This Eye Cream Claims to Lift Eye Bags in 30 Seconds — Here’s What It Really Did

Like most young people, I have an unhealthy relationship with sleep. Whether I'm behind on rest or I had to squeeze in a late night crying session, it's pretty much a guarantee that my eyes are dealing with puffiness or dark circles at any given moment. After many years of bad sleep habits, I've learned how to brighten my eyes with concealer and powder — but I quickly discovered that this method didn't accomplish much, besides temporarily making the problem going away.

Naturally, I became interested in eye products that promise to deliver results fast, as if to reverse my lack of sleep immediately. Among the many, the Clarins Total Eye Lift Cream stood out because of its claim to "target dark circles and puffiness for a visible eye lift in 30 seconds." I figured that the claim was too good to be true, but I was excited to see how well the eye cream would actually work for me.

What To Know About the Clarins Total Eye Lift Cream

Best for: Prepping your skin for makeup, reducing lines

Price: $95 USD on the brand's website

Rating: 7/10

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Why The Hype?

In addition to its claims of instant results, the Clarins Total Eye Lift Cream is also formulated with what the brand calls "retinol-like technology." The eye cream contains natural ingredients like red jania extract that are said to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture like retinol, without irritating the skin. Additionally, it's also formulated with caffeine to depuff, organic horse chestnut escin to minimize the appearance of dark circles and furcellaria to protect delicate skin.

How To Use

Just like most eye creams, the Total Eye Lift Cream is meant to be applied after serums and before moisturizer twice a day. I applied the product under my eyes just as I would a normal moisturizer — but Clarins shares a specific technique created by facialist Marie Poulain, which recommends using your index and middle fingers to swipe the products around the eyes for a "lifted" effect. Personally, I didn't feel inclined to try the suggested application method and I'm not sure I would remember to do it everyday — but I'm sure it's a helpful tutorial for anyone that's looking to maximize results.

Thankfully, the eye cream's packaging made applying it super simple. It features an easy-to-use pump that dispenses just the right amount for both eyes. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the product is refillable, meaning you don't need to buy an entirely new bottle every time you run out. Not only does this save you a little extra money in the long run, it also further proves Clarins' claim of sustainability.

An Honest Review

Sadly, the Clarins Total Eye Lift Cream wasn't exactly an instant fix. While it claims to instantly lift your eye bags, I didn't notice a dramatic difference after 30 seconds. As a skincare lover myself, I've learned that it typically takes a few weeks to actually see the results of a new product implemented into my routine. The brand acknowledges that more long term effects start to become apparent after 30 days of using the eye cream. To me, that seemed much more likely than expecting a huge difference right after applying.

The Final Verdict

Even though my puffy eyes didn't disappear after 30 seconds, I still enjoyed the eye cream. While I typically struggle with eye bags and puffiness, the Total Eye Lift Cream claims to also target wrinkles and crow's feet with retinol-like ingredients. At the same time, I noticed that the cream soothed the irritated skin around my eyes and left me feeling significantly moisturized.

After using it for a week, I realized that the eye cream was ideal for prepping my under eyes for makeup — because it left my skin smooth and ensured that my makeup didn't crease throughout the day. It was a big relief to know that rather than just covering up the issue, I was using actual skincare ingredients to help combat the problem before it got even worse. Not to mention, I was relieved to discover the eye cream was a saving grace for calming my eyelids and under eyes after I'd spent all night staring at a screen.

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