Can Peptides Get Rid of Dark Circles and Puffy Eyes?

Curated by Claudia Shannon / Research Scientist / ishonest

But dark circles and puffy eyes? They’re still at large on your face. Nothing seems to rid you of them. *sighs*

Wait, what about peptides? The new kids on the skincare block, peptides are said to do all kinds of miracles. They fight wrinkles, reduce inflammation, moisturise skin… Could they be the answer to all your eye problems, too?

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To test this theory, I’ve put Ice Skincare 4P Max Eye Gel to the test. It’s loaded with several peptide complexes + antioxidants – a one stop shop for all under eye needs. Or… not?

Here’s what it did for me:

What’s In Ice Skincare 4P Max Eye Gel?

EYELISS TO FIGHT DARK CIRCLES AND PUFFY EYES

Eyeliss is one of those annoying ingredients that’s made of a bunch of stuff. It has:

Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone: A citrus bioflavonoid said to reduce dark circles caused by blood pooling. One study shows that it lowers the filtration rate of capillaries, so that less blood flows close to the surface of the skin. Unfortunately, there’s no proof yet it does this when topically applied to the skin.
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.

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HALOXYL TO BOOST COLLAGEN PRODUCTION

Haloxyl is another “lego” ingredient, i.e. a skincare ingredient made with several other ingredients:

Hydroxysuccinimide: Infra-orbital shadows are caused by the accumulation of blood and the colour pigments its degradation leaves behind. Hydroxysuccinamide activates its natural elimination process.
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide: A blend of fatty acid Palmitic Acid with several amino acids that boosts collagen production.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7: Made up of 4 amino acids, it helps reduce inflammation (one of the main causes of wrinkles).

REGU-AGE TO MOISTURISE SKIN

Yep, here we go again. Regu-Age is made up of:

Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein: Loaded with amino acids, it’s very moisturizing.
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein: Another powerful moisturiser that leave skin soft and smooth.
Superoxide Dismutase: An antioxidant enzyme that destroys Superoxide Radical, the main trigger of inflammation.

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ANTOXIDANTS TO FIGHT WRINKLES

Superoxide Dismutase isn’t the only antioxidant you’ll find here. The serum also has green tea, algae and a sprinkle of other antioxidants thrown in for good measure.

Together, they fight the free radicals that cause premature wrinkles and soothe inflammation.

Texture

Lightweight. It sinks quickly into the skin and feels very refreshing on.

How To Use It

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Apply it after cleansing using your ring finger. It’s the gentlest.

Performance & Personal Opinion

If you have dry skin, Ice Skincare 4P Max Eye Gel alone won’t be moisturising enough for you. I layer this under my facial moisturiser (yes, I use my facial moisturisers on the eye area, too). Problem solved.

I find the serum does a great job at smoothening out my undereye area. When I use it, the skin there is softer and my fine lines look that little bit smaller. Plus, it helps depuff my eyes so I look more awake.

But, I can’t say it did it anything for my dark circles. I wasn’t too bummed about that. If yours aren’t caused by blood pooling, this serum may not help much.

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Still, the addition of Superoxide Dismutase makes up for that for me. This is one of the most powerful antioxidants out there and so few products have it. When you find one, do sneak it into your skincare routine. It’ll help you keep those dreaded crows’ feet away for as long as possible.

Who Is This For?

If you’re looking for something that can depuff eyes a little, this can help.

Who Is This NOT For?

I always recommend extending your facial routine to your eye area (as long as you’re not using anything irritating). If that’s working well for you, no need to splurge on this eye serum.

Packaging

A see-through bottle with a grey cap and a pump applicator that splurts out way too much product. Every. Single. Time. I use the excess on the rest of my face (yes, that’s totally fine). But, at this price point, you don’t want to waste a single drop.

Do You Need It?

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It’s not a must-have, especially at this price point. But if money is not a concern and you’re curious to see what peptides can do for you, you may like this.

Dupes & Alternatives

Ingredients

Water, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Glycine Soja Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Glycerin, Tetrapeptide-21, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Steareth-20, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethylhyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate-20

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