![Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing And Soothing Eye Cream review](jpg/caudalie-vineactiv-energizing-and-soothing-eye-cream-review.jpg)
I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with Caudalie.
On one hand, this teetotaller loves to know where to go to get her fresh dose of resveratrol. This antioxidant is a pain in the butt to formulate with, so kudos to Caudalie for taming it.
On the other hand, why let resveratrol play alone all the time? The lack of other antioxidants in their creams and serums has always bothered me. Resveratrol is super powerful, but it can’t destroy all free radicals on its own.
Resveratrol, now it’s got diva status, must have made some demands too because in the Caudalie’s new line Vine[Activ] it finally gets to play with other antioxidants. Vitamins C + E, to be precise. How awesome is that?
If you’re wondering what made Caudalie change their mind and grant mine and resveratrol’s wish, the answer is pollution.
It relentlessly attacks your skin every single day, especially if you live in a big city like London. Add sun exposure, too many late-night cocktails with friends and sugar-laden, ready-made meals and it’s no wonder your skin’s produces nasty free radicals faster than it can knock them out.
That’s when antioxidants step in. They kick those free radicals away before they can do any real damage, such as giving you crow’s feet and dark spots.
Talking about crow’s feet, the first product I’m reviewing from the range is the Energizing And Soothing Eye Cream. Can it really keep those unsightly lines at bay?
- What’s In Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing And Soothing Eye Cream?
- Texture
- Fragrance
- How To Use It
- Performance & Personal Opinion
- Who Is This For?
- Who Is This NOT For?
- Packaging
- Does Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing And Soothing Eye Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
- Price & Availability
- Do You Need It?
- Dupes & Alternatives
What’s In Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing And Soothing Eye Cream?
RESVERATROL TO FIGHT OFF WRINKLES
Ever wondered how the French can indulge in a glass of red vino without getting wrinkles?
Resveratrol. It’s a powerful polyphenolic antioxidant found in red grapes and wine. It’s there to protect grapes from mold.
In skincare, resveratrol is a multitasker:
- It destroys the free radicals that cause premature aging
- It helps protect the skin from environmental damage
- It soothes redness and irritation
Isn’t it incredible how much a small antioxidant can do?
Related: The Complete Guide To Resveratrol In Skincare
VITAMINS C + E TO SLOW DOWN PREMATURE AGING
Two more powerful antioxidants that fight unwanted free radicals. Vitamin C goes a step further:
- It boosts collagen production, keeping your skin firm
- It brightens skin and gives the complexion a radiant glow
But it’s when you use them together that they really shine. C + E boost each other’s effectiveness (it means they can get rid of even more free radicals) and the photoprotection of your sunscreen.
Mind you, I didn’t say they are a substitute for your sunscreen. I said they boost the protection your sunscreen gives you. There’s a difference.
FYI, Caudalie uses ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, a fat-soluble form of vitamin C that can penetrate the skin better than pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid). Unfortunately, there’s only a sprinkle here, so it won’t do much at all. *sighs*
Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Vitamin C In Skincare
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GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN
Let’s start with the basics. Glycerin is in pretty much ALL skincare products for a reason.
It’s a wonderful humectant: that’s a fancy way of saying it draws moisture from the air and locks it into your skin. Once there, this extra moisture softens, plumps, and brightens your skin.
That’s the base you want to build the rest of your skincare routine on.
Related:The Complete Guide To Glycerin In Skincare
Texture
Lightweight and fast-absorbing.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free.
How To Use It
Morning and night, after serum but before moisturiser. Gently pat it on with your ring finger.
Related: How To Apply Eye Cream The Right Way
Performance & Personal Opinion
Some people swear by eye creams. Others think they’re useless. I’m in the second camp. You see where this is going already…
First, the good stuff: Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing And Soothing Eye Cream has a lightweight texture that sinks quickly into the skin and keeps it soft and supple all day long.
It also has a bunch of antioxidants that helps prevent wrinkles. Not enough in my opinion, but hey, every little bit helps. It definitely has more than the other Caudalie eye creams.
Now, the bad stuff: that’s all it does. This cream didn’t do anything for my dark circles or puffy eyes. Call me a scrooge but I’d rather apply my moisturizer all over. I did and got the same results.
Related: Do You Really Need A Separate Eye Cream?
Who Is This For?
If you’re the kind of person who feels naked without an eye cream, this is a good option for you.
Who Is This NOT For?
If your face moisturiser works for the eye area, too, use that.
Packaging
A green tube. Sleek and practical.
Does Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing And Soothing Eye Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| A targeted energy shot that reawakens the eye contour. | A vague claims that means nothing. What the heck is a targeted energy shot? And what does re-awaken mean? It’s not like your eye area falls asleep. |
| This gentle, soothing cream visibly alleviates dark circles and smoothes the eye and lip contours, for a refreshed, energised look. | It smoothes out lines a little (anything that moisturises does), but it doesn’t do anything for dark circles. |
| Its texture penetrates easily to awaken the look and smooth lip contour. | It does penetrate easily and moisturises skin, so fine lines look smaller. |
Price & Availability
$39.00/£27.00 at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Feel Unique, Net-A-Porter, Sephora, and SpaceNK
Do You Need It?
No one needs an eye cream. But if you feel naked without one, this is a good option to consider.
