NEW EYE CREAMS THAT I THINK YOU'LL LOVE AS MUCH AS I DO - SKINFIX LIPID-BOOST 360 EYE, GOOD MOLECULES YERBA MATE WAKE-UP EYE GEL AND MORE!
I got great news yesterday that I’m eligible to get an earlier Covid vaccine here in Brooklyn. I was originally scheduled to get the vaccine in Queens the third week of March. Now, I’m schedule to be vaccinated closer to home this coming Friday — just five days from now.
I can’t wait.
Friday will be a momentous day indeed. Not only will I get my first shot, and with it some relief from the unique hell that the past year has been for all of us, but movie theatres in New York City are re-opening.
I love going to the movies. I usually go alone. Not because I don’t like people, or that I don’t want to hear friends crunching on popcorn in the dark for two hours (okay, I actually hate that FYI!) — but because I go so much that I sometime can’t be bothered to corral anyone to join me.
Get this. It was exactly a year ago this Friday that I was sitting in the theater at the Alamo Drafthouse at City Place in Downtown Brooklyn patiently waiting for the movie to begin. I loved going to the Alamo on Friday nights — for a movie and dinner.
They have a full-service restaurant menu and you can order food right from your seat, which is more like a first class reclining airliner seat complete with a small dining table.
So there I was, in the dark, waiting for my food to arrive. The movie was still about 30 minutes from showtime. I always get there early so I can finish eating before it begins. Suddenly, someone with apparent authority was standing in front of the screen announcing that they were closing the theatre, refunding our money — and asking us all to leave immediately.
That was the first time I felt the breath (and breadth!) of the pandemic. It was terrifying, surreal and felt so abrupt and disconcerting. And I haven’t been to a movie since that day. I can’t wait to go back on Friday.
Masked and vaccinated? Now that will finally feel like the “return to normal.”
The skincare stuff starts here.
What always feels like a return to normal is spring! I don’t know why that is. As if three cold, harsh, grueling months of winter aren’t normal in New York. Of course that’s normal. But it’s not the welcome kind of normal that spring is, right?
I spent the entire winter season talking about cold weather skin care to treat extreme dryness. You can catch my series on the best face creams for dry skin and all skin types in winter in my two-part series titled Winter Moisturizer. The first five moisturizers are in part one here. The second five, rounding out my ten recommendations, is in part two here.
That seems like ages ago! As winter comes to a close and spring rears its gorgeous little head, I’m beginning to take a fresh look at my skincare picks for the weeks ahead. Lighter face creams will be in again, as will lighter eye creams and sunscreens. Psst…watch out for my piece on lightweight sunscreen products I’m testing out now.
SKINCARE 101: EYE SPF AND THE BEST PRODUCT FOR DARK CIRCLES
But I want to kick the new season off with eye creams. Not to pat myself on the back, but I did a much better job of protecting my delicate, thin-skinned eye area this past winter than ever before. I was singularly focused on assuring that the skin around my eyes was sufficiently hydrated day and night as the dry, low-humidity air worked its wicked magic, sucking the life and water out of my skin barrier.
It appears to have paid off.
As with the rest of my face, I prevented trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) most days with my “lock and block” strategy. I locked water in my skin through frequent use of humectant-rich serums infused with high concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera, seaweed, Beta-Glucan and Glycerin.
I published an article on what I consider the best Hyaluronic Acid serums titled, My Favorite Humectant Serums — which you can catch here.
MY FAVORITE HUMECTANT SERUMS - BEST HYALURONIC ACID SERUMS, BEST HYDRATING SERUMS
What Is Trans-Epidermal Water Loss?
There’s an excellent article on the health website Skin Better titled, What Is Transepidermal Water Loss and Why Is it Important? available here. In the piece, the author defines TEWL as follows:
“The skin is comprised of three primary layers: the epidermis, the outermost layer; the dermis or middle layer; and the hypodermis, the undermost layer. When water passes from the dermis through the epidermis and evaporates from the skin’s surface, this is known as transepidermal water loss (International Journal of Pharmaceutics).
