One of the most oft-asked questions of me is this “Can you recommend me an eye cream?” or something along the lines of how to treat the lines we inevitably get around the eyes. It’s a fact of life. Don’t want lines around your eyes? Don’t blink. Don’t show emotion. Or get botox 😛
But you know what? I sort of dread getting questions like that because I’ve a terrible habit – I don’t use eye cream. There, said it!
Yes, I know you’re there behind your computer monitors/mobile phones going “Tsk! Call yourself a beauty blogger!” and unfortunately, that’s also the truth LOL! 😀 So no, ladies and gents, I’m not your foremost authority on caring for the eyes. I am however, blessed that I don’t have crepey or wrinkly lids, nor abundant crow’s feet. That might be what’s made me think I’m invincible (which I’m not of course)
But it is with this in mind that I preface my thoughts on the new La Mer Illuminating Eye Gel. A new product that cares for the skin around your eyes and which is light enough that it absorbs quite readily into the skin without feeling greasy and which makes a pretty kickass eye makeup primer (expensive but kickass nonetheless!)
La Mer has an Eye Balm which has received a lot of raves over the years. I’ve had many people tell me about how good it is, which naturally piques my interest. But the minute I hear “eye” anything, my interest fizzles out. Yes, I know, tell me I’ll regret my inattention some day 😀
The Eye Balm however, is thick and does not suit everyone, so La Mer came up with a lighter formula – an eye gel. While you may have in mind the texture of that of clear jelly or lightweight gel, I do have to warn you that this product isn’t like that.
It pumps out from the bottle, an opaque light gel-cream, with a pearly iridescence. If you are familiar with the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream (which thus far, has been the only eye product I’d ever faithfully used up) it is heavier in texture.
This is the amount I use which I pump onto my 4th finger, then use the 4th finger of my other hand to spread it out and then apply it all over my eyelids, undereyes and orbital area.
The gel becomes transparent once you spread it out, and it is fairly emollient so it spreads well despite you only pumping out so little product. I have read that people recommend massaging it in for it to absorb properly, but I find I don’t have to. It absorbs fairly easily and I don’t have to spend a lot of time on my eyes.
Since my job is to trial this, I used it both day and night. Believe you me, I spent the first week forgetting to use it, or belatedly remembering only after I’d crawled into bed, after which I’d exit with a rude word, to tend to my optical ministrations. Gradually, it did become a habit, but not one, I’m afraid that is fully enshrined into my skincare routine just yet. Getting there, folks, getting there…
The nice thing is this eye gel doesn’t slip or slide around, nor does it feel heavy and oily around the eyes the way other eye creams I’ve used feel. Used in the day, it actually works as an eyelid primer. I don’t usually use an eyelid primer, so I did notice that my eye makeup stayed on better when I remembered to use this eye gel and when I did not. (Yes, sometimes, I only remembered I hadn’t applied this only after I’d put all my makeup on, in which case, it was just rude words) So yes, this is quite a nifty kickass eye makeup primer that also promises to treat the skin around your eyes.
What La Mer promises that the Illumninating Eye Gel does is illuminate and brighten the skin around the eyes (so your peepers look more perky), protect skin against the environment, fatigue and stress (so you get less lines) and the patented Miracle Broth jumpstarts the skin renewal process (so existing lines are softened). So, did it work for me?
Erm… I can’t say it did. Look, the problem is that I don’t have a serious problem with lines around my eyes. My dark circles also fade if I get more and better rest, and any illuminating effects can, I assure you, be attributed to the iridescence in the product. I’m therefore, not your best candidate to say if it works as promised because I don’t have a serious problem! (Lucky me, yes I know)
However, on the flip side, using a product as a preventive measure is better not not using a product at all, so after almost 2 months, although I have not noticed brighter, more awakened, illuminated eyes, I can attest to my eyes feeling more comfortable, and the skin around my eyes looking better and more hydrated.
Having the product on the skin around my eyes help it stay more nourished in dry, air-conditioned environments (day and night) and when I apply it on, my eyes do feel refreshed and comfortable. Any more than that, I’d have to make it up. Sorry 😛
IN A NUTSHELL
The La Mer Illuminating Eye Gel is a new formulation from La Mer which contains their signature Miracle Broth to help with skin renewal. It has a fairly creamy texture but it feels very lightweight on skin and my skin does feel refreshed when I apply it. You can use it day and night and even under eye makeup, where I find that it makes a pretty good eye makeup primer because my eye makeup seems to stay on better and longer. I however did not experience a significant improvement in brightening, illumination nor reduction in fine lines. I like how refreshed my skin feels when I use it as opposed to when I do not. But get this only if you can afford the price or are a La Mer fan or if you have obtained a sample and noticed its benefits. For the rest of us mortals, I feel it’s too steep to experiment.
PROS: Lightweight texture absorbs easily into the skin, Skin around the eyes feels refreshed almost immediately, Works very well as an eye makeup primer
CONS: Pricey
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who can afford it
Here’s the ingredient list, for any one of you interested (I hope someone is, because I went cross-eyed typing this out!):-
Methyl Trimethicone, Aqua (Water), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Petrolatum, Sucrose, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Powder, Polysorbate 40, Trehalose, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extract D’orge, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis (St. Paul’s Wort) Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Bark Extract, Betula Alba (Birch) Extract, Molasses Extract\Saccharum Officinarum\Extrait de Melasse, Silybum Marianum (Lady’s Thistle) Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycerin, Anthemis Nobilis (Camomile), Whey Protein\Lactis Protein\Protein du Petit-lait, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Yeast Extract\Yaex\Extrait de Levure, Pearl Powder, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ethylhexaglycerin, Isohexadecane, Lecithin, Caffeine, Jojoba Alcohol, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Squalane, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Isopropyl Jojobate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Yeast Polysaccharides, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Jojoba Esters, PEG/PPG-18/18-Dimethicone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethylurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dextrin, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Sulfate, Linalyl Acetate, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Bismuth Oxychloride (CI77163)
Yes, for all of you wondering if the ease at which it can be used as a primer is attributable to the silicones, yes it is. But it does not feel overly siliconey, if you know what I mean. It’s nice to use, but I won’t be repurchasing.
