The girl who said would never use an eye cream is now using an eye cream and an eye serum. Ahem… That’s what happens when you turn the big 3-0. You up your skincare game.
If you’re curious to know which serum made me change my mind, I’ll put you out of your misery. It’s Amaranthine Green Apple Eye Serum.
Why this serum? Well, it landed on my desk, courtesy of the Amaranthine people, so I thought I might just as well give it a try.
I’m glad I did. Here’s why:
What’s In Amaranthine Green Apple Eye Serum?
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
ALOE VERA TO SOOTHE SKIN
Aloe vera is a cactus plant. To make the gel, you cut open the leaves and collect the mucilage that oozes out.
This mucilage is made up of 99.5% water. It’s the remaining 0.5% that holds the real magic. It’s a combination of mucopolysaccharides (basic sugars), lipids, vitamins, choline and choline salicylate that have soothing properties for your skin.
But what does it do in skincare? For starters, it’s very hydrating. It works by attracting water from the environment into the skin, keeping it soft and supple for longer.
Plus, it has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin, sunburns, eczema and psoriasis.
Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Aloe Vera In Skincare
PEPTIDES TO IMPROVE PUFFY EYES?
The serum also uses a bunch of new peptides that promise to get rid of puffy eyes. But the science simply isn’t there yet. Let’s take them one by one, shall we?
- Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5: A.k.a Eyeseryl, it promises to fight puffy eyes by strengthening skin under the eyes and prevent fluid accumulation. Unfortunately, the only studies that prove it works come from the manufacturer. Not the most reliable of sources.
- Dipeptide-2: Made up of amino acids valine and tryptophan, it’s very moisturising. Some says it also improve lympathic circulation, reducing puffiness and dark circles. Still, I couldn’t find any studies supporting this second claim.
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7: Made up of 4 amino acids, it helps reduce inflammation, one of the main causes of wrinkles.
Related: The Truth About Peptides In Skincare: Do They Really Work?
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ANTIOXIDANTS TO FIGHT WRINKLES?
This serum contains its fair share of antioxidants, including Vitamin E and Hesperidin Methylchalcon.
Hesperi… what? Suffice it to say this antioxidant promises to reduce dark circles. But… there’s no proof it works.
What about the other antioxidants? Their job is to fight off free radicals before they can give you wrinkles and dark spots. But there’s just a sprinkle of them here. Not enough to do the job…
Vitamin E, for example, is so low on the ingredient list, it likely works more as a preservative than an antioxidant. What a bummer!
Related: What Really Works For Dark Circles?
Texture
Lightweight consistency that sinks quickly into the skin without leaving any stickiness behind.
Fragrance
Clean and subtle.
How To Use It
After cleansing but before serums.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Amaranthine Green Apple Eye Serum is very hydrating, and we know that hydration is the key to healthy skin. It keeps skin soft and supple, and makes fine lines and wrinkles look smaller.
I also noticed my undereye bags looked that little big smaller. I’m not sure which peptide is responsible for this, but I’m sure the science will soon catch up and let us know which one is the real deal and which one we can do without.
Instead, I didn’t see any change, either good or bad, in my dark circles. But then, I didn’t expect it. Heck, I was more than happy this serum helps a little with puffiness. But I know there’s a limit to what skincare products can do.
Let’s put it this way: if an eye cream or serum could really get rid of dark circles, you’d know. That cream would be all over the beauty blogosphere.
Basically, if you’re looking for a hydrating serum that could help with undereye bags, too, I think you will like this one. It doesn’t do all the miracles it claims to do, but it makes my eyes look fresh, rested, and younger, and that’s good enough for me.
Who Is This For?
Anyone with puffy eyes.
Who Is This NOT For?
If you’re looking for a serum that can treat dark circles, this isn’t it.
Packaging
A grey bottle with a pump dispenser that always releases way too much product. It’s enough to cover my undereye area and half my face! I’m not kidding you. I apply the remaining serum on half my face not to let it go to waste.
Does Amaranthine Green Apple Eye Serum Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Green Apply Eye serum is an age-defying moisturizing eye treatment clinically proven to reduce free radical damage. | There are barely any antioxidants here to reduce free radicals damage. |
| This age-defying eye serum brightens and reduces fine lines and wrinkles as it moisturizes and renews tender skin with an antioxidant peptide cocktail. | It can’t do this. |
| Boost collage production reduces under eye puffiness caused by fluid retention enhancing the smoothness of skin by reducing wrinkles. | It reduces under-eye puffiness a little, but it can’t do everything else. |
Price & Availability
$35.95 at Amaranthine
Do You Need It?
If you want to reduce puffy eyes, this is a good option to consider.
Dupes & Alternatives
- Arcona Peptide Eye Serum ($52.00): Available at Dermstore and Nordstrom
- Biossance Squalane + Peptides Eye Gel ($54.00): Available at Cult Beauty and Sephora
Ingredients
Deionized Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Hesperidin Methylchalcone, Steareth-20-Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Carbomer, Fragrance, Lecithin, Alcohol, Lipoic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Coenzyme Q10, Sodium Hydroxide, Retinyl Palmitate, Cholecalciferol.
How long did you try this out for?
Hannah, I always use a skincare product for a month before writing the review.