The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube: Part of the Vitamin E collection
The Body Shop's Vitamin E Eyes Cube, is, as the product name suggests, an "eyes cube" - basically an eye cream, but instead of cream form, it's in stick form, like lipbalm. The Body Shop, on its website, claims that "the Vitamin E Eyes Cube is our new ingenious anti-fatigue eye stick. In one gentle sweep, it instantly revives and refreshes the eye area to fight signs of tiredness caused by dryness". The site also claims, "Enriched with wheatgerm oil, one of the highest natural sources of vitamin E, the Eyes Cube protects the eye area with moisture". So yes - moisture for your eyes, in a stick!
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube: Probably the first eye cream I've seen in a stick form
First, let's take a look at whether the Vitamin E Eyes Cube really does live up to its claims, and how it works, when it's in a stick form, before we move on to the aesthetics of the product. And of course, our first stop would be none other than the ingredients list!
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube ingredients: A combination of emollients and humectants, along with shimmer for subtle brightening
The first ingredient is Water. After that, the key ingredients consist of emollients and silicones (Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, which also has some humectant properties, and Methoxy PEG-10), emulsifiers and thickeners (Sodium Stearate, PEG-150), and humectants (Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, which also functions as a preservative booster), as well as some shimmer (Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, which incidentally I bought a packet of before). After that, we have Phenoxyethanol, which is the main preservative, that is typically used in amounts of less than 1%.
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube: A solid basic eye moisturizer that is fragrance free and not likely to irritate sensitive skin
The rest of the ingredients, which come after Phenoxyethanol, are present in amounts of less than 1%. This includes Tocopheryl Acetate, the Vitamin E featured in the product, which functions as an antioxidant, as well as the advertised Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, which is also a source of Vitamin E. Other minor ingredients include other preservatives (Caprylyl Glycol, which also has some skincare benefits as an emollient and humectant), emulsifiers (Myristamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, which also has some emollient properties, and Polysorbate 60), emollients (PEG 12 Dimethicone, Soybean (Glycine Soja) Oil), buffering agents (Citric Acid), and more shimmer and colour (Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides). Interestingly, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane is in there too - you may know it better as Avobenzone, a UVA filter in sunscreen. I'm honestly not too sure what it's doing here in such small amounts (evidently too small to place an SPF number on the product), but I suppose some very tiny amount of UVA protection is better than none.
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube: The unique swivel-up stick is travel-friendly
So, looking at the ingredients in the product, The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube is formulated to be moisturizing, with both emollients and humectants, and also has some shimmer to brighten the eye area. It might be basic, without any bells and whistles, but it works. And as a plus, it doesn't seem to have any fragrance ingredients, or any other potentially irritating ingredients, which means that this should be a safe choice for those whose skins or eye areas are more sensitive.
Now that we've looked at the formulation of the product, let's move on to the aesthetics and product experience. First, I have to say - an eye cream in a swivel-up stick form - basically like lipbalm - is pretty novel indeed. For one, it makes the product so much more travel-friendly - because it's solid, you can even carry it with you on the plane - and the small size of the product (you get 4g of product) makes it quite easily slipped into a bag or luggage. Also, having the The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube in a stick form means that application is also really easy - just swipe and go!
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube: Very light pink tint and slight shimmer
The stick itself is a light pastel pink with some shimmer, and has no scent whatsoever. It doesn't feel too hard when swiped - basically think of a slightly harder, drier lipbalm and you've gotten the texture right. It does feel nice against the skin, and doesn't feel oily or sticky - basically once you apply, because the product is in balm form, it doesn't feel "wet" against the skin. Instead you get a slight, thin layer of product on the skin, that doesn't feel heavy or sticky. For those who are more used to "wet" or heavier eye creams, then this might feel quite different from what you are used to, but for those who are looking for something lighter, this is great. As a bonus, this works pretty well under makeup too.
