You can get rid of blackheads. Fight wrinkles. Fade dark spots.
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?
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.
Eyeliss is a promising ingredient: it definitely moisturises and soothes, but the jury’s still out there on whether it can do anything for dark circles and puffy eyes.
Related: The Best Treatment For Dark Circles: What Really Works
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).
Another promising ingredient. The science here is just at the beginning, so we’ll have to wait a few years to figure out just how effective it is.
Related: The Truth About Peptides In Skincare: Do They Really Work?
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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.
This is my fave “lego” ingredient so far. Everything here is proven to moisturise and fights wrinkles. 🙂
Related: Is Superoxide Dismutase The Most Powerful Antioxidant Of All?
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.
Related: How Do Antioxidants Work?
Texture
Lightweight. It sinks quickly into the skin and feels very refreshing on.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free.
How To Use It
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.
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.
Does Ice Skincare 4P Max Eye Gel Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Lightweight & paraben-free. Product reduces the appearance of dark circles, under-eye puffiness, fine lines & wrinkles. | It doesn’t do anything for dark circles. But everything else is true. |
| Helps reinforce firmness & tone of the eye area. Improves skin texture. Restores skin elasticity around the eye contour. | There’s evidence that peptides can do this in-vitro. I personally didn’t notice any difference on my skin. |
| Reduces the appearance of discoloration & dark circles under the eyes. Visibly soothes & reduces under-eye puffiness. | It does help reduce eye puffiness. |
Price & Availability
$160.00 at Ice Skincare Shop
Do You Need It?
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
- Medik8 Eyelift Peptides (A$75.24)
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
I love your thorough reviews, excellent blog!
I would be extremely interested in a review of the Ziip Beauty tool (nano current skincare device). Is it possibly worth the whopping price?
Kind regards from Switzerland!
Maja, thanks for your kind words. Glad you like my blog!
I’m afraid I’m not familiar with this device. I’ll do some research and write a post about it with my findings. Stay tuned!
I didn’t put much faith is eye creams either until I tried Timeless Skin Care’s Hydrating Eye Cream. It got rid of the crepiness on my eyelids. Planning on trying their Dark Circle Eye Cream soon if it works as well as the Hydrating Eye Cream I will be a happy camper! Great blog, I love how you present all the information and make product recommendations at multiple price points. Thank you!
Kim, glad to hear it’s worked so well for you. The Dark Circle Eye Cream shares many of the main ingredients with the Hydrating Eye Cream so I’m positive you will like it.
Thank you so much for your support and kind words. Means a lot.