StriVectin-SD review: This seemed the easiest to remember to use every night and
morning. If I were to buy one of these it would be this one, as it felt like it was making a difference. However, if the product got into the eye (of course it's not supposed to go "in" the eye), it did cause my eye to water a little. Although it's more expensive, after six weeks, there's at least half a tube left."
Olay review: "Remembering to use this every other day was less easy. I loved the idea of a delivery system, but the sponge seemed a little harsh on the skin under the eyes and, on occasion, the 'pod' scratched my skin. After six weeks, all the Olay pods were used."
Results: "I honestly can't see much difference after using either product. Truth be told, I probably avoided looking at those lines before. (What you can't see isn't there, right?) Also, after asking various people to stare at my eyes, I got mixed responses as to which eye showed fewer lines."
L'Oréal review: "The dual pump looked fun on this, but putting two products on separate parts of the eye required more care. Both the cream, which goes on the bottom lid, and the gel, which goes on the top, felt very wet going on, but dried quickly. My makeup blended well over it, and my skin seem tighter and smoother immediately after use."
Fusion Beauty review: "This is supposed to be a bottled alternative to in-office eye-area injections. I experienced a mild tingling, burning sensation upon applying it that quickly faded as the serum-like formula dried. My eyes appeared moisturized and less tired-looking right away. I also liked the bottle, but the product hardened like dried lotion around the pump opening, which I found annoying."
Results: "The light wrinkles I have didn't appear significantly reduced and still showed when I smiled."
Fusion Beauty review: "Putting on the Fusion Beauty eye cream is like slipping into a silk teddy. It flows right on to your skin and feels as if it's not even there at all. This feather-like substance also makes your skin taut and vibrant. It's like beauty sleep in a bottle."
L'Oréal review: "I had read in a magazine that Loréal's Revitalift cream worked well on eye puffiness, so I was excited to try it on the big bag that is camping out under my right eye. Alas, the bag seemed to grow not shrink! This might be because my allergies were worse, or perhaps my previous eye cream just worked better. In any case, I would not use this cream again. And the double pump was just double the trouble. I'd rather have one cream to smear all around."
Results: "My main problem is eye puffiness, and the Fusion Beauty cream seemed to tighten the skin in such a way to deflate the bags. With L'Oréal, there was no change in puffiness."
L'Oréal review: "This product didn't match up to its claims entirely. It didn't seem to have any effect on fine lines and rolled off when combined with makeup or concealer. Also, I have dry skin and this product doesn't seem to cater to that. On the positive side, it's a good price and the product felt good going on my skin. It was also light and absorbed quickly, though it wasn't emollient enough for me. The product had no obvious scent and the packaging with the double-step pump was appealing. Overall, I've used better products."
Fusion Beauty review: "This product is pricey, but it's very nice and it works. It seemed to produce immediately noticeable results. The product absorbed quickly and combined well with makeup. I'd definitely recommend this to a friend, but I'd need to combine it with a night cream or something more for dry skin."
Results: "After two weeks of using the Fusion Beauty Eye Lift, my eye looked much better, with diminished fine lines. I didn't notice any big changes after five weeks of using the L'Oréal, although I seem to have a darker circle under that eye area than I had before."
L'Oréal review: " The cream for the lower eye 'bags' was smooth like a moisturizer, with a mild scent and texture. I put it on before bed and in the morning, letting it dry before I applied makeup. The most impressive change was in my upper lid; not only did I notice a difference, but others did as well -- within a week."
Fusion Beauty review: "This cream was very smooth and felt nice to the touch. I applied in the evening and morning without noticing any obvious scent. I also wore it under makeup (letting it dry first) and did not have any problems. But I wouldn't buy this because it didn't appear to change my skin."
Results: "I did not experience any noticeable changes as a result of the Fusion Beauty product, but the L'Oréal product did deliver some of the benefits promised. I noticed an improvement in the puffiness under my eyes within a few weeks. I am still using the product and have already recommended it to others."
Puffiness, dark circles and fine lines suck, no matter if you're 27 or 52. So we dared to ask: Do any of the eye treatments -- from chi-chi to cheapie -- actually work?
"These products can and often do show results if they are used appropriately and for a long enough time," says cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Beer. But did they? Check out these 19 brave women's un-retouched before-and-after photos here.
