also absorbs in quickly and works wonders both day and night.
If you’re feeling a little fancy, Antipodes have also just released the Kiwi Seed Gold Luminious Eye Cream*, which contains 23 carat gold flakes which help to add luminosity to the under eye area. At $82 this is getting into luxe territory, but rest assured the regular Kiwi Seed Eye Cream does just as good of a job.
LUXE OPTION: VESTIGE VERDANT INFINITY EYE SERUM $98.00
Vestige Verdant is the ultimate in luxury natural skincare, and their Infinity Eye Serum is the one I’m currently using as part of my evening skincare routine. Packaged in a small jar with a rollerball dispenser, this serum is ultimate luxury to apply as the rollerball cools and de-puffs the skin.
This eye serum is made from natural and organic ingredients, sourced from Fair Trade farmers, so you can feel good about using and applying this product. Designed to reduce puffiness and eliminate wrinkles, this eye cream is super hydrating and cooling. I used it for 6 weeks straight every single night and I definitely did notice a difference in the area under my eyes. I looked less tired and had little to no dark areas under my eyes.
So which is the best eye cream? In all honesty, all three are good choices and it really depends on your budget and your skin type.
- If you get deep bags, dark circles and puffiness under your eyes, the Vestige Verdant Serum is a great choice.
- If you get extremely dry under eyes or are looking for an “everyday” eye cream to wear under makeup, the Antipodes Eye Cream would be my pick
- If you are on a budget and want an effective eye cream to remove minimal bags and puffiness and make you look “brighter” choose the The Ordinary Serum.