SICKA THAN AVERAGE

I tend to associate Panax ginseng with energy drinks and erectile dysfunction remedies but, according to a recent study by the University of Hong Kong, the much-revered Chinese herb also has anti-inflammatory benefits. Origins’ new GinZing eye cream is centered on ginseng’s anti-inflammatory properties and the belief that the herb can reduce sings of fatigue like puffy and dull skin.

But this is no one-trick pony — when developing this formula, the Origins team went above and beyond to find other botanicals that would complement ginseng. Hesperidin (a flavonoid found in oranges and other citrus fruits which boasts antioxidant benefits) and coleus barbatus (a plant that belongs in the mint family) help to combat puffiness. Caffeine extracted from coffee beans helps to increase circulation, hence making the skin appear less tired. Apple and cucumber extracts calm and soothe the skin. Minerals silica and mica (often used in mineral makeup) brighten the area under the skin by reflecting light and hence creating an optical illusion that diffuses any darkness around your eyes. Yeast extract, green tea, vitamin C and vitamin E all protect the skin from free radical agents that accelerate the emergence of lines, wrinkles, and any visible signs of aging. Shea butter, trehalose and plant glycerin all hydrate and nourish the skin. Chestnut seed extract helps to shed the dull skin cells that make the skin around your eyes look rough and uneven. Finally, a vitamin B complex helps to make the skin look bright and healthy.

I fell in love with this cream right away — from its blush-pink-meets-sherbet-orange color to its deliciously light, yogurt-like consistency and its slightly citric smell, the eye cream feels really cooling as you apply it around your tired eyes and the sensation will help you keep those peepers open and get ready for your day. It’s a gentle product and it’s easily absorbed by the skin, so you don’t have to keep patting the skin under your eyes incessantly (as with so many other eye creams). Best of all, the results are practically immediate — having used the product for some time now, I can say I’ve routinely noticed that when I apply this eye cream, the puffiness around my eyes is diminished (if not completely, then at least to a substantial degree) and the skin looks smoother and a bit brighter.

Since there’s no shame in my game, I’m going to show some before and after photos. As you’ll see below, I’m looking like hot trash in the first photo. I’d just woken up after a long, sleepless night and has some serious baggies (and dark circles the size of UFOs) underneath my eyes. In the after photo, taken only 15 minutes later, you can see the swelling has gone down a bit, and the area appears a tad brighter. It’s not a cure-all, of course (what product is?), but ti does yield results — and within a very short period of time, at that.

BEFORE PHOTO:

AFTER PHOTO:

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream, $29.50. Available at Origins.com