What do you do when you need to leave your house in 10 minutes and your eyes are so puffy, you look like you’ve been crying all night?
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels promises to come to the rescue and depuff the delicate eye are in a jiffy. Does it deliver? I’ve put it to the test to find out:
What’s In Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels?
POLYACRYALIC ACID TO MINIMIZE FINE LINES
Polyacryalic Acid is a multitasker. It can be used as thickening agent, texture enhancer, and emulsion stabilizer.
Here, it acts a film-forming agent. In plain English, it creates a thin, flexible film that gives a smooth feeling on the skin that helps minimize puffiness and fine lines.
Of course, the result is temporary. Wash it off and your skin goes back to its original state.
OLIVE OIL TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Olive oil is derived from pressed olives. The greenish yellow liquid is rich in vitamins, antioxidants and moisturising fatty acids.
Fatty acids create a protective barrier on the skin that locks moisture in and protects it from environmental aggressors. The result? Hydrated, soft, and smooth skin.
Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants like:
- Resveratrol: it fights free radicals and protects against UV-induced damaged
- Vitamin A: it reduces + prevent wrinkles, boosts collagen, treats acne and fades dark spots
- Vitamin C: it prevents wrinkles, boosts collagen and brightens the complexion
- Vitamin E: it moisturizes skin and fights free radicals
All together, they help prevent premature winkle and dark spots.
P.S. Olive oil isn’t the only natural oil here. But it’s the one that does the bulk of the work.
Related: 4 Skincare Uses For Olive Oil
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ARGIRELINE TO FREEZE WRINKLES… OR NOT?
Argireline is the nickname for Acetyl Hexapeptide-8. Brands want you to think it’s an alternative to Botox, but that ain’t true.
Like Botox, Argireline was created to stop muscle movements. If muscles can’t move, they can’t etch wrinkles onto your face overtime.
A study published by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2002 shows that a cream with 10% Argireline (way more than the amount usually used in skincare products) applied “on healthy women volunteers reduced wrinkle depth up to 30% upon 30 days treatment”.
Sounds impressive, if it weren’t for one not-so-tiny detail. Argireline can barely penetrate skin. Even after a few hours, it doesn’t get beyond the uppermost layers of skin. If it can’t get past that, how can it stop muscles from moving?!
Sure, there are ways to make it go deeper into the skin. For example, by increasing the water content in the emulsion. But even then, the results don’t even come close to what Botox does.
Personally, this is a peptide I’d leave on the shelf. More often than not, it does NOTHING for your skin.
Related: The Truth About Argireline: Is It Really An Alternative To Botox?
Texture
Lightweight.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free.
How To Use It
Apply the patches to your under eye area for ten minutes. Use it whenever you need a quick pick-me-up.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels are huge. These adhesive patches fit nicely under the eye area (and beyond!).
The first thing I noticed when I put it on was the tightness. It felt like I couldn’t move my skin at all, which was a bit uncomfortable. That’s the film formers for you. They “tighten” the eye area, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and flatten the fad pads that cause eye puffiness.
Of course the results are only temporary. It’s a quick-fix, not a long-term solution. But, the effect is truly amazing. I tried the old wives’ remedies such as cucumbers and tea bags, but nothing reduced my bags this quickly. After 10 minutes, my undereye area looked a lot smoother, was a lot softer, and free of puffiness.
These Eye Gels aren’t part of my daily skincare routine, but come in handy on those days when I had a poor night’s sleep, or I have a special occasion to go to. I’ll have to stock up on these for those emergencies.
Who Is This For?
Anyone who needs a quick fix for puffy eyes.
Who Is This Not For?
If you want a long-term solution, this isn’t it.
Packaging
A box contains 8 pairs of eye patches, each one individually wrapped. Not the most eco-friendly packaging, but practical.
Does Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Cooling under-eye gel patches to help firm, tone and de-puff delicate under-eye skin within 10 minutes. | It de-puffs skin in 10 minutes, but it can’t tone and firm. |
| Eyes are revived, soothed and rejuvenated. | Your eye area looks brighter and younger, but the effects are temporary. |
Price & Availability
£25.00 at Blue Mercury, Dermstore, Feel Unique, and Ulta
Do You Need It?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you need a quick solution for a night out, you’ll like these. But if you expect anything more than that, these will disappoint.
Dupes & Alternatives
Ingredients
Water/Aqua/ Eau, Polyacrylic Acid, Glycerin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Angelica Archangelica Root Water*, Sodium Hydroxide, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Agar, Caprylyl Glycol, Perfluorodecalin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, , Xanthan Gum, Ubiquinone,Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus (Arctic Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Oxycoccus Palustris (Arctic Cranberry) Seed Oil, Aluminum Glycinate, Polysorbate 60, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sucrose Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate * Component of Icelandic Glacial Water