While TEWL is a process that your skin naturally regulates, certain factors that can damage the skin’s barrier function can also affect TEWL levels. Circumstances such as injury, low-humidity weather conditions and topically applied products that dry out the skin can impact TEWL.
To achieve this, combine humectant and occlusive skincare ingredients.
Transepidermal water loss can contribute to a variety of dry skin conditions, and although it is a natural process, there are ways that you can help your skin stay moisturized and hydrated. Hydration refers to the water content of the skin, whereas moisturization is the skin’s ability to retain those water molecules. Therefore, your skin needs both elements to maintain desirable levels of TEWL.
To achieve this, combine humectant and occlusive skincare ingredients. Humectants help to draw moisture to the epidermis, either from the air if it is humid enough, or from the underlying dermis in low-humidity conditions. Because water content that is drawn from the dermis can be lost through TEWL, it’s important to combine the use of humectants with occlusives. Together, these ingredients create a reservoir of moisture in the epidermis and act as a barrier on the skin to help prevent TEWL by sealing in that moisture. The occlusive agents simultaneously keep pollutants, toxins and harmful bacteria out (Skin Therapy Letter).”
By locking water-based hydration in my skin, I was able to prevent skin-damaging, skin-aging dehydration. But locking it in isn’t enough. The drying forces of cold air and artificial heat are a tough opponent in the healthy skin game. This is where blocking comes in — creating an effective one-two punch to protect and preserve skin health.
I found that using highly occlusive treatments created an effective seal over my skin that blocked the loss of moisture through the skin barrier. This defensive shield essentially kept the dry air from penetrating into my skin and drawing out the hydration it desperately needs to remain healthy.
The required level of occlusion can be achieved through a heavy, water-free ointment or rich facial oil, particularly suitable during the night, while you’re at rest. In the morning and throughout the day, a heavy, emollient face cream paired with a thicker sunscreen does the trick.
NEW PAMPERING FACIAL OILS THAT WOW ME - FROM KJAER WEIS, BIOSSANCE AND MORE
For the first time since my youth, I emerged from winter with my eye area relatively intact — smooth, healthy and free of dehydration lines. Throughout the season, I used all of those heavier treatments — the waterless balms, heavy facial oils and thicker sunscreens in my immediate eye area.
Spring is, well, springing and these emergency measures are no longer required. Just like the lifting of pandemic restrictions allowing me to return to my Friday night movie, I’m returning my regular eye care to something a bit more normal — with lighter-weight eye creams, serums, and sunscreens!
Let’s have a look at a few new favorites, some of the best eye creams for dry skin, oily skin and all skin around the eyes in springtime…
Kat Burki | Nutrient C Eye Cream
I have had my eyes on Kat Burki for some time now. But, curiously, I hadn’t had the opportunity to try out any of the celebrity nutritionist’s products until a few weeks ago. I’ve been quite impressed with what I’ve tried. Particularly, the Goji Essence!
Kat’s Goji Essence is a remarkable fermented acid toner that lights up my skin. It’s powered by Lactic Acid, plant stem cell extracts, the plumping Matrixyl- 3000 peptide complex and, of course, power-antioxidant Goji Berry Extract. No joke, it feels like liquid skin health in a bottle!
I’ve also been blown away by the Kat Burki Vital Hydration Blast, featured in my #selfcaresunday video on my YouTube channel two weeks ago. If you missed it, you can still catch it here for your own #selfcaresunday session this coming weekend!
I’m not even close to exaggerating when I say that Kat’s Vital Hydration Blast is one of the most luxurious, skin-pampering moisture masks I’ve ever tried. I can’t get enough of it.