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube swatched: It offers the slightest hint of shimmer, and not much colour
I've swatched the Vitamin E Eyes Cube above, and as you can see, the shimmer effect is actually really slight, and although the product looks like a light pastel pink in the tube, it basically goes on colourless. I've swiped and swiped and swiped over the area shown above, and that was the most I was able to build up the colour. So for all intents and purposes, you get the slightest hint of shimmer with this product, and no colour. I've circled the swatch area above, in case you have trouble telling where the swatch is.
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube: A great basic that will moisturize your eye area, in a novel fuss-free stick form
So, would I recommend The Body Shop's Vitamin E Eyes Cube? If you're looking for a great basic eye cream with a lightweight feel, this would be a great choice. Also, if you have sensitive skin, and are looking for a fragrance-free product, this would also fit the bill. And if you have oily skin around the eyes, and want something that moisturizes without feeling heavy, then this would also suit your needs. And of course, the little swivel-up stick form is a novelty as well. I think the people who wouldn't like the product are those who are looking for a more moist, heavier eye cream, because this product might not feel substantial enough for them. For me, I like this as a great basic that I can use either during travel or on rushed days, and at SGD$19.90, it's at a good price that doesn't break the bank.
| Recommended? | Formulation | Packaging | Ease of Use | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, a lightweight basic | 7/10 | 8/10 | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| The Bottom Line: A great basic eye cream in a convenient solid stick form, The Body Shop's Vitamin E Eyes Cube feels lightweight on the skin and helps to moisturize the eye area, and is also suitable for sensitive skins. | ||||
a eye cream in stick form? wow thats new not seen something like that before
ReplyDeletewww.beautyandtheboy.com
Hmm I'm one of those people who love thick eye creams so I'll pass on this, although it might be handy as a regular face moisturizer if you have dry patches!
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting! (Though I do wonder why it's called a "cube"?)
ReplyDeleteWhen do you put it on??
ReplyDelete@Tasnim Raichand: You put it on like eye cream - so, basically whenever you apply eye cream, maybe twice a day, perhaps? Hope this helps!
DeleteWhen do you put it on??
ReplyDeleteWhen do you put it on??
ReplyDeleteJust bought one myself. It is called a cube because it has a cooling affect as well when applied to the under eye area. Want extra cooling? keep it in the fridge. Works wonders !!!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: Haha I didn't make the connection between the cooling feel and the "cube" name, I was thinking of it's shape! And yes, leaving it in the fridge is good too :)
DeleteIts for dark circle also ... I bought this n Guide of da shop said its da same product like previous 995 eye cream .... I want to know is it true ???? It works of wrinkles ?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: Looking at the ingredients, it's really geared more towards hydration than dark circles, in my opinion. Then again, dark circles are quite problematic in terms of skincare - not all causes of dark circles are caused by things that can be helped by skincare as there are a variety of causes, such as genetics, broken capillaries, and so on, so you'll need to find an eye cream that targets the right cause. Hope this helps!
DeleteIts for dark circle also?
ReplyDeleteFor dark circle also?
ReplyDeleteI put 3 layers on.
ReplyDeleteSoaks in nicely leaving fresh feeling.
Still moisturizing
I felt like it has that thin layer of glitter ! Did anyone notice that too ?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: Yes there is a little, but when I used it I found it to be very minimal and not visible. Hope this helps
DeleteI'm concerned about pulling on the delicate eye skin when you swipe it, especially when you describe it as drier, harder version of a lipbalm. I use Body Shop's Eye Concentrate from the Drops of Youth line - it's still a "stick" but with a roller ball applicator tip. No pulling on the skin under my eyes.
ReplyDelete@Elaine: It might tug a bit more than the rollerball Drops of Youth, but in my opinion, nothing too severe. Basically of you take a lipbalm and imagine applying it around your eye area, that's what the product would feel like! But of course If tugging at the eye skin is a concern, then it's probably best to use a normal eye cream or rollerball.
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