When it comes to the beauty ingredients that I'm asked about most frequently, retinol is undoubtedly up there at the top of the list. Plenty of my friends and family members have come to me wondering whether or not they actually need retinol or how to find a decent retinol serum to start with. For many people, retinol is the one ingredient that feels like totally uncharted territory. Why? If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that a lot of us are totally terrified to start using retinol when there are so many stories out there about some of its potentially negative side effects. Trust me—I get it. I experienced an adverse reaction when trying a retinol cream for my acne a few years back. And in general, retinol can definitely cause irritation like dry skin and redness if you don't introduce it slowly and carefully to your skincare routine. But now that I'm in my early 30s and talk to skincare experts regularly for work, I've learned more about the positive effects that retinol can have on our skin. In fact, dermatologists say that it's actually one of the few ingredients that visibly benefits our skin.
With this in mind, I've been tentatively venturing back into the world of retinol serums and moisturisers, and after my latest trial period, I've officially been converted. My spot-prone skin is now smoother, softer and more even in texture, and besides some hormonal moments, my breakouts are generally less frequent and less severe. But retinol isn't just renowned for its ability to improve skin texture. It's also one of the most effective anti-ageing ingredients that we have at our disposal. And while I firmly believe that ageing is something to be celebrated, I have to be honest: I'm not loving the early scattering of fine lines that are starting to appear around my eyes. You might be thinking that retinol is surely too harsh an ingredient to use around your eye area. As it turns out, it isn't. And that's exactly where the Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Eye Cream steps in.
When I think about Elizabeth Arden, its collection of skincare capsules immediately comes to mind. This is unsurprising, considering that the brand's skincare capsules are its best-selling products. Its award-winning Retinol Ceramide Capsules are truly brilliant, so I had high hopes for the eye cream from the same range.
Formulated with Smart Retinol Technology, this eye cream is a clever creation. As an ingredient, retinol is incredibly sensitive to light and air, so Elizabeth Arden uses microencapsulated retinol that not only protects it from the elements to preserve potency but also allows it to absorb into your skin five times more deeply than unencapsulated retinol. This means that the eye cream has major smoothing, brightening, and de-puffing benefits, but I was a little nervous that it would also be too harsh for my under-eye area. Oh, how wrong I was.
Retinol isn't the only powerful ingredient in this eye cream. It's formulated with moisture-boosting ceramides, skin-strengthening peptides and a brightening niacinamide blend, so it feels incredibly nourishing and hydrating on the skin. Believe it or not, I didn't experience even a hint of irritation or redness when I started using it.
Of course, it's important to add Elizabeth Arden's Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Eye Cream into your routine slowly, as you would with any retinol product. I started by using it just once or twice a week at night. Once I knew that my skin was reacting well to it, I slowly started using it two or three nights a week. A month in, I now use this eye cream every single evening, and my eyes look so much brighter and smoother because of it.
So if you're still on the fence about trying a retinol eye cream, the Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Eye Cream just might convince you. Plus, thanks to its variety of skin benefits—it boosts moisture, de-puffs tired eyes, smooths the appearance of fine lines and minimises dark circles—you can actually introduce this eye cream into your skincare routine as soon as your early 20s. It's just that versatile.
Shop the Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Eye Cream
This product made me a believer in retinol eye cream. I've been recommending it to everyone.
Shop More of My Elizabeth Arden Skincare Favourites
To receive 25% off Ceramide products at elizabetharden.co.uk, use code CERAMIDE25 at checkout. But, hurry—offer ends Friday, 22nd October.
(Code only valid on Ceramide collection while stocks last. Live from: 14/10/21 22/10/21. May not combine with other offers and excludes gift sets/online exclusive sets. Not valid on past purchases. Offers subject to change without notice. One gift per customer.)
These award-winning retinol capsules contain exactly the right dose for your nightly application (so there's no risk of irritation) and have made my skin look glowier, smoother and more even over time.
My two Elizabeth Arden favourites also come in this great value duo that's worth £125. If, like me, you aren't too hot on math, that's a saving of 15%.
Each of these tiny capsules is brimming with hyaluronic acid and ceramides that deeply hydrate and lock in moisture. I love using these in the morning to nourish my skin when retinol has been working hard overnight.
I'm obsessed with vitamin C serums and really fussy about which ones I'll use, but these capsules are brilliant. They're formulated with vitamin C that's 78 times more potent than some of its more traditional counterparts, and you can really tell. My skin always looks so bright and glowy after I use this, no matter how tired I am.
What would a round-up of Elizabeth Arden products be without the brand's cult-favourite Eight Hour Cream? I use this most nights as an intensive lip treatment and always have one in my makeup bag to hydrate dry patches, soothe skin irritation or act as a makeshift highlighter when my skin looks a little dull.
I test a lot of products for work, and sometimes my skin can become irritated. On those occasions, I reach for this probiotic booster to repair and soothe my skin before layering on my other serums and moisturisers. It's so calming and refreshing.
In my opinion, this is one of the best moisturisers to apply the morning after using retinol. It's intensely hydrating and smoothing and contains SPF30, which is essential when using retinol in your routine.
Up Next: These Are the 22 Results-Driven Moisturisers You Need to Know About
To receive 25% off Ceramide products at elizabetharden.co.uk, use code CERAMIDE25 at checkout. Code only valid on Ceramide collection while stocks last. Live from 14/10/21 to 21/10/21. May not combine with other offers and excludes gift sets/online exclusive sets. Not valid on past purchases. Offers subject to change without notice. One gift per customer.
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