Category: skin-care

The Best Eye Creams

I’ve been battling some serious fine lines around my eye area. They aren’t super pronounced, but I know now is my chance to stave off any major wrinkles. Welcome to your mid-thirties, Belle Belle! So I decided it was time to really dive into the world of eye cream. I’ve selected my favorites for particular concerns whether you have fine lines like me, battle puffiness or get those dreaded dark circles. Let me know if you have any other superstar favorites I missed in the comments below!

Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System – Best Tool

I mention the Opal first because I use this tool with all the creams and serums tested below. I adore Clarisonic so no surprise that their tool for the eye area was equally impressive. The micro-massage (which is super-gentle) drives active ingredients into skin. Amplifying infusion with the vibration equals quick results. The Opal runs on a one minute cycle and I have to say it is actually fun to use. The rubbery applicator tip is gentle and keeps the amount of product to a reasonable level – something I found difficult when using just your finger. My only beef? I wish there was a beep when I needed to switch to the other eye. So I just do a full rotation (one minute) on each eye.

blisslabs active 99.0 Multi-Action Eye Cream – Best Newcomer

I adore this new eye cream from bliss. Part of their active 99.0 line, this treatment is professional-grade without being irritating. It manages to fight all the concerns mentioned above. And nourishes my dry and thin skin. It is a one-stop shop for those who want to address a range of concerns.

Caudalíe ‘Polyphenol C15’ Anti-Wrinkle Eye & Lip Cream – Best Multi-Tasker

Major kudos for releasing something specifically for women (and I guess men!) in their 30s. This workhorse fights free radicals around eyes and lips and soothes sensitive areas where signs of aging first appear. The consistency is very light, making it perfect for those with oilier or combination skin. It is my lazy girl answer for nights you just ~~can’t~~ don’t have the energy.

Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Advanced Formula Lifting Eye Crème – Best Value

I fell hard for Cindy Crawford’s skin Meaningful Beauty back here and the price point takes the sting out of a normally very expensive product. She developed her line with a dermatologist and the active ingredients really work to tighten and lift. The small tube is perfect to throw in a travel bag or purse. And it works beautifully to refresh under eyes at the end of a long day before cocktail hour.

SkinCeuticals Eye Balm – Best For Fine Lines

SkinCeuticals is always my pick for people who want powerful formulas. Usually the line is a little irritating on me, but this balm from SkinCeuticals was surprisingly gentle and nourishing. I loved the anti-inflammatory nature and soothing chamomile that fought my redness like a champ. I felt refreshed and smooth a full day when using this balm.

StriVectin-AR Advanced Retinol Eye Treatment – Best For Puffiness

I used to think StriVectin was a gimmicky brand, but after trying so many of their products, I am seriously obsessed with their ability to fight a wide variety of skin concerns. I don’t usually have puffiness, but I went though a phase of terrible allergies recently and this was the only eye treatment that got those puffs to calm down. My eyes were immediately “deflated” for lack of a better word. And that’s not all. The formula contains retinol – a workhorse against lines and hyper-pigmentation. And it isn’t irritating.

AHAVA Dead Sea Osmoter Eye Concentrate Youth & Cellular Energizing Serum – Best Nourishing Eye Cream

When I feel like I need to baby my under eye area, this is what I reach for. The silky serum smooths skin and plumps any dehydrated areas. And when I say “silky” I mean literally. The serum contains Persian Silk and is perfect after a sleepless night or one too many cocktails. It just feels sooo good to use.

Murad Instant Radiance Eye Cream – Best For Dark Circles

Murad’s standout focuses on radiance by boosting collagen production. The tangerine butter brightens the eye area and leaves youthful baby-soft skin. And a bonus point – if you like using eye cream on lids like I do – this one is gentle enough to be used over the entire eye area.

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Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture

Exciting news! Murad has picked me to be one of their ambassadors. While I have been a fan for a number of years, I am getting a fabulous opportunity to check out so much of their product range. Let’s just say I am really impressed and I cannot wait to share my favorites with you. But there has been one standout so far, and I had to share given the changing of the seasons.

