Did my eye cream just save me?
Welcome to the 2nd post of my unofficial sequel to the ‘new normal’ series where we evaluate some of the skin issues that have been triggered by quarantine and how I’m choosing to treat them.
This post will focus on how I was able to get rid of stubborn dark circles that had developed during my mini episode of insomnia with an eye cream treatment.
If you are interested in reading the first post on how to deal with my newest #1 concern of dried chapped lips from donning a face mask all day, please check it out here.
My Under-Eye Journey:
First, let’s talk about how my under-eye area may be the most resilient feature I possess.
Despite all the abuse that my under-eye region has gone through — it is still in rather excellent condition. During my early to mid-20ties a lot of nights were filled with excessive drinking, lack of sleep, and ‘baking of concealer’.
By the time I reached the ripe age of 26, there were noticeable dehydration lines that had developed in the inner and outer corners of the skin surrounding my eye. This is when I called it quits, I no longer ‘baked’ my concealer and would just apply a thin layer of translucent powder over the area.
The excessive over-drying of the region was causing long-term issues that resulted in product to settle into my expression crevices.
My Under-Eye Savior:
My biggest saving grace was that I was introduced to skincare so early on in my life.
By my late teens I was already incorporating eye creams and gels into my simple skincare routines.
It is in my deepest belief that if I hadn’t been so proactive about my skincare, my under-eyes would be in detrimental condition at this point.
However with a few tweaks to my daily routine as well as changing to corrective eye treatments; I can genuinely say that most of the issues were gone before I turned 30.
Other than Quarantine; What Else Changed?
So, what impact did quarantine have on me? This is the healthiest weight-wise I have been in over a decade and I’m definitely drinking enough water — so where am I going wrong?
It actually has nothing to do with diet or weight, but it has everything to do with how I’m feeling. Between all the current events of 2020, the months of quarantine, and the impending threat COVID has on our communities — it leaves me feeling very unsettled. These feelings work up my anxiety and power of over-thinking. The combination of all of this is resulting in quite a few nights of restlessness and insomnia.
Due to an uptick of sleepless nights — the dark circles, puffiness, and general eye fatigue have never been so prominent in my entire life as it was during quarantine. This is when I decided to rummage through my entire bin of skincare and chose the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye to start off my corrective journey.
Let’s explore some ingredients:
| Class | Ingredient Name | Alternative Name | Purpose of Ingredient |
| Base | Aqua | Water | Hydration, Solvent |
| Fatty Acid | Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil | Sunflower Seed Oil | Omega 6/9, Vitamin E |
| Emollient | Simmondsia Chinensis Oil | Jojoba Seed Oil | Regulates Sebum Production |
| Emollient | Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil | Apricot Kernel Oil | Helps To Retain Moisture |
| Emulsifier | Alcohol Denat. | Denatured Alcohol | Formula Stabilization |
| Emulsifier | Cetearyl Alcohol | Fatty Alcohol | Formula Stabilization, Softener |
| Occlusive | Glyceryl Stearate | Lubricant | To smooth and soften skin, also re-enforces skin barrier |
| Emulsifier | Stearyl Alcohol | Fatty Alcohol | Texture Enhancer, Softener |
| Emulsifier | Cetearyl Glucoside | Cetearyl Alcohol/ Glucose | Formula Stabilization |
| Emollient | Oenothera Biennis Oil | Evening Primrose Oil | Nourishing & moisturizing fatty acids |
| Emollient | Butyrospermum Parkii Butter | Shea Butter | Soothes Skin & Antioxidants |
| Preservative | Phenoxyethanol | Glycol Ether | |
| Emulsifier | Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate | Silica Based Clay | Texture Enhancer |
| Preservative | Chlorphenesin | Bacteria Prevention | |
| Emulsifier | Xanthan Gum | Texture Enhancer/Emulsion Stabilizer | |
| Soother | Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract | Butcher’s Broom | Astringent/Toning |
| Soother | Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder | Aloe Vera | Soothe, Hydrate, Anti-Inflammatory |
| Tocopherol | Vitamin E | Hydration | |
| Essential Oil | Lavandula Angustifolia Oil | Lavender Oil | Reduces Wrinkles & Darkness |
| Anti-aging | Adenosine | Yeast-Based | Soother & Skin Restoring |
| Fragrance | Linalool | Lavendar/Coriander | Can Natural And/Or Synthetic |
| Antioxidant | Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil | Rosemary Leaf Oil | Fights Off Free Radicals |
| Essential Oil | Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil | Rose Geranium Oil | Antioxidant/ Anti-Microbial |
| Emollient | Glycine Soja Oil | Soybean Oil | Soother, Antioxidant |
| Fragrance | Citronellol | Geranium/Rose | Sweet/Floral Scent |