The Vital Hydration Blast is a rich, creamy blend of Kat’s proprietary KB5 antioxidant complex — combined with multiple non-fragrant plant oils and extracts, botanical Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, ceramides, peptides and more. Seriously, it’s next-level clean luxury skincare and the perfect #selfcaresunday treat.
So, of course, with the experience of these two standout skin gems, I was excited to try the Kat Burki Nutrient C Eye Cream. The Nutrient C is more of a thick, milky serum than a conventional eye cream in a pot. Eye creams in pots, oh my!
Of course, eye creams should never, ever, ever come in pots or jars with lids. Of all the skincare wrongs, this is my biggest pet peeve. I can barely stand a face cream in a jar, let alone an eye cream intended for use in the delicate eye area. In fact, there were two eye creams I was considering for this article but I opted to go exclusively with products in pumps, tubes and sticks.
Rant complete.
The Nutrient C Eye Cream INCI starts out with Kat’s KB5 nutrient-dense antioxidant complex composed of Arnica Flower Water, Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Leaf Water, Lavender Flower Water, Calendula Flower Water and Chamomile Flower Water.
Next is Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a stable, water-soluble Vitamin C derivative with unique benefits for the skin beyond antioxidant defense. It’s rated as one of the best ingredients for skin care by the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team:
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a stable, water-soluble form of vitamin C that functions as an antioxidant and is potentially effective for brightening an uneven skin tone. There is also research showing amounts of 1% and 5% concentrations of sodium ascorbyl phosphate can influence factors linked to breakouts. Thus, this form of vitamin C may be an effective adjunct to anti-acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
There are also a slew of antioxidant non-fragrant plant oils and extracts in the Nutrient C Eye Cream formula that give it a rich, yet lightweight texture that feels supremely comforting around the eyes. It’s so invigorating and replenishing!
What Are Antioxidants?
There’s an excellent article full of antioxidants insights on the Paula’s Choice website titled, How Antioxidants Fight the Signs of Aging. The experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team share this:
Antioxidants for Skin Benefits
Antioxidants play a unique role when it comes to diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Years of environmental damage (including unprotected sun exposure—one more reason to apply that broad-spectrum sunscreen!) slowly chip away at skin’s natural ability to look and feel healthy. As this damage builds up, skin gradually loses its ability to recover and bounce back as it once did. It’s not an exaggeration to say that after years of damage, skin becomes overwhelmed, and its “look young systems” begin to slow down.
Antioxidants in skin care step in to help shield skin’s surface from further deterioration by calming stressed skin and defending against the visible effects of pollution —something all of us encounter on a daily basis.
What happens as a result of applying antioxidants to your face is truly impressive: Skin’s appearance begins to turn around! It regains a firmer feel and more even skin tone—and those wrinkles you’re probably not fond of will visibly soften.
There’s a tiny, tiny amount of caffeine in Kat’s natural, brightening eye cream that may help to alleviate puffiness in the under-eye area, though it’s not enough to make me break-up with my go-to Caffeine Eye Solution from The Ordinary.
If you’re looking for one of the best natural eye creams to brighten the eye area and deliver potent antioxidant defense, the Kat Burki Nutrient C Eye Cream is the perfect option.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Kat Burki Nutrient C Eye Cream for $90 here.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
CHILLIN ON SELFCARE SUNDAY WITH KAT BURKI AND THIS BOMB HYDRATING MASK!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY CAFFEINE SOLUTION 5% + EGCG – THE BEST EYE CREAM FOR PUFFINESS
Skinfix | Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream
I’ve made no secret about the fact that I am a huge fan of the Skinfix brand. The Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream is one of my favorite moisturizer discoveries of the last year. In fact, I identified TLPC as one of the best face creams for dry skin and all skin types in the cold in my Winter Moisturizer series. It was a dry skin savior for me throughout the winter season. Just this past week, WWD declared it among The 100 Greatest Skin Care Products of All Time. I’m proud to have beat them to the punch!
