People on the interwebs say that the Allies eye cream is the best thing since sliced bread and gave them incredible results, but people claim a lot of things on the internet. So, I’ve tested the eye cream for over a month and – yeah. See for yourself in my Allies of Skin Eye Cream review.
Brand Description
Allies of Skin was founded 2019 by Nicolas Travis in Singapore. 2020 he launched a more affordable sister brand called PSA.
- More reviews: Allies of Skin Peptides Moisturizer review, Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist review, Vitamin C serum review
AoS is a high-priced brand that prides itself on using highly concentrated, clinically proven ingredients. Its products are packed with actives – think Paula’s Choice on steroids.
Allies of Skin Eye Cream review: What is it?
“Tweakment-in-a-bottle for the ultimate bright-eyed look.
Allies of Skin
This award-winning eye cream is supercharged with 4 Peptides, a blend of Omega-rich oils, 1% Bakuchiol, 2% Squalane, Vitamin C, and Ceramide to brighten, firm, nourish, and depuff the under-eye area. Formulated for all skin types.”
It’s one of AoS’ star products and an eye cream that promises it all. I wouldn’t be surprised if it promised to bring me coffee, too, and honestly, for that price, it should. It comes in a pump dispenser that works reasonably well (which deserves a mention as AoS has been plagued by truly shitty packaging) to disperse the tiny amounts you need (nothing worse than an eye cream that pumps out big splotches of product).
Now, peptides are finicky things: or should I say that skin is finicky, because how any peptides work on anyone’s skin is mainly guesswork. Some might work on you, some might not – and you won’t know until you tried, which isn’t ideal at this price point. (Paula’s Choice Peptide Booster? Like water on my skin. Drugstore chain dm’s balea eye cream? Works like a charm. Both’s main ingredient? Peptides. See what I mean?)
Ingredients
Aqua, Glycerin, Tribehenin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Squalane, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Bakuchiol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Pfaffia Paniculata Root Extract, Ptychopetalum Olacoides Bark/Stem Extract, Calanthe Discolor Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Ubiquinone, Superoxide Dismutase, Ergothioneine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Biotin, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chrysin, Gluconolactone, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Calcium Gluconate, N-hydroxysuccinimide, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Isohexadecane, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Steareth-20, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol.
Allies of Skin
Peptides. Lots of peptides (amongst them the Matrixyl complex that The Ordinary uses, too). Peptides are building blocks needed to produce elastin and collagen, therefore the rep to diminish fine lines.
Also, a Vitamin C derivative (hence the brightening claim) and bakuchiol (claimed to be retinol-similar, but definitely working as an antioxidant).
Formula
As a skincare enthusiast, this eye cream’s formula gives me an interesting glimpse into how skincare is build nowadays: companies like Givaudan develop ingredient complexes, which then are slotted into the formula like a Lego build: here, it’s Orchistem, Eyeliss, Bioskinup and Neodermyl. All three promise firming, glow, and ‘equivalent results than one injection of a collagen filler (give) in just 2 weeks’.
The basic hydration is boosted by a lot of barrier-strengthening ingredients (squalene, ceramides and omega fatty acids), which makes for a nice, creamy-but-not-too-heavy formula that’s slightly yellow and sinks in quickly. People have claimed to feel a slight cooling sensation, while I personally sometimes find it a bit burning. While it absorbs, I do think I feel the slightly tightened sensation of film forming ingredients at work.
Usage
I use it mainly in my morning routine (no need for that ‘visible improvement’ to go to waste when I’m in bed!). I need much less than a pea-sized amount – let’s call it a half-pea. But I ran into one problem: the film-forming ingredients interfere with my eyeshadow base and my concealer that then pills, breaks up and generally looks horrible. Which is a problem on makeup wearing days, because my undereyes look actually worse when using the eye cream. And this, for me, is a dealbreaker.
Effect
Apart from my usual caveat when it comes to visible signs of improvements due to skincare (time, the general good condition of my skin due to retinol and Vitamin C, yadda yadda) here’s another one: when you have the time and inclination, research pictures from reliable scientific studies that show befores and afters with ‘10% improvement’. That’s what AoS claims with this eye cream: 10-17% improvement when it comes to firmer and suppler skin. This is actually not as drastically improved as it might sound, especially when you have a look at AoS’ site (they publish some of the pictures from their studies). So, even if the eye cream works exactly as promised, the difference you might expect isn’t actually that huge.
Which is my experience after approximately four weeks of use.
My undereyes don’t look atrociously bad even when I slept badly (which I do often) and used Allies of Skin Eye Cream. My dark circles aren’t as pronounced, my eyes not as puffy. Would it show in pictures? I doubt that. But, like AoS says on their website: It’s a good night’s sleep in a bottle.
Will even a fantastic night make you look 10 years younger?! Not likely.
Comparison
I’ve got a feeling I might still prefer balea men’s eye cream that retails for approximately 4$. I KNOW. It does similar things for me. Come allergy season I’ll have to go back to La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane eye cream anyways (because then, it’ll be the only one I can tolerate).
Allies of Skin Eye Cream review: Worth it?
Apparently, AoS is branching out with their BOGOF deals, because quickly after Black Friday, we just got one for Valentine’s (which somehow went for the whole of February?). If that diminishes the brand’s value – who knows. But: IF you take advantage from it, the eye cream is around 45$, which is similar to Paula’s Choice’s new eye cream. Still expensive, definitely. But no longer outrageously so.
From this eye cream and the Vitamin C serum I reviewed here, I’ve got the feeling that AoS very much targets the Instagram ‘clean girl look’ – you know, glowing skin, minimal makeup. The products have that little bit of glow (however achieved) that’s in right now (but doesn’t always work nicely with makeup). That is ultimately not my aesthetic, BUT awfully nice on no-makeup-days for me.
Availability & Price
15ml/ 1.7 fl oz are 93€ or $66. It absolutely pays off to look around (or wait) for deals – I bought it for approx. 50% off.
Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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