Day Eye Treatments:
Shiseido Benefiance Intensive Eye Contour Cream
& Clarins Eye Contour Gel

Ah, eye creams. My first official non-drugstore skincare product was Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream that I purchased in high school and applied day and night. Sure, it seemed a little odd for a teenager to be dabbing eye cream on in the rear-view mirror or restroom at school. But my mother taught me well, and am I ever glad she did! At 37 years old, I'm happy to report that my skin is nearly wrinkle-free. Clearly this isn't without effort! Over the past 20 years I've tried all kinds of eye creams, gels, and serums. As my skin changes, my products evolve. 

For those laid back days when I'm just hanging out at home, or running errands whilst hiding under massive sunglasses, I love Shiseido. If I'm not wearing eye makeup, I prefer something richer and more hydrating than a gel- unless it's humid. I've been through about ten or so day eye creams over the past year or so, and was blown away by Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream ($55). It's incredibly rich and reduces existing wrinkles while preventing future ones. The jar comes with an applicator spoon, keeping the cream germ-free (just wash the spoon in hot, soapy water). I remember thinking that the spoon was rather small when I first saw it, but realized why after my first application. A little bit of this ultra rich cream goes a long way, saving product and making it truly cost effective. I've been using this cream for over a month, and foresee it lasting 4-6 months easily. Additionally, you could absolutely wear this eye cream at night, given its rich texture and healing and preventative properties. I use a combination of two products at bedtime that I'm hooked on that are night-specific. Again, I wouldn't hesitate recommending this product for nightly use. The cream is also great between the exterior corners of the eyes and hairline, and above and between the brows. It has a very light, barely noticeable scent. For the price, it beats eye creams I've tried at 2-3 times as much.

Choosing an eye treatment for daytime use can be tricky, particularly if you wear eye makeup during the summer and in humid environments. I'm talking to you, NYC. I wear deep black volumizing mascaras and often use eyeliner, so I need something light but effective. Going without any anti-aging eye product? Perish the thought. Fortunately, I found Clarins Eye Contour Gel ($35). It promises to reduce puffiness, diminish dark circles, soften and hydrate. I'm happy to report that it delivers most of its promises and is perfect under makeup, including under-eye concealer and eye shadow. I love that I can use this product all over the eye area, including the eyelids. I keep mine in the fridge which is ultra refreshing during application, particularly on hot and muggy days. It comes in a small tube with a thin tip, so no germ worries. It rids the eyes of any puffiness and feels ultra soothing straight out of the fridge, and dries rather quickly, helping expedite my makeup application. I'm also thrilled that the gel formula doesn't leave me with mascara under my eyes or on my eyelids by day's end, which many cream formulas do. It's unscented, gentle, and effective. Raccoon eyes be gone! 

My verdict? Use the Shiseido cream on days without makeup and at night (if you choose) to avoid the expense of purchasing a separate night eye cream. Use the Clarins gel under makeup to avoid eye makeup smudging, and in warmer, humid weather. Both products are incredibly effective and very reasonably priced for the quality. 

- Clarins Eye Contour Gel is $35 for 0.7 oz.
- Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream is $55 for 0.5 oz.

Both available at Nordstrom, Sephora, & Bloomingdales.