What it is: The Body Shop Vitamin C Eye Reviver Duo

This gel is silicone-free and sinks in nicely, feeling sticky at first but disappearing to nothing shortly thereafter. I have no problems layering makeup over it, and it doesn’t do anything funky (like flaking or creasing) after the fact. However, while soothing, I don’t find it’s the best at depuffing — the Anatomicals one we reviewed a while back seems to do the job a bit better (at least when it comes to my eyes,) and it’s cheaper, to boot.

Water (Solvent/Diluent), PEG-8 (Humectant), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Distillate (Astringent), Butylene Glycol (Humectant), Quillaja Saponaria Wood Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Carbomer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Pullulan (Binder), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Antioxidant), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Honey (Natural Additive), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Maltodextrin (Skin Conditioning Agent), Glycerin (Humectant), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin Conditioning Agent), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Fragrance (Fragrance), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Phosphoric Acid (pH Adjuster), Euphrasia Officinalis Extract (Natural Additive), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Benzoate (Solvent).

Step two, the creme: I didn’t get to test this one extensively (aka for more than three days at a time), because unlike its gel counterpart, it does contain silicones. However, that won’t stop me from going over it in a broader sense! It feels great on my skin – not too thick and not too thin – and moisturizes well. Of course, I can’t talk in terms of long-term “brightening,” but the experiences that I did manage to have with this were pretty good.

The one thing that may worry some about this duo is that both ends touch your skin. What I have to say to that, though, is simple: stop your fretting, dear! Because it’s an eye duo, I can’t imagine anyone randomly applying either one over makeup during the day — and if you’re always putting the products onto freshly cleansed skin, I think you should be a-okay.

Water (Solvent/Diluent), Dimethicone (Skin Conditioning Agent), Glycerin (Humectant), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (Sunscreen), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Cetearyl Olivate (Skin Conditioning Agent), Sorbitan Olivate (Emulsifying Agent), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Sunscreen), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Antioxidant), Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Dimethicone Crosspolymer (Emulsion Stabilizer), Carbomer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Butylene Glycol (Humectant), Phenethyl Alcohol (Fragrance Ingredient), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Niacinamide (Hair and Skin Conditioning Agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract (Skin Conditioning Agent), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin Conditioning Agent), Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Glycolic Acid (Skin Conditioning Agent), Potassium Citrate (pH Adjuster), Silanetriol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Mica (Opacifier), Titanium Dioxide (Colour).

The verdict? For $22, I’m on the fence about this one. It’s really handy (perfect for an overnight bag!) and packaged fabulously (on top of housing a rollerball, it feels very solid and well-built, which I love) but the product (well, products) didn’t wow me. They’re nice, and I do quite like them… but they’re not *quite* re-buy worthy.

Try it if…

• You catch it on one of The Body Shop’s awesome sales
• You’re looking for an eye gel and creme duo to throw into your overnight bag…
• …or one that’s just easy to use at home! No more tube-pot-pump-hasslehasslehassle
• You want something with packaging that is, quite frankly, awesome
• You want an eye duo that smells great!

Skip it if…

• $22 for a tiny 10ml of product sounds like too much. Under $20 and I would have excused it for being quite-good-but-not-great :P