In all the years I’ve been using anti-aging skincare, my biggest challenge has been finding products that deliver results around the eye area. The crow’s feet, dark circles, and puffiness are endlessly stubborn, so I’m always on the lookout for exciting advances that might tackle these concerns.
My latest discovery: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye ($116), a next-generation eye cream and the brand’s second product formulated with its revolutionary anti-glycation technology (the first was a face cream). The eye cream fights multiple signs of aging including crepiness, crow’s feet, dark circles, dullness, and lack of firmness, and was so anticipated there was a waiting list months before its launch.
How SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye works
Skin glycation is a natural, multi-phase physiological process that occurs when excess sugars in the body bind to essential skin proteins like collagen, explains Sherry Ingraham, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology in Sugar Land, Texas. While glycation may not be a beauty buzzword, it’s a significant contributor to visible signs of aging, and the eye area is particularly susceptible to its effects.
“Collagen plays a vital role in youthful-looking skin by acting as a scaffolding, of sorts, that provides the internal support necessary for smooth, plump skin,” says Dr. Ingraham. “When sugar molecules attach themselves to collagen and other skin-supporting proteins, the glycation process creates advanced glycation end products, or A.G.E.s.”
These A.G.E.s degrade collagen, compromise the skin’s ability to self-repair, and cause its fibers to become weak and brittle, resulting in visible signs of aging like wrinkles, crepiness, laxity, and dull tone, says Dr. Ingraham. The skin around the eyes is more susceptible to glycation-related aging because it’s significantly thinner than elsewhere on the face, she adds.
“The thin, delicate skin around the eyes is often the first to display visible signs of intrinsic and extrinsic aging,” explains Dr. Ingraham. “This anti-wrinkle eye cream improves the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and crow’s feet associated with skin glycation and A.G.E.s. Its technology not only corrects the signs of aging triggered by already-formed A.G.E.s, but also helps prevent the formation of new A.G.E.s to help combat amplified signs of aging.”
The cream includes 7.5 percent concentrated proxylane, a trademarked ingredient developed by L’Oréal (SkinCeuticals’ parent company) that’s clinically proven to stimulate and support collagen production. The formula’s other heroes are wild fruit flavonoids and glycyrrhetinic acid to help correct and defend against glycation, Matrixyl 3000 to support skin matrix integrity, and caffeine to instantly reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness and brighten the eye area.
The product is free of parabens and fragrances, and is designed to deliver results instantly and over time for all skin types and tones. In clinical tests, users experienced immediate brightening effects, along with improvements to crow’s feet, puffiness, and under-eye wrinkles after eight weeks of use.
What happened when I tried it
Dr. Ingraham advises using the eye cream twice per day, which I’ve been doing for about four weeks now. The formula is thick with a satiny texture, blends easily, and feels soothing to my usually tired eyes at the end of a long day.
I did experience the promised instant brightening effect, but I really started noticing results after about three weeks of use. My crow’s feet were reduced, my dark circles lightened, and the skin under and around my eyes was firmer. The best way I can describe it is that my eye area overall felt and looked smoother and younger. It made me feel like if I forgot to wear undereye concealer, no one would notice. One caveat: I don’t recommend applying the cream right before heavy eye makeup. I did this before a night out and found it difficult to apply my eyeliner because the pen kept sliding.
I’m looking forward to using the product for the recommended eight weeks to see continued improvement. Even though my crow’s feet, dark circles, and other signs of aging are stubborn, it turns out they’re no match for anti-glycation technology.