little white truths

Neutrogena claims/product details:

• Our Accelerated Retinol SA patented formula is proven to deliver pure stabilised retinol into the skin’s surface quickly and effectively, reducing the look of visible signs of eye ageing
• Helps leave skin feeling smooth and younger-looking around the eye area
• Fades the look of fine lines and wrinkles
• Evens skintone
• Rejuvenates and nourishes skin around the eye 
• RRP $34.99 AUD for 14ml, but do shop around

Happily the product comes in a little tube, which is my preferred packaging for eye creams: I don't like it when they come in a tub that you have to dip your fingers into.

I also like that the tube has a thin nozzle through which you can squeeze out a small amount of product and really control application.

Verdict

This is a nice, everyday eye cream that's not too heavy and should suit most skin types.

It's lightweight and absorbs well, and it offers just enough hydration to keep my dry skin comfortable - although I personally would only use it during the daytime because I need something richer for night.

You only need a small amount for both eyes so the tube should last a while, and it has a faint, barely detectable scent (it just smells like cream) that shouldn't bother those who are sensitive to fragrances.

As mentioned above, I like that it comes in a tube with a thin nozzle, so you can control how much product comes out and you don't have to dip your fingers into a tub.

Note that I have dry, sensitive skin and I've found that I can only use this three mornings in a row before needing a break from it. I did try using it twice a day but found that, by day four, my eye area had dried out and I developed some dry patches of flaky skin. After that I switched to using it only in the morning and having a day off every third or fourth day, and I've found I can use it this way without issue. So if like me you're sensitive to retinol, you may have to use this sparingly or at least build up to using it more often.

As for benefits, I do think this hydrates the skin well enough but it's not the best choice for my dry skin, and while I have noticed a slight brightening and plumping effect immediately after use, I haven't noticed any cumulative benefits over the testing period. This may be partly because I've been using skincare with active ingredients for a while (so maybe the hard work is already done), and partly because my sensitivity to retinol prevents me from using it often enough to see results.

On that, it's worth noting that I have used retinol products that agree with me better than this does, but I've also tested some that I can't use at all. So if like me you're sensitive to retinol, you may be ok to introduce this product.

Overall, this is a nice eye cream and while it's not one I would buy, it's certainly one I'm happy to use for now. It's also not expensive for an eye cream, so it's one to keep in mind.