I’m also quite fond of the brand’s Remedy+ 911 Ointment. The thick, waterless ointment is the perfect skin soother for maskne irritation and I first reviewed it in my piece on the Best Maskne Treatments, which you can catch here.
MY WINTER SKIN SAVIOR: SKINFIX BARRIER+ LIPID REPLENISHING SKINCARE
So, I’m not surprised that I’ve found the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream to be one of the best eye creams for dry and dehydrated skin in the eye area. Like the Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream, and all other products in the brand’s Barrier+ skin barrier building franchise, the Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream is formulated with the Skinfix’s proprietary lipid-restoring 3% Triple Lipid Complex.
Triple Lipid Complex is described by the brand as, “Our signature ingredient. This exclusive complex is a patented lipid multiplier that helps replenish skin barrier lipids, such as ceramides and fatty acids. Lipids fortify your barrier to defend against damaged skin, leading to your best complexion ever.”
The Lipid-Boost eye cream has a wonderfully replenishing, silky texture that’s ideal for even the driest skin around the eyes. With clinically active levels of skin-strengthening and protective ingredients, devoid of fragrant plant oils, drying alcohol and toxic skin irritants, it’s a near-perfect eye cream.
I never declare a product perfect. Everyone’s skin is different and just because it’s perfect for me, doesn’t make it perfect for anyone else on the planet. Besides, humans aren’t capable of perfection; only Mother Nature can achieve that.
But Skinfix did harness the best of nature for this baby: Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream is 95% naturally derived. In addition to its proprietary lipid complex that helps restore depleted fatty acids and ceramides in the skin barrier, there are numerous nourishing non-fragrant plant oils and extracts. Among them, Jojoba and Macadamia Seed oils and Cetearyl Olivate — derived from the fatty acids of olive oil.
What Are Fatty Acids?
There’s an insightful piece on the Paula’s Choice website titled, How Omega Fatty Acids Help Skin. In it, the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team explain the vital importance of fatty acids to skin health.
Omega fatty acids like those found in fish and various plant oils are well known for their remarkable nutritional benefits when consumed via food or supplements as part of a healthy diet—but you might not know about the amazing benefits they have when applied to skin.
The research about omega’s healthy fatty acids for skin is fascinating; in fact, it inspired us to formulate highly specialized products to deliver these important ingredients—and their benefits—to skin: Omega+ Complex Serum, Omega+ Complex Moisturizer, and Omega+ Complex Eye Cream. Adding one or more of these omega fatty acid-packed products to your skin care routine can supplement and enhance the results you get from your other products for visibly improved skin.
What are Omega Fatty Acids?
Omega fatty acids are valuable fats, for your diet and your skin. There are 11 omega fatty acids of which two (omega-3 and omega-6) are considered essential fatty acids because the body cannot make them on its own (meaning you must supplement them in one way or another). Among the omegas, the most vital for skin are:
Omega-3— Found in foods such as fish, flax seed (linseed), walnut, and chia oils, plus certain species of algae
Omega-6— Abundant in many plant oils, linoleic acid, and passion fruit oil
Omega-9— Plentiful in flax seed (linseed) oil and soybean, canola, peanut, and sunflower oils
Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are not only essential to consume orally, but when applied to skin, research has shown they play a role in maintaining your skin's healthy appearance, among many other benefits.
There’s also an ultra-nourishing, fermented 4% Saccharomyces Complex in the Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream formula. I love fermented actives in skin care! They’re so good for the skin. And, to help lock hydration into skin, the brand included a 3% Seaweed Hyaluronate Blend.