| Fragrance | Geraniol | Rose-like Scent | Anti-Microbial |
| Fragrance | Lavandula Hybrida Oil | Lavendar Oil/ Camphor | |
| Soother | Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract | Cucumber Fruit Extract | Anti-Inflammatory, pH-repairer |
| Fragrance | Limonene | Antioxidant, Skin Calmer | |
| Fragrance | Citral | Lemongrass/Verbana Oil | Antioxidant, Skin Calmer |
| Antioxidant | Curcuma Longa Root Extract | Turmeric Root Extract | Fights Off Free Radical/ Skin Brightener |
| Fragrance | Sclareolide | Clary Sage | Skin-lightener |
| Antioxidant | Rose Flower Oil | Fights Off Free Radicals | |
| Soother | Jasminum Officinale Extract | Jasmine Extract | Helps to Calm, Soothe & Rejuvenate |
| Active | Citric Acid | Alpha Hydroxy Acid |
Top 3 Ingredient Call-Outs:
As you can see in the ingredient listing above, there’s A LOT. However, there are three ingredients that the marketing team focuses on for the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye treatment.
-Butcher’s Broom Extract (Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract): this is the power house to get rid of stubborn puffiness and water retention.
This herb is actually used in medicines to enhance blood circulation.
-Squalane: an anti-inflammatory agent, but also helps with hydrating and smoothing
This is a more refined version of Squalene, it has the same benefits but is less likely to clog pores and trap bacteria. It is also more stabilized and less prone to auto-oxidation.
-Evening Primrose Oil: a great source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
This magical ingredient is also a great supplement if you suffer from severe dehydration. It helps to retain moisture, soothe, plump and promote elasticity in skin.
Consistency & Texture:
The consistency of this eye treatment is somewhat of a cross between a cream and a serum. It is marketed as an eye serum, but described to have a light-weight cream texture.
I would generally use this daily, in the evenings as my only eye treatment and just a little bit more than a pea-sized amount. This amount is more than enough for both eyes and made my eyes feel supple and properly hydrated.
In my personal experience, I’ve witnessed people douse themselves in eye cream and that is just a waste! A little bit goes a long way and your skin can only absorb so much at once.
Before & After:
Eye treatments like a lot of moisturizers are products that can actually give you instant gratification. Shortly after an application, the product will meld into the skin seamlessly as well as provide ample hydration to make the skin visibly more plump, smooth, and more youthful.
If you take a look at the photo on the left, I had squeezed out roughly a pea-sized amount of the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye onto freshly washed and dried skin. The skin is visibly dehydrated with flaky bits, accentuated lines and crevices. Now take a look at the photo to the right, where the product has been blended thoroughly into the skin. Shortly after that application, the skin is visibly smoother, brighter, and younger.
Eye Treatments, A Lie?:
Some people will say that eye treatments are just a sham and that you can use face cream all over — this is just plain false. The skin in the eye area is roughly 40% thinner than the skin on the face.
And although this is a farfetched comparison: Would you ever apply your face cream on your lips? I’m going to guess I heard a lot of “No’s”.
So don’t apply face cream on your eye area!
Affordability & Price:
The Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye treatment comes in at a very affordable price of $40. That is a very reasonable price tag for a treatment that works overnight to promote firmness in the eye region and diminishes undereye darkness.
The entire tube lasted roughly 5-6 months which is quite some time especially for the price point. This product definitely provided long-term results by basically eliminating the dark circles of fatigue that I had struggled with from the first few months of quarantine. It also provided consistent hydration to the area to prevent any moisture-loss.
Conclusion & Repurchase?
This eye treatment was definitely worth the value. Not only did it provide instant gratification, it also helped with long term issues — dark circles and puffiness. These are two of the most stubborn issues in the eye area.
Think of this treatment as the last glass of water that is to be consumed before bedtime to promote adequate digestion while being in a dormant state.
Hope you enjoyed!
To Purchase: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Treatment ($40)
Disclaimer: Please note that all images unmarked are my own and those marked are credited and not intended for any copyright infringement. If you would like to use my images please just ask for permission. All images and links are affiliated, meaning that with every purchase it will generate a tiny commission for the referral. This post is not sponsored and not paid for, all opinions are my own and always will be.