Studio Botanic’s Vegan Eye Cream Brighten My Dark Circles

Natural, vegan and cruelty-free, we recently received a review sample of Studio Botanic’s Augencreme or Eye Cream in German, and we put it through its paces. Read on for our full product review.

Here’s an honest admission. I’ve always found eye creams a tough sell for me. Not only is it an additional step outside of my basic routine but they often come with overinflated claims, stings, lack the ideal consistency or texture and deliver underwhelming results. In short, it’s fair to describe me as an eye cream skeptic.

So when I was asked to review Studio Botanic’s Augencreme (that’s German for Eye Cream), I wasn’t exactly jumping with excitement. Nevertheless, I was determined to give this vegan, natural and cruelty-free eye cream a fair shake and I was honestly surprised. Scroll down for the deets!

Overview

About the Skin Around My Eyes

Like most of you, the skin around my eyes is thin and delicate but not anymore so than average. My greatest concerns have to do with puffiness, dark circles and sallowness which gives me a tired appearance even if I did get my full 8 hours of beauty sleep. I usually treat them with natural home remedies like cold compresses, cucumber slices or tea bags.

I’m not really at the age where wrinkles are a huge issue but I have noticed over the past few years some fine lines beginning to appear at the corners of my eye. While not a huge concern at this time, I’m painfully aware that this spring chicken isn’t getting any younger. But at this stage, I’m focused more on prevention rather than treatment.

First Impressions: Understated German Quality

If you’re already familiar with Studio Botanic then you probably already know that their products come in very simple packaging that belies the quality of the products they make. The Augencreme is no different and comes in a simple and familiar natural paper box housing a 15ml/0.51fl oz recyclable aluminum tube of the eye cream with a screw on cap. It’s plain and simple, and may be a little boring, but at least you know you aren’t paying for packaging that’s only going to end up in the landfill later.

The cream itself is a light beige colour and has a moderately thick texture that feels rich. It has a fresh, fruity scent that reminds me of melons with slight floral hints and smelt natural and sophisticated. Overall, the texture and fragrance of the cream is excellent. Looking past its simple packaging, this was clearly a quality product and what you would expect from a high quality product made in Germany.

Application: Average Absorption, No Tackiness

Despite its thick consistency, I found the Augencreme to be quite easy to apply and spread evenly around my eyes. It doesn’t have the best absorption amongst eye creams I’ve tested before but it wasn’t bad and with a little coaxing, it gets fully absorbed without leaving any sticky residue around my eyes and had a light and airy finish.

Don’t get me wrong, it is still noticeable but some richer eye creams leave a thick and heavy sensation around the eyes that can be bothersome to some. The Augencreme, on the other hand, leaves a thin film over the skin around my eyes that did not feel uncomfortable and I would rate the wearability and comfort highly.

Results: Reduced Puffiness and Brighter Eyes

The skin around my eyes looked and felt tighter and firmer immediately after the first use. It also felt hydrated and appeared slightly brighter and more energised. After just a single use, I was very impressed to see any visible results at all as I wasn’t expecting that from a natural eye cream.

I used this cream for about a month and found that it is effective in reducing the puffiness and dark circles around my eyes. What used to be a regular occurrence became more of an exception rather than the norm. My skin also felt and looked brighter and livelier and I found myself enjoying using an eye cream for the first time.

Wrinkles isn’t a primary concern for me and while there were some noticeable improvements to some of my fine lines (well two of them, I’ve named them Agatha and Ruby), I would opt for a specialised anti-wrinkle formula over the Augencreme if wrinkles are a huge concern for you.

Ingredients: Plant-based Powerhouses

Studio Botanic champions vegan ingredients and minimalistic formulations. More focused on the quality and optimal concentration of its active ingredients, Studio Botanic’s products tend to have very few ingredients and with 24 ingredients listed, the Augencreme actually has more ingredients than most products in their range.

According to Studio Botanic, the main players in the Augencreme are:

• Pomegranate - Rich in Vitamin C and other antioxidants, it is loved for its skin lightening properties and helps stimulate collagen production helping tackle skin elasticity and dark circles around the eyes.

• Rosehip Oil - Also contains Vitamin C and Vitamin A, Rosehip also brightens the skin and stimulates collagen production. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with puffiness.

• Cucumber - A familiar ingredient in eye care, Cucumber is nutrient-rich and highly hydrating. It also has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that help with puffiness and breathe life into dull skin.

The Augencreme also contains other ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Magnolia Bark and many others that deliver multiple skin benefits. Some of the more notable ones include Rice Bran that has anti-wrinkle benefits and Pineapple that can help firm and tighten the skin around the eyes. Generally though, they appear to focus on hydration, improving skin elasticity, brightening and reducing puffiness.

My Verdict: Natural Choice That’s Value For Money

Where eye creams are concerned, many default towards the big brands with advanced derma ingredients to tackle fine lines and wrinkles. These creams can often cost a huge amount of money that, to some, might seem a worthwhile investment.

But if wrinkle treatment isn’t your primary concern and you are looking more to wrinkle prevention rather than cure then the Studio Botanic’s Augencreme is an excellent choice. Not only does it promote collagen production in the skin but by controlling my dark circles and puffiness, I was able to achieve a more energetic appearance.

At SG$ 60 (US$ 45), the Augencreme isn’t astronomically priced and given its impressive results, also good value for the money. Its minimalism, vegan and cruelty-free formulation also makes it a sustainable choice for the conscious consumer.

The Studio Botanic Augencreme Eye Cream SG$ 60 (US$ 45) is now available on www.asianbeautyx.com.