It’s just a really damn good eye cream — and rather affordable for such a brilliant formula. You can buy six bottles of the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream for the price of a single jar of La Mer’s The Eye Balm Intense — a wildly inferior fragranced eye cream in a jar with a lid.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream for $40 here.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF
MY WINTER SKIN SAVIOR: SKINFIX BARRIER+ LIPID REPLENISHING SKINCARE
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
Herb + Flora | Eye Of The Cyclops Recovery Eye Gel
I love science and the science of the skin. That includes dermatology, skin nutrition and, of course, the chemistry and genius that goes into making great skincare products to begin with. Some of my favorite conversations in my weekly Clubhouse chats in the Skincarma Lounge are with dermatologists, nutritionists and product formulators.
I had never heard the term autophagy until new skincare brand Herb + Flora brought true skincare innovation to the marketplace — and to me.
Psst…for the record, it’s pronounced: au·tóph·a·gy | \ ȯ-ˈtä-fə-jē
This is product innovation that reimagines the beneficial effects that skin care can have for the skin, transcending the norms around skin health. Herb + Flora goes beyond moisture, hydration, antioxidants and vitamins. Way beyond.
The Herb + Flora brand tapped into the effects that sport, exercise, activity have on skin cells to optimize the health of the skin. And I’m excited to be among the first to experience and share the brand!
What Is Autophagy?
Hey, it’s news to me too. Even after looking it up in the dictionary, I barely know what autophagy is.
DEFINITION OF AUTOPHAGY
: the biological process that involves the enzymatic breakdown of a cell's cytoplasm or cytoplasmic components (such as damaged or unneeded organelles or proteins) within the lysosomes of the same cell.
So I went deeper, as I always do, and googled it. I found a terrific piece on the Healthline website titled, Autophagy: What You Need to Know. Here’s what I found most salient:
Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells, according to Priya Khorana, PhD, in nutrition education from Columbia University.
“Auto” means self and “phagy” means eat. So the literal meaning of autophagy is “self-eating.”
It’s also referred to as “self-devouring.” While that may sound like something you never want to happen to your body, it’s actually beneficial to your overall health.
This is because autophagy is an evolutionary self-preservation mechanism through which the body can remove the dysfunctional cells and recycle parts of them toward cellular repair and cleaning, according to board-certified cardiologist, Dr. Luiza Petre.
Petre explains that the purpose of autophagy is to remove debris and self-regulate back to optimal smooth function.
“It is recycling and cleaning at the same time, just like hitting a reset button to your body. Plus, it promotes survival and adaptation as a response to various stressors and toxins accumulated in our cells,” she adds.
My first experience of the Herb + Flora brand’s innovative skin care is the wonderful Eye Of The Cyclops Recovery Eye Gel. At first glance, the name is certainly intriguing; it’s an allusion to the brand’s storytelling around Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey — perhaps one of the greatest adventures of all time. But that’s only the beginning of the story.
Eye Of The Cyclops is an exceptional experience. It’s a suprisingly lightweight, silky serum — a relatively uncommon format for an eye cream. This is the lightest of my springtime eye cream collection and it feels so wonderful around the eye area. Herb + Flora says, “Eye Of The Cyclops helps stimulate skin recovery in the delicate eye area without irritation and minimize the look of crow’s feet, undereye bags and dark circles.”
At its heart is the brand’s Exercise Mimic Youth Complex, developed in partnership with Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky, MD, PhD and the Director of the Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Clinic at McMaster University Medical Center in Ontario, Canada. The team’s innovation is its proprietary blend of “actives that helps reproduce the anti-aging effects of exercise and unlocks the life energy of skin.”
Beyond Herb + Flora’s revolutionary complex is a really well-formulated eye cream infused with beneficial ingredients that skin loves. This includes, as with the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream I reviewed earlier, a replenishing blend of Omega 3, 6, 9 fatty acids that combine to fortify the delicate skin around the eyes.
There are multiple protective antioxidants in the formula as well. In my opinion, you can’t have enough antioxidants in your skin care, and particularly in an eye cream. Among them are organic Asparagus Extract and Astaxanthin — a potent antioxidant derived from micro-algae and found in various foods. With its bright orange hue, Astaxanthin is what gives salmon its characteristic pink color. Studies have shown that the antioxidant potency of Astaxanthin is even more powerful than that of Vitamin C.
