Tried and tested: Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift

Dermalogica Stress Positive review

Can an eye cream really tackle those dark circles?

Beauty Crew Editor / May 25 2017

Historically, my general under-eye area has treated me pretty well. Unlike some of my family members (I won’t name names), I haven’t had to deal with a daily struggle of dark circles or puffiness. 

Until quite recently, that is. 

Where I once used to flounce out the door without a care about eye cream, concealer or illuminator under my eyes, I now seem to have to dedicate a solid 10 minutes to hiding shadows and puffiness. So what’s changed? Well, in a nutshell, stress. My job can be demanding at times, but I can mostly manage it. In fact, the more stressful my day, the more efficient I get – I somehow become that little bit more focussed and driven when I know I’ve got a to-do list that’s taller than I am. 

But then throw in the fact that I have been packing up my apartment to move, recently dedicated myself to regular 6:30 a.m. gym sessions and I am trying to maintain a social life, and it’s not hard to see why my previously well behaved under-eyes have started to play up. 

So when Dermalogica’s new eye cream Stress Positive Eye Lift landed in the Beauty Crew cupboard I was more than game to put it to the test.

I’ve now been using the eye cream for just over two weeks and here’s what I have to report: 

#1/ The metal applicator is heaven

I’d compare the feeling of the cooling effect of the applicator to that satisfaction you get when you hop into a hot shower after being caught in the rain. I know that analogy is a little confusing with the whole cold-hot thing, but it’s that sense of relief and that ‘ahhhhhh’ moment. And besides feeling great, it worked a treat to help glide the eye cream on my under-eye area without pulling as I gently squeezed the tube.

TOP TIP: For an even better experience, but the eye cream in the fridge for 10 minutes before application. Bye-bye, puffiness.

 

#2 / The eye cream worked

Hand on heart, it worked. I slathered it on just before bed, and woke up to eyes that didn’t look like deep caverns. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say my under-eyes were back to their former glory after one night, I definitely noticed that the eye cream worked its magic to leave them looking a bit brighter and more vibrant. 

Over time, I’ve continued to notice improvements from using the Dermalogica eye cream, and while I haven’t had to completely ditch my brightening concealer pen, it’s not as much of an ordeal to hide my stress and fatigue. 

#3 / It’s not just an eye cream

So remember how I just mentioned I slathered it on before bed? I wasn’t committing a beauty no-no by over-using the product – Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift has actually been formulated to work as an eye cream and an eye mask. Instead of applying a small amount with the applicator and leaving it to absorb, use a generous amount of the eye cream and leave it to sit for a few minutes (five, tops!), then massage in the excess. My under-eyes had basically absorbed all of it and I barely had any excess to deal with – that’s how much my under-eyes were in need of the energising and boosting ingredients.

The final verdict

While I have not come to love the new stress-induced state of my under-eyes (*sits here hoping it’s just temporary*), I seem to have found an excellent solution in the Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift, and if you’re on the lookout for an eye cream that can help brighten, energise and lift stressed and tired eyes, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Need a helping hand with dark circles? Here's everything you need to know to hide dark circles all day long.

Image credit: Sevak Babakhani 

Carli was BEAUTYcrew’s Editor from launch in 2016 until May 2020. You can find her words right here on BEAUTYcrew, and previously on beautyheaven.