Where to purchase: Available on the Skinceuticals Website HERE
Price: £77
Volume: 15ml
Made in: The USA
What is it?: Similar to the Phloretin CF Gel (Review HERE). This is an Eye Gel meant to reduce the look of fine lines and protect the skin around the eye area from environmental damage. It also helps to reduce the look of puffiness under the eyes as well as dark circles (once massaging the skin). Contains L-Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic acid as well as Phloretin (all antioxidants).
Brand Description: A serum-in-gel that helps protect the eye skin using antioxidants such as Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) to reduce photo-damage and brighten the eye area.
Supposedly Good for: All Skin types. And for those who have issues with puffiness, under-eye bags and those who want to reduce the look of photo-damaged eyes.
Note: Skinceuticals declares that due to the formulation, this serum (in a gel-like form due to Pure Vitamin C oxidising quick in water), is able to penetrate the skin just as well as watery serums.
What I think: I think this works with all skin types except for sensitised and irritated eyes. I do think dry skins would prefer this over dehydrated eye skins.
Packaging: Metal Tube with a cap and Pump Mechanism. This is very sturdy due to the metal and easy to travel with due to the cap. The dispenser itself releases a good amount of product (I only need 1 pump for both eyes).
Oxidation?: Skinceuticals state that this it’s normal for Vitamin C containing products to get darker once opening (due to the air and light). However with their products, a change in colour doesn’t change its efficacy.
Directions: Apple in the AM (1/2 pump per eye area). Apply below the eyes, outer corners and brow bone. (”Maintain a distance of 3 millimetres from the mucous membranes surrounding the eyes + don’t apply to the inner corners or near the tear duct or on the upper lid or lower brow bone”).
How I use it: I apply as instructed. I used this in the AM (to go under my SPF for increased photoprotection) and in the PM if I required some vitamin C.
Key Ingredients: Phloretin, Ferulic Acid and Pure Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid). These are antioxidants which scavenge free radicals therefore reducing oxidative damage of the skin which breaks down collagen (so prevents collagen breakdown and therefore loss of elasticity in the skin. Skinceuticals state that these antioxidants used under an SPF really aid in photoprotection. This also contains Caffeine which helps with under eye puffiness.
Interestingly, this also contains Butcher’s Broom Extract which helps reduce blood vessels therefore it’s good for under eye puffiness.
Note: Vitamin C also helps brighten the skin and helps prevent pigmentation – PLEASE check out my Phloretin Review HERE if you want to read more about what Vitamin C and Phloretin does!
Full Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Undecane, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tridecane, Phloretin, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Ferulic Acid, Ruscus Aculeatus Extract / Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Caffeine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE
Texture: As you can see from the ingredients, this contains quite a few silicones! This keep the formula gel-like + makes the finish soft and smooth (filling in fine-lines in the process). Upon applying and rubbing in, this does provide a slight cooling and refreshing feeling to the skin. I didn’t have any issues with balling up which was nice (I always get worried about that with silicone formulas).
You can see that this spreads out as a nice, smooth gel. This is NOT so watery and doesn’t run down my hand like water. It definitely is a gel that holds its shape.
Summer or Winter?: In terms of the texture, this works better in the Summer (when you want a lighter formulation) as this doesn’t provide immense moisture or hydration. However this can be used in the Winter AM for photoprotection.
Does it sting the eyes?: No it hasn’t irritated the eyes.
Layerability: My SPF sat on top of this fine without balling up.
Video Swatch:
Fragrance?: No Added Fragrance and / Or Essential Oils – HOWEVER this smells! Smells like Caffeine + Ferulic Acid.
Good Under Makeup?: Seemed to be fine!
How long have I been using this?: For about 2-3 months (will use until completion which may be another month. I will use this daily under an SPF).
The Effect?: Photo protected Skin. To be honest I don’t notice a HUGE difference with under eye circles too much, however because I massaged this in and due to the caffeine, this was good to help de-puff my eyes in the morning. BUT my aim with using this gel was for its great antioxidant protection (if there’s one thing I trust with Skinceuticals, it’s their antioxidant photoprotection) and because this has been fine and easy to layer under my SPF, it’s been fine to use every day. No this isn’t intensely hydrating or moisturising (it’s more hydrating than it is moisturising), so that’s why it’s been fine as an AM eye product rather than a PM product when I do want some more hydration + Moisture.
This image above from the Skinceuticals Website HERE
shows a difference in darkness 8 weeks after use in a 12-week study. The product was applied once a day in the AM. a Daily SPF and Cleanser from Skinceuticals were used only in the subjects skincare routine and moisturiser was used. Now I suffer from dark circles, not eyelid pigmentation etc. And from the subject above, they have dark pigmentation so it’s easier to see a difference compared to me (I’m also younger). So that’s why I probably don’t notice an effect/big effect compared to someone like in the above picture. That’s why I use this product for maintenance + advanced photoprotection (with the use of an SPF).
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What I like:
- Relatively Hydrating
- Layerable (Goes under my SPF well)
- Didn’t sting or itch
- 3 Antioxidants (Good photoprotection).
- Actually has pure L-Ascorbic acid and not a derivative (so you get that efficacy a lot better)
- Slight cooling feeling when applying.
- Helps with under-eye puffiness (also helps because you’re tapping/massaging this in + the caffeine).
What I don’t like:
- Denatured Alcohol (I’m sure it’s in here to keep the formula lightweight, but I know some people don’t like this ingredient).
- Not that Moisturising/Hydrating (so better for the AM for me)
- Smells (got to like that smell of Ferulic Acid!)
- Didn’t do much for the darkness under my eyes
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4(close to 3.9)/5 – I really dislike the scent of Ferulic acid but I know it’s a good antioxidant to use (great Vitamin C partner). The smell lasts forever and I’m not a fan of it. I’m also glad this contains Pure Vitamin C without having to bring the pH down and sting the skin. This isn’t a particularly hydrating or moisturising gel so that’s why it’s fine for me to simply use in the AM to help improve the photoprotection of my SPF. It’s very expensive and is only 15ml (but I do trust the science and efficacy of the product). This doesn’t ball or layer up weirdly either.
Would I repurchase?: I would (but the price is PAINFUL). I think this is great in the AM. I’m a bit torn between this and the Phloretin Gel as that has more ml and the main difference between those two products is this contains Caffeine and that product does not (and I don’t find caffeine imperative in an eye product, just a plus). if I can protect the eyes from photo-damage and not have balling up / layerability issues, that would be great.
Dupe?: I don’t think I’ve come across a pure L-Ascorbic Acid Eye Gel yet that also contains Ferulic Acid and/or Phloretin, so it’s hard to give a dupe. I would say the only dupe for this is also from Skinceuticals which is their Phloretin Face Gel (Review HERE).
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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