Product Review: Kate Somerville CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream

Hello, hello, everyone!!

I read a lot of reviews on this product before I bought it, and people were raving about it. It seemed like THE solution for those of us with dark circles and puffiness. So I headed to Sephora and got my hands on my very own Kate Somerville eye cream. Boy, was I excited to start using it!!

Read on to find out more about the product and my review on it.

Jar Packaging: No
Tested on Animals: No
Price: RM 316.00 (15 ml/0.5 Fl. Oz.)

Claims

CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream combines years of research and cutting-edge technology to reduce the visible signs of aging around the delicate eye area. This results-oriented formulation instantly alleviates the appearance of puffiness, diminishes dark circles, and dramatically reduces the appearance of fine lines.

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Behenyl Alcohol, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Arachidyl Alcohol, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tetrahydroxypropyl, Ethylenediamine, Arachidyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Whey Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Silica , Tin Oxide, Pyridoxine Tris-Hexyldecanoate, Methylisothiazolinone, Tropolone, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Polypeptide-72, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Mica, Titanium Dioxide

Lil’ Missy’s Review

Let me just tell you upfront that you can add this to the list of useless eye creams claiming to reduce dark circles and puffiness. I know this may sound a little harsh, but I'll tell you what works, what doesn't, and what's not a "must have" as it seems.

I used it for about 5 months, and it did nothing as claimed. Yes, I drank a lot of water and had sufficient sleep during this period. Still, no results as claimed. Not even the slightest.

This fragrance-free formula has a smooth and lightweight cream texture, which makes it easy to apply. However, it doesn't actually reduce the appearance of dark circles other than the strictly cosmetic effect from mineral pigments like Titanium Dioxide and Mica (the last two ingredients in the list above). These mineral ingredients don’t treat or lighten dark circles; instead, they add a reflective, slightly shiny finish on the skin around the eyes, simply making dark circles less obvious. If you’re going to fork out cash for a product that really just does only this, then you’re better off using a medium- to full-coverage concealer instead.

I’ve spent, literally, thousands of Ringgit on SO many different brands of eye creams, and ended up very frustrated and disappointed. These experiences were what led me to reading up extensively about eye creams and these pigments.

As for treating puffiness, this doesn't work. Truth of the matter is that most skin-care products are not the solution no matter how much they cost or what they claim. Puffiness around the eyes results primarily from fat pads shifting, and most skin-care creams don't actually address this. This sucks even for me! And, yes, reality does bite. :(

Many people have the perception that we “need” a separate, special product for our eye area. I know it’s hard to digest, but the ingredients capable of moisturising the eye area, and reducing dark circles and puffiness don't necessarily need to come from - and are often not included in - an eye cream.

Most eye creams, like this one, don't contain sunscreen, and that is a serious problem because it leaves the skin around your eyes vulnerable to sun damage, which makes dark circles and wrinkling worse! Our eyes need protection from the sun just like the rest of the skin on our bodies do. 

Pros

• Fragrance free.
• Smooth and lightweight texture.

Cons

• Very expensive. 
• Improves the appearance of dark circles only from cosmetic “brightening” pigments that add a little shine to reflect light.

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Here's an excellent tip that I've learned and personally follow: 

You can save money and care for your eye area by using your face product, if it is well formulated and appropriate for the skin type around your eyes. Bet you didn't know that. ;) 

I'm not saying that no eye cream works, but I've bought and used countless drugstore and high-end branded eye creams. I've also been to a skin specialist, and used the products they recommended. 

However, none of them worked for me. 

I have since stopped purchasing any eye cream, and use only my face products for my eye area. There have not been any side effects, and they moisturise and protect my eye area better than all the eye products I've used. I'm very happy with my skin-care routine! :)

I hope you find the review and tip helpful! I’ll be doing a YouTube video on my skin-care routine soon, and I'll be talking about what I do to care for my eye area. Stay tuned and look out for that! :)

xoxo
~ Lil’ Missy ~