Puffy eyes be gone (Boots No.7 Awakening Eye Gel)

Member Name: Tracy_1127

Product:	Boots No.7 Awakening Eye Gel
Date:	26/10/09 (114 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: works well

Disadvantages: residue

Last Xmas I was given a huge box of No 7 skincare items and over the year I've been working my way through most of them. A couple of weeks ago I noticed my eyes felt dry and puffy and the thought that sprung to mind instantly was "I need some eye gel" but I didn't think I had any. I finally rummaged through my box of No 7 items and realised I had a tube of the No 7 Awakening Eye Gel so I decided to try that.

The tube is 15ml which is not a trial size but full size and if you buy this from Boots it will set you back £8. It claims to "soothe away signs of long hours and late nights" and reduce puffiness and dark circles. It is hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested and fragrance free.

Boots website tells us it contains witch hazel, horse chestnut and pro-vitamin B5 to leave eyes completely cared for. Now witch hazel has long been used for reducing inflammation and swelling so that's a good ingredient for an eye gel, it is often contained in eye washes too so it's harmless around te eyes. Horse chestnut has been used for centuries by herbalists for things like varicose veins so that ingredient should help with the blood vessels and veins under the eyes. Pro-vitamin B5 is something we see in a number of cosmetics these days and I looked it up and found it is a moisturising ingredient so the other two reduce swelling and work in an astringent way while the B5 keeps some moisture in the skin.

I can't comment on the outer packaging as mine came in a gift set without any but the tube is a simple ivory colour with gold writing on it and can be recycled after use. The gel is indeed fragrance free and a translucent white colour. It's more like a cross between a cream and a gel than a pure gel.

The first time I used it my eyes were so puffy and hot I found it instantly cooling and soothing and was so glad I'd found some in my No 7 box set. It reduced the irritation around my eyes immediately and left them feeling much more comfortable. I applied as you would normal eye gel, dot some lightly around the eye, both below and on the brow bone and then smooth into the skin. Too much rubbing and you're going to make things worse so always keep any contact around this delicate area light and brief.

I didn't need to use make up after that first application because it was late at night but I have since used the gel and then worn make up. In order for this to work out you just need to use only a tiny amount and leave it a couple of minutes to absorb and dry. If you wanted to use this in the morning I would suggest applying it before you have breakfast so it has plenty of time to sink in before it comes to applying make up but it takes only a couple of minutes.

Has it reduced my dark circles? I think it has a bit but I've got very, very dark circles so I didn't expect it to magically remove them! It does decrease puffiness though and you can feel a definite tightening of the skin around the eyes after using this which has got to be a good thing! It is cooling and soothing and doesn't dry out the skin either.

Any gripes? Naturally I have one! Like all eye gels I've ever used it leaves behind a residue in the form of a coating of dried gel. This is fine unless you touch your eyes at any point and then you can easily rub bits of this layer off and end up with them on your face. Not a good look so it's best to avoid rubbing your eyes after you've applied this. In all fairness though I've yet to find a gel that doesn't do this so it's not a huge problem.

Overall it is an effective eye gel and I continue to use it most days at the moment. I'd say the price is reasonable for the 15ml you get in the tube because you need so little it lasts ages and the product itself is very soothing. Anything that can reduce my puffy old eyes is a winner for me! The one downside of the residue means I'm lopping off one star but don't let it put you off if you need a good eye gel.

Highly recommended.

Summary: Highly recommended