Products you buy through our links may earn us a commission. Oh, and if something's out of stock, oops, it was there (and all prices were accurate) at time of publication.
Welcome to Skimm Tested, a series where we put viral products to the test and give you our honest, unfiltered reviews.
What We Tested…
Why Alessandra Tested…
Test Results…
Remedy Dark Circle Reducing Advanced Eye Cream. I don't think I've ever noticed results from an eye cream this fast. I casually applied this between meetings one morning. By the time I turned my camera on again, I noticed my eye bags had reduced and my dark circles were brighter. Since I'm normally getting ready in a rush (and dislike having too many steps in the process), I appreciated that it absorbed quickly so I didn't have to wait before moving onto makeup and starting my day. The plastic doe-foot applicator made it easy to apply one-handed, too. The tube is pretty small — and I'll be using this daily, morning and evening — so I have a feeling I'll need to re-up soon. ($18)
Dr. Althea Retinol Flat Iron Eye Roller. The built-in massage roller might just be my new favorite type of applicator. It's cold to the touch, which soothed my under-eyes and made me feel calm and relaxed. Squeezing the tube dispenses the serum directly onto the roller for easy application. However, I did have to use my fingers to rub the cream in. I used it morning and evening for about a week, and overall my skin improved. But I didn't get the quick, depuffing and brightening effects I was hoping for. I'm not sure I'll be adding it to my daily regimen, but the rolling applicator alone is half the fun — it's that good. ($23)
Why Martha Tested…
Test Results…
Remedy Dark Circle Reducing Advanced Eye Cream. I applied this morning and night, loving the soothing effect and immediate depuffing (I suspect that was a result of the caffeine in the formula). I couldn’t believe my luck in getting it right on the first try — until I started getting little bumps on my under-eyes and realized it has niacinamide in it, which makes my reactive skin break out. If your skin does tolerate niacinamide, I would recommend this eye cream a thousand times over; it visibly lightened my dark circles almost immediately. ($18)
Dr. Althea Retinol Flat Iron Eye Roller. I would pay more than $23 just for this metal-tip applicator. While some eye creams need to be stored in the fridge for a cooling effect, this metal roller feels cool without any extra help. It felt so good on my under-eyes that I looked forward to applying it morning and night. Plus, after a rom-com-induced night of tears, I used it and woke up without any puffiness. Though it has retinol and bakuchiol, I never had any irritation or stinging, and the hyaluronic acid plumped and smoothed so my concealer applied like a dream. This is the one I’ll be holding onto, especially for the price. ($23)
Sidenotes…
Both eye creams come in small tubes, so they’re great for stashing in your carry-on when you’re traveling.
They’re also both fragrance-free, vegan, and tested for sensitive skin.