I’m so intrigued by the Herb + Flora Eye Of The Cyclops Recovery Eye Gel. And, I’m excited to explore more from the brand in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned…
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 15% off all Herb + Flora skincare. Use code CARMINE15 at checkout. Purchase the Herb + Flora Eye Of The Cyclops Recovery Eye Gel for $44.20 (reg $52) here.
SAVE 15% OFF ALL HERB + FLORA SKINCARE
Use code CARMINE15 at checkout.
Good Molecules | Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel
I’m Italian so puffiness is in my genes! I wake up every morning at 4:30-5 a.m., feed Orpheus, make coffee — and treat my puffy under-eye bags. No joke. That’s the first skincare of the day. I drink plenty of water and maybe I’m retaining some of it around my eyes as it settles during sleep. I guess I’d rather be puffy than dehydrated. Hmm…
What causes puffiness and how do you fix underage bags?
There’s an insightful article on the Paula’s Choice website by the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research team titled, How to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes. I found this helpful:
Puffy eyes are a common problem that most of us experience at one time or another. No matter the reason for your puffy eyes, one thing is clear: You want them to look better as soon as possible.
DEPENDING ON THE CAUSE, finding the solution to your puffy eye problem can be relatively straightforward. But, if you’re uncertain about why your eyes appear puffy, it might take some trial and error to see which fix is right for you (and you could need more than one solution).
At-Home Puffy Eye Solutions
If you have puffy eyes related to fluid retention, sleep with your head slightly elevated. You can also massage the eye area gently with a fingertip to relieve this kind of puffiness. Better yet, use Paula’s Choice Skincare’s RESIST Anti-Aging Eye Gel, which has a cooling metal applicator that quickly alleviates puffiness, in addition to delivering soothing and hydrating ingredients to skin.
Diet can also cause fluid retention. Lowering your salt intake and eating more antioxidant-rich foods can make a big difference because of the many health benefits such foods provide.
If allergies are the reason for your puffy eyes, consulting your doctor about the right over-the-counter allergy medications can really turn things around. Also, avoid, or at least try to curb, the bad habit many of us have of rubbing our eyes. If you rub your eyes because they itch, talk to your doctor about allergy eye drops. You can also apply cool compresses as needed to provide temporary relief.
Sun damage can lead not only to puffy eyes, but also to dark circles! The solution is simple: Use a product rated SPF 30 or higher around your eye area every day (rain or shine), and wear sunglasses whenever you’re outdoors. You might be surprised at how much this helps.
Another way to improve the appearance of puffiness is simply to be gentle to the skin around your eyes. Use fragrance-free products, make sure you remove any makeup in the eye area at the end of the day, and avoid harsh, sensitizing ingredients. To help replenish skin in that area, dab on a rich, balm-like eye cream loaded with proven anti-aging and nourishing ingredients.
My longtime go-to for puffiness is the Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG from The Ordinary. But I thought I’d give the new Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel a try.
I love that Good Molecules is continuing their commitment to transparency by disclosing the percentages of every ingredient in their formulas. Of course doing so doesn’t make it a good product.
If, in fact, caffeine itself is the cure for puffiness, there is no comparison between The Ordinary’s iconic caffeine serum with its 5% concentration and Good Molecules’ mere 0.01% in their Yerba Mate eye gel.
As a natural stimulant, the yerba mate in the formula gives it an invigorating feel that I like. While I’m not about to give up my miracle puffiness killer, Wake Up Eye Gel does have some good stuff for the skin around the eyes.
The formula’s goodness includes the ivigorating Yerba Mate as well as soothing Allantoin and Vitamin E — and a tiny amount of humectant Hyaluronic Acid in multiple molecular weights. None of these beneficial actives are at concentrations high enough to deliver much of a humectant benefit, though.
