Goldfaden MD

It’s been quite a while since I reviewed any eye creams on my blog, so I decided to round up 4 that I have been using frequently over the past 6 months (some the past 2-3 months). While I love skincare, I try not to frivolously review products like eye creams and serums without giving them a full 6-8 weeks if not a few months to really decide a). if I like it  and b). if it does what it claims to do. As I have said before, cleansers and masks deliver results much quicker so I review them more often. Eye cream and serum reviews will always be few and far between but nonetheless when I find ones I enjoy, I want to share my experience with all of you.

1. Kat Burki Complete B Eye Creme Complex – Though I don’t necessarily need a rich and thick eye cream every day, I like to have one in my routine if my eyes need extra TLC. I wake up often with dry eyes and if my skin is acting particularly sensitive, I like a rich and comforting eye cream. This one from Kat Burki is one of the richest eye creams I have tried in a long time, yet I didn’t find it to be heavy or greasy. While not only nourishing the area, it is designed to help address any hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone around the eye. I don’t have significant crow’s feet, but on certain days they are more apparent. #rude Typically when that is the case, I break out this eye cream and begin using regularly to help smooth that area.

2. Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum – While the Tatcha Ageless Revitalizing Eye Cream has been one of my favorites for a long time (at least 3 years), it can occasionally give me milia. I find that richer eye creams normally do this to me so I will switch back to a serum or very lightweight gel for a few weeks or month and the milia begins to go away. I found that my milia slowly began disappearing after using this Tatcha Deep Hydration Eye Serum for a few weeks (there is still some there but it has reduced significantly). Stay tuned for my mom’s upcoming skincare post, because she had a similar experience using this serum! You can layer this under another eye cream, but I like to use it alone. The applicator is amazing for massaging around the eye and I notice that my puffiness disappears after 30-60 seconds of using this. The formula is intensely hydrating and brightening (there is 23-karat gold powder mixed in #fancy) and feels virtually weightless on the skin. If I don’t drink enough water during the day, the first place I notice it is around my eyes. They begin to look crepey and my fine lines are more pronounced. However, when using this Tatcha serum day and night, the hydration under my eyes lasts much longer so even if I am dehydrated, my under eye area still looks fresh and smooth!

3. Mila Moursi Triple Action Eye Contour Cream – I do love the Tatcha applicator, but the Mila Moursi has the added benefit of feeling much cooler on the skin as soon as applied. Though it is labeled as a cream, it is more of a gel texture and absorbs a few seconds after it’s on the skin. I prefer to use this in the morning because I find that my puffiness goes away quickly, the area looks smoother and my makeup applies perfectly on top. If you are new to the Mila Moursi line, I highly recommend trying the eye contour cream, this toner, this lotion and this cleanser (it’s one of the few foaming cleansers I enjoy).

4. Roc Retinol Correxion Eye Cream – I LOVE retinol in my face products, but do not use many eye creams that contain retinol. Though my skin is not easily irritated, I was worried whether having such a strong active ingredient close to my eye would be the exception. However, I was up for the challenge when Roc sent this over for me to try. The texture falls in between a rich cream and a thin gel, which appealed to me instantly. Thankfully after using it for many weeks, I had no averse reaction nor any irritation. In fact, I noticed a fading of a few dark spots near my eye and my eye area always looked firm and taut after applying. For those of you that react easily to retinol, there is a sensitive skin version that may be better suited for you. 

Being as pale as I am, a daily SPF is a necessity. I rarely if ever leave the house without one on my face, and in the warmer weather that extends to chest, limbs and body. Because it is such a vital part of my daily skincare routine, I love to discover SPFs with different textures, application methods and varying levels of UV protection. I found a few great ones last year (read that post here), and was excited to find a few more that worked for me. Here is a list of my new SPF discoveries:

1. Zelens Daily Defence Sunscreen – I am new to the Zelens line, but absolutely love the makeup range (this foundation is everything) and swear by these facial pads. The sunscreen proved to be another love from the line, especially because of it’s ability to act both as my moisturizer and sunscreen. And being that it’s from a strong skincare line, it has ingredients in the formula to help prevent sun damage as well as tackle any premature aging concerns. It has a nice rich texture, though not too rich that I feel it sitting on top of my skin. (ugh, I hate that feeling) This absorbed quickly and left the skin feeling fresh as if I wasn’t even wearing sunscreen. It gives me a natural finish so I was able to layer on my foundation without any issues of my skin looking too shiny. I do prefer a stronger SPF for beach days or times when I plan to spend a majority of my time in the sun, so this will be perfect for my every day work week life, under makeup, running errands, grabbing brunch, etc.

2. Clarins UV Plus Broad Spectrum SPF 50 – Clarins makes some of my favorite sunscreen products for the body (adore this oil), so I was excited to try this for the face. It was very thin and watery to the touch, but in my experience similar formulas end up being too shiny for my face. Thankfully this was not the case. It absorbed very quickly and dried down to a natural finish. Initially when I first applied it to my face, there was a slight white finish but it disappeared quickly and I did not experience an ashy finish to the formula. My makeup applied smooth and evenly on top, and while I did get a tad shiny mid-day, it overall wore very nicely as an under-makeup sunscreen. Because of the high SPF, this will also double for me as a beach day/outdoors option.

3. Goldfaden MD Sun Visor SPF 30 -This sunscreen was a bit different from the other 3 because it is a liquid formula that you spray on the face. I always give a side eye to spray nozzle applicators because if not dispensed correctly, it can ruin a product. Rather than spraying it directly on my face, I figured I would spray in my hand first to make sure I was not going to be doused with sunscreen. I was shocked to see the most delicate and fine mist come out making it a cinch to control. Before I even tested it on the face, I was loving it because it had passed my spray nozzle test. The formula is oil-free, fragrance-free and very lightweight. I did notice however, that once I applied it to the face it had a slightly tacky finish. It was a tad off-putting initially and I was afraid that it would affect anything I applied on top. But I am never one to back down from a beauty challenge, so I gave it a minute or so to set and instantly loved the natural and slightly matte finish it gave my skin. I then applied my makeup and loved it even more! I read that because the mist is so fine, you can apply over makeup during the day if you plan to spend a lot of time in the sun. I wanted to test this out so I brought it with me to work, lightly spritzed myself mid-day and did not disrupt my makeup in the slightest! I made sure to hold it far enough away so as not to apply too much but still close enough that I could cover my entire face. I’ve talked about Goldfaden MD a ton on this blog and I can definitely add this to my list of product loves from them.

4. Sisley Age Minimizer Sun Cream SPF 50 – Whereas the Zelens sunscreen has a great moisturizer feel but with a lower SPF, this sun cream from Sisley gives me that extra SPF coverage for both daily use and extended sun frolicking. (Is there anything better than sun frolicking?!! No, there is not.) The texture is absolutely beautiful and strikes the perfect balance between rich in texture yet weightless on the skin. There was a slight white cast when first applied that I was concerned would stick around, but thankfully it disappeared almost immediately when I rubbed it in. This is another option for when I want to skip moisturizer and have my SPF handle both jobs. With a specific UVA/UVB filtering complex, this sun cream is designed to block those harmful rays while also fighting free radical damage. I love a product that multi-tasks.

Shop some of my other SPF recommendations: