The Best PM Eye Creams
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM THE SHELVES OF OUR FAVOURITE BEAUTY STORES, SO WHEN THE CHOICE IS OVERWHELMING, WHICH ONES MAKE THE CUT? EACH WEEK I SEEK OUT THE BEST BEAUTY BUYS FOR EVERY CATEGORY OF THE BEAUTY WORLD - BECAUSE IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE ME, YOU NEED A SHORTLIST FIRST. EXPECT EVERY SUNDAY TO BRING AN EDIT OF THE BEST PRODUCTS MONEY CAN BUY, SO YOU GUYS CAN MAKE AN INFORMED PURCHASE WITHOUT THE HOURS OF INTERNET STALKING.
The people want what the people want, and since eye creams have racked up the most requests from you since launching The Weekly Shortlist, that’s exactly what I’m writing home about this week. I frequently get asked by clients when they should start using eye creams, and my answer is always ‘now’. Eye creams are a preventative and not a cure - once you start noticing lines and creases around your eyes it can be very hard to get rid of them, but by using eye cream consistently, you can keep them at bay for as long as possible. The skin around our eyes is the most thin and delicate skin on our face, which is why it’s always the first area to show these signs of ageing, and also because it’s the area that sees the most movement - we blink on average more than 20,000 times a day.
I also get asked whether it’s okay to use regular moisturiser on the eye area, which is a bit of a grey area. It works fine for some people, but some moisturisers are too thick and will lead to puffiness or irritate sensitivities, so I’d always recommend buying a dedicated eye cream just to be on the safe side. For the same reason I’m not a fan of traditional eye creams, and would always advice choosing lighter products with gel or serum-like formulas over thick creams.
A final note - eye cream can only do so much. Often, the concerns we flag for our eye area (dark circles, puffiness etc) are more impacted by lifestyle than products. Your first steps to remedy these should always be getting a good amount of sleep, and drinking plenty of water. And as always, SPF should be applied to the eye area daily - there’s no point wearing eye cream if you’re not using SPF.
When I began compiling a list of products I quickly realised that I’d have to split this into two posts - since I favour (and recommend) very different types of product for morning and night. So first up, here’s the eye creams I recommend for evening use.
Haeckels Eye Bright Contour, £40
I’m currently using this Haeckels’ eye cream and I love it. It’s packed with potent natural moisturisers and caffeine but the star ingredient is kelp bioferment, which when paired with caffeine, increases circulation around the eye area to reduce puffiness. The best part is that it feels light, despite having a deceivingly creamy formula.
Bare Minerals Skin Longevity Vital Power Eye Gel Cream, £24
A great first eye cream for young skin - which could also be used in the morning if you want a multitasker (it melts into skin so sits beautifully under makeup). Light and refreshing, the non-sticky gel texture feels cooling and has a definite de-puffing effect (store it in the fridge to supercharge this effect).
Freck So Jelly Cactus Eye Jelly, £26
This gel-cream formula will suit any and every skin type or concern, so would be a great ‘starter’ eye cream - I often recommend it to clients who are eye cream newbies. The formula contains desirable ingredients like prickly pear seed oil, olive oil, glycerin, and a number of antioxidants that work to nourish and protect the delicate under-eye area.
NIOD Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate, £43
Like most NIOD products, this has the kind of description that sounds scary and a little too sciencey and leaves you confused even after a third re-read. What most people want to know though is ‘does it work?’. The answer is yes. Everyone I know who’s used this product has committed to a lifetime of using it without straying. I adore its serum texture.
Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream, £18
Eyes and dry skin do not get along. This light, hydrating cream will bring dry, flaky, or sensitive skin back to life after serious moisture barrier issues, such as those inflicted by dry weather or over enthusiastic retinol use.
Starskin Pink Cactus Velvet Eye Cream, £41.95
Providing a cosseting blanket of moisture, this cream addresses concerns like sagging skin, dryness, and sensitivity. Its formula is a cocktail of the best ingredients for under-eye care, featuring prickly pear cactus extract, shea butter, and nine organic oils (including avocado, olive, and jojoba). Bonus points go to the packaging, which ensures just the right amount of product is dispensed.
Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream, £36
I love the entire Saturday Skin range, but in particular this lighter-than-air eye cream which is packed with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and protein extracts. It feels cool and refreshing, but has a gentle tightening effect and makes eyes look brighter.
Boots Cucumber Eye Gel, £1.50
An under £10 option since all of the above clock into the £20-40 bracket. This doesn’t have a fancy ingredients list or make any hi-tech claims and promises, but it is one of the bestselling products in Boots for a reason (I must have scanned ten a day when I worked in the store). This is a refreshing, cooling gel which instantly reduces puffiness and relieves irritation - it’s an essential in any hangover skincare arsenal.