See the Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel formula for yourself…
Water - 74.15%
Propanediol - 9.94%
Butylene Glycol - 4.5%
Glycerin - 4%
1,2-hexanediol - 2.03%
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate - 2%
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate - 2%
Corn Starch Modified - 0.6%
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract - 0.4%
Cetearyl Olivate - 0.3%
Sorbitan Olivate - 0.2%
Panthenol - 0.1%
Allantoin - 0.1%
Tocopherol - 0.07%
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil - 0.03%
Hyaluronic Acid - 0.02% (200 ppm)
Sodium Hyaluronate - 0.02% (200 ppm)
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid - 0.02% (200 ppm)
Caffeine - 0.01% (100 ppm)
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 - 0.01% (100 ppm)
Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract - 0.004% (40 ppm)
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel for $6 here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: GOOD MOLECULES DISCOLORATION CORRECTING SERUM - ONE OF THE BEST BRIGHTENING SERUMS
Tata Harper | Restorative Anti-Aging Eye Cream
I have been secretly indulging in this clean, green-beauty eye cream for a few weeks now — and I’m smitten. It’s Tata Harper’s 100% natural, peptide-powered Restorative Anti-Aging Eye Cream. The all-natural Restorative Anti-Aging Eye Cream has this super light, silky and extraordinarily refreshing texture that I can’t get enough of.
Depending on my mood and how cold it is out, I’d been going back and forth between Tata’s eye treatment, the lipid-boosting Skinfix Triple Lipid Boost 360 Eye and the NIOD’s super-clinical oil-serum Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate. They’re the most dense of my 2021 eye cream collection.
But there’s just something about Tata Harper’s 66% organic formula that I love. It might be one-part sensorial, one part serious replenishment. With its blend of organic oils and extracts derived from organic farming, it smells like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden!
Tata’s best-selling eye cream is described as a “multi-correctional formula [that] targets visible signs of aging with 15 sources of plumping hydration, 10 sources to minimize the look of wrinkles, and 5 sources to depuff.” Maybe that’s it?!
Seriously, I can’t put my finger on it. Hey, I say it all the time, skincare is emotional!
There are numerous nourishing and replenishing plant oils, notably safflower oleosomes, Olive Oil and Mango Seed Butter. But it’s the slew of antioxidant botanicals in the formula that I really appreciate. There are so many, I can’t count them!
I’m always a bit overwhelmed by the intriguing botanical blends of Tata’s formulas. In fact, the Tata Harper Resurfacing BHA Glow Mask is one of the best natural face masks — and a personal fave. Psst…you can read my review of it here.
Most interestingly, the Tata Harper Restorative Anti-Aging Eye Cream formula is infused with peptides derived from Spanish lavender. What? I’ve never heard of that before. It just adds to the intrigue…
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Tata Harper Restorative Anti-Aging Eye Cream for $105 here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: TATA HARPER RESURFACING BHA MASK – BEST EXFOLIATING MASK, BEST NATURAL FACE MASK
Peace Out | Retinol Eye Stick
You don’t come across an eye cream in a stick all that often. And certainly not a good one. At least that’s been my experience. The last time I truly enjoyed using an eye stick was the Kate Somerville Goat Milk De-Puffing Eye Balm. It’s been off the market for a while now. Gosh, it was so nice. Such a shame to see good products disappear for lack of appeal.
Hey, the Peace Out brand seems to be trying to break out of the acne patch thing so I thought I’d give the Retinol Eye Stick. I gotta say, it’s an intriguing product. To start, it’s convenient. It’s also kinda fun to use — much like Kate’s goat milk thingy was.
But Peace Out’s Retinol Eye Stick is actually a serious treatment. Its star active is Encapsulated Retinol. Encapsulation assures a slow release of the anti-aging, anti-wrinkle powerhouse to mitigate the irritating effects common to Retinol. I know I’m scared to use Retinol, let alone around my eyes!