Dupes & Alternatives
- Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream ($64.00)
- Paula’s Choice Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream ($33.00)
Ingredients
Aqua, Glycerin*, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride*, Cetearyl Alcohol*, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil*, PEG-20 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol*, Tocopheryl Acetate*, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract*, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine*, Cyathea Cumingii Leaf Extract*, Escin*, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate*, Caprylyl Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract*, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Xanthan Gum, Picea Abies Extract*, Tocopherol*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Phytate*, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Caprylate*, Cinnamic Acid*, Levulinic Acid*, Sodium Levulinate*, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citric Acid* (194/002 ) * plant origin
I’ve been testing out some bits from this range as well and I’ve found the moisturiser to be my favourite, although now reading up on the serum I’m going to start using that more too because I didn’t know it’s main purpose was preventative!
Julia // The Sunday Mode
Julia, I like the moistuirzer, too. It’s so lightweight, it makes a great base for makeup.
Hi Gio,
Would you recommend this serum over the Timeless 20% C + E Ferulic? What is the main difference in terms of what they do?
Thank you!
Trin
Trin, this is a difficult question. Vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid (the combination in the Timeless serum) has been proven to fight free radicals and boost sun protection.
I haven’t seen any studies on the combination of Vitamin C + vitamin E + resveratrol (the combo in the Caudalie serum) yet. But I still recommend it because resveratrol is one of the most powerful antioxidants out there as it can destroy the most damaging type of free radical there is. Unfortunately, very few products contain reveratrol because it’s difficult to formula with.
So, the answer to your question depends on what your main concern is. But, if you can afford it, I’d go with both!
Thanks! My main concern is some dark spots that have shown up on my skin after sunbathing… even though I had SPF 50 on! I’m very frustrated as I like to sunbathe in the summer (I don’t overdo it) but it seems like I’m gonna have to keep my face in the shade. I’m trying to get rid of those dark spots, I just turned 30!
Trin, how annoying! I’d go with CEF then. But you may also want to try a more powerful skin lightener, like azelaic acid.
Hi! Do you think the serum can be used in the AM? I’ve been looking fort a good anti-oxidant serum for mornings, this might be it! Thanks!
Maya, yes, it can. I use it both in the morning and at night.
I love Caudalies vinactiv 3 in 1 moisturizer from b-glowing but haven’t plucked up the courage to try the overnight detox oil yet. Did you notice significant changes from it?
Sandy, mostly moisturization. When my skin is on the dry side, the extra moisture really helps in making it soft and smooth again quite quickly.
Hi, Gio!
I bought the whole line of Caudalie Vine Active and after 1 week of applying it I started to notice break-outs. I totally stopped using detox oil (I applied it every other day), but acne is still with me. Could it be some specific ingredient in these products which could provoke break-outs? I have ageing acne-prone skin, but before Caudalie my skin was in good condition.
Hi Lana, sorry Caudalie isn’t working for you. I know the moisturiser has Shea butter. It’s a godsend for dry skin, but it can make oily skin breakout sometimes. 🙁
Were you paid by Caudalie for this post?
Dee, of course not! If it were sponsored, I would disclosed it. I attended the launch event and was given samples to try for review but all opinions are 100% my own.
Do you know if the 3 in 1 moisturizer has an SPF, or would I need to use a separate sunscreen? I prefer moisturizers with spf that allow me to skip a step!
Amanda, no it doesn’t. But I recommend you use a separate sunscreen anyway. You have to apply several layers of moisturiser to reach the spf on the bottle.
Thanks for this post! I was gifted a Vine Activ set for Xmas. Can you tell me if the products (serum, moisturizer, eye) are strongly scented? I dislike chemical/perfumey smells, but fruity is ok.
Thank you!
Cher, I finished the products a long time ago so I don’t remember how they smell. But I don’t think it was very strong. If they had a strong chemical scent, I would remember!
Thank you for the review. I agree with your choice of products: higher potent serum+oil and no point for an eye cream.
I love your style of writing.
Renata, thank you so much for the support. So glad you like it. 🙂
Hi Gio,
I got the moisturizer as a gift, and have not started using it yet, because I want to use it correctly. Is it only for daytime wear? Would it be a waste of active ingredients to use it as a night creme as well? I usually wear The Ordinary NMF moisturizer or rosehip seed oil at night over my active serums – depending what I have underneath, because some of them start to pill up when I apply oil on them.
Thank you for taking the time to answer questions like this. Your advice is so great!
Hi Gio 🙂
Is the moisturiser only for daytime wear? Would it be a waste of active ingredients to use as a night creme? I usually wear The Ordinary NMF moisturiser or rosehip seed oil on top of the active serums (glycolic acid, granactive retinoid, vitamin c or salicylic acid – i use them on different nights).
Hi Sofe, go ahead and use it at night. It’s not a waste. Your skin can fight free radicals at every hour of the day or night. 🙂
Hi Gio,
I recently discovered your blog and I’m loving it 🙂
I have dry sensitive skin and my early signs of wrinkles have started to show. I wanted to start using the Caudalie vine collection. I wanted to use the serum and the detox oil, but instead of the 3-IN-1 moisturizer, I thought to include in my morning routine the Caudalie Vinosource Intense Moisture Rescue Cream. Is it OK if I try this combo for my skin?
Lorna, yes it’s ok. It’s more moisturising than anti-aging, but if that’s what you’re looking for, go for it.