Eye cream HELP!

[nellebelle15]

I have done everything from CO2 and PRP/PRP to use cheap-expensive eye creams and my under eyes still look like ball sacks, HELP! Is there any eye creams that ACTUALLY help out there?

 

[nellebelle15]

It’s also not AS bad with makeup but I still hate them and need some kind of better eye cream 

 

 

[WinglessOne]

Thanks for the tag, @sister13 ! 

@nellebelle15  Hmm, since you’ve already tried PRP, have you also ever tried undereye filler injections? Some dermatologists don’t like using filler around the eyes (risks eye damage), but it is an option if you find a board certified derm to consult about it. 

Other than that and possibly other in-office/clinic procedures, there’s really nothing you can do (in terms of applying a topical skincare product) to drastically change your undereye appearance. Even if there was a magic eye cream, that skin would still eventually wrinkle unless you stopped making facial expressions for the rest of your life. Who wants to go through life without laughing or smiling, or expressing other emotions that make that undereye skin move? I sure don’t. 

I’m in my 50s and all my prominent wrinkles are under my eyes, plus I have hollow tear troughs, and of course the older I get, the more the fat pads around my eyes succumb to gravity and create permanent bags. Since I’m a big baby about getting facial injections for any reason (I’m super fun at the dentist when I need my gums numbed up 😭), I’ve learned to mostly accept my eye bags and lines. “Mostly” because I do use a few things to soften my lines a bit—knowing nothing I apply to that skin will “erase” them: 

• Argireline - a peptide that won’t truly freeze muscle movement, but I find it does reduce wrinkle depth a bit. Not a lot, just… a bit. I use The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% for Reducing Fine Lines 1 oz/ 30 mL in the morning, usually just around my eyes. 
  
  
• Vitamin A - aka the collagen-stimulating retinoid family. Some derms say it’s dangerous to apply vitamin A under the eyes because it may damage meibomian glands, and that skin’s too sensitive for a strong retinoid anyway. Other derms are fine with applying a low-strength retinol or retinaldehyde (retinal) to the under and outer sides of the eyes, as long as you don’t bring it all the way to your lash line. I use retinaldehyde on the rest of my face each night. 2-3 nights a week, I also apply a bit around my eyes (avoiding my upper/mobile lids). Have you already tried a retinal or retinol serum/cream on your undereyes? Again, it won’t drastically change that skin’s appearance, and it’s not an overnight miracle; results take time and consistent use. 
  
  
• A good moisturizer applied to damp skin - doesn’t have to be a fancy special cream. I always use my full face moisturizer around my eyes. If I need extra moisturization (usually in winter), I top it off with a petrolatum balm (usually Aquaphor Ointment, sometimes CeraVe healing Ointment; Vaseline also works, but I don’t like the texture). What moisturizer(s) do you use on your whole face? 
  
  
• Broad spectrum sunscreen (at least SPF 30 - there’s no point trying to reduce lines without stopping the sun from creating more of ‘em and doing more serious damage. Do you already use sunscreen all year long? 

You can also get very strategic about applying concealer to mask things under the eye. Wayne Goss has a few YouTube tutorials on that. 

And hey, I think you look great! Not to invalidate your concerns, of course. I’m sure you’ve heard “we’re usually our own worst critics” enough times, but it’s true. 

[sister13]

Amazing recommendations @WinglessOne , thanks for chiming in with all that info! 

[WinglessOne]

Aw, thanks @sister13. 🙂 

@nellebelle15  Just realized I forgot a few other options to consider: 

• Temporary eye tighteners - these products use 2 or 3 silicates that temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles and eye bags. There are side effects, including skin dryness, and “temporary” = the effect probably/realistically lasts up to 4-5 hours, though I’ve seen brands claim “all day” or 10 hours. Plexaderm might be the OG of these products. There’s also the more recently famous Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx® Eye Temporary Eye Tightener 1/30 (in the Rewards Bazaar, you can get a DS for 100 points right now), and a few other brands make one too. I’ve never tried any of these because my undereye skin’s already very dry and sensitive; I’m pretty sure these creams would irritate the heck outta my skin. But yeah, remember when I said there’s no topical skincare product that’ll drastically change your undereye skin? Weeellll technically this type of product will 😅—but only temporarily. The effects aren’t permanent or longterm. 
  
  
• Mu-conotoxin CnIIIC - aka XEP-018, a peptide meant to mimic a marine cone snail’s venom to reduce muscle movement and facial wrinkles. The only product I’ve used that includes this is Indeed Labs Snoxin II (available at Ulta): while testing it under my eyes for a week, it made that skin puffy and painfully sensitive to touch. Your results may vary, of course; I’m apparently skin-sensitive or slightly allergic to something in that cream. 
  
  
• N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) - an amino acid sugar that can help with hyperpigmentation, dryness (it’s a good hydrator), and wrinkles. It’s in several products, but if you wanna use it for wrinkles, look for something that contains at least 2% of it. I’ve never tried The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution for Post-Acne Marks 1 oz / 30 ml but that’s one to consider. 

[danielledanielle]

Oooh, never though of using NAG ( The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution for Post-Acne Marks 1 oz / 30 ml ) @WinglessOne around my eyes.  It's been going on the lower half of my face and while not specifically for acne, I've noticed less of it and my skin overall looks better.  Thanks! 

Also, general reminder that next month is Slowvember, where all of The Ordinary (and Deciem) are 23% off

[WinglessOne]

@danielledanielle  Ah, thanks for the reminder! I think I read that The Ordinary’s included in the upcoming Sephora Savings Event, which is a first; that brand’s always been excluded from these Sephora sales, but not from Ulta’s. Buuut The Ordinary’s own upcoming sale will be a better discount on their products. 👍

[CynthieLu]

I read that too @WinglessOne and possibly with a limit of only 3 items if I read that right.

[sister13]

Okay this comment cracked me up, I think you look lovely but I understand the frustration we have with a certain feature! Ball sacks, lol. Have you tried any with the cooling tip, like  Charlotte Tilbury Cryo-Recovery Depuffing Eye Serum 0.5 oz/ 15ml ? There’s another one I can’t think of right now, I will come back and tag if I can think of it. 

Also tagging @WinglessOne  because she is a skincare guru and  may have some suggestions. Good luck!