Have you perchance tried this eye gel and would like to share your thoughts?
Because it’s pricey, I do find it hard to say this is something to try. Perhaps, if you use eye creams on a regular basis, or La Mer is your thing (I love the Treatment Lotion btw – onto bottle #2 because I decided not to stray!) then you may be able to dig deep and spring for this eye gel. Speaking for myself, I won’t. I might try something else …. or I might not 😛
Paris B
La Mer Illuminating Eye Gel Price: RM520 | US$145 / 15ml Availability: La Mer Counters
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Using it currently. It keeps my eye area hydrated but nothing in the dark eye circles dept. Still, I love it due to the texture and absorption rate.
I didn’t think it would help drastically with dark circles since there are so many reasons for that that it’s not possible for a cream to address it all. But you’re right about the skin staying hydrated and the texture. I like that it doesn’t mess with my eye makeup and doesn’t feel too oily the way some eye creams feel. Not sure I’m that much in love, but it’s at least nice to use 🙂
I’ve been looking for a good eye cream, and have used the Bobbi Brown one and don’t care for it too much; however, I’ve been using the Philosophy one and love it so far. I won’t be trying the La Mer since that is way out of my budget, although it would be fun to try!
I don’t know if La Mer will give out samples, but it’s always worth asking the next time you’re by a counter 🙂 At least you can sample it to see if it works for you (in which case your wallet will probably cry hehe) But it’s good to know you’ve found an eye cream that works for you 🙂
I haven’t tried this particular La Mer eye cream but I’ve tried a sample and I’d say, IT WORKS! I’m not sure about the brand but it has to do with the potency! In such a short span of time I used the tiny sample, I can see a major difference! 😀
Hey Nikki! Isn’t sampling great? I like it when brands offer samples so we can figure out if we like the product. Especially more so when it’s an expensive one! 🙂
You’re not alone, I barely ever use eyecream. If I can’t put my regular creams and serums around my eyes.. why am I even applying them to my face at all?
Coming from you Phil, I’m shocked! 😉 But yes, I do what you do i.e. cheat and use light serums and creams around my eyes. So far so good *touch wood* and that might be why I’d never really felt the need to use a dedicated eye cream. Still, I remember you liked this one and I can see why! 🙂
Thanks for doing la mer! I’m extremely curious about their products lately. Unlike you, I’ve got lines all over my eyes! More eye cream reviews please, haha!
Haha unfortunately, I’m so bad at using them, I wouldn’t actually voluntarily buy any to try 😛 But if I do try any, rest assured, it’ll be blogged! 😉
Do get a sample of the Kiehls’ avocado eye cream. I’m no eye cream person too. But this is the only eye cream i want to use nowadays. It has an unique texture which i haven’t come across from other skincare products. It’s cream when you apply it to smooth out the lines/dryness but it releases a burst of water that seems to hydrate the eye area. I think it’s so clever that i sometimes use it on my face as well. 😉 It’s so affordable compared to the Lamer’s Eye Concentrate. And i do not see much difference to justify the price between the two on my skin type.
Ooh Kiehl’s? Thanks for the rec, Lisa. At least they’re generous with samples! 😉
Hey PB,It\’s actually a somewhat researched fact that eye cream is not essential. It is often emphasized on Paula\’s Choice Beautypedia page and her philosophy, and truth of the matter is nothing can address the issues of dark circles, under eye bags etc. Wrinkles however can be treated with the use of any cream/serum containing retinol (if you can find any in the market) or any tested and proven antioxidants like vit c, vit e, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract etc etc.So it\’s refreshing that you are one that doesn\’t use eye cream. I have the habit to, it\’s been my beauty ritual as long as I\’ve ever had one. But I don\’t expect any miracle or addressing any of my eye concern, other than knowing that I pack goodies around my eyes. Only weird habit of mine is I never put any stuff on my eyelids!My draw of conclusion is, anything with good ingredients in your cream can substitute for an eye cream, unless the situation is (like my earlier years), my eyes areas were drier than my oily face, so with my face I used hydrating gel formula where as my eyes zone was more forgiving with a cream.
Hiya! It’s good to know that my suspicion was right all along! I just use whatever cream or serum I’m currently using around my eye, so long as it’s not too thick, it’s always been alright. I don’t get oil seeds *touch wood* and I save on using a dedicated eye cream 😉 Glad to know someone else thinks the same way I do!
Very grateful for the ingredients list you have kindly published. However there are some serious left-outs of the main ingredients in the beginning of the ingredients list, like Algae Extract (part of the miracle broth). Also one of the main components of the oil-phase is missing, Dimethicone, which is right after “Water” on the listing on the box. Besides, there are some typos in the ingredients names too.
Unfortunately, publishing ingredients list where ingredients are left out can be misleading.
Please, also correct the ingredient name “Petroleum” to the approved INCI name which is “Petrolatum”.
Hi and thank you for noticing the slight typos in some of the names which have since been corrected. That said however, there are no missing ingredients in this list. Dimethicone was listed in my original list immediately after water as Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer. I have replicated the list of ingredients exactly as it was shown to me on the box. If it is not in my list, it is not on the box. If your box is showing a different list, do note that this was published in 2015, and La Mer may have (not to my knowledge but they might) revised the ingredient list since.