Until recently, my favorite Murad product was this one (the most effective non-prescription sun damage product I’ve tried). But with my dry winter skin already in full force, the Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture is my new pick.

Not only is my skin left nourished, but my redness clears and I find there is a healthier tone. Just a little goes a long way with this balm that really packs in hydration without being greasy. What I find most unique is the immediate effects, particularly under makeup. I am guessing this is due to the Collagen Support Complex and avocado, sunflower, and olive fruit oils (my skin loves oils).

The balm is also powered by a technology: RepleniCell turns water into a “performance hydrator.” Skin attracts, binds and retains water contributing to an addicting plumpness. And now it is safe to say “I am not scared of you, dry wintery skin!”

Clarisonic Sonic Radiance Brightening Solution

I drank the Clarisonic kool-aid years ago and the devices have been a part of my routine ever since. I’ve used the Plus, Mia and Pedi, all with stellar results. But regular readers here know my biggest beef is hyper-pigmentation and a general lack of radiance. So the newest Clarisonic really had me pumped. After releasing earlier this year, I finally got my paws on the newest system and I can say I am a total convert and this is my top choice from the Clarisonic family.

Sonic Radiance comes with a device and brightening formulas just in the nick of time to erase our summer skin sins and achieving a winter glow. The system includes the newest Aria – one I hadn’t tried. While I can’t tell a huge difference, I like the technologically-advanced charger and lighter weight.

The brush head is new as well – a Radiance Brush Head – full of dense but soft filaments that doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. Note: remember not to push the brush against the skin but allow it to lightly touch skin, loosening debris and preventing redness. The pearl pink is a little less shocking than the traditional pink Plus model and it is feminine without being over the top.

I’ve always enjoyed the cleansers that come with the Clarisonic devices but I really love the included products in this version including a morning cleanser, a nighttime peel wash, and a brightening serum (Clarisonic’s first-ever leave-on treatment.) All three products and the device work together to improve acne spots, blotchiness and sun damage. I’ve been using the products and device day and night for two weeks and see imrpovement, particularly with darkness on my cheeks.

The cleansers are foamy and work well against the residue of the day. I do like removing makeup beforehand with a wipe – my favorite these days is this one. That way, makeup doesn’t transfer to the brush head and the products can really work to improve the look of skin.

The Skin Illuminating Cleanser is designed for the AM and gently cleanses and exfoliates skin. The Skin Renewing Peel Wash, my favorite, is creamier and foamier designed for use at night. Then the real gem: the new Brightening Activator Serum can be used morning and night. The combo of treatments allows for potent action and visible results but while still nourishing skin.

Kit includes: Clarisonic Aria, Universal Voltage Charger, Radiance Brush Head, 6 oz Skin Illuminating Cleanser, 6 oz Sin Renewing Peel Wash, Brightening Activator Serum. Products can be purchased individually as well. Or without the device and just the brush head.

Available at Nordstrom and Sephora

Dr. Jart+ Blackhead Master Patch

I expected to find loads of praise for the Dr. Jart+ Blackhead Master Patch on the Sephora website. But I, at best, found mixed reviews. Which frankly baffled me. I have been a huge fan of pores strips like those from Biore, so I was stoked to try out the Dr. Jart version. And it was like a luxe, improved version.

I found the dual pack of strips easy to use and not only effective but with substantially noticeable immediate effects. Regular visitors know I have combo-to-dry skin, but I have been experiencing congestion lately around my nose. This is likely because of a heavier moisturizer I have introduced into the rotation in anticipation of drier and colder weather.

What surprised me right off the bat was that the pouch contained two strips. The first is designed to be applied to a wet nose – I used a facial spray to prep the skin. After 10 minutes, I removed the strip to find clean pores and a bunch of satisfying residue on the cloth.

Then I applied the moistened patch which soothed and hydrated my skin. After another 10 minutes, I removed the wet strip and massaged the remaining serum into skin. Then I proceeded with nighttime moisturizer. The serum left my skin radiant and tightened.

