Eye Cream

Finding an eye cream that helps reduce puffiness, dark circles, and has just the right texture can take a few hits or misses. Reader Stef42678 has found her match in Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Daily Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream ($13.50). She said:

I really love this Garnier formula because it works great at making my area look better and softer. It helps reduce my morning eye puffiness and adds a soft glow to the area to reduce lines. It is great for using at night and feels creamy on, not greasy.

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Eye creams can get a little pricey, so they're a beauty item that you want to make sure you'll have around for awhile. Recently, reader Cmill38 reviewed Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado ($24.50), and here's what she had to say:

I love this eye cream. It's very light and refreshing. A little goes a long, long way so it will last. I don't really feel like my face is clean at night unless I have used my avocado Kiehl's. It also creates a little glow.

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A few years ago, I was convinced I had major allergies. My eyes were red and watery, and they stung like hell. My eye makeup? A smudgy disaster by end of day. This is how I solved it.

Over happy hour after work, I was telling my friend Cynthia, an esthetician, about my plight. Is it ragweed? My Marlboro-puffing neighbor? Do I need heavy medication? "It's probably just your eye cream," she said. She was right.

I wasn't actually allergic to the eye cream, I was just applying it wrong. Thinking I would get maximum benefits by thoroughly tapping it in as close as possible to my lash lines, I ended up overdoing it, and I looked like a stoned mess. Cynthia recommended that I apply the product just to my orbital bone area, noting that the heat from my body would help the product travel upwards. Ah, relief — without the drowsiness. . . or munchies.

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Everyone thinks they have dark circles, just like everyone wants shinier hair and stronger nails. As any makeup artist or dermatologist will tell you, we all have a certain amount of darkness under the eyes, but I still hear people insist that theirs are the worst. Here are some tips to prevent them:

• Relax. Get enough sleep, drink plenty of water (and not alcohol), and visit an allergist if you suspect the problem isn't purely cosmetic. And if your under eye area is more important to you than snacks (I'm sort of on the fence about this one), try giving up salt.
• Use cold cucumber slices, ice or a treatment like Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Eye Mask ($54) to bring down puffiness.
• Dab a skin firming concealer under your eyes, like Clinique All About Eyes Concealer ($15.50). Beware of choosing a color that's too light, thinking it will brighten up the area. Concealer is meant to cover – match the shade to your forehead.
• Curl your lashes and try a blue mascara, like Benefit Bad Gal Blue, which make the whites of the eyes appear whiter.
• Draw attention away from your eyes with a sparkly lip gloss. Distraction!

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After reading this Beauty Product Junkies post and informally talking with a few friends, one thing is clear: Few people are clear on what eye creams do and whether you need them. So here are a few FAQs about eye cream. (If you have other questions, just leave a comment.)

Do I really need an eye cream?
Yes; to protect the delicate area around your eyes, you need to apply moisturizer every day.

Can't I just use my normal face cream?
Sure — it's up to you. The skin around your eyes isn't inherently different from the skin on, say, your cheeks. If you like your moisturizer, there's no reason not to use it near your eyes. Depending on your skin type, you may prefer (as I do) to use a separate eye cream. If you have oily skin, for instance, you may want a hydrating eye cream but a mattifying face lotion. But there's nothing holding you back from using the same moisturizer all over your skin.

To find out whether eye creams can eliminate your wrinkles, read more

I've already tried the La Mer Eye Concentrate, but a few weeks ago, I learned about The Eye Balm ($130) and decided to test it out. What I really liked is that it is especially suited for younger skin. It's not nearly as heavy or greasy, it spreads easily and it absorbs almost immediately.

Also, it feels slightly cooling and it has a lighter, almost cleaner version of that well known La Mer smell, which I find interesting since it actually contains triple the concentration of their famous miracle broth.

After using for about a week, I've noticed that the skin around my eyes is softer, and less red. This is because it contains Brazilian Malachite, which not only makes your eyes brighter (it has an illuminating quality), but it also has a light green tint to help dilute the redness — genius! I realize that it's going to take longer than a week to see any dramatic results, but so far, I like what I see. If only we could do something to adjust the cost.

Back in January I told you about Kiehl's Abyssine+ line, an upgrade to its Abyssine antiaging line. About a month ago I picked up a little jar of the Abyssine Eye Cream+ ($32) to see if it lived up to the hype.

The Abyssine+ line is packed with antioxidants to fight early signs of aging, and it's still light enough in texture to use on combination skin. It's a no-frills product — creamy, yet light, and 100-percent fragrance-free. It goes on easily and is absorbed into skin quickly enough that I can put eye makeup over it about two minutes after application. If I go without makeup, my eye area looks dewy and fresh. I like it a lot, and a little goes a long way. I've been using for over a month now and there is hardly a noticeable dent in the product. Thumbs up from me.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!