Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
I’ve always preferred late nights over early mornings, and dark circles are a norm that I’ve accepted throughout the years. As a kid, I’d argue with my mom about bedtime until she surrendered and simply left me alone to watch TV, draw or whatever (sorry mom!).
As an adult, I still haven’t moved on from my terrible sleeping habits. I limit myself to a curfew between 1 to 2 a.m. for the weekdays, but during weekends, I basically won’t sleep until the crack of dawn. I know very well that this vicious sleeping cycle won’t do my skin any good, but I’ll work on that gradually – or eventually. I’m not sure if I’m just sleep-deprived, but lately my eyes genuinely look less smooth and duller than before. I decided to give Pyunkang Yul’s newest eye cream a go, and I tested it with the increasingly popular ionic eye massager from LIFETRONS to see if it’s really worth the hype.
Pyunkang Yul – Black Tea Time Reverse Eye Cream
What is it? A scent-free eye cream infused with fermented black tea and mulberry extracts to nourish, revitalize and smooth wrinkles and fine lines.
In detail:
Straying from Pyunkang Yul’s usual minimalistic aesthetics, this eye cream comes in a luxe-looking tin case coated in black, contrasted with holographic silver and emblazoned with a linocut-like landscape that reminds me of traditional Chinese watercolor paintings. This design is also on the tube of eye cream, which is enclosed within the tin.
Packed with peptides, which are known for boosting skin elasticity, the eye cream is formulated with antioxidant-rich ingredients, such as fermented black tea and beta-glucan. Rich, velvety and non-sticky, it spreads like butter on skin and blends easily. It also contains unsaturated fatty acids derived from nourishing shea butter and macadamia seed oils. Added mulberry extract is meant to enhance the eye cream’s skin-brightening effects, while hyaluronic acid and ceramide help to repair and fortify skin barriers.
I’ve been applying this eye cream twice a day: once before makeup in the morning, and once at the end of my evening skin care routine. Usually, a pea-sized amount is plenty enough for both my eyes. So far, it hasn’t caused any allergic reactions and has kept the skin around my eyes happily moisturized.
LIFETRONS – Eye Massager with Negative Ion Technology
What is it? An ionic eye-massaging wand that helps improve skin care absorption and reduces fine lines and black circles. Comes with one AAA battery, instruction manual and 12-month warranty.
In detail:
It’s said that skin care products and treatments that emit negatively charged ions help to reinforce collagen production, improve metabolism, promote blood circulation and diminish wrinkles and fine lines. This eye massager is kind of like a glamorized and high-tech gua sha tool. Its sleek, wand-like design is compact, lightweight and easy to operate. It doesn’t even have any buttons! Once the battery is inserted, it will immediately start vibrating upon contact with skin.
The feel and the rhythm of its vibrations remind me of vanav’s Time Machine. The wand allows a comfortable grip that ensures at least one of my fingers always come in contact with the connecting conducting metal. Unlike the Time Machine which sometimes fails to vibrate on my skin, I’ve not had any difficulties using LIFETRON’s eye massager.
Unlike the eye cream which I can use every day, the eye massager is only recommended for use up to three times a week. I usually use it for around 10 minutes while watching Netflix and allow a day or two between each use. To clean, I run the tip of the massager under lukewarm water and wipe it dry with a face cloth. I’d recommend removing batteries after each use.
The Verdict
I’d never tried anything from Pyunkang Yul before, so I was surprised by how much I loved the Black Tea Time Reverse Eye Cream’s creamy texture and easy spreadability! I’m usually not too fussy with fragrances as long as they’re fairly natural and not too synthetic. Even if you have more sensitive skin than me, the eye cream should still be safe to use as it’s pretty much scentless and formulated with only EWG green-grade ingredients. According to Pyunkang Yul, the eye cream can be used on virtually any part of the face and neck where wrinkles and fine lines are a concern. This eye cream is a solid choice for the colder months. It’s highly moisturizing and has helped my eyes look less swollen in the morning.
I kind of wish LIFETRONS’s Eye Massager is USB rechargeable, but I understand that this is a really affordable skin device that values portability. It’s a good starting point for those who are new to skin care devices as it’s super easy to use with pretty visible results. The massager definitely left my eye area soothed, smooth and plump. Although I haven’t noticed significant improvements on my dark circles, the combined effects of the eye cream and the massager are keeping my eye bags from darkening even more, since I’ve stubbornly refused to improve my sleeping habits.