So why is this treatment better than the drugstore variety? I found the dry strip removed more debris. And the wet treatment was a welcome additional step. Ingredients like coral powder, sage, and tea tree extract work hard to immediately improve the look of skin.

Not to mention the whole process was so incredibly satisfying. Available at Sephora.

Omorovicza Blue Diamond Resurfacing Peel

Basically when I am over here on Belle Belle, it is my job to get excited about beauty. And I generally am a little bonkers over everything makeup and skin care. But something happened earlier this week and I jumped for joy so high, I hit the roof.

The Omorovicza Blue Diamond Resurfacing Peel was part of my weekly spa routine and I can’t believe I had waited to rotate this blue angel into the lineup until now. Wow – how do I explain? Let’s see here – use your words, Belle Belle.

This peel is like a cleanser hybrid that balances all that good exfoliation with an electric refinement. The blue gel is opalescent, making it decidedly luxurious. The feel is soothing and just a touch cooling. The Lactobionic and lactic acids work very gently with AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids). And probably one of my favorite ingredients, copper, works to control shine and turnover skin cells. I also love that copper controls redness.

Instead of leaving on like a traditional mask, this is applied and worked into skin with a massage over 2-3 minutes. Side note: massage works wonders for your skin and complexion, encouraging blood flow and release of fluid buildup. While I couldn’t detect any irritation, I did give eyes and lips a wide birth.

My skin was left clean, bright and nourished. This treatment was just too perfect for my skin type, enabling results without being too clinical. Just make sure to use a great SPF – these ingredients can make you sensitive to the sun.

To learn more about Omorovicza, check this out.

Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program. I consult for Neiman Marcus which is affiliated with the Neiman Marcus Group, but as always, opinions are my own.

Neutrogena Pore No More

I went through a phase where I was testing a ton of luxury cleansers a while back – I know, I know… tough life. But as I was working through the group to select my favorites, I noticed that my skin was missing a deep clean. Many of these luxury cleansers are designed for more mature skin. And while my complexion is on the dry side, I still needed a deep clean to keep those pesky blackheads at bay.

Enter a little trio from Neutrogena. All three #PoreNoMore products use alpha and beta hydroxy acids to deep clean skin, rejuvenate and minimize the appearance of pores. Read: younger looking skin. The cleansers both had my beloved foaming action. Because they are soap-free, I did achieve that deep clean without any tightness. I will say there was an ever so slight chemical smell, but I chalk that up to drugstore goods – great price point and something has got to give somewhere, right? See note below

First up is the Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser which I’ve found I like using just once or twice a week. Those who are slightly oilier or who have very problematic pores might be able to indulge in this a little more often. My skin is relatively soft and this cleanser really shines with rough and uneven skin. The granules are fairly small and would work on even acne-prone skin. Don’t expect a huge foam here, but it was enough to get my juices flowing.

Something that suits my drier skin everyday: Pore Refining Daily Cleanser. While this is the formula that I get most of the chemical smell (see note), I did love to foaming action and refined finish of my skin. My skin was exfoliated without being red whatsoever. And all my makeup was removed.

And last but not least comes my biggest surprise. I absolutely fell so hard for the Pore Refining Toner. This totally shocked me as I expected this toner to leave my skin tight and dry. But the topical application of the alpha and beta hydroxy acids really retexturized my skin and left it feeling really clean. I loved the refreshing scent and “wipe the day away” effect. And the active ingredients really penetrated my pores but didn’t dry out or anger my skin.

Leave it to Neutrogena to come up with something that can shore up my pores without leaving my redness prone skin irritated. If you are going for a deeper clean this fall, don’t hesitate to check out the #PoresNoMore collection.

Note: this chemical smell is likely attributed to sulphates. I know many people feel strongly about the use of this ingredient. While I am still researching myself, I generally try to stay away for long term use out of an abundance of caution. But I also know many readers rely on drugstore brands that I love like Neutrogena who frequently includes sulphates in their products. If you are trying to avoid sulphates – either short or long-term – please be aware.