You know that I’m a firming eye cream fanatic. I’ve been working on it for decades. And firming eye creams are my jam.
I leapt at the chance to try a new one: Clarins Extra-Firming Yeux.
“Yeux” is eyes in French. It’s an interesting word because eye singular is “l’oeil”. Makes you wonder how they got from the singular to the plural, right? OK, French lesson aside, let’s get to the new eye cream. And from some sleuthing I’ve done online, it appears that this is a new version of an older Clarins Extra-Firming Eye that had existed previously.
Clarins Extra-Firming Eye claims to “promote suppleness at the source for visibly firmer, smoother, more renewed skin day after day”. A “2-in-1” product according to Clarins, it lifts, firms, softens wrinkles, depuffs, and lessens dark circles with continued use. That sounds more like a 3-in-1 to me! 🙂
Clarins Extra-Firming Eye uses plant extracts to provide visible results over time, ingredients that were new to me:
- organic mitracarpus boosts skin’s elasticity to create firmness
- kangaroo flower boosts skin’s ability to regenerate
- albizia creates brighter-looking eyes by depuffing and lessens dark circles
- horse chestnut escin (the active compound in horse chestnut), an anti-inflammatory substance refreshes tired-looking eyes by aiding circulation
In addition, there are more familiar ingredients:
- caffeine lessens dark circles
- mother-of-pearl illuminates for brighter-looking eyes.
A study of 107 women using Clarins Extra-Firming Eye over 28 days showed the following results:
- 92% reported their eye contour was visibly improved
- 78% felt their signs of fatigue were less visible
- 77% said their fine lines and wrinkles were reduced.
I’ve been using Clarins Extra-Firming Eye for a bit less than a month. Also, I have my crazy way of using eye creams. Anything that claims to be extra-firming I use on the skin under my brows and above my crease. For me, Clarins Extra-Firming Eye has done a very good job firming my upper eye contour. (Sorry for another hideous eye closeup photo!) Also, because the product contains dimethicone as the second ingredient, it makes my skin feel very soft and smoother.
Clarins Extra-Firming Eye is a thick cream or balm that is dispensed via a pump that allows you to control the amount that comes out.
Because the cream is viscous (check it out in the photo below), very little is required.
I had been using an eye gel previously, but the Clarins Extra-Firming cream does as well, if not better, than gel for that purpose.
Honestly, I hadn’t been using Clarins Extra-Firming Eye under my eyes or on my crow’s feet on a regular basis because I wanted to “save it” for the area I care most about firming. But I think I will give it a go on my crow’s feet where I had been using a lightweight eye “lotion” with retinol. My crow’s feet seem to be getting deeper (I know I can’t keep them away permanently at this age), and I had hoped that a retinol eye cream (RoC Retinol Eye was the one I tried) would do the trick, but it hasn’t done as much as I hoped. I’ll try the Clarins on my crow’s feet on a more regular basis.
The product can also be used once or twice a week as an eye mask, applying it to the entire eye area for 10 minutes, to refresh the eye area. Nevertheless, I prefer to use it regularly to tighten my eye contours.
Clarins Extra-Firming Eye is pricey, $64 for 0.5 oz./15 ml, so that’s why I’m trying to use it judiciously. By the way, Clarins has Phyto-Serum for face and neck that is part of the Extra-Firming line. They are both sold on the Clarins website, at Ulta, Sephora, and department stores Macy’s, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Made in France.
INGREDIENTS*: AQUA/WATER/EAU, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERIN, ISONONY, ISONONANOATE, BETAINE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, CI 77891/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CELLULOSE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL, STEAROXYMETHICONE/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN BARK EXTRACT, CAFFEINE, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, ANIGOZANTHOS FLAVIDUS EXTRACT, CAPRYLYL GLYCO, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL EXTRACT, DISODIUM EDTA, ESCIN, DIMETHICONOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SORBITOL, TOCOPHEROL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, MARRUBIUM VULGARE EXTRACT, TIN OXIDE, SODIUM BENZOATE, MITRACARPUS SCABER EXTRACT, CAPSICUM ANNUUM FRUIT EXTRACT, FURCELLARIA LUMBRICALIS EXTRACT, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, LAPSANA COMMUNIS FLOWER/LEAF/ STEM EXTRACT, MARIS SAL/SEA SALT/SEL MARIN, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT.
Was it you that liked the DermaE Firming Eye Lift Cream? Just wondering how this one compares?
No, Paula, sorry it wasn’t me. For some reason, Derma E sends me anti-acne products mostly, lol! I think Shelley Polarbelle reviewed it on her YT channel. I’ve tried a lot of others, but not the Derma E.
This sounds really helpful! I want to start using it!
I’ve been really pleased with it, Tonya! I think you’ll like it 👌🏻
My under eyes get milia when I use thick cream so I prefer something lightweight.
Me too, Kathryne. That’s why I switched to gels for under eyes. But I use both creams and gels on the skin above my crease to keep it firm. This viscous balm is actually great for that purpose.
I know you’ve been looking for a product that firms your lid and it sounds like this is a big help. I have been using my newest eye cream on my crow’s feet and they are barely visible now. I’ll be reviewing it soon.
Do you wash the Clarins off to use it as a mask?
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I’ve been using different eye products above my crease since I was 40 in order to prevent the skin from getting loose and covering my lids like so many other women and men my age. And whatever I have been using has worked! But this viscous firming balm is wonderful for that purpose. I am dying to find out what worked on your crow’s feet. Barely visible you say? I want that!! LMK when you review it! Honestly, I have not used the Clarins Extra-Firming Eye as an eye mask, so I don’t really know. It doesn’t make sense to me to use a $64 eye cream as a mask and to wash it off. No way.
I’ve been starting to get into firming cremes myself since I hit my 40’s and it’s showing how much I like to smile. 🙂 What?…I’ve led a happy life! LOL
Yay, I agree, Kristi! Better to smile through life and enjoy the wrinkles!
This sounds so good!
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I need firming for under my eyes and this one sounds nice. Does it work well with your concealer?
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I use Judith August cream concealer rather than a liquid, and I don’t always use concealer under my eyes. But I have no problems with the Clarins Extra Firming Eye with liquid foundation over it.
I love the layout of your blog omg !!
Sounds nice, will be neat to hear about longer term results!
It sounds like it is working really well for you with your own initial use!
I need to really look into eye creams. I feel like I’m getting dark circles with this pregnancy, despite getting more sleep than normal. My age is creeping up on me!
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This sounds like a great option. I just finished the Clarins eye serum and was quite happy with it.
Good to know, Bailey! I was thinking that I’d like to try the Clarins Eye Serum too