There’s also a peptide complex and, as with the Herb + Flora Eye Of The Cyclops Recovery Eye Gel, powerhouse antioxidant Astaxanthin. I haven’t noticed much difference around my eyes when using it and it’s not quite as pleasurable as a light, silky serum or cream. But it’s kinda cool!
If you’re looking for a convenient, gentle Retinol treatment for use around the eyes, I guess the Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick may just interest you.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick for $28 here.
That’s it, guys! Welcome to spring — and to lighter, springtime skincare. So much more to come as the days grow longer (and more bearable!).
💟 SKINCARMA
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF
MY WINTER SKIN SAVIOR: SKINFIX BARRIER+ LIPID REPLENISHING SKINCARE
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
The Ingredient List of the Kat Burki Nutrient C Eye Cream:
KB5™ Complex (Arnica Montana (Arnica) Flower Water, Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Leaf Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Water, Matricaria Recutita (Matricaria/Chamomile) Flower Water), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C/STAY-C), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Caffeine, Maris Sal (OMC-92 Ocean Mineral Complex), Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Leaf Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi) Extract, Juniperus Communis (Juniper) Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail Plant) Extract, Geranium Maculatum (Geranium) Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum (Algae) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate (Palm Oil), Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Carbomer, Lecithin, Escin, Potassium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol (preservative, less than 1%), Ethylhexylglycerin (preservative, less than 1%), Parfum/Fragrance (Natural), Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene.
The Ingredient List of the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream:
sii|h 0 0, C10-18 Triglycerides emo|solv, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate emo, Propanediol solv|h, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Cetearyl Olivate 
emu, Stearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 2 2, Octyldodecanol emo|perf, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Sorbitan Olivate emu, Behenyl Alcohol emo|vc, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract h, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract aox|so|amic, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract so|emo, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Extract, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate chel, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice so|h, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Gluconolactone exf|chel, Phytosterols, Chondrus Crispus Extract h|vc, Squalene sii|aox|emo, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil emo 0 3, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer emo|vc, Myristyl Myristate emo 2 0-5, Xanthan Gum vc|emu|surf, Citric Acid buff, Sodium Benzoate pres, Phenoxyethanol pres, Potassium Sorbate presThe Ingredient List of the Herb + Flora Eye Of The Cyclops Recovery Eye Gel:
H+F Exercise Mimic Youth™ Complex, Asparagus Extract, Macroalgae, Mini Hyaluronic Acid, Astaxanthin, Eyeliss, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, Mediterranean Botanicals: Yarrow, Wild Sunflower, Arnica, Mallow
The Ingredient List of the Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick:
sii|emo 0 1, Diisostearyl Malate emo|surf, Ceresin vc 0 0, Polyethylene vc, Mica col, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 emo, Synthetic Wax emo|vc|abrasive/scrub, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Silica Dimethyl Silylate emo|vc, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer abrasive/scrub, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil aox|emo 0 0-2, Retinol cci, Oleic Acid emo|emu, Polysorbate 20 emu|surf 0 0, Lecithin emo|emu, Polycaprolactone, Terminalia Arjuna Extract, Ubiquinone aox, Astaxanthin aox, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Bakuchiol cci|aox|amic, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Ceramide NP sii, Biotinoyl Hexapeptide-2 Amide, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract amic, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract aox|emo, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract aox, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil aox|emo|perf 0 0-2, Psoralea Corylifolia Seed Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract so, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Water solv, Sodium Magnesium Silicate vcThe Ingredient List of the Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel:
sii|h 0 0, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate vc, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate emo, Corn Starch Modified vc, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract perf, Cetearyl Olivate emu, Sorbitan Olivate emu, Panthenol so|h 0 0, Allantoin so 0 0, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil emo 0 0, Hyaluronic Acid sii|h, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid h, Caffeine aox|perf, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 cci|h, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract
