Review: SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex

I'm back Beauties! It feels like I haven't blogged in years... and to be fair, my last proper review was back in September 2020. I think moving my blog to a new platform when things in my personal life were chaotic, wasn't the best idea. I'm still not sure about this new platform (I'm a creature of habit it seems) but I have missed blogging 😊 Whether you are popping in because you are researching a new product or because you are a long-time reader (do I have any of those wonderful people? 😅) Welcome! I am happy to be back in this space and just create in any case. So let's begin this new chapter with a new review!

Ahhhh eye creams! The eye area is a concern for most of us. Think, thin skin that's prone to dryness, puffing, dark circles, pigmentation, wrinkles/expression lines and on top of it all, showing the world how tired we are. The reason a lot of eye creams don't seem to do much is because eye creams are generally more gentle in their formulations. Actives and regular strength serums can irritate the eye area, more so than the skin on the rest of your face. I however, love using actives around my eye area (in particular retinol/vitamin A). The eye area just needs more time to get used to and adjust to actives. There's no other reason why you can't use your regular skincare around the eye area, however, because of all the concerns most of us have specifically concerning the eye area, a lot of us choose to also use an eye cream. I know I do - I will layer a serum or treatment cream under my eye area and then will seal everything off with an eye cream. I'm always on the search for a GREAT eye cream that potentially can do it all (is that possible?!). Being fed up with mediocre eye creams, I decided to invest in a more pricey eye cream, but one from a reputable brand that is all about effective scientific formulas: hello SkinCeuticals!

SkinCeuticals is a cosmeceutical brand from the US. Their products were centred around breakthrough research going on in antioxidants. They made available high-potency products, designed to penetrate skin optimally, in order to give consumers the results they wanted right at home. Some of their products (like the amazing CE Ferulic serum) are still considered to be the gold standard in harnessing the power of antioxidants, protecting and correcting skin concerns like no other! So why not try their eye cream I thought?! Enter SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex 🌟

A.G.E. EYE COMPLEX

A.G.E. Eye Complex is an advanced anti-wrinkle eye cream that improves the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and crow’s feet associated with advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.), a major factor of the natural ageing process. This silky eye cream is formulated for the delicate eye area with a potent combination of proxylane, blueberry extract, and a complex of flavonoids and synergistic peptides. Also includes optical diffusers to diffuse light and immediately improve the radiance of tired dull-looking eyes.

Reduces the appearance of crow’s feet and wrinkles

Improves the look of dark circles and puffiness

Immediately enhanced radiance around the eyes

Paraben-, alcohol-, and dye-free.

As revealed in a 12-week controlled clinical study, twice daily use of the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex significantly improves dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles and crow's feet specific to the thin skin around the eyes.

Glycation

I'm in my early thirties. Crow's feet and wrinkles may not be a big concern of mine at this stage, but looking tired, dark circles, dry skin as well as preventing wrinkles and ageing (looking older than I am) are all concerns of mine. I also liked the fact that this eye cream works against the process of glycation. What's that I hear you ask? Glycation is a process where sugar molecules attach themselves to other molecules (i.e. proteins and fats). They can attach themselves to collagen causing it's quicker breakdown (and collagen is responsible for the elasticity of our skin). Glycation also causes free radical formation (i.e. DAMAGE), oxidative stress and inflammation. Sugar also dehydrates, so it really effects almost every process within the epidermis. ALL the things that accelerate ageing. So preventing glycation is a very, very good thing.

Here is what SkinCeuticals says about the subject:

Skin around the eye is the thinnest, and the visible signs of intrinsic aging or natural ageing, caused by internal factors such as hormonal shifts and changes in skin metabolism, can be most evident in this delicate area.

Glycation, a major factor of intrinsic ageing, occurs when excess sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin fibers and prompt the formation of advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.) that may lead to the appearance of ageing. As a result, glycated collagen and elastin fibers lose the ability to function normally, and the body cannot break them down and replace them, leading to severe wrinkling of the skin.

A.G.E. Eye Complex is an anti-wrinkle eye cream specifically formulated to help prevent and correct visible signs of glycation around the eyes. An ideal eye cream for dark circles, it is also formulated with optical diffusers that instantly improve radiance of tired, dull eyes.

Consistency

The first thing I noticed after picking up this eye cream, is that despite the eye cream looking very 'solid' in the little glass jar it comes in, it has quite a thin and light consistency. It's definitely not a balm or greasy cream. It's difficult to pick up too much of the cream, especially if you use the tips of your finger (swirling it around in the pot) to pick up product. Sometimes I 'scoop' some out of the jar (just using my fingernail to pick up a little product - using clean hands of course) to make sure I am using enough. It spreads around the eye area and absorbs into skin wonderfully. I pat the eye cream in using the tips of my fingers to 'melt' it into the skin gently.

Effects

The A.G.E Eye Complex does immediately make your eye area look and feel more refreshed - it has a really amazing cooling sensation (whether or not you keep it in the fridge) which I LOVE both in the mornings and at night (especially when I'm tired and feeling less than stellar). It maybe even 'tightens' the skin. I don't have sagging skin, but the skin around my eyes is SO thin, it can feel like it 'moves' around a little too freely sometimes.

I do think it has lessened the appearance of my dark under eye circles. And that's saying something (my under eye circles can be quite dark). The 'depth' of my under eye circles has lessened. I have also noticed the wonderful effects of this eye cream, whether I use it once or twice daily (yay for us non-committal types lol!). This brightening effect is probably thanks to the 'optical brighteners' but don't worry, there's no sparkle in sight. Using the eye cream consistently most certainly helps retain and boost the appearance of your eye area (hence the 'depth' of my under eye circles has lessened).

I was worried that the cream wouldn't be hydrating enough, considering the light texture of it, but fear not, it is incredibly hydrating 💧 The eye cream sits wonderfully under makeup (if I'm wearing any) but also 'perks' my skin up even if I'm 'bare faced'. It leaves my skin feeling plump, refreshed and illuminated. And that's what we want our skincare to do, right? Make our skin look and feel better, so that we can be proud of it!

I certainly haven't noticed any deepening of my fine lines or any wrinkles since using the Eye Complex. It makes me feel like my skin is protected from external damage, but also that it 'repairs' (and prevents glycation in an area that probably would see it's effects first-hand)!

I apply the eye cream most mornings and at night. I have started applying it not only underneath my eye, but also on the brow bone (just under your eyebrow). I don't have any concerns about the firmness of my skin, however, I figure it's good practise (especially if SkinCeuticals say to do it 😉). If I apply a serum underneath (retinol/vitamin A at night, or a day time serum in the morning) I find the Eye Complex works in harmony with it. I don't think it has any actives within it's formula that would 'fight against' others, if anything, it boosts them! I also continue to use serums underneath this eye cream because I don't think it targets pigmentation and I also use sunscreen around my eye area as needed (to prevent said pigmentation and other UV-induced damage).

The Eye Complex does not pill under makeup or generally throughout the day and it does not cause milia (little far granules that sit under the skin). The cream isn't scented either.

Price and Where to Purchase

For 15ml (the standard size of an eye cream) you will pay $152 AUD. It is pricey. I'd love to say 'it's not worth the money' and save you some coins, but I can't LOL. It's a wonderful eye cream and one that I think delivers in conjunction with combating my under eye issues (dark circles, dehydration, fine lines and general dullness). I can't say what kind of effect it has on wrinkles and crow's feet, but if you have similar concerns to mine, I can't recommend this eye cream more highly! I picked mine up from Adore Beauty (and official stockist of SkinCeuticals in Aus).

Another great product from SkinCeuticals 🥳🥳🥳🥳

Do you use an eye cream religiously? Have you tried any products from SkinCeuticals? Let me know your thoughts on the subject!

Beauty Bee 🐝🌼🌸🌻

Ingredients

794030 29 - AQUA / WATER /EAU, GLYCERIN, DIMETHICONE, ISOHEXADECANE, PARAFFIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SILICA, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, HEXYL LAURATE, NYLON-12, HYDROXYPROPYL TETRAHYDROPYRANTRIOL, METHYLSILANOL/SILICATE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYETHYLENE, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, OCTYLDODECANOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE, PEG-6 ISOSTEARATE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, SODIUM CITRATE, METHYLPARABEN, CHLORPHENESIN, CAFFEINE, CI 77891/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ETHYLPARABEN, MENTHOXYPROPANEDIOL, SORBITOL, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS FRUIT EXTRACT, STEARETH-20, SODIUM PHYTATE, HESPERIDIN METHYL CHALCONE, HESPERETIN LAURATE, CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, N-HYDROXYSUCCINIMIDE, ALCOHOL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, DIPEPTIDE-2, BHT, CITRIC ACID, PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1, CHRYSIN, BIOTIN, D238362/1

#skincare #eyecream #skinceuticals #darkcircles #wrinkles #glycation #cosmoceuticals