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While ageing is a privilege, it isn’t always fun! Over the past couple of years, my under-eyes seem to have been on a rapid ageing fast track. While you can tell yourself you are fixating on something others don’t notice, your bubble is burst when you are consistently directed to dark circle treatments whenever you dart on the door of a cosmetics department. Once I’d put aside the annoyance of this being pointed out yet again, I decided it was time to take action! I’ve discovered a combination of three fantastic products that have helped to significantly reduce undereye dark circles and improve the texture of the skin, whilst also decreasing puffiness.
Dr Sturm
At the start of the summer, I visited the Sturm store In London. I was just picking up a serum I’d run out of, but the assistant was incredibly nice and keen to introduce me to more Sturm products. Danger, danger! As predicted, amongst other, my dark circles were mentioned in a reasonably diplomatic, but nonetheless crystal-clear, fashion and I was introduced to the new Everything Eye Patches. I was entirely cynical and reasonably dismissive, as I’ve tried so many eye patches which have done exceptionally little and have cost the Earth. Undeterred, the assistant persisted and her honesty convinced me to give these a shot. She said a family member with extreme dark circles had tried them and they had unquestionably had an effect. She said, we’re not talking surgical results, as that was impossible, but we were talking noticeable improvements. When I mentioned that I didn’t really have time to incorporate the eyepatches into getting ready in the morning, she suggested popping them on at night and just forgetting about them while I slept. I was sold.
Everything Eye Patches
Dr Sturm’s eye patches are a 360 treatment for eyes. They literally address every conceivable concern. Puffiness, hydration, wrinkles, dark circles, bags and brightness are all targeted by these patches. A combination of avocado polyphenols, hyaluronic acid, vegan collagen and skin identical ceramides combine to revitalise your under-eye. Each tub contains 30 sets of patches. A small spatula is supplied to remove the patches which are applied to cleansed skin in the under-eye area. They can be removed after 15-20 minutes, with any excess concentrate being patted into the skin. They’re a little slippy when you first start using them and difficult to keep in place, so they are probably best applied as part of your night-time routine. As the volume of concentrate reduces as you work your way though the container, they can more easily be applied and stay in place while you get ready in the morning.
The Results
I had no great expectations for these patches, however, after first applying them, they were instantly cooling, de-puffing and hydrating. You can feel them working as soon as they are applied to the skin. They made an immediate difference to the texture of the skin in my undereye which was becoming increasingly dehydrated and crepe-paper-ish. I wasn’t certain they were making a significant difference to the darkness in the area for the first couple of weeks. I did however love the effect they were having on the skin in all other respects. It wasn’t until a few weeks after using these that I noticed in a photograph my under-eyes were actually brighter than they had been in earlier photos.
As the sales person had said, we are not talking surgical results, but a definite improvement. So much so, I’m now on my third box of these hard-working little patches. These are highly addictive and the effects are immediate and noticeable. They are now a much-loved staple in my skincare routine and form the perfect base for my favourite eye cream.
MZ Skin Depuff & Define Contouring Eye Rescue
Due to disappointing results, eye creams have come and gone over the years, with it being quite unusual for me to ever buy the same one again. That was until I discovered MZ Skin’s Depuff & Define eye cream. I’ve been addicted to MZ skin face masks for many years, and now the same is true for this eye cream. Dr Maryam Zamani knows incredible skincare and specialises in the eye area, being an oculoplastic surgeon by trade.
Similarly to the eye patches, this eye cream is a catch all treatment. Potent caffeine and peptide complexes target puffiness and eye bags, while the formulation also reduces collagen degradation and instantly lifts, smooths and tightens the skin. A small amount of this luxurious eye cream goes a long way. I apply it around the eye area in the morning after using the Sturm Eye Patches.
The Results
The Depuff and Define Eye Cream really is an eye rescue, as the name suggests. The delicate undereye skin looks instantly rejuvenated and more youthful after applying this cream. The subtle pearlescence to the formula adds an immediate glow, which lifts even the most tired eye area. It’s also easily dispensed and is not at all oily. There is no tackiness or residue after using it. The perfect consistency to be quickly applied ahead of your make-up. Once you try this eye cream you will be hard pushed to use another.
Delilah Wake Up Radiant Eye Perfector
Once your skin is hydrated, calmed and luminesced by the Sturm Patches and the Depuff and Define Eye Rescue, the final layer of undereye imperfection correction is provided by the new Delilah Wake Up Radiant Eye Perfector. This isn’t a concealer but a lightweight illuminating serum which provides the perfect last step in prepping the undereye before you apply your concealer. I’ve spent years looking for a replacement for my diminishing stock of the incredible but devastatingly discontinued Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Repair Serum. This is the closest I’ve come to finding a replacement. You simply apply half a pump of the serum from the outside corner of the eye in and you can add a little more to the eyelids for a lovely dewy base for eyeshadow, should you be using it. Or it can of course be worn alone, as I often do, for a lovely natural finish.
The Results
The Delilah serum provides the perfect canvas for applying your eye make-up or for simply adding the finishing touches to a natural, fresh look. It’s a lightweight gel like serum which adds a final layer of hydration, rejuvenation and imperfection blurring to the eye area. It’s non- creasing and quickly absorbed. My eyes were instantly brightened and left looking more hydrated after using this. I only wish you got slightly more than the 8ml per tube!
While my undereye is still a work in progress, these three products are a potent combination in the fight against dreaded eye-puffiness, lines and dark circles. They have certainly made me far less self-conscious about my eyes and are so lovely to use. Very soothing, illuminating and excitingly effective. Everything you could wish for to properly target those difficult to hide dark circles and to produce a more radiant and fresher version of you!