Witch hazel, water or awakening gel? (Boots No.7 Awakening Eye Gel)

Member Name: jo@145

Product:	Boots No.7 Awakening Eye Gel
Date:	24/01/09 (271 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Handy tube to carry around

Disadvantages: Quite expensive for what it does.

Tired eyes can make your whole face look tired, and unfortunately when I worked I used to suffer with viral conjunctivitis and had to use medication from the GP, my eyes were often red and puffy. But since retiring it has cleared up, but I am guilty of staying on the computer for long hours and staying up late, then if I don't get to sleep my eyes are puffy the next day. So I was very pleased to see a tube of Awakening eye gel in box of No7 goodies I received from my daughter at Christmas.

My tube contains 15mls, and is pearly white with a screw top lid. I checked the cost at Boots and it is currently selling at £7.83, so an expensive product, but you need very little. Clarins have something similar but the 20ml tube costs £22.

It claims to soothe away the signs of long hours and late nights, as the soothing and cooling gel reduces puffiness and dark circles, making your eyes look re-vitalised. As a teenager I used to relax lying down with pieces of cucumber on my eyes or pads of cotton wool soaked in Witch hazel, so wasn't surprised to see that witch hazel is contained in the gel, as is Horse Chestnut which is known to add radiance and vibrancy and Pro-vitamin B5, which is in a lot of beauty products. It is fragrance free and hypo-allergenic. Although it doesn't mention contact lens users I imagine it is safe to use it.

Obviously there is no smell, it is almost clear, and I just squeeze a little onto my finger and gently pat around the eye area, do not rub as this stretches the delicate tissue. I usually put it on after moisturising, it doesn't say when you should apply, but I have also patted it on after applying foundation if my eyes looked tired. It feels cool for a few seconds then gradually is absorbed over a few minutes.

Does it work? It does make a slight difference, the puffiness tightens up slightly, but I haven't got any dark circles to test it on! Would a pad of witch hazel do as well? I think it might, but then it takes time, this way you can pop it on and get on with your life. Would I buy it? Probably not, this will last me quite a while and it does seem a bit pricey, but as Boots do 3 for the price of 2 offers then I might get it that way or it could be in one of their gift bags that give away when you spend a certain amount, and in that case I would use it as it is soothing. Certainly it's handy to keep in your bag for perking those eyes up.

Summary: Eye gel