sparklyvodka: HealGel Eye

HealGel Eye* - £32

The original HealGel was an aqueous gel designed to treat a whole host of skin problems such as post-operative scarring, keloid scars, blemishes, sunburn, bruising and even eczema & psoriasis. It was produced by a team of leading British plastic and cosmetic surgeons who wanted to create the ultimate skincare product that would be truly effective on all skin types. They have since relaunched the original product as HealGel Intensive and added a couple of extra items to their line. For the last couple of months I've been trying out HealGel Eye. This is 'an advanced corrective formula designed to condition & lift the delicate eye area'. As a mum to a young child I often sport the zombified look and over the past few years my dark circles have only become worse. I'm willing to try out anything that can make me look a little less knackered and I had high hopes for this product, considering it was created by such a well respected group of professionals.

First off, I love the packaging. The redesign of HealGel's products was produced by Pentagram, one of my favourite design studios, and features some beautiful typography. I also love that the bottle comes with a pump, making it really hygienic. As you can see on my finger, just one full pump produces a whole lotta product. Less than half a pump is more than enough for both eyes. This product is ideal for use both in the morning and at night. You simply pat it on gently and wait for it to absorb. Upon application it feels very soothing, cooling and refreshing - everything you could hope for when you've not had enough sleep. It reduces puffiness, softens the skin and adds an overall perkiness to my eyes. It worked really nicely during the Summer too when my eyes were constantly irritated from hayfever. The formula is really gentle. Even when I apply it close to my lash line it doesn't irritate my eyes at all. Many other eye products I've tried in the past often made my eyes water & sting so it's fantastic that HealGel Eye doesn't have the same effect. I really like the texture of this product. It feels quite watery but it absorbs well without leaving any stickiness. In general I prefer gel eye products because I find them to actually be more hydrating than their cream counterparts. This one is especially hydrating because it contains a duel action hyaluronic acid complex which locks moisture deep within the skin.

In terms of results I have to admit I've only seen a slight difference to the darkness of my under eye area. Hopefully that will come with further usage & maybe a bit more sleep. I have however noticed that there is considerably less discolouration there and this gel has reduced the overall sallowness underneath my eyes. I think it's probably due to the inclusion of arnica in the ingredients. I can always rely on that stuff to clear up any bruises so I guess it works the same on your face! This means that I haven't needed to use colour correcting concealers as much, saving a step in my makeup routine. Another bonus makeup wise is that my concealer applies much smoother on top of it. HealGel Eye helps to smooth out that whole area as well as firming it up so there's less fine lines for concealer to collect in. Brilliant stuff! The price might seem a bit high but I always think it's important to invest in skincare. This is especially true when it comes to your eyes which are often the first place you will notice signs of ageing. Even though I've been using this twice a day for quite a while now, hardly any product has disappeared from the bottle. This will last for months & months which is something I'm sure my tired peepers will be happy about.