I'll hold my hands up: I'm an eye cream sceptic. Whenever I've spoken to skincare experts in my career as a beauty journalist, the general consensus is that you don't need a dedicated eye cream. Instead, I've always been advised to take my usual serum and moisturiser up to the eye area, or instead opt for an affordable eye cream, rather than splashing out on expensive ones with that deliver unrealistic promises (like totally getting rid of dark circles, for example).
However, one eye product I can get on board with is retinol eye creams. And since turning 30, I'm getting more on board with targeting my eye area with dedicated eye creams. After all, the eyes is where our skin is thinnest, so it's more often than not the first place we start to see the first signs of wrinkles and fines lines.
The past couple of years. I've been getting Botox around my eye area to help address the crow's feet. But, it's expensive upkeep and only lasts around 12 weeks, so I've been wanting to explore more affordable ways to look after the skin around my eyes. I'm already a fan of Beauty Pie's skincare, so I decided to give the Super Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream a try. Scroll ahead for my full review with before and afters.
Beauty Pie Super Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream Review
Price shown is member price.
Ingredients: Retinol (1%), hyaluronic acid, allosteris, bioflavanoids
Pros: Affordable, targets fine lines and wrinkles, brightens dark circles, hydrating cream formula
Cons: Might be too strong for sensitive eyes or those new to retinol, more expensive for non-members
Customer Review: "I've always had "laughter lines" even as a teenager, so i thought it try this cream considering i'm now 30 so my crows feet will likely get worse. I have quite sensitive skin around my eyes, which often appears dry and/or flaky, and this cream really helps it to stay feeling soft and hydrated. I do think that the lines are less prominent after 3 weeks of use, so hopefully that will continue. I think i look less tired on the whole."
How I Tested
I put the Beauty Pie Super Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream to the test over the course of a month, using it every evening over the past four weeks. I took a before photo prior to testing and have shared my after picture below.
The Formula
The eye cream contains a cocktail of hardworking ingredients that help to address a whole host of eye area concerns. Hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate on contact with the skin, retinol helps to plump fine lines and wrinkles over time, while bioflavanoids and allosteris work in tandem to address dark circles. These are all wrapped up in a creamy gel formula that leaves a hydrating layer of the skin, making it great for locking in hydration overnight, and although retinol is generally used as an overnight treatment, the texture lends itself well for priming the eye area for makeup during the day if you wish.
Before and After
The Verdict
Having tested this over the course of a month, I've definitely noticed a difference in the quality of my skin around my eyes. While I don't have deep set wrinkles yet, I do often see fine lines developing around my eyes, which are in part due to being in my thirties as well as my skin being a little dehydrated here.
After testing, I've noticed that the lines look less noticeable, and while it doesn't compare to the transformative effects of Botox (no skincare product ever can, let's be honest) I can see my that my under eyes look smoother. I can't say I've noticed a huge change in my dark circles, but I don't expect any eye cream to make a drastic difference here.
The gel-cream texture feels almost balmy once it sinks into the eye area, which makes it really moisturising and hydrating—I felt like I woke up with more hydrated-looking under eyes, and I noticed my crow's feet looked softened and not as obvious after a couple of weeks.
I am prone to having sensitivity around my eyelids, however I've not experienced any irritation with this eye cream. That being said, if you're totally new to using a form of retinol in your routine, you may want to start slowly by using it a couple of times a week and gradually building up your skin's tolerance.
All in all, I'd really recommend this eye cream, especially at this price point. If you're consistent, you should see an improvement in the skin around your eyes in around a month, and I'm excited to see the results as I keep testing. Plus, you really can't beat the affordable £15 price tag—this definitely rivals more expensive eye creams out there.
Shop Beauty Pie's Super Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
Price shown is member price.
Shop More Eye Creams I Love
If you want to help brighten dark circles and dull under eyes, then this is your best bet. It contains vitamin C and Arctic cloudberry which act as antioxidants to reduce the appearance of dark circles.
While they're not technically an eye cream, these eye patches are a game-changer for when I need my eyes to look perky and awake. They contain caffeine, marshmallow root and liquorice which help to de-puff and hydrate the skin in 15 minutes.
Price shown is member price.
This is another Beauty Pie eye cream that I highly recommend if you want something hardworking to address dark circles, firm and plump wrinkles, reduce fine lines and de-puff the under eye.
You'll notice that a lot of good eye creams contain caffeine, which not only helps to wake us up in the morning, but works wonders on under eye bags and puffiness.
If you have sensitive eyes, or are looking for a hydrating eye cream without any harsh active ingredients, then make it this one. It contains ceramides which help to support the skin barrier while deeply hydrating dryness.
Prefer a gel texture? This one sinks in immediately, all while helping to hydrate, brighten and de-puff for brighter-looking eyes.
This is another great affordable retinol eye cream if you're on a budget. Over time, it helps to plump and firm the eye area, leaving your eyes looking like you got 10 hours of sleep.
