Intensive Therapy Eye Cream - Reduces Dark Circles & Puffiness, Hydrating Peptides - 1 oz

This cream has a pleasant, light texture, and it absorbs well, but it's far too light and not early moisturizing enough for dry skin generally, but particularly in the colder months. I started using it in early fall, before it got too cold and dry, but even initially, my skin felt dry, like I'd forgotten to moisturize, after a few hours. Once it got colder and drier inside, my skin felt parched and naked after a few minutes.This might be a suitable product if you have especially oily skin, or for summer use, but it's not suited to dry skin, and it feels the opposite of "intensive" to me.For reference, I'm 49, with dry skin and fine lines. I moisturize twice daily (morning and night) and wash with water only most days (because I seldom wear skin makeup, just mascara); or with an oil cleanser when I occasionally wear a neutral primer or waterproof mascara. I wear sunscreen seasonally or when working outside, but aside from that, routine moisturizer, and the occasional addition of a serum or eyecream to my routine, I have a fairly minimalist routine. My age lines are fine but my dry skin requires a lot of moisture or I feel like the Cryptkeeper in the winter, so I use quality moisturizer year round and favor richer products in winter. I favor anti-aging products (not that I often see lasting results, but I guess holding the line is as important as reversing...).
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I'm always on the lookout for effective and affordable skincare products. I've tried a lot of different eye creams; the luxury brands can be effective but are overly pricey, while the mass-market brands are more affordable but don't deliver the same results. Dermedicine's Intensive Therapy Eye Cream manages to strike the right balance, delivering excellent results AND good value. On top of that, I love that it's cruelty-free (not tested on animals), made in the USA, and contains no parabens, sulfates, or harsh chemicals.The container holds a good-sized amount of product; it's a full ounce, whereas most of the other eye creams I've used are sold in 0.5 oz. jars. There's an inner cap beneath the screw-on lid to keep air out of the cream; some of the product sticks to that cap, but the consistency of the cream makes it easy to swipe off and return to the jar. I was surprised that the eye cream was pale yellow and almost custard-like in appearance, but it's only natural considering the product does not contain synthetic dyes. In keeping with the food analogy, the cream has a somewhat pudding-like texture; it's not sticky or tacky, though it may take a few seconds to absorb into the skin since it is so rich in emollients.Some reviewers have commented that they found the scent a bit strong. I have to admit that I didn't notice any type of odor at all until I held the cream right below my nose. In my opinion, it actually has a fresh, pleasant scent. The product information states that the eye cream contains no synthetic fragrances, so I'm assuming any scent comes from the natural ingredients.The product information also specifies that this eye cream is gentle enough for sensitive skin. I do have rather sensitive skin, particularly around my eyes. I can attest that this product works really well and is fairly gentle; however, I do notice a slight stinging sensation immediately upon applying the eye cream. It dissipates after a few seconds, once the cream is absorbed into my skin. I don't experience any redness or irritation, and the tingling sensation doesn't linger...so I'm assuming that's just the ingredients working at firming up and depuffing my under-eye area as opposed to an allergic reaction. But if you happen to have extremely sensitive skin, it's just something to be aware of.Overall, I couldn't be happier with Dermedicine's Intensive Therapy Eye Cream. My eye area looks and feels smoother and more refreshed than it has in a long time, and that's saying something since I tend to pull a lot of all-nighters. I love the rich consistency and effectiveness of this eye cream, and I appreciate Dermedicine's commitment to no animal testing and no harsh ingredients. I highly recommend Dermedicine's Intensive Therapy Eye Cream, and I intend to purchase another jar when my current supply runs out.
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I had extremely high hopes for this intensive eye cream loaded with a good cocktail of ingredients. Beyond that, the jar is double the size of a typical jar of eye cream and will last a long time. The cream has a great texture and smooth application. That being said, my mixed reaction was entirely unexpected. The cream produces a bit of magic immediately upon application -- the look of the skin is visibly smoothed, tightened, and I have no doubt that over time the accumulation of benefits from the ingredients will be amazing. But, the cream had two things working heavily against it for me. First, it has a strong menthol cooling sensation on the skin that I hate in eye creams. It feels weird -- actually uncomfortable for me -- and the tingling feeling makes me constantly aware of that area, and not in a good way. It probably helps with reduction in eye puffiness, but not for me. A very distracting and bothersome sensation that I can't get used to. Second, the product is heavily fragranced with a cross between patchouli or eucalyptus and a medicinal menthol smell that is not only irritating to my skin, but caused an allergic reaction to the smell, as well as topically. The next morning, my eyes were swollen like golf balls. None of this reaction would have occurred had the manufacturers left out the cooling aspect as well as the overpowering fragrance. The skin around the eyes is incredibly delicate and sensitive, and can be very responsive to fragrance. Also, fragrance is the one ingredient that causes a majority of allergic reactions. I'll never understand why cosmetic companies don't know this and think that fragrance is necessary in skincare products. I actually get a gag reflex from patchouli and eucalyptus in addition to being allergic to both, so suffering through this cream for even one night was testament to how strongly I wanted it to work for me. It's so disappointing not to be able to use this cream, as I know the ingredients will be quite effective. But, even if I didn't have an allergic reaction to the fragrance and menthol, I wouldn't use the eye cream due to the obnoxious smell alone. If the company makes a version of the cream without those two ingredients, I would wholeheartedly use and recommend it. My rating is not based on my allergic reaction, but on the obnoxious smell. The cream works, but not the fragrance and smell.
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